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1. But Herodias, Agrippa's sister, who now lived as wife to that
Herod who was tetrarch of Galilee and Peres, took this authority
of her brother in an envious manner, particularly when she saw
that he had a greater dignity bestowed on him than her husband
had; since, when he ran away, it was because he was not able to
pay his debts; and now he was come back, he was in a way of
dignity, and of great good fortune. She was therefore grieved and
much displeased at so great a mutation of his affairs; and
chiefly when she saw him marching among the multitude with the
usual ensigns of royal authority, she was not able to conceal how
miserable she was, by reason of the envy she had towards him; but
she excited her husband, and desired him that he would sail to
Rome, to court honors equal to his; for she said that she could
not bear to live any longer, while Agrippa, the son of that
Aristobulus who was condemned to die by his father, one that came
to her husband in such extreme poverty, that the necessaries of
life were forced to be entirely supplied him day by day; and when
he fled away from his creditors by sea, he now returned a king;
while he was himself the son of a king, and while the near
relation he bare to royal authority called upon him to gain the
like dignity, he sat still, and was contented with a privater
life. "But then, Herod, although thou wast formerly not concerned
to be in a lower condition than thy father from whom thou wast
derived had been, yet do thou now seek after the dignity which
thy kinsman hath attained to; and do not thou bear this contempt,
that a man who admired thy riches should he in greater honor than
thyself, nor suffer his poverty to show itself able to purchase
greater things than our abundance; nor do thou esteem it other
than a shameful thing to be inferior to one who, the other day,
lived upon thy charity. But let us go to Rome, and let us spare
no pains nor expenses, either of silver or gold, since they
cannot be kept for any better use than for the obtaining of a
kingdom."
2. But for Herod, he opposed her request at this time, out of the
love of ease, and having a suspicion of the trouble he should
have at Rome; so he tried to instruct her better. But the more
she saw him draw back, the more she pressed him to it, and
desired him to leave no stone unturned in order to be king; and
at last she left not off till she engaged him, whether he would
or not, to be of her sentiments, because he could no otherwise
avoid her importunity. So he got all things ready, after as
sumptuous a manner as he was able, and spared for nothing, and
went up to Rome, and took Herodias along with him. But Agrippa,
when he was made sensible of their intentions and preparations,
he also prepared to go thither; and as soon as he heard they set
sail, he sent Fortunatus, one of his freed-men, to Rome, to carry
presents to the emperor, and letters against Herod, and to give
Caius a particular account of those matters, if he should have
any opportunity. This man followed Herod so quick, and had so
prosperous a voyage, and came so little after Herod, that while
Herod was with Caius, he came himself, and delivered his letters;
for they both sailed to Dicearchia, and found Caius at Bairn,
which is itself a little city of Campania, at the distance of
about five furlongs from Dicearchia. There are in that place
royal palaces, with sumptuous apartments, every emperor still
endeavoring to outdo his predecessor's magnificence; the place
,also affords warm baths, that spring out of the ground of their
own accord, which are of advantage for the recovery of the health
of those that make use of them; and, besides, they minister to
men's luxury also. Now Caius saluted Herod, for he first met with
him, and then looked upon the letters which Agrippa had sent him,
and which were written in order to accuse Herod; wherein he
accused him, that he had been in confederacy with Sejanus against
Tiberius's and that he was now confederate with Artabanus, the
king of Parthia, in opposition to the government of Caius; as a
demonstration of which he alleged, that he had armor sufficient
for seventy thousand men ready in his armory. Caius was moved at
this information, and asked Herod whether what was said about the
armor was true; and when he confessed there was such armor there,
for he could not deny the same, the truth of it being too
notorious, Caius took that to be a sufficient proof of the
accusation, that he intended to revolt. So he took away from him
his tetrarchy, and gave it by way of addition to Agrippa's
kingdom; he also gave Herod's money to Agrippa, and, by way of
punishment, awarded him a perpetual banishment, and appointed
Lyons, a city of Gaul, to be his place of habitation. But when he
was informed that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, he made her a
present of what money was her own, and told her that it was her
brother who prevented her being put under the same calamity with
her husband. But she made this reply: "Thou, indeed, O emperor!
actest after a magnificent manner, and as becomes thyself in what
thou offerest me; but the kindness which I have for my husband
hinders me from partaking of the favor of thy gift; for it is not
just that I, who have been made a partner in his prosperity,
should forsake him in his misfortunes." Hereupon Caius was angry
at her, and sent her with Herod into banishment, and gave her
estate to Agrippa. And thus did God punish Herodias for her envy
at her brother, and Herod also for giving ear to the vain
discourses of a woman. Now Caius managed public affairs with
great magnanimity during the first and second year of his reign,
and behaved himself with such moderation, that he gained the
good-will of the Romans themselves, and of his other subjects.
But, in process of time, he went beyond the bounds of human
nature in his conceit of himself, and by reason of the vastness
of his dominions made himself a god, and took upon himself to act
in all things to the reproach of the Deity itself.
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