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[325]
But when the news of this fight came to the king of Parthia, he was
surprised at the boldness of these brethren, and was desirous to see them,
and speak with them. He therefore sent the most trusty of all his guards
to say thus to them: "That king Artsbanus, although he had been unjustly
treated by you, who have made an attempt against his government, yet hath
he more regard to your courageous behavior, than to the anger he bears
to you, and hath sent me to give you his right hand
and security; and he permits you to come to him safely, and without any
violence upon the road; and he wants to have you address yourselves to
him as friends, without meaning any guile or deceit to you. He also promises
to make you presents, and to pay you those respects which will make an
addition of his power to your courage, and thereby be of advantage to you."
Yet did Asineus himself put off his journey thither, but sent his brother
Anileus with all such presents as he could procure. So he went, and was
admitted to the king's presence; and when Artabanus saw Anileus coming
alone, he inquired into the reason why Asineus avoided to come along with
him; and when he understood that he was afraid, and staid by the lake,
he took an oath, by the gods of his country, that he would do them no harm,
if they came to him upon the assurances he gave them, and gave him his
right hand. This is of the greatest force there with all these barbarians,
and affords a firm security to those who converse with them; for none of
them will deceive you when once they have given you their right hands,
nor will any one doubt of their fidelity, when that is once given, even
though they were before suspected of injustice. When Artabanus had done
this, he sent away Anileus to persuade his brother to come to him. Now
this the king did, because he wanted to curb his own governors of provinces
by the courage of these Jewish brethren, lest they should make a league
with them; for they were ready for a revolt, and were disposed to rebel,
had they been sent on an expedition against them. He was also afraid, lest
when he was engaged in a war, in order to subdue those governors of provinces
that had revolted, the party of Asineus, and those in Babylonia, should
be augmented, and either make war upon him, when they should hear of that
revolt, or if they should be disappointed in that case, they would not
fail of doing further mischief to him.
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