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[245]
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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