ABSTRACT

After that Cleopatra had obtained all these things, and had accompanied Antonius as fane as Euphrates, who at that time went to make warre in Armenia: she returned backe againe, and by the way visited Apamea and Damasco, and at last tooke her progresse into Jury: Where King Herode met with her, and assured that portion which had beene given unto her in Arabia, with all the revenewes of Jericho unto her.3 This countrey bringeth forth that balme, which of all other oyntments is the most precious, and onely groweth in that place, and no other, to the bignes of great Dates. Being arrived in that place, and growen inwardly familiar with Herode, she sought to allure and draw him to her lust, being of her selfe naturally addicted to such pleasures and intemperance;4 and happely also being somewhat touched with love, or rather (as it seemetl1 most likely) she in this sort laid the foundation to intrap him under colour to revenge

333 her selfe of some outrage by that meanes. But in effect she generally manifested, that she was overcome by her desire and sensuall lust. But Herode was not over kindly bent towards Cleopatra, knowing of long time how badly she was enclined towards al men; and at that time he conceived the greater hatred against her, because by that intemperance of hers she pretended to destroy him: and although that from the beginning he had rejected her sollicitations; yet determined he to revenge himselfe on her, if so be by these her subtill underminings she should prosecute and continue her subtil pollicies to betray him. He asked counsaile also of his friends, whether having her in his possession, he should put her to death.! For in so doing all those should be delivered from divers evils, whom either in time past she had molested, or hereafter should bring in trouble. Moreover that it would be profitable for Antonius also, whom without all doubt she would forsake, if any occasion or necessitie should enforce him to make triall of her friendship. But whilest he debated and discoursed upon this resolution, his friends restrained and disswaded him, assuring him that it was a great indignitie for him, who was a Prince of high thoughts and hautie resolutions, to cast himselfe into manifest perill, beseeching him to attempt nothing rashly: For that Alltonius would not endure the same, notwithstanding it might be approved that it stood with his profit: nay rather that by this meanes he should increase his desire, for that by force & subtilty he might seem to have lost her. Further, that no one colour of excuse should be left him, in that she was the woman of greatest note & nobility of that time; & that what soever profit might redound unto him by her death, should be annexed with Alltollius injurie. Wherby it most evidently appeared, how great & remediles domages would befall both to the kingdome & the kings family also; whereas nothing letted him by repulsing her unlawfull demand to dispose allthings for the present state with great discretion. By these & such like reasons and probable conjectures, they deterred and disswaded him from adventuring upon his apparant daunger, and attempting so hainous an act; so that contrariwise they induced him to offer Cleopatra many rich presents, and to conduct her onward on her way towards lEgypt,2

As soone therefore as Antonius was seazed of Armenia he sent Artabazes Tigranes sonne, with all his children, who were great princes, prisoners into lEgypt, and presented them to Cleopatm with all those precious Jewels likewise, which were taken by him or

334· found in the kingdome. But Artaxias his elder sonne (who at that time had saved himselfe by flight) raigned in Armenia, whom Archelaus and Nero the Emperour drove out of his kingdome, and placed his younger brother Tigranes in his roome, as it shall be declared hereafter.l As for the tributes of the countries which Herode was bound to pay unto Cleopatra, for the lands bestowed on her by Antonius, he without deceit justly paid them, supposing it to be verie incident to his securitie, to continue himselfe in her good favour. As for the Arabians, they seeing that Herode had the levying of such a tribute, paied him for some little time two hundreth talents a yeere; but afterwards they grew slow and negligent in their paiments, and scarcely satisfied the hal fe, and that also verie negligently.