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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。

4。 When the king had these intentions; he sent away Anileus; and
Anileus prevailed on his brother 'to come to the king'; when he
had related to him the king's good…will; and the oath that he had
taken。 Accordingly; they made haste to go to Artsbanus; who
received them when they were come with pleasure; and admired
Asineus's courage in the actions he had done; and this because he
was a little man to see to; and at first sight appeared
contemptible also; and such as one might deem a person of no
value at all。 He also said to his friends; how; upon the
comparison; he showed his soul to be in all respects superior to
his body; and when; as they were drinking together; he once
showed Asineus to Abdagases; one of the generals of his army; and
told him his name; and described the great courage he was of in
war; and Abdagases had desired leave to kill him; and thereby to
inflict on him a punishment for those injuries he had done to the
Parthian government; the king replied; 〃I will never give thee
leave to kill a man who hath depended on my faith; especially not
after I have sent him my right hand; and endeavored to gain his
belief by oaths made by the gods。 But if thou be a truly warlike
man; thou standest not in need of my perjury。 Go thou then; and
avenge the Parthian government; attack this man; when he is
returned back; and conquer him by the forces that are under thy
command; without my privity。〃 Hereupon the king called for
Asineus; and said to him; 〃It is time for thee; O thou young man!
to return home; and not provoke the indignation of my generals in
this place any further; lest they attempt to murder thee; and
that without my approbation。 I commit to thee the country of
Babylonia in trust; that it may; by thy care; be preserved free
from robbers; and from other mischiefs。 I have kept my faith
inviolable to thee; and that not in trifling affairs; but in
those that concerned thy safety; and do therefore deserve thou
shouldst be kind to me。〃 When he had said this; and given Asineus
some presents; he sent him away immediately; who; when he was
come home; built fortresses; and became great in a little time;
and managed things with such courage and success; as no other
person; that had no higher a beginning; ever did before him。
Those Parthian governors also; who were sent that way; paid him
great respect; and the honor that was paid him by the Babylonians
seemed to them too small; and beneath his deserts; although he
were in no small dignity and power there; nay; indeed; all the
affairs of Mesopotamia depended upon him; and he more and more
flourished in this happy condition of his for fifteen years。

5。 But as their affairs were in so flourishing a state; there
sprang up a calamity among them on the following occasion。 When
once they had deviated from that course of virtue whereby they
had gained so great power; they affronted and transgressed the
laws of their forefathers; and fell under the dominion of their
lusts and pleasures。 A certain Parthian; who came as general of
an army into those parts; had a wife following him; who had a
vast reputation for other accomplishments; and particularly was
admired above all other women for her beauty。 Anileus; the
brother of Asineus; either heard of that her beauty from others;
or perhaps saw her himself also; and so became at once her lover
and her enemy; partly because he could not hope to enjoy this
woman but by obtaining power over her as a captive; and partly
because he thought he could not conquer his inclinations for her。
As soon therefore as her husband had been declared an enemy to
them; and was fallen in the battle; the widow of the deceased was
married to this her lover。 However; this woman did not come into
their house without producing great misfortunes; both to Anileus
himself; and to Asineus also; but brought great mischiefs upon
them on the occasion following。 Since she was led away captive;
upon the death of her husband; she concealed the images of those
gods which were their country gods; common to her husband and to
herself: now it was the custom (36) of that country for all to
have the idols they worship in their own houses; and to carry
them along with them when they go into a foreign land; agreeable
to which custom of theirs she carried her idols with her。 Now at
first she performed her worship to them privately; but when she
was become Anileus's married wife; she worshipped them in her
accustomed manner; and with the same appointed ceremonies which
she used in her former husband's days; upon which their most
esteemed friends blamed him at first; that he did not act after
the manner of the Hebrews; nor perform what was agreeable to
their laws; in marrying a foreign wife; and one that transgressed
the accurate appointments of their sacrifices and religious
ceremonies; that he ought to consider; lest; by allowing himself
in many pleasures of the body; he might lose his principality; on
account of the beauty of a wife; and that high authority which;
by God's blessing; he had arrived at。 But when they prevailed not
at all upon him; he slew one of them for whom he had the greatest
respect; because of the liberty he took with him; who; when he
was dying; out of regard to the laws; imprecated a punishment
upon his murderer Anileus; and upon Asineus also; and that all
their companions might come to a like end from their enemies;
upon the two first as the principal actors of this wickedness;
and upon the rest as those that would not assist him when he
suffered in the defense of their laws。 Now these latter were
sorely grieved; yet did they tolerate these doings; because they
remembered that they had arrived at their present happy state by
no other means than their fortitude。 But when they also heard of
the worship of those gods whom the Parthians adore; they thought
the injury that Anileus offered to their laws was to be borne no
longer; and a greater number of them came to Asineus; and loudly
complained of Aniteus; and told him that it had been well that he
had of himself seen what was advantageous to them; but that
however it was now high time to correct what had been done amiss;
before the crime that had been committed proved the ruin of
himself and all the rest of them。 They added; that the marriage
of this woman was made without their consent; and without a
regard to their old laws; and that the worship which this woman
paid 'to her gods' was a reproach to the God whom they
worshipped。 Now Asineus was sensible of his brother's offense;
that it had been already the cause of great mischiefs; and would
be so for the time to come; yet did he tolerate the same from the
good…will he had to so near a relation; and forgiving it to him;
on account that his brother was quite overborne by his wicked
inclinations。 But as more and more still came about him every
day; and the clamors about it became greater; he at length spake
to Anileus about these clamors; reproving him for his former
actions; and desiring him for the future to leave them off; and
send the woman back to her relations。 But nothing was gained by
these reproofs; for as the woman perceived what a tumult was made
among the people on her account; and was afraid for Anileus; lest
he should come to any harm for his love to her; she infused
poison into Asineus's food; and thereby took him off; and was now
secure of prevailing; when her lover was to be judge of what
should be done about her。

6。 So Anileus took the government upon himself alone; and led his
army against the villages of Mithridates; who was a man of
principal authority in Parthin; and had married king Artabanus's
daughter; he also plundered them; and among that prey was found
much money; and many slaves; as also a great number of sheep; and
many other things; which; when gained; make men's condition
happy。 Now when Mithridates; who was there at this time; heard
that his villages were taken; he was very much displeased to find
that Anileus had first begun to injure him; and to affront him in
his present dignity; when he had not offered any injury to him
beforehand; and he got together the greatest body of horsemen he
was able; and those out of that number whic

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