5.Now as Agrippa was a great builder in many places, he paid a peculiar regard to the people of Berytus; for he erected a theater for them, superior to many others of that sort, both in Sumptuousness and elegance, as also an amphitheater, built at vast expenses; and besides these, he built them baths and porticoes, and spared for no costs in any of his edifices, to render them both handsome and large.He also spent a great deal upon their dedication, and exhibited shows upon them, and brought thither musicians of all sorts, and such as made the most delightful music of the greatest variety.He also showed his magnificence upon the theater, in his great number of gladiators;and there it was that he exhibited the several antagonists, in order to please the spectators; no fewer indeed than seven hundred men to fight with seven hundred other men (20) and allotted all the malefactors he had for this exercise, that both the malefactors might receive their punishment, and that this operation of war might be a recreation in peace.And thus were these criminals all destroyed at once.
CHAPTER 8.
What Other Acts Were Done By Agrippa Until His Death; And After What Manner He Died.
1.When Agrippa had finished what I have above related at Berytus, he removed to Tiberias, a city of Galilee.Now he was in great esteem among other kings.Accordingly there came to him Antiochus, king of Commalena, Sampsigeratnus, king of Emesa, and Cotys, who was king of the Lesser Armenia, and Polemo, who was king of Pontus, as also Herod his brother, who was king of Chalcis.All these he treated with agreeable entertainments, and after an obliging manner, and so as to exhibit the greatness of his mind, and so as to appear worthy of those respects which the kings paid to him, by coming thus to see him.However, while these kings staid with him, Marcus, the president of Syria, came thither.So the king, in order to preserve the respect that was due to the Romans, went out of the city to meet him, as far as seven furlongs.But this proved to be the beginning of a difference between him and Marcus; for he took with him in his chariot those other kings as his assessors.But Marcus had a suspicion what the meaning could be of so great a friendship of these kings one with another, and did not think so close an agreement of so many potentates to be for the interest of the Romans.He therefore sent some of his domestics to every one of them, and enjoined them to go their ways home without further delay.This was very ill taken by Agrippa, who after that became his enemy.And now he took the high priesthood away from Matthias, and made Elioneus, the son of Cantheras, high priest in his stead.
2.Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Cesarea, which was formerly called Strato's Tower; and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar, upon his being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety.At which festival a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were of dignity through his province.On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theater early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, (though not for his good,) that he was a god; and they added, "Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery.But as he presently afterward looked up, he saw an owl (21) sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow.A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner.He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, "I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death.But I am bound to accept of what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner." When he said this, his pain was become violent.Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad every where, that he would certainly die in a little time.But the multitude presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the king's recovery.All places were also full of mourning and lamentation.
