./ 
 
 r^ 
 
 L I B RARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 or ILLINOIS 
 
 833
 
 iitaviamnt. 
 
 VOLUME I.
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2009 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/rnariamnehistoric01ogle
 
 jHattamne: 
 an 
 
 f#t0tot:ical j^oUel 
 PaUetine. 
 
 If you will see a pageant truly play'd, 
 Between the pale complexion of true love 
 And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain, 
 Go hence a little, and I shall conduct you, 
 If you will mark it." — as you like it. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 GEO. B. WHITTAKER, 
 
 AVE-MARIA LANE. 
 1825.
 
 LONDON : 
 PRINTED BY R. GILBERT, 
 
 ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.
 
 ^^3 
 
 Co Sit f^aalter g^tottt baronet, ^c.%^c, 
 
 THIS WORK IS, 
 BY HIS PERMISSION, DEDICATED, 
 
 WITH THE 
 SINCEREST SENTIMENTS OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 When so many brilliant pro- 
 ductions of genius are presented to the 
 world, I consider it no common nor 
 inconsiderable honour being allowed to 
 dedicate this humble attempt to you. 
 It will not, I trust, be deemed pre-
 
 IV 
 
 sumptuous in me to say, how great a 
 portion of the pleasure is derived from 
 a conviction, that you who are the 
 most capable of detecting the imper- 
 fections of a work of this nature, will 
 be lenient in your censures, and willing 
 to appreciate any trifling merit it may 
 possess. 
 
 The public only look for success ; and 
 perhaps with reason, pay no attention 
 to the circumstances under which any 
 literary production was composed. To 
 YOU I may say, that these volumes have 
 been written, at intervals, within the 
 last year, when liberated from severer
 
 occupations, and somewhat relieved 
 from deep anxiety. I am conscious 
 that the advice of a critical friend, 
 and an ampler library, would have 
 enabled me to produce a book more 
 worthy of your distinguished accept- 
 ance, and of general notice, and there- 
 fore regret not possessing those advan- 
 tages. 
 
 I wish to explain the reason of my 
 having, in many instances, adopted the 
 language of sacred poetry in the imita- 
 tions of several of the Hebrew parallel- 
 isms. 
 
 It is satisfactorily proved by the
 
 VI 
 
 Lord Bishop of Limerick in his work, 
 so profoundly learned, and of the most 
 refined taste, entitled " Sacred Litera- 
 ture,^' that centos^ from various parts 
 of the Old Testament are to be found 
 in the gospels and apostolical epistles, 
 and those, so adapted as to form per- 
 fect specimens of Hebrew poetry. 
 
 As the Jewish people were, at ari 
 early period of life, accurately in- 
 srtructed in those books which contain, 
 not only their theological but munici- 
 pal laws, and the promises of the Mes- 
 siah ; it may be presumed, that they 
 were well acquainted with their style
 
 vu 
 
 and contents : this opinion is consider- 
 ably strengthened by observing, that 
 references, often amounting to quota- 
 tions, are made by the sacred writers, 
 even when speaking of things to come, 
 and by individuals when under the in- 
 fluence of the passions. 
 
 I have applied the ode sung at the 
 dedication of the first Temple to the 
 feast of tabernacles; its connection 
 with that, admitted to be used, is 
 obvious : reasons could be advanced 
 to support the application, but as it is 
 a matter of no importance, to state 
 them would be irrelative. I have also
 
 Vlll 
 
 availed myself of some topographical 
 uncertainties when it suited my pur- 
 pose. 
 
 That YOU may not deem this ex- 
 planation intrusive; and may long 
 remain to ornament your country and 
 diffuse instruction and amusement to 
 admiring nations, is the sincere^ wish 
 of, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 
 and obliged Servant, 
 
 THE AUTHOR OF MARIAMNE. 
 
 March 10, 1825.
 
 JHariamne* 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The members of the Sanhedrin were convened ; 
 Hyrcanus, the President and High Priest, sat 
 on his elevated seat with his eyes fixed on the 
 entrance of the hall, and with anxiety depicted 
 on his brow. On either side were placed the 
 seventy judges, so ranged as to form a vast 
 semicircle, at the extremity of which were the 
 scribes prepared to commit to writing the words 
 which were uttered after the proceedings had 
 eommenced. 
 
 Some were engaged in earnest conversation, 
 others arranging their tablets, and many, with 
 severity pourtrayed on their countenances, ap- 
 peared absorbed in thought. 
 
 VOL. I. B t^
 
 2 MARIAMNE. 
 
 The lattices were partly closed to exclude the 
 heat and beaming rays of the sun. A gleam of 
 light from a lofty window behind and above 
 the High Priest, illumined a broad space across 
 the centre of the court, falling in its way partly 
 on the face, hand, and robes of Hyrcanus, at- 
 tired in a vest of blue, bound with a wrought 
 girdle of flowers and gold, and adorned with a 
 fringe on which pomegranates were worked, inter- 
 spersed with bells of gold: the rays were re- 
 flected from the sardonyx on his left shoulder, 
 w^hich bore the names of six of the tribes of 
 Israel, and also glittered on a portion of the 
 breastplate of precious stones suspended with 
 strings of blue from rings of the most precious 
 metal. A halo of light seemed burning on the 
 golden plate and sacred words engraven on it, 
 and on the blue and golden swathes of his mitre. 
 
 The Rabbis near him shared in the stream of 
 light, displaying their clear dark faces and care- 
 fully adjusted beards, bright phylacteries orna- 
 mented with passages from the law, the letters 
 of which were formed of precious stones on bril- 
 liant colours, and their flowing robes of graver
 
 MARIAMNE. O 
 
 hues. Those continuing the remoter curves of 
 the semicircle gradually became deeper in sha- 
 dow» and then progressively lighter until the 
 scribes were exposed to the full stream of 
 day. 
 
 A distant murmur attracted the attention of 
 the assembled judges. Hyrcanus slow-mov- 
 ing eye assumed a more animated character, 
 and a shght tinge of red glowed in his dark 
 brown cheek. Immediately after, Herod, the 
 governor of Gahlee, stood in the centre before 
 the President, surrounded by a band of fierce 
 and armed warriors. Silence reigned through 
 the assembly, while every eye was fixed on him. 
 He was in the early prime of manhood ; his 
 open fiery eyes looked slowly round on the 
 whole semicircle, while his dilating nostril and 
 closing mouth too truly told the vengeance kind- 
 ling in his bosom: he moved, and his purple 
 robe unfolding, displayed his gleaming and 
 highly studded arms and corslet. No one spoke ; 
 no accuser appeared ; doubt and awe possessed 
 them. Without turning he beckoned with his 
 finger, and an unhelmed warrior came, who re- 
 b2
 
 4 MARIAMNE. 
 
 ceived on his knee a letter, which he dehvered 
 with profound obeisance to Hyrcanus, saying, 
 *' From Sextus Caesar." He blushed while read- 
 ing it, but a look of satisfaction crossed his 
 face. 
 
 Suddenly Sameas arose, with indignation 
 breathing from his countenance — 
 
 " Ye who are my assessors here, and thoil, O 
 King, have never yet beheld the parallel to this. 
 Those who have hitherto appeared before the San- 
 hedrin of Israel have come submissive, clothed in 
 mourning garments, and with hair dishevelled : 
 but this admirable Herod, accused of murder, 
 and called to take his trial, appears arrayed in 
 purple, with anointed hair and bands of armed 
 men, that he may murdet us if we condemn 
 him by our law, and thus, by overbearing jus- 
 tice, escape death. I complain not against 
 Herod, who is more concerned for his own 
 safety than the laws, but against ye judges, and 
 thou, O King, who can permit him thus to in- 
 sult the Sanhedrin of Israel. Listen, ye be- 
 trayers of rights, the Lord is great, and will not 
 permit his laws thus to be insulted. — That very
 
 MARIAMNE. 5- 
 
 Herod whom you are going to absolve and dis- 
 miss, will hereafter punish you and your 
 king." 
 
 After uttering with solemnity this awful pro- 
 phecy he ceased speaking, but remained stand- 
 ing with his eye scrutinizing the countenance of 
 Hyrcanus, and his arm extended towards Herod. 
 A death-like silence ensued, which was followed 
 by a sudden burst of indignation from many of 
 tbe Rabbis, who called loudly for the condem- 
 nation of the accused. Herod scowled on them 
 a fierce and fearless look, mingled with a con- 
 temptuous smile. His manner excited the wrath 
 and clamour of many of the judges, which H}t- 
 canus allayed by adjourning the Sanhedrin. 
 Herod, breathing defiance, quitted the hall with- 
 out either defending himself or offering a re- 
 mark. 
 
 During: the niffht Hvrcanus warned him to 
 depart," and he fled to Damascus. There he 
 purchased the protection of Sextus Caesar ; sent 
 a defiance to the Sanhedrin, and a refusal to 
 obey the summons to appear before it. 
 
 Herod, conscious of having delivered Galilee 
 b3
 
 b MARIAMNE. 
 
 from terror and plunder, by justly ordering 
 Hezekiah and his freebooters to be executed, 
 was so incensed against the Sanhedrin, that he 
 raised an army, and was on the point of march- 
 ing against Jerusalem with the intention of de- 
 posing Hyrcanus, and punishing those who had 
 voted for his condemnation. He endeavoured 
 to induce his father Antipater, and his elder 
 brother Phasaelus, to join in the enterprise. 
 Antipater, deeply versed in the conflicting opi- 
 nions and interests both of the Jewish sects and 
 Roman power, with difficulty, though aided by 
 Phasaelus, dissuaded him from wreaking his 
 intended vengeance. 
 
 Though the fiery spirit of Herod had been 
 wounded, his capacious understanding perceived 
 the truth of his father's reasons, and he for a 
 time subdued the resentment which lay smo- 
 thering in his bosom. 
 
 Antipater and Phasaelus sped to Jerusalem 
 for the purpose of exercising their influence with 
 Hyrcanus, and Malichus, the next to him in 
 power, as well as to prevent any suspicion of 
 their being leagued with Herod, and to avoid
 
 MARIAMNE. / 
 
 bringing down the excited wrath of the inimical 
 Rabbis on their heads. 
 
 Antipater had been the friend of Mahchus, 
 and had often shielded him from impending 
 danger, but he, unmindful of all these benefits, 
 caused his friend to be poisoned. This act of 
 perfidy and murder inflamed the smouldering 
 vengeance of Herod, who privately applied to 
 Cassius, concealed his suspicions from Malichus, 
 and led him to a spot on his road to Tyre, where 
 a party of Roman soldiers seized and slew him. 
 
 The partisans of Mahchus in Jerusalem in- 
 stigated Hyrcanus to assist them in resenting 
 the death of Malichus on the sons of Antipater. 
 Herod being sick at Damascus, the whole storm 
 assailed his brother Phasaelus, who resisted it 
 with success until Herod arrived, and with him 
 quelled the faction. 
 
 The indolence and incapacity of Hyrcanus, 
 the weakness of the people from their numerous 
 divisions, and the near extinction of the Asmo- 
 nean race, were obvious to the quick and capa- 
 cious understanding of Herod : he saw that his 
 influence, reputation, and close connection with 
 b4
 
 8 MARIAMNE. 
 
 the Roman chiefs, were means by which he 
 would be enabled to gratify his ambition, and 
 aggrandise himself. 
 
 The natural passions were in him as if 
 stamped with an impress of fire. Eveiy affec- 
 tion and influence was ardent while it lasted, 
 and many of them were so deeply imbued in 
 his mind that they tinged every action with 
 their hue. Daring ambition, without the en- 
 chanter's spell, a love of glory, was the lead- 
 ing feature of his character in his eai'ly manhood. 
 The possession of power was the aim of this 
 ambition. The vehemence of his passions and 
 his daring spirit were often opposed to his 
 power of dissimulation and his extraordinaiy 
 craftiness, unless the object was worthy of en- 
 grossing his whole attention. When he reflected 
 on the condition of the Jewish state and his own 
 commanding position, he saw that the way to 
 the throne was open ; the means alone required 
 his deep consideration. 
 
 The evening sacrifice was finished, the priests 
 and people were retiring, when Herod withdrew, 
 and paced with slow and thoughtful steps the
 
 MARIAMNE. U 
 
 hallowed pavement before the temple, while liis 
 mind thus revolved the matter occupying his 
 thoughts. 
 
 " Malichus, whom I punished for murdering 
 his faithful friend, my father, is the adherent 
 and the next in power to the imbecile Prince and 
 Priest Hyrcanus, who must have been conscious 
 of his guilt, since at his palace they were ban- 
 queting when the fatal poison was given him 
 to drink — Is Hyrcanus worthy to rule over the 
 Jewish state ? Shall he be privy to my father's 
 murder, and go unpunished ? — I might cut him 
 off, or accuse him to the Roman. Neither course 
 will do — these stubborn Jews bear an instinctive 
 love to the Asmonean race, and would yell after 
 me like tygresses for their young, and so check 
 me in my full career. To accuse him to the 
 grasping Roman would be a sorry precedent for 
 those who should hereafter take Hyrcanus 
 place. To depose him from the high priesthood 
 for murder would excite the jealous Caesar's anger, 
 and the failure of proof would expose me to the 
 deadly hatred of one, and my assumption of au- 
 thority to the suspicion of the other. Yet will I 
 b5
 
 10 MARIAMNE. 
 
 have my will and be here some one of note, a 
 ruler ; why not their king ? Hyrcanus grandson, 
 Aristobulus, is yet a beardless boy, and cannot be 
 their priest and prince ; the former let him be, 
 so that I were the latter. But I am not of As- 
 monean blood — these circumcised hypocrites will 
 call me in scorn Ascalonite ; yet I will be their 
 ruler and cast back their scorn, I did not make 
 myself, and will not brook their insult. Ha ! I 
 have heard so, and heard whispered too, that the 
 half-besotted, half-genius Antony, spoke highly 
 of her beauty, and that she blushing withdrew 
 with such pride of gait, that even the triumvir 
 felt the majesty of her presence. She is Hyr- 
 canus grandchild, the next to Aristobulus, 
 and the last of the Asmonean race ; I am Go- 
 vernor of Idumsea, and why should I not wive 
 with her, and so become one of the adored 
 race ? Well thought of. The beauteous Mari- 
 amne is the price of Hyrcanus pardon — I will 
 seek the Prince and fathom him." 
 
 He left the Temple, and called, when beyond 
 the outer gate, the captain of his guard and told 
 him, *' Go and march a heavy armed legion
 
 MARIAMNE. 11 
 
 and some troops of horse before the palace, bid 
 them sound their clarions and do all service of 
 respect as they pass the Prince, then lodge them' 
 near the main guard." 
 
 The captain obeyed. 
 
 " That will convince him, before I come, of 
 my power, and perchance, of my respect. If 
 this beauteous Asmonean answers to what I 
 have heard, and I do love her, and that smooth 
 tongued Antony has not captivated her, then 
 shall I have what is needful for my very hfe ; 
 two excitements worthy of my utmost exertion, 
 and of all my thoughts, power, and love ; the 
 former to be obtained by cherishing the latter. 
 A sweeter mode of gaining what my nature was 
 bom to hold could never have been devised ; 
 the very thought alone exhilarates me, and I will 
 hasten to the palace." 
 
 Hyrcanus sat musing on the late events, and 
 chafing at the Idumaean }X)wer which had just 
 been displayed before his palace, when Herod 
 was announced. The Prince received him vvith 
 afFabihty, spoke of the respect so fitly shewn 
 by his soldiers, and admired their warlike ap- 
 b6
 
 12 MARIAMNE. 
 
 pearance. Herod, with some degree of cheer- 
 fulness, yet with emphasis, remarked ; 
 
 " It is fortunate that we are here, for your fac- 
 tions are fierce and numerous, and require your 
 prompt and powerful interference. It has yielded 
 me more than common pleasure to have been your 
 ally, and I may now add, what our ancient 
 friendship sanctions, that I am and shall be 
 ready to receive your commands whenever you 
 deem it necessary to seek my service. If fac- 
 tions rise too high, the Roman may usurp the 
 power that of right belongs to you and your 
 princely race. — How fares your grandson?" 
 
 " He is well, but too much under the in- 
 fluence of Felix, who will, I fear, contaminate 
 the youth." 
 
 '* I should feel most honoured if he would 
 come to Idumgea with me. We have not the 
 delights of Jerusalem to offer him, but many 
 pleasures for which he would vainly seek here. 
 When he pays his duty to you, make known to 
 him your friend's desire. — Is his sister yet affi- 
 anced ?" 
 
 " I wish she were, for I dread the overtures
 
 MARIAMNE. 13 
 
 of one whose senses seem enslaved by excess of 
 sensuality. She will not, she cannot be united 
 to an unbelieving Gentile : and who among the 
 Jewish race is worthy of such an alhance ?" 
 
 '' Those are anxious thoughts for you, Hyr- 
 canus ; and as Time has placed his silver signet 
 on your head, 'twere well if some good chance 
 would turn them into thoughts of joy." 
 
 While conversing on different matters, a door 
 was gently opened, and the bright moon-beams 
 discovered a Hght form robed in white, which 
 starting at the sight of Herod, hastily withdrew, 
 though Hyrcanus twice called ; " Mariamne, 
 come and receive your accustomed blessing be- 
 fore you sleep." 
 
 She did not return. The Tetrarch had seen 
 for a moment her face illuminated by the soft 
 moonlight, and, in an instant, tinged with a 
 blush at having suddenly entered and met the 
 quick glance of a stranger. Herod's ardent feel- 
 ings were greatly excited by the transitory and 
 beautiful vision he had seen ; and he returned 
 to his tent with a mind full of conflicting and 
 quick succeeding thoughts.
 
 14 MARIAMNE. 
 
 He arose earlier than usual, and clothed himself 
 in a tunic of purple silk, which displayed his 
 manly form, by adhering to his person : he wore 
 a glittering helmet of polished brass, with a single 
 crest, from which waved a crimson plume : his 
 sandals were laced with thongs of embroidered 
 gold ; and his remaining dress was composed of 
 white linen, and a robe of state. Without arms 
 and with few attendants, he rode to the palace, 
 and found Hyxcanus returned from the morning 
 service of the temple. After some preliminary 
 conversation, he asked to be made known to 
 the descendants of his race, to whose parents 
 his father had been devoted. Hyrcanus sum- 
 moned Mariamne; she came; and Herod was 
 made known to her. 
 
 The impression of the preceding evening, was 
 more than realised. Mariamne was approach-' 
 ing the age of womanhood. Her manner par- 
 took of all the retiring modesty of her years, 
 mingled with a consciousness of rank, and a 
 natural dignity which added to her soft, 
 feminine, and bewitching beauty. Her form 
 had not attained its full proportion; but pro-
 
 MAEIAMNE. 15 
 
 mised, like the budding flower, to become more 
 perfect. She was above the usual height, with- 
 out being tall, and moved with a native grace 
 that no art can give, and which proved the sym- 
 metry of her proportions. Her hands and feet 
 were also proofs of the high-born race from 
 which she descended. Her luxuriant hair was 
 of the deepest black, soft, shining, and so fine, 
 that the lightest breeze waved its ringlets. Her 
 forehead was large, and of the purest white, 
 which added to the lustre of her dark intelli- 
 gent and expressive eyes, whose softness was 
 improved by the long lashes, which seemed to 
 terminate at their points in a line of softened 
 light. Her nose was slightly aquiline. Her 
 mouth was closed, yet finely marked, and round 
 it gentleness and loveliness balanced the firm- 
 ness and command which were indicated by 
 these features. The shape of her face was per- 
 fect. She seemed formed to be adored, and 
 yet to command with soft and irresistible dig- 
 nity. Her simple attire, if possible, added to 
 her winning beauty. — A light veil, embroidered 
 jround the edge with gold, was fastened beneath
 
 16 MARIAMNE. 
 
 her floating hair, and fell behind her right 
 shoulder over her curiously ornamented vest, 
 which reached her neck. She wore a robe 
 open from her shoulders to her girdle, and 
 covering below the knee ; the usual eastern 
 dress fastened above the ancle with bracelets of 
 gold and gems. Her white and silver orna- 
 mented sandal served to display the still purer 
 colour of the snowy spaces between its fasten- 
 ings and the bracelets. 
 
 Herod could not suppress the ardent admira- 
 tion he felt : his intent gaze brought a passing 
 blush to her face, which added to the fire 
 kindHng in his heart. 
 
 The High Priest was suddenly summoned 
 away. Mariamne would have retired, but Herod 
 in a gentle and anxious voice asked for her 
 brother. At the mention of his name, her 
 countenance was lighted up ; for she loved him, 
 not only as a brother, but as the last scion of 
 her race, of which she was deeply and justly 
 proud. 
 
 " Felix has been with him for some days 
 past, instructing him, I hear, in the mutual
 
 MARIAMNE. 17 
 
 engagements between our State and the Roman 
 Power." 
 
 The precedence given to Judaea informed the 
 Tetrarch of her sentiments on that head, and 
 increased yet more his admiration. 
 
 " Those engagements will, I trust, be useful 
 to your people, and secure your government. 
 Should Aristobulus rule hereafter in Jerusalem, 
 I doubt not, being an Asmonean Prince, he 
 will maintain his birthright." 
 
 While he spoke these words, Mariamne's coun- 
 tenance was lighted up with more than usual 
 animation, and she looked on him as if his 
 words were such as she had longed to hear; 
 then, with some emphasis, remarked, 
 
 '* My Sire deplores, that numerous factions 
 harass us. Oh that all the promised land were 
 as one in feeling and in action !" 
 
 *' What then?" asked the admiring warrior, 
 with gentle accent. 
 
 " Our Temple would not be profaned ; our 
 holy laws over-ruled ; our people divided ; and 
 our land a prey." 
 
 The ardent Herod could not contain his ad-
 
 18 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 miration : his eyes were sparkling with deHght, 
 and his heart beating with unwonted quickness, 
 he eagerly exclaimed, — 
 
 " You utter my thoughts, — your bosom burns 
 with feehngs that have long been mine. My 
 fathers were devoted to your noble parents ; 
 and I, with greater power, inherit their devotion. 
 The interest of your race is mine. Oh, beaute- 
 ous Mariamne, I trust the hour may come, when 
 I may aid your brother in re-establishing peace 
 and union among his people." 
 
 As he spoke, her eyes assumed a look of 
 gratitude, — as if the wish nearest her heart had 
 been unexpectedly fulfilled. Her expression 
 partook of tenderness, which added fuel to iiis 
 rising passion. 
 
 Hyrcanus returned ; and Mariamne retired, 
 bidding Herod farewell, in a manner expressive 
 of her satisfaction. She had scarcely closed the 
 door when, turning to the High Priest, he said ; 
 
 " Well might Antony bestow his praises on 
 such a woman as Mariamne. What, Sire, did 
 he say of her ? What wishes did he express 
 concerning her? Did he desire to make her a
 
 MARIAMNE. 19 
 
 handmaid to his Egyptian mistress? Did he 
 seek to pluck the flower, then leave it to be 
 crushed or poisoned by that subtle and vicious 
 woman ? You know, Hyrcanus, that our races 
 have long held together ; and I trust that 
 nothing now will part them. — Tell me, as your 
 friend, the fears, the hopes you have for Mari- 
 amne, and her brother." 
 
 " I have fewer fears for him than for her. 
 The people, of every faction, will uphold his 
 succeeding to the Priesthood and the Throne. — 
 With Herod's aid, and his own discretion, he 
 may long reign here ; but for Mariamne, I have 
 many sad forebodings. Antony may turn his 
 admiration to a demand of her in marriage : 
 then, between him and some right to the Jewish 
 throne, would be, only the young and inex- 
 perienced Aristobulus. She would refuse a 
 heathen and a gross idolater ; but what could 
 all her resolution do ag"ainst his power ? These 
 thoughts perplex me, and seem destined to 
 bring down, like our father Jacob's, my gray 
 hairs with son'ow to the grave." 
 
 " Hyrcanus, we will talk of this again. — I
 
 20 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 hear the summons of my guards, who ivre to 
 return to day to Idumaea : and I must see t'^em," 
 — he did obeisance, and retired. 
 
 He rode to his tent, not pondering or calmly 
 reflecting on what had passed, but, with high 
 and ardent spirits that such an enterprise was 
 open to him, and with love fast firing every 
 thought. He addressed, with uncommon ani- 
 mation, those around him : scattered praises, 
 and presents, and promotion, among his men : 
 and, when armed to review his troops, com- 
 manded with a louder voice ; and often tried, in 
 sport, the mettle of his war-horse. 
 
 Those who knew him were certain that some 
 great matter was on his mind, and soon sur- 
 mises and reports pervaded the camp, and all 
 partook of his exhilaration.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Herod sought his sister and confidante Salome : 
 on his communicating to her his love and admi- 
 ration for Mariamne, and some of the advan- 
 tages of an alliance 's^ith her, she eagerly ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " Would you repudiate the gentle Doris, and 
 leave your first-bom son ? What will your Idu- 
 mseans say at your desertion of the woman of 
 their nation ? Do not suffer this foolish passion 
 to lead you headlong to destruction." 
 
 He avoided mentioning his intention of di- 
 vorcing Doris, but long and zealously urged the 
 advantages of being allied to the Asmonean 
 race, and pointed out the path it opened to 
 power and wealth. She on the other hand 
 pleaded for Doris, and placed the jealousy and 
 factious spirit of the Jews as insuperable objec-
 
 22 MARIAMNE. 
 
 tions to his attempting to obtain the government 
 of Jerusalem. She told him of the popularity, 
 the beauty and ability of Aristobulus, who would 
 assume, on Hyrcanus death or resignation, the 
 sacerdotal and regal power, supported by the 
 whole Jewish people. Herod's determination 
 had been fixed, and he sought rather the sanc- 
 tion than the advice of his sister : he left her 
 chagrined, but not shaken in his purpose. 
 
 Salome being alone gave way to such thoughts 
 as were natural to her. 
 
 " He will pursue and gain his end unless some 
 unexpected means are taken to deter him. This 
 Mariamne is, I hear, the counterpart of Doris : I 
 can sway her to my purposes, for she is what the 
 world calls amiable, that is, a fool, who thinks of 
 others* good and pleasure before her own, and 
 believes and yields to those suggestions which 
 stronger reason points out to wiser heads, as the 
 mode of gaining what they want. Mariamne is 
 young and beautiful, wise and prudent, and with 
 such ovei^weening pride of birth and rank, that she 
 estimates and treats with chilling superiority all 
 around her. If she does thus while young, what 
 13
 
 MARIAMNE. 23 
 
 will become of Herod and his race when a little 
 knowledge of villainy is instilled into her by 
 holding commerce with her fellow mortals ? We 
 shall all be trampled on by this Asmonean, and 
 perhaps discarded, or permitted to become her 
 satellites. Herod is in love ; I might as well at- 
 tempt to stop the tempest as to cool his fiery 
 temperament. I may raise a counter storm 
 within his bosom and so neutrahse this first 
 burst of passion. Did not Antony admire her 
 budding beauty ? — I will know more .^of this- 
 Princess. First I will seek her mother Alexandra, 
 then act as occasion may require. Doris is 
 fonned for my purposes, but not for the wife of 
 Herod : this does not concern me, that does, 
 and therefore she shall, if I can compass it, re- 
 main so." 
 
 She attired herself and went to Alexandra. 
 Salome with consummate art informed her that 
 shexame by her brother's order to console with 
 her» and to ascertam if there was any thing in 
 which either of them could serve her. She gra- 
 dually brought the conversation to the health, 
 pursuits, and expected visit of her son to Idu-
 
 24 MARIAMNE. 
 
 maea ; the anxiety she felt concerning his future 
 estabhshment in Jerusalem, as well as for the 
 welfare of Mariamne. Of the latter she spoke 
 as being a lovely child, over whom not only 
 Alexandra must anxiously watch, but for whom 
 all those as sincerely devoted as herself and her 
 brother, must think with the deepest interest. 
 She continued — 
 
 " My parents ever spoke of her and Aristo- 
 bulus as of beings for whom they were ready to 
 sacrifice all they possessed, and even their lives : 
 it has ever been a source of deep regret to my 
 mother and to us all, that we have been from 
 circumstances prevented continuing the service 
 which we were accustomed to pay; that acci- 
 dental separation has far from weakened our 
 attachment, and as a proof, I have hastily 
 sought you, that I might make known some in- 
 fomiation which has reached me through a cap- 
 tain who conducted the ship in which Antony 
 sailed. This man affirmed to me, as being your 
 friend, that he had warmly praised your daugh- 
 ter's beauty, and spoke of coming to Jerusalem. 
 "We know his power, and we know his lawless
 
 MARIAMNE. 25 
 
 violence when his vicious pleasures are to be 
 gratified, so prepare to oppose the danger which 
 threatens you. Did Antony ever speak of 
 Mariamne when he saw her here? Had he 
 much converse with her thouo;h a child ? Is she 
 aware of his great admiration of her?" 
 
 Salome was silent. Alexandra cunning, yet 
 weak, violent, and vacillating, and ever consider- 
 ing herself, before even her children, though half 
 suspecting some sinister intention, said, that 
 " Antony admired Mariamne, was oftener at the 
 palace than she liked, and once, in sport, told 
 her that she was more beautiful than the Paphian 
 Queen, and he w^ould have the goddess' statue 
 taken down, give her the isle of Cythera, proclaim 
 her w orship, and be first among the adorers at 
 her shrine. The simple child smiled at him, 
 and innocently repUed, * I should like to have 
 an island of my own and be a queen, and see 
 all my subjects love me ; so you have only to 
 fulfil your promise.' He vowed to keep his 
 word. We know what strange impressions 
 slight things sometimes make on men. Your 
 intelligence makes me apprehend that Antony 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 26 MARIAMNE. 
 
 has laid some stress on the unmeaning answer 
 of my child." Salome asked with a voice of 
 concern, " Has she ever spoken of Antony since 
 he departed, or referred to his wanton speech V 
 
 *' Once, soon after, she jocularly referred to 
 the incident ; of late I have heard her only say 
 that he looked noble, and had more winning 
 manners than our Rabbis : but she detests the 
 very name of Gentile, and looks on such an 
 idolater as Antony with horror." 
 
 '' That is natural. I wish for your permission 
 to renew the friendship I ever bore her. When 
 you next go to Hyrcanus palace, may I accom- 
 pany you?" 
 
 " Salome your advice and affection will be most 
 valuable. Should you hear more of that lawless 
 chieftain's praises, for friendship's sake make 
 them known to me immediately; accept my 
 thanks for coming so quickly. — You can, I per- 
 ceive, enter into an anxious mother's feehngs." 
 
 Salome returned home with malicious joy, 
 
 and armed with more weapons than she had 
 
 hoped to obtain against the peace of Mari- 
 
 amne. Her first wish was to converse with 
 
 13
 
 MARIAMNE. 27 
 
 Herod, but he had been called away on some 
 affair of consequence. In the intervening time 
 Alexandra had taken her to the palace, and 
 left her with Mariamne. — She expressed her 
 surprise and admiration to Alexandra in the 
 warmest terms; but when alone her jealous 
 vengeance knew no restraint. 
 
 " So this Asmonean is as I thought, more proud 
 than Satan, and so lovely that she might be a 
 fallen angel : her beauty shall be the means of pu- 
 nishing her pride. She dared to keep me stand- 
 ing for more than a minute's space — She, a child 
 — one whose dignity could be crumbled to ruin by 
 my brother ; and this woman to be his wife, and 
 rule triumphant over his race ! I know, her beauty 
 and that cursed pride, called dignity by men, 
 would win a host. If she becomes Herod's 
 wife, I am no longer his confidante and equal, 
 but his slave. She treated me with contumely ; 
 instead of bidding me a friendly welcome, and 
 placing me in a seat of honour, she dared to 
 keep me like a menial standing, and address 
 me in cold and foraial words. That's an insult 
 Salome will not allow to pass unpunished. I 
 c 2
 
 28 MARIAMNE. 
 
 will revenge it. She Herod's wife. — One ready- 
 to be the queen of Cythera, and Antony's — the 
 winning Antony's, concubine. Not, if Salome 
 can prevent it." 
 
 Herod returned with the intelligence that 
 Antony would soon arrive at Tyre, in his march 
 to Asia. Salome availed herself of the first 
 opportunity of conferring with him. She met 
 him with more than usual tenderness ; and, on 
 observing him carefully adorned, enquired the 
 reason. On learning that he was on his way to 
 the palace, she embraced him ; and, with gentle- 
 ness, besought him to reflect more calmly on 
 what he seemed so eager to accomplish, and to 
 think of Doris, whose attachment and love were 
 all he could desire. 
 
 Herod, over whom Salome exercised consi- 
 derable influence, calmed by her apparent con- 
 cern for his welfare, and the gentleness of her 
 manner, besought her not to be apprehensive 
 for the peace of Doris, nor mistrustful of the 
 woman to whom he wished to unite himself. 
 To this she replied, with tears, — 
 
 *' How can I feel ought but deep anxiety and
 
 MARIAMNE. 29 
 
 great unhappiness, when my brother, to whom I 
 owe so much, is on the eve of taking to his 
 bosom a woman, by whose beauty alone he has 
 been captivated, but of whose affections and 
 character he knows so little ;" 
 
 " Of her affections, Salome, there is nothing: 
 to learn, excepting that she adores her brother, 
 and reveres Hyrcanus. She has had no contact 
 with men, save a few old grizzled rabbis. Her 
 character is extolled in Jerusalem as most kind 
 and noble : her attendants too perform their 
 service with that reaainess wnicn snt;v,-s now 
 they esteem her. All this added to her sur- 
 passing beauty, makes me most anxious to wed 
 her, if she will but consent." 
 
 Salome, after some hesitation, m a kind and 
 enquiring voice, asked him ; 
 
 " Did Antony ever see her ? Did he ever ad- 
 mire her? Is he coming to T\Te? Do you know 
 if she remembers Antony ? Herod, before you 
 suffer your passion to hurry you away, know 
 more ; for be assured, that if the Triumvir is your 
 rival, you have only to expect what you cannot 
 bear, — disappointment and wounded pride." 
 c 3
 
 30 MARIAMNE. 
 
 Herod, with animation, answered, 
 
 " The very name of an heathen is hateful to 
 her : moreover she has not seen this formidable 
 rival, who exists only in your imagination, for 
 years, and perhaps has forgotten all concerning 
 him but his name." 
 
 Salome, feigning tears, looked at him, then 
 said with considerable emphasis, — 
 
 " My affection for you induced me to see 
 Alexandra, who told me, in confidence, that 
 Antony had admired her, and said some things 
 to her which gave her more than common plea- 
 sure : so do not depend too much on his being a 
 heathen ruler." 
 
 " She was a child, Salome, and might have 
 been pleased at the notice of so renowned a man 
 as Antony, but nothing more." 
 
 " Her knowledge of the Law, and of the 
 sacred doctrines of her faith, were well known 
 by her in common with her people, and yet she 
 felt no disgust, but even pleasure, at this hea- 
 then's amorous speeches, — at least, so her 
 mother told me." 
 
 " Amorous speeches ! — Her mother's fear of
 
 MARIAMNE. 31 
 
 Antony has conjured up these idle thoughts. 
 What did he say?"' 
 
 " More than he ought ; and in so captivating 
 a manner, that they have not been forgotten." 
 
 " Not forgotten! — Perhaps remembered to be 
 laughed at. But what were these speeches so 
 well calculated to leave a deep impression on a 
 woman's mind ?" 
 
 " Since, Herod, you are bent on marrying 
 Mariamne, I condemn myself for permitting my 
 sisterly affection to carry me so far. We will 
 say no more. She was a child when it occurred ; 
 and if she was not wise, it was no more than 
 what is common." 
 
 He assumed a more decided look and man- 
 ner, then exclaimed, — 
 
 " Salome, she has been injuriously spoken of 
 by her mother. I see that her apprehensions 
 have made her attach consequence to circum- 
 stances which would have been forgotten, if 
 fear had not existed. I will marry Mariamne 
 come what may, and thus unite myself to the 
 Asmonean race, and so " 
 
 " What, Herod, marry the woman who was 
 c 4
 
 32 MARIAMNE. 
 
 pleased when promised that her image should 
 be placed where the statue of Venus stands ; 
 and at being made the queen of love, with 
 Antony for her idolater?" 
 
 " The tale is false, and invented for some cursed 
 end. Salome, Alexandra has deceived you." 
 
 " If so, let Herod marry one who now speaks 
 of Antony — of the wmning Aijtony ; of him who 
 proposed to make her a heathen goddess — a 
 queen — and higher yet — his concubine. Brother, 
 let not your noble blood be soiled by such foul 
 contact. Now I have done a sister's duty. — Go ; 
 and flame forth your love for one who waits for 
 Antony to come and fulfil all his promises." 
 
 " She may remember Antony. He may have 
 made that offer ; for it accords with his nature, 
 and his usual conduct : but I do not credit her 
 pleasing remembrance of such things. I will 
 see her, and soon discover if Antony's arrival is 
 looked for with pleasure, and soon know if she 
 will accept of Herod. The very thought that 
 she may love Antony, fires me with tenfold de- 
 sire to be hers. I will hasten to the palace. Yet, 
 thanks Salome for this proof of your affection."
 
 MARIAMNE. 33 
 
 He departed, leaving Salome disappointed 
 and angry. She was convinced that her at- 
 tempts to prevent his marriage would prove 
 fruitless, and began to vibrate between two 
 lines of conduct, — the one to recal all she had 
 said, conscious, from a knowledge of her 
 brother^s character, that the impression would 
 never be effaced while Antony hved ; and en- 
 deavour, by every means, to gain the confidence 
 of Mariamne, and thus obtain materials where- 
 with to work her ruin : the other, to rouse the 
 suspicions of her brother, and endeavour to call 
 the attention of Antony towards the woman 
 whom she had marked for her victim. While 
 pondering on which of these infernal schemes 
 she should adopt, she perceived, that both of 
 them could be pursued ; and, therefore, resolved 
 to cultivate the friendship of Alexandra, and, at 
 the same time, seek for a fit person to commu- 
 nicate the account of the transcendent beauty 
 of Mariamne to Antony, and her recollection of 
 his winning address. While this Erynnis was 
 plotting her brother's misery, and Mariamne's 
 ruin, Doris, with her infant son, entered her 
 c5
 
 34 MARIAMNE. 
 
 apartment, and poured out her lamentation to 
 her supposed friend : — 
 
 " I have watched him to the palace. Phari- 
 bel, my attendant's sister, who waits on Mari- 
 amne, has told her, that the Princess speaks of 
 him in terms of warm admiration. Oh, Salome, 
 I am undone ; and my child will be cast away 
 hke another Ishmael ; and this Asmonean first 
 rob me of my Herod's love, and then thrust me 
 forth to be a mark for every scornful enemy to 
 jeer at. She is young, beautiful, of royal pede- 
 gree, and proud, — I have only the love of a de- 
 voted wife to weigh against such numberless 
 attractions ; and that, with men, will weigh but 
 little — perchance enough to gain their pity. 
 Tell me, Salome, what shall I do to save my 
 child and myself from such misery? She will 
 not suffer him to take advantage of our law, 
 and retain me as his wife. She will stipulate 
 for my being repudiated — driven from him. 
 Perhaps she will not yield to him until I am 
 forced to become some other's wife. Wife ! did 
 I say? No; some other's woman. For he 
 cannot, by the Jewish law, divorce me but for
 
 MARIAMNE. 35 
 
 being an adulteress ; that I will never be. So if 
 he attempts to unite me to some other, I will 
 seek refuge in death, rather than make my 
 husband guilty of such a crime, which would 
 be, if without the first cause, he should put me 
 away and join me to another, since he would be 
 the cause, and so (like the accessory of crime) 
 guilty." 
 
 Salome did not expect to see grief as violent 
 frpm one so gentle, and apparently so little sus- 
 ceptible ; it proved Doris love for Herod, and 
 seemed to point her out as an engine where- 
 with to wreak her vengeance on the unoffending 
 Princess. She embraced her, wept with her, 
 consoled her, and enquired if she knew any thing 
 of Mariamne. Doris knew nothing more than 
 was publicly reported, and received the intelli- 
 gence of Antony's admiration with eagerness, 
 and as the only hope remaining which might 
 deter her husband from marrying her. 
 
 Salome had always looked on Doris as a weak 
 
 and simple woman who was to be used for any 
 
 purposes she wished : finding that her spirit and 
 
 her fears were roused, she artfully worked on 
 
 c6
 
 36 MARIAMNE. 
 
 them still more, then proposed to her, that " in- 
 formation should be given to Antony, not only 
 of Mariamne's beauty, but of Herod's love." 
 
 Scarcely had the words passed Salome's lips 
 than Doris exclaimed — 
 
 " Oh no, say nothing of his love, for the re- 
 morseless Antony would cut him off, and then 
 I should be my husband's murderer. Let my 
 child perish, and let me be abandoned and for- 
 gotten, but for mercy's sake place not Herod in 
 any danger. Were he to meet with evil at my 
 hands it would kill me. Think Salome of some 
 other scheme to save me." 
 
 She thought for a moment, then asked — 
 
 " Is there not a captain in the guard who will 
 go with Herod when he attends the Court of the 
 Triumvir, and who once served in his train ?" 
 
 " Yes, there is one Aulenus, who speaks much 
 of Antony, and of those about his person ; he 
 will doubtless go to Tyre if Herod goes. But 
 what of him? He looks a dark browed dan- 
 gerous man." 
 
 « Is he attached to Herod ?" 
 
 *' Greatly, for he saved him from death, and
 
 MARIAMNE. 37 
 
 has advanced him ; though I think he would 
 rather serve with Antony because he often speaks 
 of him." 
 
 " Enough, Doris, leave the affair ^^dth me, 
 and I will try and save us both from the rule of 
 this proud Asmonean." 
 
 Salome curbed her violence until she was 
 alone, then vented bitter sarcasms on the gentle 
 Doris, and smiled with contempt at her not de- 
 siring to resent her husband's desertion. She 
 at the same time discovered that her high prin- 
 ciples and love for Herod w^ould never allow her 
 to participate in any plan which, though it might 
 destroy Mariamne, would endanger him. 
 
 Although Herod had treated hghtly the in- 
 formation given him by his sister, the impression 
 made on his mind was quite as strong as she 
 expected. He conversed on affairs of import- 
 ance wdth Hyrcanus, and learnt that he was far 
 from being desirous of seeing Antony at Jeru- 
 salem, and even hinted at removing Mariarone 
 if he came. The expression of this intention 
 was to Herod some confirmation of what he had 
 heard, and tended to excite suspicion of her
 
 38 MARIAMNE, 
 
 being more interested for Antony than was ad- 
 vantageous to his views. 
 
 The connection that had previously existed 
 between Herod's father and the Asmonean fa- 
 mily permitted him to hold some intercourse with 
 Mariamne. When he told her of the Triumvir's 
 near approach, and of the expectation enter- 
 tained of his visiting Jerusalem, he observed her 
 with considerable soUcitude, but did not per- 
 ceive the most transient indication of pleasure 
 appear on her brow. He was too seriously af- 
 fected to be contented with so indefinite a solu- 
 tion of the doubt which had almost unconsci- 
 ously stolen into his mind, and so pursued his 
 purpose. 
 
 " Do you remember this man, whose fame has 
 spread far and wide, whose power is almost with- 
 out limits, and whose beauty 'and address charm 
 and win all with whom he communicates ?" 
 
 " My recollection of him is faint, but my 
 knowledge of him does not make me estimate 
 him as others do." 
 
 " Has the protection shewn by him to your peo- 
 ple excited feelings of gratitude and admiration?"
 
 MARIAMNE. 39 
 
 She looked at Herod with an expression com- 
 posed of surprise and some mistrust, then, as it 
 were, remembering, answered — 
 
 '' The Roman has forced on us his protection ; 
 perhaps Judaea would be more powerful and more 
 tranquil under the exclusive dominion of her 
 Princes and her holy laws. The base idolatry of 
 the Roman has made me think Jerusalem pol- 
 luted with their presence." 
 
 " Some of them have offered sacrifice in the tem- 
 ple, and shewTi respect to your sacred institutions." 
 
 " Yes, and they would bow the knee and 
 offer worship and sacrifice to an hundred shrines, 
 from their Jupiter to the rude mis-shapen rep- 
 tile of a foul Egyptian conjuror ; it is a subject 
 on which I feel most deeply. I have seen your 
 sister, pray greet her from me — when do you re- 
 turn to Idumaea ?" 
 
 Herod had watched the indignation which 
 fired Mariamne's bosom, and saw that she not 
 only hated their dominion over them, but was 
 zealous against them as Heathens, with whom 
 no intercourse should be held. His admiration 
 of her noble spirit added to his increasing love,
 
 40 MARIAMNE. 
 
 and removed the doubts that Had perplexed him. 
 He repHed, 
 
 " The dehght I have in staying here has been 
 so much increased by the renewal of my attach- 
 ment to your house, and by the service of your 
 temple, that I cannot say when I shall return to 
 Idumaea. Even if you were to command me to 
 depart I question if I could obey you." 
 
 He accompanied these words with an intense 
 animated and enquiring look, which Mariamne 
 could not meet; she directed her attention to 
 some trivial object, and did not reply. His 
 ardent spirit being ignited, he continued — 
 
 " Will you, beauteous Mariamne, reverse the 
 order, and bid me stay ?" 
 
 She turned towards him, and while her crim- 
 soned cheek and expressive eye told that she 
 guessed his meaning, said, 
 
 " I have neither the will nor power to bid you 
 go or stay — the Governor of Galilee will not even 
 heed our Sanhedrin. It must be some heathen 
 chieftain, who can and would enforce his order, 
 that must command you, not a young and inex- 
 perienced woman."
 
 MARIAMNE. 41 
 
 " I would have obeyed your Sanhedrin if all 
 had been as just as your Prince and Sameas, 
 but I could not yield myself a sacrifice to an 
 unjust faction, for protecting my people and pu- 
 nishing the most cruel murderers and plun- 
 derers." 
 
 " Was that the truth ?" 
 
 ** Indeed it was : I ordered a leader of fero- 
 cious banditti and some of his associates to be 
 tried by military law, for slaying a priest and 
 offering horrid violence to his family ; the San- 
 hedrin summoned me, I came as befitted my 
 rank and innocence, and heard a cry for my 
 condemnation; if Hyrcanus had not adjourned 
 the council, I might have been put to death for 
 protecting your priesthood. I trust, Mariamne, 
 that Aristobulus will hereafter quell these dan- 
 gerous divisions, and so strengthen your people." 
 
 She smiled her thanks and said, 
 
 " I hope so too ; and wish that every governor 
 would protect his people as actively as you do." 
 
 " The Roman, with all his power, could not 
 enforce such ready obedience from Herod as 
 Mariamne can ; I could rebel for sport against
 
 42 MARIAMNE. 
 
 even Antony, but Mariamne holds me in thral- 
 dom, and I own myself her willing slave." 
 
 She rejoined with some agitation — 
 
 " These are strange expressions, I know not 
 how to interpret them — I have no controul over 
 a yomig and ambitious warrior." 
 
 Herod, curbing his ardent feelings, reverently 
 continued, 
 
 '' One, whose greatest ambition is to be united 
 to the Asmonean race, and, like his forefathers, 
 pass his days in serving them. Such, beauteous 
 beloved Mariamne, would be the summit of my 
 glory." 
 
 She arose, blushing and embarrassed, to depart. 
 Again he spoke, as he gently took her hand and 
 interposed between her and the entrance — 
 
 *' Princess, I am serious ; only one question 
 will I ask, then leave you to tell Hyrcanus that 
 I have declared my love for you — has Antony or 
 any other man a prior claim to your affection ?" 
 
 She raised her eyes, their modest softened 
 look was encreased by the tear that trembled on 
 her eye-hd, and fell on Herod's hand. 
 
 " No one, not even Herod, has a claim on my
 
 MARIAMXE. 43 
 
 affection. I have heard much of you, and must 
 know more before we meet again." 
 
 She disengaged her hand and left him. 
 
 He watched her receding form as she hurried 
 with hasty and uneven steps from the long and 
 narrow gallery, then thus communed with himself: 
 
 " She think of Antony — no, she spurns 
 him, and looks kindly on me — such nobihty of 
 spirit, wisdom, and surpassing beauty were 
 enough to satiate even my restless soul, though 
 it were not added to the influence her alliance 
 would give me. She would calm down my fiery 
 spirit, and make me fit for Heaven ; I cannot 
 look on her and not feel that I am her inferior 
 in all that is truly good and great : her dignity 
 seems not of earth but of some superhuman 
 creature. Antony shewed his discernment when 
 he proposed to make a goddess of her. — He 
 possess such a celestial gift — he, a Heathen, a 
 half-witted besotted fool, falling into the snares 
 of that Egyptian wanton, who will some day 
 get another paramour who can pay higher for 
 her favours ; and then, alas, poor Antony ! She 
 think him winning — why she hates him, and
 
 44 MARIAMNE. 
 
 thinks his presence pollution, and his protection 
 insult. Profound Salome — she will overtop you, 
 and you can lead the soft and kind-hearted 
 
 Doris. 1 will marry her, but not till Antony 
 
 is far away. — I must now return and wait for 
 news from Tyre." 
 
 Whatever might have been the apprehensions 
 of Herod his countenance did not pourtray 
 them. His eyes sparkled and his cheeks were 
 flushed as if joy was reveUing in his mind. He 
 rode quickly along, and entered his abode 
 with smiles of pleasure playing on his lips. 
 He went to his private apartment and saw 
 Doris sitting on the ground with sackcloth on 
 her head, and her eyes bathed in tears : he 
 started and closed the door. She rose from the 
 ground, and kneeling at his feet, with an humble 
 and supplicating voice besought him — 
 
 " Do not desert me — I have ever loved and ho- 
 noured you, and thought my chief happiness was 
 in pleasing and obeying you. Oh ! that I had heard 
 before of your visiting this Asmonean ; now it is 
 too late, and I am undone, for your eye was beam- 
 ing with that pleasure which I once watched for.
 
 MARIAMNE. 45 
 
 and your cheek was flushed as it is wont to be 
 when success has crowTied your enterprise. She 
 has I see accepted you, and I am to be re- 
 pudiated and scorned — Herod, send me not away 
 from you, I will be your slave, and when toil and 
 sickness oppress you, be, as I have ever been, 
 your nurse. I will ask no honour from you ; I 
 will not even seek for one smile, so that I am 
 still with you — O Herod, cast not your once 
 loved Doris from you !" 
 
 She wept. Herod raised her from the ground, 
 and though angry at her having discovered his 
 secret, he stifled it, and said— 
 
 " Doris, Mariamne has not accepted me — were 
 I for our mutual safety and welfare to wed her, why 
 should I repudiate you? Does not our law permit 
 me to have more wives than one ? — Our patri- 
 archs, prophets, kings and priests, from the days 
 of Abraham, have had and loved more wives than 
 one; no prophet ever rebuked them for their 
 polygamy, or enumerated it among the sins of 
 Israel ; what was not sin then can never be con- 
 veiled into it : so do not fear, I will yet love 
 Doris were Mariamne to become my bride."
 
 46 MARIAMNE. 
 
 She sorrowfully, yet with some animation, re- 
 plied ; 
 
 *' Your words bestow but little comfort; I 
 cannot comprehend how men can love more 
 than one — if they aver they can, they never felt 
 that heavenly fire, one of the last sad remnants 
 of our primseval state. If man can feel a touch 
 of love save for one, and one alone, he does not 
 love, but is descending to the state of the beasts 
 that prowl or graze : I cannot brook the division 
 of such love with even Mariamne — yet I cannot 
 leave you and live." 
 
 Again she sunk at his feet, and implored him 
 with bitter tears, and bade him heed lest ambi- 
 tion should lead him on until he fell to be a bye- 
 wt)rd to those he had upheld. 
 
 At first Herod appeared affected at her appeal, 
 but the fatal passion was too deeply implanted, 
 and her last words brought a pageant of thrones 
 and wealth and glory across his vivid imagina- 
 tion, he stamped and furiously exclaimed — 
 
 " Let me hear no more of this puling g-uile— Is 
 it not the custom of your nation, (and that sanc- 
 tioned by your God through all the kings and pro-
 
 MARIAMNE. 47 
 
 phets of your people) for men to have more than 
 one wife ? So it is forbidden to repudiate one to 
 take another, therefore you will retain your rank 
 and honour, and, unless you destroy it, an equal 
 share of my affection — you forsooth would have 
 it all. The best proof of love is forbearance, and 
 a total disregard of self; it is nourished by see- 
 ing the beloved object happy, prosperous, and 
 enjoying pleasure, but you would have me go 
 back to Idumaea, live like some water-blooded 
 slave, and love you, and play with babies — By 
 Jove, Herod was not born for such domestic 
 pleasures — Mariamne w^U raise your rustic 
 thoughts, and teach you how to value Herod, 
 and when you have learnt the lesson he may 
 love you as he did." 
 
 He left her weeping and overwhelmed with 
 grief and fear, and sent to Hyrcanus to claim an 
 audience of him. 
 
 His interview was brief and conclusive, for 
 Hyrcanus accepted with satisfaction the propo- 
 sition of Herod ; though, at the same time, he 
 expressed (forgetful of his office) a hope that no 
 other w^oman would have the title of his wife.
 
 48 MARIAMNE. 
 
 and observed that the acceptance must come 
 from Mariamne, sanctioned by her mother and 
 Aristobiilus. Herod, without hesitation, told 
 him, that no one could or should share that 
 name with an Asmonean princess, and re- 
 quested permission to see Mariamne that he 
 might know if she would permit him to pro- 
 pound the matter to Alexandra. 
 
 Hyrcanus went to her, and prepared her for 
 the interview. She returned, led by the High 
 Priest, who soon retired. 
 
 The sight of Mariamne leaning on Hyrcanus 
 arm, with looks cast down, and which she gently 
 raised on entering the room, banished every 
 thought from Herod's mind, and left admiration 
 and love to usurp dominion over him. His 
 fervid nature responded to the glowing passion, 
 and he became enamoured of the young and 
 lovely princess, forgetful of all the advantages 
 which he had calculated would accrue to him 
 from the alliance. Scarcely had Hyrcanus left 
 them when he approached her. She had risen 
 when the Prince retired, and was leaning on the 
 ivory seat of state which was near. With an
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 49 
 
 ardent, yet agitated look, and with an altered 
 voice he spoke as he raised her unresisting hand. 
 
 " Mariamne, I love you ; it is with fear I tell 
 you so : but Hyrcanus favours my hopes, or it 
 seems, from what I feel, that my courage would 
 have failed me. — Have I your permission to tell 
 your mother so? — You are silent— Nay, answer 
 me. — You will not scorn me, though I am not a 
 crowned kins;." 
 
 A tear fell from her eye, and he again urged 
 his suit — 
 
 '' Speak to me Mariamne ; you are holding 
 me between earth and heaven, an agony I cannot 
 endure ; raise me to the summit of my wishes, 
 or drop me to the gulph of " 
 
 She quickly raised her swimming eyes, which 
 assumed an expression that awed even her daring 
 suitor, and said ; 
 
 " If you expect me to listen to you, be not 
 profane, nor offend me by language that lead 
 me to fear your violence, rather than credit the 
 sudden love you have expressed for me." 
 
 " Forgive me, Mariamne, if the violence of my 
 feelings has overcome my better reason—I love 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 MAIIIAMNE. 
 
 you ; and would, if you can stoop to me, many 
 you. — May I tell my wishes to your mother?" 
 
 She was much agitated, and continued look- 
 ing on him still kneeling, at length with more 
 firmness said ; 
 
 " No ; first let me learn from your own lips, 
 if you are a firm believer in the Jewish faith." 
 
 He rose from the ground and openly replied — 
 
 '^ In that faith I was brought up, even in 
 your father's house, and in it I hope to die." 
 
 " Are you united to any of the Roman chiefs^ 
 and bound to espouse their cause ?" 
 
 " No, to none. I am devoted to your nation 
 and to your family, and would shed my blood to 
 see, in due time, Aristobulus sway the sceptre 
 of Judaea." 
 
 At these words Mariamne's brow was bright- 
 ened by a smile of mingled pride and pleasure. 
 Herod had recovered the temporary agitation 
 his unrestrained feelings had produced, and 
 caught the tone, and knew the chord on which 
 to strike, and thus continued:— 
 
 " Think not that I would court the imperious 
 Roman but to secure the peace of Judsea, to pre-
 
 MARIAMNE. 51 
 
 vent their plundering, and to advance the in- 
 terest of the rulers to whom my fathers have 
 left an hereditary devotion, which has grown 
 into an ardent love that nothing can efface, but 
 which Mariamne may controul." 
 
 " Herod, I do not mistrust your words; but, 
 do not your present feelings deceive you ?'' 
 
 " No, beauteous Princess, I may express them 
 so that you might draw such inference, but they 
 are so old, that they began when my heart first 
 beat, and will continue, with my love for you, 
 until it beats no more." 
 
 " Again I pray you to moderate your words, 
 they are unaccustomed sounds, and displease 
 me." 
 
 After some seconds of silence, during which 
 she drew a deep inspiration and endeavoured to 
 resume entire composure, she fixed her eyes on 
 Herod and firmly said ; 
 
 " It is the custom of our people, contrary to 
 the example of our first parents, to have more 
 than one wife.— I will not share the affections 
 of any man with another woman, neither will 
 I break the dread commandment of my God» 
 d2 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITV OF ILUNOB
 
 52 MARIAMKE. 
 
 by allowing a wife to be repudiated that I may- 
 possess alone her husband." 
 
 This declaration, pronounced with calmness 
 and dignity, and with a look that bespoke 
 conviction of her resolution, abashed the daring 
 suitor, and he hesitated; and before his con- 
 fused thoughts were expressed, stopped, and 
 hesitated again. 
 
 Mariamne gazed at him with wonder, not un- 
 mixed with pride; then withdrawing her hand 
 prepared to leave him. He attempted to de- 
 tain her, but she again released her hand, and 
 with gentleness of look, yet dignity of mien, 
 bade him farewell, intimating that she should 
 send for Doris. 
 
 Herod remained for some minutes as if 
 lost; at length he started from his reverie, 
 muttered, " Send for Doris :" then relapsing, 
 gave way to thoughts like these — **For what? 
 — to ask her if she likes me to marry ano- 
 ther and a more — a most lovely — a most — a 
 woman who has more of earthly majesty than 
 all the mortals I ever saw. I am perplexed — 
 she will have her way, or I shall never have her
 
 MARIAMNE. 53 
 
 —Doris shall consent — my path to power shall 
 not be impeded by a woman whom I raised to 
 be my wife. — A world would be a waste even to 
 me without that beauteous, wonderful Asmo- 
 nean — Doris shall prompt her to marry me, or 
 she shall bitterly repent." 
 
 He left the palace and hastened to her. 
 
 Doris had remained where he had left her, 
 with a mind full of melancholy thoughts that 
 foreboded evil to herself and to her child. When 
 he returned and found her in tears, his agitation 
 was soon converted into anger, and with vehe- 
 mence he ordered her to listen to his determina- 
 tion. 
 
 " I am resolved on having Mariamne for my 
 wife — you must urge her to accept me." 
 
 Doris uttered a short exclamation of bitter 
 grief, clasped her hands, and gazed on him 
 without being able to articulate. His unre- 
 strained passions were all loose, and each ready 
 to burst forth with unbridled fury as affected 
 by the least exciting circumstance or word. 
 The stare, the mute anguish of his wife, who 
 stood with looks rivetted on him, instead of 
 d3
 
 54 MARIAMNE. 
 
 calming the moral tempest increased its fury, 
 and with flashing eyes and thrilling voice he 
 poured forth a volume of wrath against this un- 
 offending woman. 
 
 " Curses on your puling folly — did you hear 
 the order that I gave — Urge, prompt, persuade 
 Mariamne to marry me — If you hesitate I will 
 bury you in the dungeons of Massada, and send 
 your son to be an Egyptian or a Roman priest — 
 I raised you to be my wife, and now with base 
 ingratitude you try to thwart my views — and 
 with unreasonable selfishness to keep me merely 
 to waste away with you — ^This you call love and' 
 duty — I will hate you, and send you disgraced 
 and repudiated to your home, unless you forward 
 the views I have for your own and my well 
 doing. Begone and obey me, or you shall feel 
 the effects of my justly excited anger." 
 
 She, trembling and terrified, tottered to the 
 door, keeping her eyes towards him as if fasci- 
 nated by his envenomed look — His fury burst 
 forth again, and he repeated his mandate in a 
 loud and hollow voice, and strode towards her — 
 She uttered a cry of terror and sunk upon her
 
 MARIAMNE. 55 
 
 knee, and could only in half stifled accents arti- 
 culate ; 
 
 " I will — yes I will, but make not my child 
 a heathen." 
 
 *' If she refuses me I will, and bury you." 
 
 His passion being somewhat exhausted, he 
 turned away and paced the room, which gave 
 the affrighted Doris an opportunity of escaping. 
 As she dreaded to encounter Herod alone, she 
 sent immediately for Salome, from whom she 
 hoped to receive both consolation and advice. 
 
 The attendant who went for her had over- 
 heard the words and anger of Herod, and com- 
 municated the information when dehvering the 
 summons. Salome quickly perceived that the 
 objection must have originated with Mariamne, 
 and therefore instead of complying with Doris 
 request, immediately proceeded to Alexandra. 
 She affected the deepest concern for her in- 
 terests and the welfare of her daughter, renewed 
 the conversation respecting Antony, and endea- 
 voured to discover if her weakness and vanity 
 instigated her to desire that Mariamne should 
 become connected v/ith him ; not obtaining the 
 d4
 
 56 MARIAMNE. 
 
 knowledge she desired, she spoke of Herod's 
 repeated visits to Hyrcanus, and insinuated that 
 he might have seen Mariamne. Alexandra 
 hastily remarked ; 
 
 " Antony would cut him off were he to dis- 
 cover that Herod was his rival. I must inquire 
 more into this matter, and recal Mariamne from 
 Hyrcanus Palace — Pray, Salome, learn if you 
 can, whether any thing has transpired between 
 your brother and Mariamne. If so, it will be 
 offensive to Antony if she were affianced without 
 his approbation." 
 
 Salome knew the duplicity of Alexandra, and 
 having received the thought that Herod might 
 be cut oif by Antony, she promised to fulfil her 
 wishes, and soon after went to Doris. 
 
 The afflicted wife received her, as the forlorn 
 and miserable welcome their only friend. She 
 related what had passed between her and He- 
 rod, and with bursting heart told her of his 
 threat. Salome, reckless of another's feelings, 
 immediately pursued her purpose, and nearly 
 drove the wretched Doris to despair by adjuring 
 her not to comply with Herod's command, lest
 
 MARIAMNE. 57 
 
 it should turn to his own destruction, as Antony 
 would cut him off when informed that he 
 thwarted his wish to possess jVIariamne. She 
 wrung her hands, beat her bosom, threw her- 
 self on the ground, and poured ashes on her 
 head as she cried out in anguish of heart — 
 
 " The Lord hath covered me with a cloud in 
 his anger, and hath not remembered his foot- 
 stool in the day of his wrath — mine eyes do fail 
 me, and I cannot see an escape from the snare — 
 all that pass by will clap their hands at me, 
 they will hiss and wag their head, and cry, she 
 is cast forth hke Hagar." 
 
 She covered her head and bewailed so bit- 
 terly, that even the hardened Salome felt some 
 passing compunction, and did not disturb the 
 vehemence of her grief. After some time the 
 mourner placed her hands above her head and 
 exclaimed, 
 
 " Which way shall I turn, O Thou, who dost 
 not willingly afflict the children of men, direct 
 me. Shall I obey my husband and so huny him 
 to destruction, or shall I disobey him, so that 
 in his anger he may cast me out a scoff and & 
 d5
 
 58 MARIAMNE. 
 
 scorn, and make my child a heathen priest — O 
 shew me a way of escape." — Again she vented 
 her griefs, and, covering herself, sat bemoaning. 
 
 At length Salome raised her, and embracing 
 her, said ; 
 
 " You cannot urge my brother to dare the 
 vengeance of the jealous Antony, so Doris you 
 must disobey him, and exert yourself with me 
 to make Mariamne refuse him, and if that is im- 
 possible, to delay their union. Be guided by 
 me, array yourself, and if Herod meets you at 
 least attempt to be cheerful, and wait until I 
 have seen Aulenus." 
 
 Doris yielded to her entreaties, and went away 
 to change her mourning apparel. Salome re- 
 mained meditating, then determined on endea- 
 vouring to obtain Alexandra as an ally. 
 
 She rose early and went to her. On entering 
 the apartment she cast her head-dress on the 
 ground, and in accents of grief thus accosted 
 her — 
 
 " Princess of Israel, your words respecting 
 Antony dwelt on my mind, and while deep sleep 
 overcame me, I saw my brother all bathed in
 
 MARIAMNE. 59 
 
 blood while an eagle was tearing out his heart ; 
 a dove fluttered over the ravenous bird and 
 vainly sought to scare it away ; though our peo- 
 ple too often confide in such visions of the night, 
 I cannot be mistaken in this — your woixls are 
 fraught with truth, if Herod crosses the Triumvir 
 in his wish, he will eagle-like prey upon his 
 victim. Be not angry with your friend if I tell 
 you, that my brother has won on the gentle Ma- 
 riamne, who would in vain attempt to drive the 
 murderer from his prey. I have no influence 
 over him ; but you can induce Mariamne either 
 to reject him, or at least postpone their union : 
 unless you assist me in this, the headlong impe- 
 tuous Herod will be destroyed, and I left mi- 
 serable." 
 
 Alexandra was astonished at the communica- 
 tion, and at first seemed angry that her daughter 
 had not told her of Herod's advances, but dis- 
 sembling, besought Salome to moderate her af- 
 fliction, and at the same time asked if she knew 
 that Mariamne had given him any conditional 
 promise. Salome told her that he had not de- 
 nied it to Doris, and therefore she concluded 
 d6
 
 60 MARIAMNE. 
 
 that either Hyrcanus or her brother would soon 
 formally consult her. She then continued ; 
 
 " You will not sanction an Asmonean Prin- 
 cess only sharing his love — surely you will in- 
 stigate Mariamne to reject such proposal, and 
 thus my brother will be saved from the danger 
 that threatens him." 
 
 She watched the countenance of Alexandra, 
 but perceived no surprise, but a perplexed look 
 mingled with anxiety ; at length she replied — 
 
 " Methinks Herod's ambition has led him to 
 soar full high : I know his devotion to our fa- 
 mily and his impetuous nature, therefore I can 
 make every allowance for the step he has taken ; 
 but Salome — my child shall never merely parti- 
 cipate in his love, if she should ever raise him 
 by allying him to the princes of Israel ; I thank 
 you for your advice, but in this instance it was 
 premature — I shall see Mariamne." 
 
 Salome saw that part of her purpose was 
 gained, but she did not know if Alexandra fa- 
 voured in her heart the proposals of Herod, or 
 desired that she should connect herself with the 
 powerful Roman, so she again thus endeavoured 
 to learn.
 
 MARIAMNE. 61 
 
 " Even if no obstacles existed to prevent Ma- 
 riamne from raising Herod, surely the Princess 
 would never think of him while able to command 
 the mighty Antony, for an alliance with him 
 would strengthen Hyrcanus and Aristobulus 
 power." 
 
 Alexandra perceived the drift of the enquiry, 
 and gave so unformed and contradictory an an- 
 swer that left her still in doubt, then expressed 
 a wish to see Mariamne, and so terminated their 
 conference. 
 
 Salome left in ignorance of her real sentiments, 
 was at a loss how to proceed, and returned 
 thoughtful and dissatisfied. 
 
 Alexandra, though of Asmonean blood, pos- 
 sessed none of the noble qualities which adorned 
 even the worst of that celebrated race. Her 
 selfishness and disregard of principle led her to 
 wish for an alliance with Antony, since his power 
 and wealth would enable her to procure the 
 means of self gratification. Her cunning taught 
 her that the protection of the Triumvir would 
 support Aristobulus, and perhaps extend his do- 
 minion. On the other hand she was aware of
 
 62 MARIAMNE. 
 
 her daughter's antipathy to the Romans, and of 
 Aristobulus jealousy of their interference, and 
 therefore anticipated almost insurmountable ob- 
 stacles to the selfish wishes that were uppermost 
 in her mind. 
 
 She learnt from Mariamne that Herod had 
 not been accepted, and that she was not desirous 
 of seeing him again ; yet she admitted to her 
 mother that her opinions and feelings were fa- 
 vourably inclined towards him. On her referring 
 to Antony, Mariamne expressed surprise and in- 
 dignation, and declared that death would be 
 preferable to his alliance, even if Octavia had 
 been dead, and asked her mother if she would 
 have the Asmonean race degraded by connec- 
 tion with a base Idolater, while her forefathers 
 had been High Priests of Israel, and to which 
 great office her only brother would succeed. 
 Her mother knew too well the resolution and 
 principles of her daughter not to be certain that 
 to combat them would be to strengthen her de- 
 termination, and therefore resolved to wait and 
 follow the course most likely to terminate in her 
 own advantage.
 
 MARlAMNfi. ^5^ 
 
 Salome found an early opportunity of con- 
 versing with her brother, and under the mask of 
 affection and friendship made known to him, as 
 certain intelligence, the suggesi:ion mentioned by 
 Alexandra, and besought him, for the sake of 
 his family as well of himself, to be at least cau- 
 tious in his intercourse with Mariamne, as the 
 discovery might terminate his hopes and his life. 
 While Herod scorned the danger, his counte- 
 nance evinced so much surprise, that his crafty 
 monitor perceived, by making him think his am- 
 bitious schemes were in jeopardy, or the love of 
 Mariamne likely to be claimed by another, she 
 had, at least for a time, the master key to his 
 mind. He endeavoured to laugh at her appre- 
 hensions, but the attempt only more clearly con- 
 vinced her, that his dread of the Triumvir de- 
 priving him of her would render him tractable. 
 She quitted his apartment and hastened to give 
 instructions to Doris, for whom Mariamne had 
 sent. 
 
 She enforced the necessity, for her husband's 
 sake, of her not obeying his order, she exag- 
 gerated his danger, and to inspire her with more 
 13
 
 64 MARIAMNE. 
 
 courage, communicated her suspicion of Alex- 
 andra's desire that she should become either the 
 wife or the mistress of Antony. 
 
 The gentle Doris endeavoured to compose her 
 mind, and to pursue the course Salome had 
 marked out. 
 
 Mariamne received her in her private room, 
 and after kindly, almost affectionately, greeting 
 her, said ; 
 
 " You will forgive my requesting you to come 
 to me, since I should have transgressed Hyr- 
 canus order had I left the palace, moreover it 
 would have been impossible for me to have gone 
 to Herod's abode." 
 
 Here she blushed and became somewhat agi- 
 tated, but recovering herself, continued in a 
 manner which was evidently the effect of ef- 
 fort. 
 
 *' You are the wife of Herod, and I hear de- 
 serving of his warmest love. The custom, alas, 
 an evil one, of our country permits men to have 
 many wives held in equal honour, and entitled 
 to equal privileges. Availing himself of this 
 practice, Herod has sought my hand/'
 
 MARIAMNE. 65 
 
 Again she paused, then taking the hand of 
 Doris continued ; 
 
 " I cannot share with another the love of any 
 man, and therefore gave him no decided answer, 
 for I will own that his gallant bearing, his de- 
 votion to our people and our race, have made 
 me, not love — be not agitated Doris — but feel 
 deeply interested for him. I have no friend on 
 whom I could rely, and therefore determined 
 to learn from your own lips the degTee of con- 
 nection you really stand in to him, and if your 
 love is such that you cannot separate from 
 him." 
 
 Doris, struck with the dignity, opemiess, and 
 kindness of manner of the young Princess, after 
 a httle hesitation attempted to reply, but tears 
 prevented her ; at length, in a tone almost of 
 supplication, she said ; 
 
 '' He is indeed my husband both by the laws 
 of God and man — to part from him would de- 
 stroy me — yet I dread" — 
 
 •* What is it that you dread ? Doris, believe 
 me sincere and you shall have no cause to re- 
 pent your confidence in me.''
 
 66 MARIAMNE. 
 
 " I would confide in you, but what I have 
 learnt may not be true." 
 
 " If it should prove untrue, it will not pro- 
 duce either good or evil, if true, you may enable 
 me to avoid some impending danger." 
 
 Doris was silent but continued weeping, and 
 was again urged to make known the danger she 
 apprehended, at length with evident reluctance 
 and fear she told her — 
 
 " Was Antony to hear that Herod loved you, 
 we both should lose him, and my child become 
 a wanderer on the earth." 
 
 Mariamne started from her seat and ex- 
 claimed ; 
 
 " The vile Idolater, the besotted Antony — 
 but what of him ? I know him not — what 
 would you infer ? I beseech you tell me — whence 
 did you obtain this — this false intelligence ?" 
 
 Doris, rendered still more timid by Mari- 
 amne's indignant exclamations, replied confu- 
 sedly ; 
 
 " I was told so — it is said he remembers you, 
 and is coming here." 
 
 Mariamne listened to her words, then with
 
 MARIAMNE. 67 
 
 more vehemence exclaimed, as she sunk on her 
 knee; 
 
 ** O God, shall the Heathen again come into 
 thine inheritance, shall they defile thy holy 
 temple, lay Jerusalem in ruins, and carry captive 
 the daughters of their Princes ? Unto thee, O 
 Lord, do I hft up my soul, O my God I trust in 
 thee ; let me not be brought to shame, let not 
 mine enemies triumph over me." 
 
 She arose, and looking on Doris emphatically 
 said; 
 
 " Although Octavia were gone, I would not 
 for a thousand empires be the base, the de- 
 graded, image-worshipping Antony's wife. The 
 curse of heaven would be on me, and I should 
 be stricken with some foul leprosy or more horrid 
 disease. O tell me Doris, where you learnt this 
 dreadful tale, I intreat you tell me." 
 
 She told her that her mother had informed 
 Salome, then with still bitterer tears continued ; 
 
 " If Herod w^ere to be your husband I am re- 
 pudiated, and my child undone. — If the vile 
 Roman comes, then Herod dies, or I am doomed 
 to the dungeons of Massada, and my child to be
 
 68 MARIAMNE. 
 
 more than slain — made an Heathen Priest. — I 
 am in a great strait, O Lord, let me be in thy 
 hand for thy mercies are great." 
 
 She sat on the ground, and covering her head 
 wept aloud. 
 
 Mariamne, deeply affected, after a short in- 
 terval again sought for more information. 
 
 '' I will be faithful and secret, Doris, but tell 
 me, why do you anticipate such dreadful evils ?" 
 
 Doris in great affliction replied — 
 
 " Have mercy on thine handmaid and I will 
 be grateful." 
 
 " Speak, tell me ;" said the astonished Prin- 
 cess. 
 
 Doris looked on her and said — 
 
 " Herod loves you, and well he may, beau- 
 teous maiden — he made me vow that I would 
 urge you to marry him, and threatened if I did 
 not to bury me at Massada, and send my son to 
 Egypt. And now comes Antony to kill him if 
 he does — woe, woe !" 
 
 Mariamne paced the room, then turning 1x> "ttoe 
 weeping Doris said ; 
 
 " And this is Herod. — O man when will you
 
 MATIIAMNE. 69 
 
 appreciate a woman's love, the thing you spurn, 
 but as far above you in any true affection as the 
 soul is superior to the rotting body." 
 
 She approached her, embraced her, and said ; 
 " I will not rob you of your husband's love if 
 I can help it — I would not condescend to share 
 it with you — yet how to protect myself from An- 
 tony I know not." 
 
 She started at the shadow of a man, com- 
 ing from behind her, cast by the pale moon- 
 beam ; she turned suddenly and found HjTcanus 
 by her side. He had entered the room unper- 
 ceived, and heard much of what had passed be- 
 tween them. The natural calmness of his man- 
 ner enabled him to first salute the affrighted 
 Doris, and then gently say — 
 
 " What I have accidentally heard is a matter 
 of great import, and should not be made pubhcly 
 kno\m : I mean the intended visit of the Tri- 
 umvir." 
 
 Then he addressed them both ; 
 *' Whatever concerns your welfare is of the 
 deepest interest to us. I am proud of, but not 
 surprised at the noble sentiments which so be-
 
 70 MARIAMNE. 
 
 come an Asmonean Princess; and not less so 
 at the true affection of Doris for her noble hus- 
 band. We will think more of this affair. Ma- 
 riamne, before you retire I would fain converse 
 with you." 
 
 Doris soon left them. Hyrcanus with gi-eat 
 kindness told her that, Herod had informed him 
 he was desirous of uniting himself more closely 
 to their race by becoming her husband, and 
 was then with Alexandra. The High Priest 
 spoke favourably of Herod, and thus urged his 
 suit ; 
 
 " Antigonus still lives ; before many days 
 have gone by I shall be gathered unto my fa- 
 thers ; then, if our race has not some captain 
 skilful with the sword and the bow, your brother 
 will fall into the snares of the wicked, our race 
 will be destroyed like the stubble that is scat- 
 tered and passeth away. The factious and the 
 wicked will combine and hope by rebellion to 
 obtain the spoil of the city. We know how 
 watchful the Heathen are, and how ready to 
 make the stubbornness and tumults of our peo- 
 ple a pretext for sending their rapacious captains
 
 MARIAMNE. 71 
 
 and licentious legions to our country. Should 
 they come to quell the troubles, the courage and 
 jealousy of the people will make them resist — 
 then devastation and misery will revel here, and 
 tlie city be defiled as the place of Tophet. But 
 if an Herod, skilful in war, sage in counsel, de- 
 voted to our race, and in favour with the Roman, 
 is ready to support Aristobulus, our race will not 
 be swept away, but may again flourish, and still 
 perform the sacrifices of the God of Israel. 
 Much depends on your decision — remember I 
 will not answer for the Triumvir's conduct — 
 your beauty may induce him to attempt to carry 
 you away, when you would fall a victim to 
 Cleopatra's vengeance." 
 
 He paused as if expecting some reply, but 
 Mariamne stood with her eyes fixed on the 
 ground, as if too many alaraiing thoughts 
 crowded into her mind to permit her to express 
 herself. 
 
 Hyrcanus paced the room, then bade her 
 kneel and receive her accustomed blessing; 
 he then left her to arrange her perplexing 
 thoughts.
 
 72 MARIAMNE. 
 
 It was long before her bewildered mind re- 
 sumed its usual track ; she then burst into tears 
 and exclaimed — 
 
 " What the fate of Israel almost dependant 
 on my accepting Herod — Oh that my father, 
 like another Jephthah, had doomed me by a vow 
 to a state like hers. Must I share his love with 
 another, or link myself with a base wretch like 
 Antony, wallowing in idolati-y and guilty love, 
 to be the victim of his subtle heartless para- 
 mour ? The bitter draught of Marah is mingled 
 with gall and given me to drink, for if I were, 
 for Israel's sake, to do the thing I loathe, share 
 Herod's love, if such it can be called, with Doris, 
 then the accursed Heathen cuts him off, and 
 Israel falls — my brother would be destroyed 
 amid rival factions, my race extinguished, and 
 our temple defiled by legions of image wor- 
 shippers stained with my people's blood. — Is 
 there no mode of escape ?" 
 
 She cast up her eyes to heaven and cried — 
 
 " Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause 
 me to escape : incline thme ear unto me, and 
 save me!"
 
 MARIAMNE. 73 
 
 She paused again, and seemed to be more col- 
 lected, then said ; 
 
 " If I cannot escape I will affiance myself to 
 Herod, under the promise of secrecy, then may 
 I save my people from all the horrors of rebel- 
 lion, screen myself from Antony, and have time 
 to take advantage of any circumstances that 
 Providence may ordain. I \vill pray and sleep, 
 and prepare to fulfil my intention." 
 
 She sought her couch and passed some hours 
 in oblivion. 
 
 TOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Salome, eager to learn from Doris all that had 
 transpired during the interview with Mariamne, 
 waited her anivaL When she heard that she had 
 poured out her whole heart, no expression either 
 of approbation or disapprobation escaped her 
 lips, though she quickly perceived that more 
 had been done towards forwarding her views 
 than she could have attained by any indirect 
 means. After instructing her how to carry 
 herself towards Herod, she left her, to reflect on 
 the manner in which she should direct Aulenus 
 to report to Antony the transcendant beauty of 
 Mariamne. 
 
 On the following morning Herod went to the 
 palace, and after an interview with Hyrcanus, 
 was taken by him to the Princess.
 
 MARIAMNE. 75 
 
 He found her pale, melancholy, and com- 
 posed, she received him with kindness, but not 
 with marked pleasure. She seated herself and 
 waited for him to tell her the purport of his 
 visit. He walked several times across the apart- 
 ment, then suddenly stopping, knelt quickly and 
 took her hand, — she cahnly withdrew it and 
 said; 
 
 " Herod, in that posture I cannot hold com- 
 munication with you, rise, subdue the agitation 
 which I see affects you, and then remember 
 that you are addressing a daughter of the As^ 
 monean race, who prefers hstening to reason 
 and not to the language of love." 
 
 She pronounced these words in almost a mc^ 
 lancholy tone, yet her manner was so blended 
 with dignity that it insured not only obedience, 
 but produced on the ardent suitor the effect 
 which he could not have obtained by any effort 
 of his own ; he rose, and seating himself near 
 her began ; 
 
 " Mariamne I love you, and notwithstanding 
 the declaration that you made when last we 
 parted, have returned to ask your consent to 
 e2
 
 76 MARIAMNE. 
 
 become my wife — ^Hyrcanus favours me, and 
 your mother is not averse to our union." 
 
 She raised her eyes, and as a sUght blush 
 passed across her paUid face, repHed ; 
 
 " You must think me weak indeed to break 
 the resolution that I made of not sharing your 
 attachment with another, and of not permitting 
 you to repudiate the affectionate Doris to pos- 
 sess me alone. I will continue to give my rea- 
 sons for the line of conduct I intend to pursue, 
 on your entering into a sacred promise of se- 
 crecy/' 
 
 Herod could but ill endure the state of sus- 
 pense in which he had been kept while she 
 spoke these few words, and in a hurried voice 
 agreed — She continued; 
 
 " Your promise must be more solemnly af- 
 firmed, and with greater composure — Your 
 vehement feelings alarm and distress me." 
 
 He replied — " Command me, beauteous Prin- 
 cess, and I will obey you." 
 
 She fixed on him her mekncholy eyes, and 
 said with firmness ; 
 
 '* Again must I request the man who seeks
 
 MARIAMNE. 77 
 
 my hand to be calm in his depoitment and 
 manly in his Speech ? Such uncalled for vehe- 
 mence is not the bulwark with which you can 
 support the piivileges of our people against the 
 proud and stubborn Roman." 
 
 Herod blushed at the reproof and said ; 
 
 ** I am prepared to enter into a solemn pro- 
 mise of secrecy" — 
 
 She added ; " And to grant Mariamne's re- 
 quest." 
 
 He hesitated, which caused her to remark ; 
 
 " Not a moment since the vehement Herod 
 besought me to command his obedience — now 
 he hesitates to accord with my request." 
 
 " What is it," he asked, ** that you would 
 have me do?" 
 
 She replied in the same collected manner ; 
 
 ** You must swear by the name of the Most 
 High God, to keep secret what shall transpire 
 between us, and to grant the request I make." 
 
 He reflected for some moments, then said ; 
 
 " I will enter into this solemn engagement 
 with you, if it is not to temiinate my hopes." 
 
 A gleam of satisfaction crossed her brow, she 
 e3
 
 78 MAKiAMNE. 
 
 approached him, and taking his hand, knelt, 
 and bade him follow her example and repeat her 
 words. 
 
 " I swear in the name of the Lord, and call 
 on Him who liveth for ever and ever for a record 
 upon my soul, to keep secret the engagement 
 between us, until Mariamne shall permit me to 
 reveal it — and to grant the request she may now 
 make." 
 
 Her voice did not alter, and her melancholy 
 eyes were turned towards heaven. His tongue 
 faltered and his lips grew pale at the solemn 
 contract which he had entered into. Still kneeling, 
 with her right hand clasped in his, she said ; 
 
 " You have sworn by the Most High, to 
 cherish and protect the Asmonean race, to sup- 
 port our holy laws — ^to keep secret until I allow 
 you to reveal it, and not to seek me in marriage 
 until I permit you, that I affiance myself to 
 
 Herod started, and would have given way to 
 his ardent feelings, but she checked him — He 
 embraced her, and imprinted on her jrielding 
 lips the kiss that was a mutual pledge of the
 
 MARIAMNE. /9 
 
 affinity in which from that hour they stood to- 
 wards each other. 
 
 As silent tears fell from her eyes, Herod re- 
 peated in his heart the oath that he had taken, 
 and then perhaps beheved that he should fulfil it. 
 
 They arose, she paced the apartment for a 
 short time, then stopping, addressed him ; 
 
 " I am now your affianced wife, so by the 
 law of God bound to you, in every duty the 
 same as if that betrothment had been made an 
 actual alliance. Herod, I am led to believe that 
 the wretched heathen Antony has some desire 
 to make me his concubine. I should prefer 
 death to such horrid degradation, and seek from 
 you protection, — if you love me do not risk your 
 life, but act with caution, for I have heard that 
 if he knew you crossed his inclination he would 
 cut you off. You need not fear me, for I not 
 only abhor him, but would rather fall a victim 
 than break the seventh ordinance that was pro- 
 nounced at Sinai. Alas, these are poor auspices 
 on which an Asmonean princess should be affi- 
 anced ! — But to such a state is Judaea brought.'' 
 
 She became agitated and wept. Herod, roused 
 e4
 
 80 MARIAMNE. 
 
 by what she had said, and inflamed with ardent 
 love, pressed his purpose ; 
 
 " My wife, my beloved Mariamne, let our 
 espousals be declared, and become at once my 
 bride, and then let the besotted Antony express 
 a thought of thus carrying you away" — 
 
 The Asmonean pride burst forth, and the 
 agitated woman with some warmth exclaimed ; 
 
 " Oh! have I affianced myself to a man 
 whose oath is forgotten in the violence of his 
 passion, and who cannot look on danger without 
 an idle wish to dare it — What should I feel if 
 I were to become the cause of death to my 
 affianced husband?" 
 
 He, much disturbed, approaching, took her 
 hand as he said ; 
 
 " Then you love me, and would not that in- 
 jury should happen to me for your sake — for- 
 give me, but I cannot govern the joy those 
 words have excited, my beloved, my affianced 
 wife — Your wisdom shall guide my steps. I 
 do remember and will observe my promise — 
 but would it not be safer to at once cut off the 
 hopes of Antony ?"
 
 MARIAMNE. 81 
 
 Mariamne looked on him, while a blush of 
 indignation crossed her face ; 
 
 " Hopes — he can have no hope beyond de- 
 stroying me, — Hopes of an Asmonean princess 
 being his concubine — Your estimation of your 
 affianced bride must be poor indeed, Antony 
 entertain hopes that I " — 
 
 Herod became alarmed at her indignant vehe- 
 mence, and pressing her to him said ; 
 
 " Nay, I thought but as you do, no meaning 
 was attached to that word — my beloved Mari- 
 amne — He must be a madman to suppose that 
 you would for a moment think of him, a heathen 
 and an oppressor, but with abhorrence." 
 
 She looked at him, smiled, and said emphati- 
 cally ; 
 
 " Think of him and of every oppressor of our 
 people in that way, and support our tottering race." 
 
 She paused, then added in a tone of solici- 
 tation ; 
 
 " Cherish Doris, and, if you love me, be kind 
 to her who lives for you. — Farewell for a time, 
 Hyrcanus must have expected me, and I must 
 also see my mother." 
 
 e5
 
 82 MARIAMNE. 
 
 Herod embraced her and she left him. He was 
 more overawed by her than he could have been 
 by a thousand legions. It was some time before 
 he recovered from his abstracted state, and said, 
 while the blood suffused his cheeks and his voice 
 became deep and hollow ; 
 
 " She's mine — not Antony nor all the fac- 
 tious rulers of the Roman world can separate 
 us — Nor should, while I have a falchion left to 
 draw — I know the Jewish laws, and would stake 
 an empire that she would not break them. So 
 the beauteous Mariamne, the Asmonean prin- 
 cess, is my affianced wife. — When her brother 
 Aristobulus is high priest, who will rule in 
 Jerusalem ? — Who has so great a right as she, 
 or I may, as her husband, and so prop up 
 their sinking race — I feel as if my love for 
 her fills every vein, and makes me cower before 
 her as if she were some mighty queen — no 
 earthly monarch could flutter me half so much 
 as this girl — She is beautiful and wise — I said 
 scarcely a word, but seemed spell bound, and 
 obeyed her. — Why she has extracted from me a 
 strange oath — To keep secret our being be-
 
 MARIAMNE. 83 
 
 trotlied, not to ask her in marriage, and to pro- 
 tect her race — Ah, and to cherish and love 
 Doris — What can all this mean ? She has fooled 
 me and made me swear — No, she would not de- 
 ceive me — She would be protected from Antony, 
 and so seeks an affiance with me — Well, that's 
 flattering enough — but not to marry — Am I to 
 be only her body-guard ? Am I to be the sworn 
 supporter of her race, and reap no other reward 
 than to be acknowledged, by her alone, her 
 chosen husband? I will ask Salome — I am 
 sworn to secrecy — I am toiled by a woman and will 
 break the meshes, though I love her to my soul." 
 He went away thoughtful, though delighted, 
 yet wondering at what had happened. Doris 
 greeted him on his return, and endeavoured, 
 with some success, to please him. When 
 they were alone he tried to learn from her if 
 any thing had transpired , she, instmcted by 
 Salome, asked him " if he had cause to be dis- 
 pleased with her." He caressed her, and as- 
 sured her of his love if she would continue to 
 obey him, as she had — The affectionate woman 
 continued j 
 
 e6
 
 84 MABIAMNE. 
 
 " If by obedience I could ensure your love 
 and please you, how ready should I be to follow 
 your commands." 
 
 " Your obedience has done both, it has made 
 me promise to love and cherish you, and has 
 afforded me great delight." 
 
 " Have you seen the piincess ?" 
 
 " Yes, Doris, and your persuasions have had 
 their due effect and " — 
 
 He stopped, and became thoughtful — then 
 turned the subject of their discourse to his ap- 
 proaching departure. 
 
 A woman fearing to lose the love of the man 
 whom she adores, and who is united to her by 
 the sacred bond of mamage, sees with instinc- 
 tive quickness and certainty, and believes in her 
 conclusions with more than holy faith, and then 
 with that subtilty bestowed on them and on 
 their creation, endeavours to rid herself of the 
 object she thinks is robbing her. 
 
 Doris followed in the conversation which 
 Herod introduced, instead of speaking more of 
 Mariamne ; but she concluded from the words 
 he had used, from his so abruptly stopping,
 
 MARIAMNE. 85 
 
 and from what had previously passed, that the 
 princess had accepted him, and so deceived and 
 duped her, and that Herod's kindness arose 
 merely from the success that had attended him. 
 Her jealousy was excited, her fears for her child 
 called forth, as well as the anticipation of being 
 quickly repudiated. As soon as an opportunity 
 offered, she communicated her fears and sus- 
 picions to Salome. Her violent passions and 
 preconceived hatred, not only led her to pro- 
 nounce Mariamne the most deceitful but the 
 most abandoned woman ; and she began to cheat 
 herself into the belief that she was justified in 
 whatever means she adopted to prevent her bro- 
 thei* from marrying her, and to save her family 
 from the thraldom of a woman so unprincipled 
 and cunning. Such are the kind of conclusions 
 to which prejudice, the evil passions of our 
 nature, and a want of justness of opinion bring 
 the mind. Let those who decide from fii-st im- 
 pressions; those who have long cherished un- 
 examined opinions ; and those who are too vain 
 and obstinate to see the force of reason, ask 
 themselves if it is not true.
 
 S6 MAKIAMNE. 
 
 Herod was preparing for his departure to 
 Antioch, where he knew Antony intended to 
 stop, that he might enjoy the air and pleasures 
 of Daphne. Salome apprehending that he 
 would easily induce Antony to favour his mar- 
 riage with Mariamne, decided on sending Au- 
 lenus, so that he might reach the court some 
 days before her brother. 
 
 Aulenus was a soldier not differing greatly in 
 his disposition from his companions, but gifted 
 by nature with superior abilities, to which he 
 owed his rise, and by which he anticipated 
 higher promotion. He had been distinguished 
 ia the game called war, which proves that man 
 is the greatest enemy to man, since he was 
 athletic, skilful, and active : like the rest of his 
 countrymen, their preceptors the Greeks, and 
 all semibarbarous people, he was unsparing and 
 ferocious when victorious, and mutinous or reck- 
 less when retreating. He was quite aware that 
 Salome intended to make him her tool, but as 
 long as he expected personal advantage from 
 executing her directions, he cared but little 
 what they were, so that they did not occupy the
 
 MARIAMNE. 87 
 
 portion of time devoted by him to pleasure. 
 He obeyed her summons. She thus endea- 
 voured to prepare him for her purpose ; 
 
 " Good and tried Aulenus, well do I know 
 that the happiness of Herod is a subject near 
 ybur heart; so if danger threatened him I might 
 be certain that you would try and shield him 
 from it, — would you not V 
 
 He replied with a careless air; 
 
 " That would only be my duty as a soldier; 
 your brother has advanced me, therefore I have 
 the inclination to serve him, though my power 
 is very limited,** 
 
 " Not so limited, Aulenus, as you suppose — 
 have you seen Mariamne V* 
 
 '' I heard of her beauty, and so went to the 
 Temple, where she worships, for the purpose of 
 seeing her, but she was so closely veiled that I 
 returned no wiser than I went." 
 
 " Do you know if any of your companions 
 have seen her V* 
 
 The soldier smiled, and replied, 
 
 '' The governor of Galilee has been very often 
 at the palace lately ; and is employed on some
 
 88 MARIAMNE. 
 
 seheme, — at least, so we all conclude from the 
 temper in which he is ?" 
 
 Salome, feigned concern, and said, 
 
 " Better had he been wandering, like our 
 fathers, in the desert, than amid the snares of a 
 wily woman.^ — Aulenus, I would not have you 
 go ; but remain near him, ready to draw thy 
 sword and slay him, — that men say not of him, 
 a woman slew him." 
 
 The soldier looked stedfastly at her, and 
 sternly asked, 
 
 " Has the Princess laid a plan to kill my 
 Governor, — my general and my benefactor ?" 
 
 She paused, then said ; 
 
 " It matters but little, whether, like another 
 Jael, she first entices, and then kills him ; or 
 whether, like another Dalilah, she wins from 
 him the secret of his weakness, and then deli- 
 vers him over to his enemies." 
 
 " It is my duty to tell this plot to my general : 
 and lest I should be accused of being concerned 
 in it, for not reporting it as soon as it was knowp 
 to me, I must go." 
 
 " Stop, my zealous friend, you have concluded
 
 MARIAMNE. 89 
 
 too hastily. Herod shall be told of your friend- 
 ship and sense of duty ; but listen to me, — First, 
 will you be secret ? If you consent, it may turn 
 to your advantage ; for Antony is generous, and 
 able to reward." 
 
 He quickly answered ; 
 
 " Antony, said you ? The Triumvir is Herod's 
 friend. You know my readiness to serve him, 
 or those who are his friends ; so I can readily 
 promise what you require ; having said so, you 
 know that you can rely on me." 
 
 " Your words are true.— Antony is my bro- 
 ther's friend. But would Antony be his enemy 
 who loved Cleopatra ?" 
 
 The soldier laughed heartily, as he exclaimed ; 
 
 " What ; — Herod enamoured of that sun- 
 burnt common thing ?" 
 
 " Check your coarse sallies, and think, if 
 Antony may not love, and that her he loves 
 may not be loved by more than the Trium- 
 vir." 
 
 " I see the mysteiy. Why did you not tell 
 me at once, that Antony and Herod were both 
 in love with Mariamne ; and that you feared
 
 90 MARIAMNE. 
 
 the Roman would remove his rival, as soon as 
 he discovered him ? — What would you have me 
 do?" 
 
 " Your penetration has the start of your 
 judgment. Aulenus, it is long since Antony 
 saw Mariamne, so he cannot be said to love her, 
 but he remembers her — he is coming to Jeru- 
 salem, at least so report says — If he again be- 
 holds her transcendant beauty. — He need not 
 woo her. — A Ruler of the world has only to ask 
 the ambitious Asmonean, and be accepted. 
 Herod loves her, with all the violence of his 
 nature ; — she favours him. He would not brook 
 even the Triumvir for a rival, — but would oppose 
 him ; and in so doing, die. His passion burns 
 too fiercely to last : he is going to Antioch, 
 and may be absent long enough to consume it : 
 were Antony, in the mean time, to marry Mari- 
 amne, I should save my brother, your friend and 
 benefactor, from becoming a prey unto his 
 enemy. But, Aulenus, Antony has been long 
 away ; his recollection of Mariamne should be 
 recalled ; he should be informed of her surpass- 
 ing beauty ; and it should be gently hinted, that
 
 MARIAMNE. 91 
 
 hearsay gave her to some high Rabbi, distantly 
 connected with the Asmonean blood." 
 
 Aulenus had assumed a grave and attentive 
 look, then replied ; 
 
 " Your observations are most just. Herod's 
 passion vnW pass away ; and he must, unknown 
 to himself, be protected against the Triumvir. 
 You wish me to hasten to Antioch, I sup- 
 pose ; and, well convinced of my affection and 
 fideUty, to counterplot the unwise passion of the 
 Governor." 
 
 " That is exactly what I wish ;— and there is 
 no one known to me whom I could trust on so 
 great and delicate a mission, as Aulenus." 
 
 They parted. Salome was satisfied, that the 
 prospect of advantage w ould make her satellite 
 most zealous. Aulenus clearly perceived, that 
 her object was, to prevent her brother from 
 uniting himself to the Princess; with equal 
 shrewdness he saw, that to discover beauty for 
 the amorous Antony, was to obtain a private 
 audience — to what that might lead, he knew 
 not, but anticipated benefit; and was, there- 
 fore, contented with the bargain he had
 
 92 MARIAMNE. 
 
 tacitly made with Salome; since he might be 
 a gainer, and could not be a loser by it. — 
 Who else suffered, he cared not. He departed 
 for Antioch.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The love which had been excited in Herod, was 
 now become an ardent fire pen^ading every 
 thought, and brightening all his views of am- 
 bition. After some hours of repose, his mind 
 became more capable of reflecting on what had 
 occurred ; and he began to devise schemes for 
 preventing the Triumvir from visiting Jerusalem. 
 After surveying, with rapid glance, the political 
 state of that portion of the Roman world, and 
 seeing no combinations by which his end could 
 be gained, he suddenly thought of Cleopatra. 
 He had ascertained, from Dellius, who had 
 been sent to summon her, that she intended to 
 meet Antony in Cilicia ; and he knew that her 
 object was to renew the intercourse which had 
 existed between them when he served under 
 Gabinius, in Syria, as well as to make him
 
 94 MARIAMNE. 
 
 pander to her avarice, as she had done Caesar, 
 and the son of Pompey before. At first, he 
 dreaded, lest she should seek some mode of 
 destroying Mariamne ; but when he remembered 
 that he might gain her friendship, and that she 
 could obtain Antony's sanction for his marriage, 
 he determined to run the risk of her seeking 
 Mariamne's life, and send a special messenger 
 to Cleopatra to inform her, " that Antony pro- 
 posed to visit Jerusalem, and there he was 
 likely to be allured by the charms of a young 
 and enchanting Asmonean Princess, whose 
 talents were equal to her beauty." 
 
 He had about his person a noble Arab whose 
 life he had saved, and whose family he had 
 rescued from the hands of their enemies. This 
 man he had found grateful, and knew that his 
 abilities were of an order calculated to commu- 
 nicate such information to a woman so artful as 
 the Egyptian Queen. He sent for him, gave 
 him the simple message, warned him of the 
 Queen's subtilty, bade him tell her no more, 
 and depart, accompanied by a small escort, 
 without communicating his route to any one.
 
 MARIAMNE. 95 
 
 and with a present of form, as a means of ob- 
 taining a private interview. He then prepared 
 for his own departure to Antioch. Previous to 
 his leaving Jerusalem he saw Mariamne, her 
 mother, and Hyrcanus. Herod won the support 
 of Alexandm by presents of gold and jewels. 
 Hyrcanus pronounced his benediction on their 
 espousals, and he set out, elate with hope, to 
 see one of the rulers of the world. 
 
 Antony, soon after his arrival at Antioch fixed 
 a day on which those who were aggrieved should 
 present their petitions to him. Aulenus, mis- 
 trusting the adherents immediately about the 
 person of the Triumvir, and dreading the ven- 
 geance of Herod in case he should discover that 
 he had communicated the intelligence of Mari- 
 amne^s beauty to him, determined to inform 
 only Antony. He disguised himself, mingled 
 with the crowd, and was among the first who 
 presented a tablet to the chief. One of the 
 attendants was on the point of receiving it, but 
 Aulenus withdrew it, and again presented it to 
 Antony ; as only a few words were written on it, 
 he read them, and waving his attendants to re-
 
 yb MARIAMNE. 
 
 tire, merely said, " Aulenus, I remember you ; 
 meet me at sunset in the myrtle-walk near the 
 Temple at Daphne." The soldier retired, and 
 the crowd again approached the spot where the 
 Triumvir stood. 
 
 Before evening Aulenus was in the Grove of 
 Daphne. The declining sun was covered by a 
 cloud, through which its beams burst in lines of 
 light, radiating from its rolling edges, imbu- 
 ing the lower portion of the heavens with a 
 golden gleam, and fringing with gold and purple 
 the light clouds that seemed to court, by re- 
 maining unmoved, the departing glories of the 
 heavenly orb ; the splendid hues graduated into 
 softer tints until they mingled with the dark 
 blue vault of heaven, from which every cloud had 
 hastened, as if to partake of the parting blessing 
 of the source of life and light. For miles around 
 the undulating ground exposed masses of the 
 dark cypress, cedar, and laurel to the showering 
 beams, whose intense gleams brightened their 
 foliage into light, shot through the long vistas, 
 illumined the deep arcades, and sheeted with 
 giowing and moving gold the limpid Orontes,
 
 MARIAMNE. 97 
 
 and seemed to linger on the majestic temple de- 
 dicated to the god. The effect was heightened 
 by the deep shadows of the western aspects, and 
 the cool translucent waters of rills and fountains 
 that meandered through this region of delights. 
 Groups were wending their way to the temple, 
 sometimes amid the gleaming light, and other 
 times distinctly seen in the clear deep shade. In 
 the bowers and arcades were seen either listlessly 
 reclining, or roving entwined in each others 
 arms, the votaries of unhallowed pleasure. Forms 
 now and then issued from the glens and grottos 
 that realised to the imagination the fabled 
 nymphs and dryads, and again retired. 
 
 While Aulenus stood gazing on the scene, a 
 hand placed on his shoulder startled him from 
 his reverie ; the voice of Antony was acknow- 
 ledged by the soldier's ready obeisance. 
 
 " Rise Aulenus, do you not see that I am 
 habited as a simple Roman, so not to be known 
 as Antony. What is the mystery you have to' 
 relate from that city of riots, rites, and rabbis V 
 
 '^ A mystery that I would not tell to other 
 ears than thine, lest it should never have reached 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 MARIAMNE. 
 
 you, and cost me dear. Know, mighty Antony, 
 that there dwells in Jerusalem an Asmonean 
 Princess more beautiful than the nymph to whom 
 these groves are dedicated. She has seen you, 
 and from one of her attendants I learnt, that she 
 well remembered you. This same most beau- 
 teous Princess is about to be allied to an old 
 rabbi, who does little more than sin and pray 
 alternately. When such transcendant loveliness 
 was to be had by my great captain and bene- 
 factor Antony, I could, in grateful remembrance 
 of his kindness, do no less than hasten here to 
 tell him, knowing that he would not betray my 
 zeal to give him pleasure." 
 
 An expression of satisfaction played on the 
 countenance of Antony as he listened to Au- 
 lenus. 
 
 " You judged right to tell no other, and that 
 I would keep your counsel. Go back to Jeru- 
 salem — stay ; take that signet to my treasurer 
 and bid him give you the gold in the small coffer 
 which came yesterday — use it with discretion, 
 and be not surprised if you see me a rabbi at 
 Jerusalem — be secret, and tmst to me."
 
 MARIAMNE. 99 
 
 He inclined his head and left him. As the 
 Triumvir walked along the silent groves, and 
 looked on the surrounding scene, and mingled 
 the associations it occasioned with his thoughts, 
 his romantic spirit was warmed, and he gave 
 way to airy dreams which had all the keenness 
 of pleasure without one substantial virtue on 
 which to found his wishes. He fancied the 
 beauteous Asmonean won by him, and hastening 
 to the recesses of Daphne, there to be the living 
 lovely goddess of his adoration. The recollec- 
 tion of her being of the haughty tribe, and a 
 High Priest's daughter, added to the intense- 
 ness of his desire to begin the enterprize. To 
 pursue it he was ready to leave his army to be 
 enervated at Daphne, and his fame to be scoffed 
 at by his people. In this mood he wandered 
 among the verdant labyrinths of this sensual 
 earthly elysium, until the shades of night warn- 
 ed him to return to the stately structures of 
 Daphne. 
 
 As soon as the factious and jealous rabbis, 
 who were opposed to Herod, learnt that he in- 
 tended to do homage to the Roman Imperator, 
 f2
 
 100 MARIAMNE. 
 
 they deputed an hundred of their body, among 
 whom were many of their chief orators, to pro- 
 ceed to Antioch to prefer their complaints against 
 him and his adherents. Herod prepared for his 
 reception by transmitting a magnificent present 
 of money enclosed in ivory chests of the most 
 exquisite workmanship, and a number of the 
 fleetest Parthian horses. These well-timed 
 gifts procured from the Triumvir the most dis- 
 tinguished marks of approbation. When the 
 rabbis made known the purport of their coming, 
 Antony appointed a day on which to hear both 
 parties at Daphne. 
 
 The ceremonies of the day were ushered in by 
 solemn sacrifices in the temple dedicated to the 
 Heathen deity. 
 
 As soon as the first morning beams dispelled 
 the lingering shades of night, and the horizontal 
 rays touched the summits of the hills and trees 
 with silvery light, and glanced on the broad 
 flowing Orontes, and the rapid Peneus, and 
 were refracted from cascades and fountains of 
 showering waters, the sounds from a thousand 
 flutes attracted the eye towards the avenues
 
 MARIAMNE. 101 
 
 which from every quarter led to the temple. 
 Along one came, winding from the deep shades 
 of cypress, victims adorned with wreaths and 
 flowers, preceded and followed by bearers of 
 censers, from which spired fumes of odorous in- 
 cense, then a procession of youths and virgins 
 clothed in white, each bearing a branch of 
 laurel. In other avenues were smaller bands, 
 formed by those who came to make their volun- 
 tary offerings at the shrine, with encreasing 
 crowds of spectators, on whose various dresses, 
 from that of the simple shepherd to the crested 
 warrior, the morning beams of the sun played, 
 as if to add beauty to the votaries hastening 
 to perform the rites dedicated to his earthly 
 symbol. 
 
 Within the splendid fane was the colossal 
 statue of the god ; the greatest sculptors of 
 Greece had exerted their utmost skill on the 
 work. The deity was represented in the bloom 
 of manhood, pouring a libation on the ground 
 from a golden cup, and bending towards his mo- 
 ther earth as if to implore her to restore the coy 
 and beauteous Daphne to his longing arms : a 
 f3
 
 102 MARIAMNE. 
 
 golden quiver was suspended on his shoulders, 
 the arrows were winged with rays formed of 
 blazing jewels, and his silver bow lay unstrung 
 near his feet. This temple of the god of light 
 was adorned with gold and gems, and all his 
 feats were sculptured with consummate skill on 
 the surrounding walls. 
 
 While the Triumvir assisted at the usual rites, 
 Hyrcanus, the complaining rabbis, Herod, his 
 brother Phasaelus, and their followers, ranged 
 themselves around the tribunal of Daphne, 
 awaiting his return. The blasts of clarions, re- 
 lieved at periods by the floating sounds of flutes, 
 and the distant hum of the moving crowd, at 
 length announced the termination of the Heathen 
 rites and the approach of Antony. The Triumvir 
 mounted with slow and steady step the throne 
 which had been raised ; he stood for some time 
 receiving the homage of many tributary kings, 
 who had assembled to hear the trial, his reason 
 for remaining standing was to display his ma- 
 jestic form, which had been aptly compared to 
 that of Hercules ; to effect this purpose his pur- 
 ple trabea, bordered with gold, hung gracefully
 
 MARIAMNE. 103 
 
 and loosely over his left arm, leaving his right 
 side, breast and shoulders only covered by a thin 
 and close-setting tunic of scarlet, adorned with 
 edges of gold, through which the form and 
 movement of eveiy muscle could be plainly dis- 
 cerned. The trabea fell nearly to the ground, 
 but opened sufficiently before to show his well- 
 formed Hmbs ; the sandals were short, so that 
 the perfect model of the leg might not be in- 
 jured even by the lacings of them. 
 
 His carriage was dignified; but art had 
 diminished the ease which nature had bestowed 
 on him. His waving hair parted in front, and 
 spread curling over his neck : — his features were 
 handsome, manly, and strongly marked, — there 
 was, at times, a high and romantic expression 
 on his brow, but it quickly passed away, and 
 was succeeded by an irresolute look, while his 
 eyes wandered round the assembly. There was 
 none of that fixed elevation which virtue and 
 intelligence generally implant on the counte- 
 nance; but more marks of indifference, and 
 some indications of fierceness, particularly 
 about the mouth. There were times when his 
 F 4
 
 104 MARIAMNE. 
 
 eyes were contracted, and pourtrayed a mean 
 and suspicious look- 
 As soon as the silence of expectation reigned 
 on every side, he sternly eyed the contending 
 parties, and thus briefly spoke. 
 
 " I, Marcus Antonius, Imperator and one of 
 the Triumvirate of Public Affairs, have ordered 
 you, Sameas, and the other eminent deputies 
 from Jerusalem, and Herod, the Governor of 
 Idumsea, and his brother Phasaelus, to meet 
 here at this time, that I may enquire into this 
 factious dispute, and by awarding justice pre- 
 vent a recurrence of evils injurious to the Jewish 
 people, and examples of insubordination to the 
 Roman empire. Ye Rabbis, what is the com- 
 plaint that ye have come to prefer against the 
 Governor of Idumsea ?" 
 
 There was some stir among them ; at length 
 Sameas stated the accusation. 
 
 " Thou knowest, O Antony, as does the whole 
 world, how our forefathers were led from Egyp- 
 tian bondage by Moses, who received, from 
 Jehovah, the laws by which we are governed. 
 Among them was an express command, to
 
 MAHIAMNE. 105 
 
 assemble seventy elders of the tribes, to bear 
 the burden of the people, and to judge with 
 justice. That council is called, by us, the San- 
 hedrin, of which I am the father. Mighty 
 Triumvir, Herod was summoned by this council, 
 to be tried for usurping the power of life and 
 death, which belongs to the Sanhedrin alone. 
 He came surrounded by bands of armed men, 
 and himself in robes of state and with spear 
 and bow, bringing letters from the Lieutenant 
 Sextus Caesar; — thus mocking the assembled 
 council. He afterwards refused to obey its 
 mandates ; but returned with an army,— drove 
 Antigonus from Judaea, — slewMahchus, — raised 
 insurrections in the city, and set at nought the 
 Roman and the Jewish laws. Hyrcanus reigns 
 but in name ; for Herod and his guilty brother 
 guide his counsels, and direct the government. 
 Suffering these evils, and knowing thy power 
 and justice, we have come to seek redress, and 
 solicit thee to punish these evil doers." 
 
 He ceased ;— Antony looked towards Herod, 
 and said ; 
 
 •' Governor, if thou canst refute these heavy 
 F 5
 
 106 MARIAMNE. 
 
 charges, thou, or thy advocate, art free to 
 speak." 
 
 Messala stood before the assembly. — He first 
 smiled in utter scorn at the complainants, then 
 addressed their judge. 
 
 " Mighty Imperator ; — well does Herod know 
 that thou art just, and would'st not suffer his 
 fidelity and zeal to be impeached, without per- 
 mitting him to reply. We will not long detain 
 thee from the great duties thou so well fulfiUest. 
 Thou shalt hear the truth ; for Herod needs no 
 artifice to veil his deeds : — he only hopes that 
 truth may not be thought, on his part, boasting. 
 " There roved, throughout the province, that 
 thou gavest in charge to Herod, a robber, called 
 Hezekiah ; to whom, deserters from the armies, 
 — slaves who had left their masters, — and felons 
 who had fled from justice, — joined themselves. 
 These monsters robbed the people, slew them 
 and the priests, dishonoured the women, and 
 carried away captive the children. The Gover- 
 nor pursued them, — caught their chief, whom, 
 with many of his company, he executed. For 
 this good deed, the enemies of Rome summoned
 
 MARIAMNE. 107 
 
 him, and would have slain him under tlie pre- 
 text that he had offended against the Jewish 
 law. He fled. Soon after Antigonus leagued 
 with a great band of Parthians, and would 
 have surprised the Roman legions, if this guilty 
 Herod had not, by his exertions, warned them. 
 In revenge, Mahchus, the confederate of Anti- 
 gonus, poisoned your ancient friend Antipater ; 
 and would have raised rebeUion, if the Romans, 
 aided by Phasaelus, had not checked it, and 
 restored peace. Antigonus, conscious of the 
 crimes he had committed, fled. Herod was 
 conducting the murderer of his father to be 
 tried by the Roman law, when some of the 
 Juhan legion seized him by authority, and slew 
 him. Hyrcanus is present, and will teU thee, 
 just and mighty Imperator, whether his govern- 
 ment has been usurped by Herod." 
 
 Antony, already tired of the debate, called 
 for Hyrcanus, who had taken his seat among 
 the tributary princes. He arose. — Antony did 
 the same, and greeting him, asked ; 
 
 " If he was satisfied with the conduct of 
 Herod ?^ 
 
 F 6
 
 108 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 The High Priest unhesitatingly declared, that 
 without him, Jerusalem would become a prey to 
 all the horrors of civil discord." 
 
 " Enough," exclaimed the Triumvir, *' Herod 
 and Phasaelus, ye are Tetrarchs and Rulers of 
 the affairs of Judsea. Seize the fifteen leaders 
 of that factious, false, and rebellious crowed of 
 Jews, and lead them away to death." 
 
 Consternation and dismay pervaded the Jewish 
 missionaries. The guards hastened to secure 
 them. Hyrcanus became pale and trembled. 
 Herod rushed to the foot of the throne, and 
 bending, besought Antony to pardon them. He 
 hesitated ; — ^but at length said, in a loud and 
 angry voice ; 
 
 ** Herod seeks your pardon : — I therefore re- 
 lease you ; but leave hostages for the payment 
 of forty pounds weight of gold within three 
 months, and forty more within four months ; it 
 will make you remember not to accuse our 
 trusty governors falsely ; and it will prove to our 
 legions, for whom I destine it, that their assist- 
 ance in quelling your headlong factions, is not 
 thus to be despised. Begone, or I will double
 
 MAKIAMNE. 109 
 
 the trifling fine imposed on your troublesome 
 city." 
 
 He descended from his throne, while accla- 
 mations filled the air. The assembly dispersed. 
 
 After the banquet, prepared by the orders of 
 Antony, was finished, and Herod was alone, he 
 gave way to unbounded joy. He saw the c\m- 
 ning rapacious temper of the Triumvir displayed 
 in his late judgment, and was determined to 
 avail himself of it. The road leading to the 
 summit of his ambition was now open to him, 
 and he was desirous of returning to Jerusalem 
 to ?ivail himself of the power with which he had 
 been invested. The letters from Antony were 
 all he required ; and he determined to obtain 
 them as soon as possible. While ruminating on 
 the events of the day, his faithful Arab suddenly 
 appeared. 
 
 He hastily asked, " What brought him there 
 so quickly." 
 
 He replied ; 
 
 '* The Queen had left Egypt long before you 
 dispatched me. I met her far advanced on her 
 journey, and she is hastening to meet Antony.
 
 110 MARIAMNE. 
 
 She took this diamond from her finger, and bade 
 me give it to you. She was so well pleased, 
 that I returned with a heavier burthen than I 
 went." 
 
 Smiling contemptuously, he said, ironically ; 
 
 "I will keep the bauble as a soldier would a 
 trophy ; for to outwit, or turn to ones own pur- 
 pose, that cunning avaricious harlot, is a proof 
 of generalship not to be underrated. What wilt 
 thou think, my trusty friend, when I tell thee 
 that the public affairs of Judsea are entrusted 
 to my care V 
 
 " I think that thou wilt do well to hasten to 
 Jerusalem ; for I learnt, that the exile Antigonus 
 has fooled the Parthian by promises of gold, 
 and five hundred women, to aid him in recover- 
 ing Judgea." 
 
 Herod started from his seat, his eyes flashed, 
 and he exclaimed ; 
 
 " When did you hear this? Where is Pha- 
 saelus ? Go, seek him : that crafty knave 
 Pacorus, will not leave a talent or a brazier 
 even in the Temple." 
 
 The Arab had scarcely left him, when he
 
 MARIAMNE. Ill 
 
 hurried to Hyrcanus, and in passing, com- 
 manded the captain of his guard to hasten to him. 
 
 After a short consultation, Phasaelus de- 
 parted with Hyrcanus and half the guard, and 
 sped their way to Jerusalem. Herod sought An- 
 tony, and was admitted to a private audience. 
 
 As soon as they were alone, the Triumvir 
 bade him to be seated, and congratulated him 
 on his complete refutation of the charges ex- 
 hibited against him by the Jews. 
 
 Herod abruptly remarked ; 
 
 " A faithful messenger has just brought me 
 intelligence, that Antigonus has leagued with 
 the Parthian, and is marching on Jerusalem ; so 
 I came to return you thanks for rendering me 
 justice, and to soHcit letters from you, that I 
 may go and repulse the rebel." 
 
 Antony thought for a moment, then fiercely 
 
 " Curses on that fickle race of Partliians. — 
 Well, they are certain to quarrel with their em- 
 ployers. You must maintain the power I have 
 entrusted you with, and get assistance where 
 you can.'*
 
 112 MARIAMNE. 
 
 He called a secretary, directed him to write 
 the letters to the Jews commanding them to 
 give the direction of their public affairs to Herod, 
 then turning to him, asked ; 
 
 " Has not Hjrrcanus two grandchildren, — one 
 a youth of promise, the other a young and beau- 
 teous woman ?" 
 
 Herod was, for a moment, becoming emba- 
 rassed ; but quickly recovering his self-possession, 
 replied ; 
 
 " Yes ; and they are accounted as you have 
 said. — Perhaps you will honour Jerusalem with 
 your presence ; then they will, of course, attend 
 your court in Hyrcanus Palace." 
 
 The Triumvir was not willing to make known 
 the intention he then had of visiting Jerusalem, 
 and so asked ; 
 
 " Is not the daughter to be allied to some 
 antique rabbi of her race before many months 
 have passed ?" 
 
 Herod, aware that Princes often receive in- 
 formation of the most private and trifling trans- 
 actions, feared to commit himself by his answer, 
 and paused, while his rival's eye was fixed on
 
 MARIAMNE. 113 
 
 his countenance ; after some hesitation, he 
 answered ; 
 
 '* Your intelligence surprises me. — Hyrcanus 
 has not communicated such information to me, 
 therefore I doubt it." 
 
 Antony smiled, and remarked ; 
 
 •' My question. Governor, has startled you" — 
 
 Then looking at him with more earnestness^ 
 continued ; 
 
 " Perhaps, now you conduct the affairs of 
 Judaea, you would fain unite yourself to their 
 royal race. — If such has been your ambitious 
 dreams, since we parted at Daphne this morning, 
 banish them from your mind ; for I have found a 
 husband for the beauteous Mariamne." 
 
 Herod's pulse beat high, and his rage was but 
 ill-suppressed ; yet he sufficiently commanded 
 himself to say, with some composure ; 
 
 " I have heard, that this Asmonean girl, con- 
 centrates in herself the pride of all her race, and 
 is not likely to be very tractable. — Were Antony 
 to woo her, perchance her pride, great as it is, 
 would be satisfied." 
 
 The Triumvir's vanity was gratified; and a
 
 114 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 look, not to be misunderstood, lingered on his 
 countenance. Herod had become collected, 
 though most deeply interested — Antony care- 
 lessly remarked ; 
 
 " I remember her a child ; and, in sport, pro- 
 mised her an island. — I will change the course of 
 the Orontes, convert the Groves of Daphne into 
 one, and keep my word. — To dally with such a 
 queen, in such a place, would be pretty pas- 
 time. What thinkest thou, most thoughtful 
 Governor?" 
 
 " I think, thou makest merry with the High 
 Priest's daughter," he replied. 
 
 " Thou sayest so with so doleful a face and 
 tone, that methinks thou would'st prefer placing 
 her in some cave in rocky Idumsea." 
 
 " Perhaps the rebel Antigonus intends that 
 she should form one of the five hundred with 
 which your obedient Parthian is to be repaid 
 his fealty to the Triumvirate." 
 
 Herod accompanied this sarcastic remark, 
 which he hoped might rouse Antony to assist 
 him with some legions, with a look of expecta- 
 tion, accompanied by a tone inferring rebuke at
 
 MARIAMNE. 115 
 
 his remissness in not reducing the Parthian to 
 submission. 
 
 " I shall not fear that their disobedience will 
 remain unpunished, while Herod has Idumsea 
 and the Jewish Power at his disposal. — We will 
 order the Lieutenant, at Jericho, to aid you, 
 lest you should lose the Asmonean Mariamne." 
 
 " Thanks, noble Antony, for your timely help, 
 since Jerusalem is much disturbed. — My choicest 
 troops are with your army, destined for Asia ; 
 and it would be an everlasting blot on my fame, 
 were a barbarian to be paid the price of his in- 
 solence to the Roman Power with the person of 
 a Jewish Princess, now their affairs are en- 
 trusted to me : next the fascinating Cleo- 
 patra would be given to some hide-clothed or 
 painted Briton for a playmate. — Royalty must 
 be ever held sacred ; — that I know you think, 
 by the ready aid you have tendered me, at even 
 the suspicion of an insult to be offered to 
 Mariamne." 
 
 The secretary returned with the letters to the 
 Sanhedrin, — Antony signed them, then bade 
 Herod hasten to Jerusalem, saying —
 
 116 MARIAMNE. 
 
 " Yes, that was my reason — watch over her, 
 and take care that the Parthian does not get her." 
 
 He retired overwhelmed with surprize, rage, 
 and incipient jealousy^In less than an hour he 
 w^as on his road to Jerusalem. 
 
 Although he took every precaution to prevent 
 
 being surprised, and sent forward scouts to bring 
 
 intelligence not only of the state of the country 
 
 as they passed along, but of the information the 
 
 people possessed, and the reports current among 
 
 them, yet he was unusually thoughtful. He 
 
 could not divine from what source Antony had 
 
 learnt that he was desirous of marrying Mari- 
 
 amne, at first he suspected Hyrcanus ; then he 
 
 rejected the idea of the Princess herself having 
 
 communicated it ; at length he seriously supposed 
 
 that Doris, from motives of jealousy and envy, 
 
 had by some private means made known the 
 
 whole transaction, and was ready to sacrifice the 
 
 object of her fears to the Triumvir. This was so 
 
 opposed to her natural character that doubts 
 
 perplexed him ; his behef in Salome's affection 
 
 and fidelity prevented him from surmising that 
 
 she was the secret betrayer. Then he remem-
 
 MARIAMN'E. 117 
 
 bered the oath of agreement with Mariamne, 
 and that the secret had not escaped him, and 
 was cast into a sea of doubt. He knew the ad- 
 venturous spirit of Antony, and that his greatest 
 weakness was permitting his love of women to 
 lead him from the paths of duty. The resist- 
 ance he was certain that Mariamne would oppose 
 to any advances he might make, were the surest 
 means of rousing Antony, first to try and over- 
 come them, and if he found it impossible, to 
 exert either artifice or force to get the desired 
 object within his power. When this thought 
 crossed him, he suddenly reined up his horse, 
 uttered a cry almost of despair, and grasped his 
 sword, while vengeance flashed from his eyes. 
 This action had an immediate effect upon the 
 whole cavalcade, the simultaneous movement of 
 the soldiers roused him from his reverie ; he in- 
 stantly collected himself, peered through the 
 gloom, and galloped forward as if he saw some 
 enemy at hand. The occurrence passed over, 
 and he again relapsed into a thoughtful mood, 
 which ended, by his placing all his hopes oa 
 Cleopatra or in despair.
 
 118 mariAmne. 
 
 When he had accomplished half his journey, 
 his scouts returned with a jaded horseman, who, 
 two days before, had been sent from Jerusalem 
 by Phasaelus to inform Herod that Pacorus had 
 pushed on a body of Parthian horse with Anti- 
 gonus at their head, and then were not many 
 leagues from the city, and that he dreaded their 
 attacking both the temple and the palace. At 
 this inteUigence Herod gave way to unbounded 
 fury, tears of rage fell from his eyes, and execra- 
 tions came from his lips ; with a cry of agony he 
 ordered his soldiers to follow him, and hurried on- 
 ward. The tired horseman was by his side giving 
 him all the information he could, and at the 
 same time endeavouring to restrain his impetuous 
 course, by assuring him, that the main body of 
 the Parthian force was yet on the confines of the 
 country, and that his vaUant brother and the 
 Jews of his party could hold out the city until 
 succours arrived. His only reply was ; " Get from 
 the rear a fresh horse and rejoin me" — When 
 the horseman had obeyed his order, and was 
 again riding by his side, his whole anxiety 
 seemed to be for the safety of the palace ; he
 
 MARIAMNE. 119 
 
 made the most minute inquiries into its state, 
 and what had been done to render it more capa- 
 ble of bearino; a sie2;e. When he heard that his 
 brother had placed in it both Doris and Aristo- 
 bulus, with a strong body of Asmonean fol- 
 lowers, and some chosen Jewish waniors, and 
 had even built up the entrances, and placed a 
 Balista and Catapulta on the top, he fiercely 
 laughed, expressed his gladness, and profusely 
 remunerated the courier by giving him the noble 
 steed he had mounted, instead of the worn down 
 creature left to follow in the rear. 
 
 On the evening of the ensuing day, the de- 
 clinins: beams grlitterins: on the distant hills 
 shewed that they had nearly terminated their 
 rapid march. More caution was now necessary, 
 and the whole cavalcade halted in a retired spot, 
 while several proceeded by different routes to 
 the city, to give intelligence of the arrival of 
 Herod, and obtain that information which would 
 enable him to decide on what was to be done. 
 During the hours which intervened before 
 the return of the first messenger, his restless- 
 ness was so great as to approach an aberration
 
 120 MARIAMNE. 
 
 from reason, he climbed to the summit of a high 
 projecting rock, then quickly descended, called 
 for his horse, and would have ridden forward 
 with reckless haste, if his friends had not recalled 
 to his mind the unprofitable risk he ran of losing 
 his liberty and life. The night had far advanced 
 when his listening ear caught the sounds of a 
 horse at full speed ; he hastened in the direction 
 from which it came, and met one of his messen- 
 gers almost breathless, with his horse white with 
 foam, as he approached them, he cried : 
 
 " To the rescue, to the rescue, Antigonus is 
 besieging the palace." 
 
 The words had scarcely passed his lips when the 
 spurs had roused the mettle of the warriors' steeds, 
 who all kept pace with the raging Herod. As 
 tliey neared the city, a confused din was borne 
 to them on the wind, then a crash and shout 
 was heard, and here and there a bursting flame 
 was seen to illumine the air. On reaching the 
 summit of the hills, they raised a cry and spuned 
 their reeking horses down the steep descent, for 
 the flames of burning houses near the Temple 
 and Palace rose before them j on the plain be-
 
 MARIAMNE. 121 
 
 neath were wailing women and crying children 
 flying to the mountains, while in the city was 
 distinctly heard the din of war, the clash of amis, 
 and the trumpet at intervals signalling to the 
 combatants the orders of their leaders. 
 
 Herod waved his glittering sword, urged 
 his foaming war horse, and called aloud to 
 spur and follow him — They reached the gate 
 before which was drawn up some Parthian 
 horse — He, with a shout, dashed on and made 
 an opening wide, and forced a passage with all 
 his men. They followed their chief up the steep 
 street over flaming beams and through opposing 
 bands, and reached the open space around the 
 palace. On one side Phasaelus led on his 
 shaken forces, while showers of stones and darts 
 came thick and fast from every pait of the 
 buildino^. The flaminor houses all around cast a 
 dreadful gleam on the contending warriors, and 
 shewed the dying, and the dead, and the flying 
 inhabitants as they crossed the streets. When 
 Herod entered the square he raised a cry of des- 
 pair and vengeance so loud and fierce that the 
 battling waiTiors stopped for an instant to see 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 MARIAMNE. 
 
 from whence it came. He in a moment per- 
 ceived that he was on the flank of unprepared 
 infantry, and without checking his full career 
 charged in upon them, followed by his com- 
 rades. A shout of **Herod, Herod" from the 
 Palace, repeated quicker than an echo, by Pha- 
 saelus and his men, told the besiegers of the 
 rescue, who as soon as they heard it felt the 
 pressure of their flank and rear upon their front, 
 Phasaelus charged the other flank, while a sortie 
 was made on their front from the palace under 
 cover of a cloud of darts and stones from men 
 and engines. The timely rescue inspired the 
 half beaten soldiers with renovated strength and 
 courage, while it spread dismay among their 
 enemies — Herod rode on scattering, like corn be- 
 fore the scythe, the discomfited followers of An- 
 tigonus, who now sought safety by flight ; in 
 their rear were flaming houses and streets 
 blocked by masses of the burning ruins, yet 
 through these did terror drive them. 
 
 Phasaelus cut his way to Herod, Snd simply 
 said (for there- was no time for greeting) " Secure 
 the square, and I will guard the Temple, they
 
 MAKIAMNE. 123 
 
 must retreat at least to the suburbs, there they 
 are too strong for us, but on the morrow we will 
 discomfit them as Joshua at Gideon.'* 
 
 He passed on. Herod in a voice that was re- 
 echoed from the walls called off his men, then^vith 
 the rapidity of light divided and posted them, and 
 rode round to see if every avenue was guarded, that 
 done, he said some few words of commendation, 
 leaped from his horse, and rushed all soiled and 
 blood-stained as he was into the palace, and made 
 his way to where he supposed Mariamne had 
 taken shelter. 
 
 The most retired apartments of the palace 
 were empty ; with increasing agitation he hurried 
 to the court to enquire ^^ here she and Doris had 
 been placed, on reaching it he saw the dying and 
 the dead scattered around amidst fragments of 
 ruin, broken aiTows, and half burnt combustible 
 weapons, that had been hurled into the building, 
 but no one was there from whom he was hkely f o 
 obtain intelligence, he again hastily looked round 
 the spacious area, and saw, by the assistance of a 
 sudden gleam of light, a female form bending be- 
 neath a burthen, he hastened towards it. The
 
 124 MARIAMNE. 
 
 woman placed the heavy vase of water she was 
 carrying, and in a voice of command mingled 
 with fear exclaimed ; 
 
 " Who arc you ? Instantly quit the palace, or 
 aid our friends in driving back our enemies." 
 
 Herod recognised the voice of his beloved 
 Mariamne, and sprung towards her uttering 
 words of joy — She drew back, placed her finger 
 on her lips as she said ; 
 
 " Remember your oath." Then after a mo- 
 ment's pause added ; ** Thanks gallant Herod 
 for this timely aid, it has saved.- us from de- 
 struction, and I am most grateful — But see our 
 wounded friends are strewed around us, and call 
 for water to slake their consuming thirst— they 
 have fought for us, and the least we can do is to 
 aid them at their greatest need — farewell— to 
 your duty — Doris follows me." 
 
 She raised her vessel of water and went to the 
 nearest wounded soldier, and with her own hand 
 poured the grateful draught into his parched 
 lips, wiped the clotted gore from his brow and 
 staunched the fresh flowing blood, while the 
 man called down blessings on her head, and tears
 
 MARIAMNE. 125 
 
 moistened the eyes from which no pain could 
 have drawn them, so much more powerful a 
 way has pity and benevolence over the human 
 heart than even the bumino- an2;uish of a lace- 
 rated wound. 
 
 Herod was overawed by her language and 
 manner, and now stood rivetted to the spot 
 gazing on her administering comfort to the faint 
 and wounded men, and almost fancying that he 
 looked upon some more than earthly being. The 
 voice of Doris roused him, he turned and the 
 affectionate woman threw herself on his neck, 
 and wept aloud j she raised her head, cast a quick 
 and penetrating glance on Mariamne, then buried 
 her face in her husband's bosom. Herod un- 
 loosed her arms, and asked for his son, his sister, 
 Alexandra, the High Priest, and many more. 
 She replied, " they took refuge in the tower, but 
 before the princess and I could get there the Par- 
 thians came, and we were put back into the palace.'' 
 
 As she spoke, her eyes first glanced on Herod, 
 then on Mariamne, and again she bent her head 
 on his bosom and said ; 
 
 " She cannot be untrue, I do not wonder at it.'' 
 G 3
 
 126 MAKIAMNE. 
 
 The heavy tread of armed men, and the sound 
 of voices, called their attention. It was Phasae- 
 lus with Hyrcanus, and those who had taken 
 refuse in the tower. 
 
 The soldiers bore away their wounded comrades, 
 and the others retired into the palace. Among 
 them was the young Aristobulus shghtly 
 wounded, to whom Mariamne was devoting her 
 whole attention. Salome attempted to get an 
 audience of Herod, but he bade her not to inter- 
 rupt him, and went away with the High Priest 
 and his brother to consult on affairs of the 
 greatest moment.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Herod's manner to Mariamne previous to his 
 departure, did not escape the watchful eyes of 
 Salome, who had heard, as she came from the 
 tower, the praises bestowed on her by the sol- 
 diers, and their proud declarations of her being 
 a true descendant of the patriots Mattathias and 
 Maccabaeus . Her j ealousy and envy were excited , 
 even while she determined to use the informa- 
 tion to inflame the passion of the Triumvir for 
 her. She endeavoured to dissemble her hatred, 
 but Mariamne had heard enough from Doris to 
 make her suspect her sincerity, and so treated 
 her with a degree of reseiTC which exasperated 
 her enemy. 
 
 They all endeavoured to obtain some rest after 
 the terror, harass, and fatigue of the preceding 
 day and night. Before morning the heavy tread 
 of the armed warriors hastening to the top of 
 the palace, forming in the court and gardens, 
 G 4
 
 128 MARIAMNE. 
 
 and posting themselves at every aperture, roused 
 the sleepers, and warned them to prepare for a 
 fresh attack. 
 
 Herod returned to the palace ; he was so ena- 
 moured that, even at that trying time, Mariamne 
 was his ruling thought : he sought her in the 
 apartment where he left her a few hours before, 
 as he approached it, full and clear voices of 
 praise and prayer for help reached his ear ; he 
 stopped, the sweUing sounds increased until they 
 attained the highest fervour, then sunk gradually 
 to notes of deepest supplication. The contrast 
 between them and the stern voices and noise of 
 the men preparing for the work of death, affected 
 him — he stole gently on, and saw through the 
 half open door his beloved Mariamne, and her 
 women on their knees, pouring forth a hymn to 
 their heavenly Father and Protector. He gazed 
 in mute admiration, and for once truly felt the 
 mighty power of piety, and female loveliness. 
 His heart beat quick, his love of war and glory 
 seemed a base and earthly passion, and made 
 him unworthy of such an elevated being as his 
 betrothed wife. Every lurking suspicion and
 
 MARIAMNE. 129 
 
 jealousy, at that moment was banished from his 
 mind, and thrilling through every vein with en- 
 thusiastic love and admiration, he was on the 
 point of darting forward, and clasping her to his 
 throbbing bosom. She turning, saw him, and 
 raising her hand, placed her finger on her hp, 
 which checked him. 
 
 If at that hour the excitements of war, and the 
 hopes and fears, originating from what happened 
 at Daphne, had not necessarily compelled him 
 to act according to circumstances, who can tell 
 that the ardent disposition of Herod might not 
 have led him, with such an example, to have be- 
 come a saint, rather than as he did, a ferocious 
 savage? Let those who smile at the thought, 
 trace to their first germs the causes of many 
 hues of different conduct they have pursued, 
 whether good or evil, and they will probably 
 find them far more inconsiderable, than that 
 which for a season wi'ought on the uncommon 
 mind of Herod. 
 
 They ceased their hymn, and he approaching 
 saluted her and those around her, and was soon 
 joined by the other women 
 G 5
 
 130 MARIAMNE. 
 
 After some discussion it was decided that the 
 women should remain within the palace, under 
 the protection of Herod and Phasaelus with a 
 chosen body of men. A signal from the watch- 
 man on the tower informed them that the enemy 
 approached. The chiefs concentrated their force, 
 examined every part likely to become a point for 
 attack, saw that every preparation was made, 
 then spoke to their soldiers, and after lauding 
 tlieir gallantry, told them that not only their High 
 Priest was with them, but the Princess and the 
 other women of rank. They shouted, and vowed 
 to defend them to the last. Each then hastened 
 to his station, and soon an awful silence reigned 
 through the spacious pile. The men waiting 
 for the arrival of the foe, the women on the 
 ground with their faces covered, silently imploring 
 assistance. 
 
 Every heart beat with quicker pulse at the 
 approaching tramp of the heavy armed assailants. 
 As soon as the foremost appeared in the square, 
 the voice of Herod was heard directing the Cata- 
 pulta and Balista to be discharged, in an instant 
 the whizzing of a thousand arrows filled the air.
 
 MARIAMNE. 131 
 
 and showers of stones hurtled on the foe— then 
 all distinctions of sounds were lost in general tu- 
 mult and confusion — now and then a groan or 
 shriek from some dying or wounded wretch 
 thrilled through the souls of the defenceless 
 women. The wounded were brought, or draooed 
 themselves into the sheltered passages and inner 
 rooms, and were attended on by the women, and 
 those who were useless as soldiers. At length 
 a general rush was heard, and Herod with his 
 brother sallied out against the foe, and drove 
 them through the city, then those in the suburbs 
 were attacked and routed ; many of them fled 
 into the courts of the Temple. The chieftains 
 returned flushed with victory, and by skill en- 
 deavoured to secure the advantages they had 
 gained. 
 
 The cunning Antigonus seeing no chance of 
 overcoming Herod, proposed that an amiistice 
 should be agreed on, and that the Parthian 
 General Pacorus should be admitted into the 
 city, and mediate between them. He came, and 
 was lodged in the Palace. Though his form 
 was graceful, his speech fluent, and his manner 
 G 6
 
 132 MARIAMNE. 
 
 prepossessing, there was a sinister look in his 
 black eyes which told that he partook largely of 
 Parthian perfidy. After many protestations of 
 friendship for the Jews, he proposed that Hyr- 
 canus, Herod, and Phasaelus should accompany 
 him to Barzapharnes, the Governor of Syria, 
 under his king, and there confirm the peace on a 
 lasting and solid foundation. Phasaelus, con- 
 trary to the advice of Herod, went with the High 
 Priest. 
 
 A few nights after their departure, Mariamne 
 first sent for Doris, then for Herod. She told 
 them that one of her attendants, a slave, had 
 overheard Antigonus giving secret orders to his 
 captain of his guard to be in readiness on the 
 succeeding night, and to have vehicles prepared 
 to carry away the women. He was much dis- 
 turbed at this information, and at once summoned 
 his mother, Salome, and Alexandra. When they 
 were assembled, he told them in a low voice, that 
 Antigonus had determined to seize and send them 
 to Parthia as a portion of the five hundred 
 women to be paid the kiijg for his assistance in 
 deposing Hyrcanus ; he then ordered them not
 
 MARIAMNE. 133 
 
 to confer even with each other on the matter, 
 but be prepared to escape with him that night. 
 Herod decoyed Pacorus from the Palace lest 
 he should perceive the preparations, and after 
 remaining with him in the Temple for some time, 
 returned to the Palace alone. As soon as he 
 entered, a messenger in disguise, from his bro- 
 ther, told him that Phasaelus had been betrayed, 
 and was with Hjrrcanus in confinement ; and that 
 he himself was to be seized and murdered, and 
 all the Asmonean women to be sent to Barza- 
 pharnes. 
 
 He stifled his rage and grief, and directed the 
 messenger to return to his brother, and having 
 learnt all he could, to seek him in Idumaea. He 
 gave him money, and crossing the court, saw 
 Aulenus, on his approach, leave Salome. He 
 did not suspect her of intending him any evil, 
 and so made no enquiry of the reason of Aulenus 
 being with her, but told her what he had just 
 heard, and urged her to prepare herself for the 
 worst. 
 
 He walked on the top of the Palace meditat- 
 ing the best means of escape, after deciding on
 
 134 MARIAMNE. 
 
 them, he selected his most trusty followers, and 
 without giving them any clue to his intentions, 
 bade them to be stationed at a certain hour in 
 particular places, and to watch for him. 
 
 The love he felt for Mariamne was so great, 
 that he thought more of the danger to which she 
 might be exposed than of his own safety, or that 
 of all the others, and determined to see and give 
 her minute instructions how to act in case of 
 emergency. He also resolved that the slave who 
 was deeply attached to her, and the wife of 
 BabaiTah the Arab, should remain close to her, 
 and share any dangers, so that she might, if 
 captured, have two women both willing and 
 capable of assisting her. 
 
 He found her alone, and in tears. 
 
 " My Mariamne," he exclaimed, " do not 
 weep at the danger which stern necessity com- 
 pels you to endure — remember you are with your 
 mother and your betrothed husband." 
 
 She had seen much of his courage and gene- 
 rosity since his return, and had heard him ex- 
 press his determination to maintain her brother's 
 right to the dominion of Judaea, and felt more
 
 MAHIAMKE. 135 
 
 tenderly towards him than before ; besides, his 
 love was evidently great, and had some effect on 
 her feelings towards him. She replied with 
 some shght touch of dignity ; 
 
 " I have within me the blood of the heroes 
 who slew Antiochus, and though, like a woman, 
 may be appalled because I cannot resist danger, 
 the anticipation of it will never make me weep. 
 Ah, Herod, I weep not for myself, but for you. 
 I have heard, no matter how, that the Triumvir 
 Antony has left Daphne, and is sailing for Tyre, 
 and has said that he will visit the Palace at 
 Jerusalem. Why comes he here ?" 
 
 She was silent, and covering her face wept 
 aloud. Herod tried to comfort her, then mutter- 
 ing wildly, paced the room and said ; 
 
 " Coming here, coming here — let him come 
 and while away his time with Antigonus and the 
 accursed Parthian — Why do you weep for me, 
 my loved Mariamne ?" 
 
 She rose from the ground, threw her un- 
 braided hair aside, and while tears fell heated by 
 her burning blushes, exclaimed ; 
 
 •* What other reason can the wretch have for
 
 136 MARIAMNE. 
 
 coming here but to seek one who abhors him ? 
 Oh, Herod, when he hears that we have fled he 
 will murder you ; oh yes, he will murder my be- 
 trothed husband, and leave me to be consumed 
 with grief, and become a prey to a foul Idolater." 
 
 She bent her head, and would have sunk down 
 if he had not clasped her to his bosom : in a 
 tremulous voice he said ; 
 
 " I will not now seek farther into the founda- 
 tions, you may have for all this dread ; but, my 
 beloved Mariamne, if Antony should dare to 
 hunt us to Massada, I will defend you to the last, 
 and when defence is useless, we will die toge- 
 ther.'* 
 
 She started, and with an hysteric laugh ex- 
 claimed ; 
 
 " Now I am satisfied, you will slay me rather 
 than yield me to that evil spirit — bless you — I 
 am ready to fight my way to Massada." 
 
 As she spoke her tears ceased, and her eyes 
 beamed with resolution. The enamoured Te- 
 trach could only gaze on her with yet more ardent 
 love. 
 
 Salome had not been able to ascertain from
 
 MARIAMNE. 137 
 
 Alexandra whether her brother was an accepted 
 suitor : she was not satisfied with the infoiTaation 
 given her by Doris, although her dependance on 
 it was much encreased by Herod's manner to the 
 Princess since their confinement in the Palace. 
 The devotion shewn to her by the soldiers and her 
 own enchanting demeanour, had added to the 
 hatred and envy of Salome, and encreased her 
 determination to prevent her being aUied to her 
 brother. Aulenus had that morning arrived with 
 the intelligence of Antony's having sailed for 
 Tyre, with the intention of prosecuting his wishes 
 respecting the Princess, Her conference had been 
 broken off by the unexpected appearance of her 
 brother, and she was most anxious to renew it. 
 Aulenus had not quitted the Palace, with a hope 
 that she might find some opportunity of con- 
 versing with him. After seveml attempts she 
 succeeded in obtaining an interview with him in 
 one of the rooms fronting the square, the lattices 
 of which had been barricadoed to resist the at- 
 tacks of the assailants. It was a spacious hall, 
 in which many warlike implements had been 
 placed ; the apertures left open were merely in-
 
 138 MARIAMNE. 
 
 terstices through which to look at the enemy, 
 and did not admit more hght than enough to 
 shew the extent through the gloom. Salome 
 had looked carefully round to see if any one was 
 there before she entered with Aulenus ; having 
 satisfied herself of their privacy, she in a low 
 anxious voice enquired ; 
 
 " When will he be at Tyre V 
 
 " In two or three days from this time at 
 farthest." 
 
 " What did he say of her — did he remember 
 her V 
 
 " Perfectly, and vowed that he would woo 
 her, if he came in the disguise of a rabbi, to Je- 
 rusalem." 
 
 '* Aulenus, your benefactor is enamoured of 
 this deep designing, proud Princess, and must 
 be saved from ruin." 
 
 " You know that I am prepared to aid you in 
 your sisterly intentions, indeed I think his own 
 rank and glory would be advanced were Antony 
 to take her from him. Surely a province would 
 indemnify him for the loss of a love.'* 
 
 " Did he think as wisely as you, all would be
 
 MARIAMNE. 139 
 
 well, but his very soul seems vvrapt up in her — if 
 she becomes Antony's it must be without his 
 knowledge. — Listen, Aulenus, to night he re- 
 moves us all from the Palace, but where he in- 
 tends to take us I know not : would it not be 
 possible to place her in the hands of Antigo- 
 nus ? He would see the advantage of an alliance 
 with the Triumvir, and he is as much her natural 
 guardian as Hyrcanus.'' 
 
 " The only mode of doing so would be to 
 make known to Antigonus your intended de- 
 parture, but that, I fear, would place your bro- 
 ther's hfe in jeopardy." 
 
 " Aulenus, that will not do, or I might be a 
 Parthian soldier's slave — could you not, amid the 
 confusion, and aided by the night, carry the 
 Princess to An — Antigonus ?" 
 
 " By Jupiter that were a dangerous exploit 
 when Herod and his guards are near. I have a 
 friend who might be able to place her under the 
 guardianship of Antigonus ; I will go to him — if 
 we do not meet again, be not surprised if you are 
 a captive too." 
 
 They parted — he glad to have left the matter
 
 140 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 in SO indefinite a state, while she, reckoning on 
 his selfishness, hoped that the expectation of re- 
 ward from Antony might induce him to make 
 some great effort to secure her victim. 
 
 After they had left the hall, a weak and 
 wounded soldier, who had been placed in a recess 
 by the directions of Mariamne, crawled from his 
 mat into the passage, and there remained until 
 he saw the young slave Tezellah, who had, by 
 her orders, administered to him, after she had 
 bound up his wounds. The exhausted man 
 implored her to go immediately for the Princess, 
 as he had, before he died, something of import- 
 ance to tell her. Tezellah assisted him into an 
 adjoining room, and hastened for her mistress. 
 As soon as she approached the spot where the 
 soldier had lain down, he raised himself, and 
 after looking on her for a moment with his 
 glazing eyes, faintly said ; 
 
 " The Lord hath redeemed thy life from de- 
 struction ; he hath crowned thee with loving 
 kindness and tender mercies. Oh ! that I could 
 go and fight, and by His assistance shield thee 
 from thine enemies. When I was wounded and
 
 MARIAMNE. 141 
 
 my tongue clave to the roof of my mouth and 
 fire consumed me, and my poor wife and unpro- 
 tected babes were in my recollection, — You, a 
 mighty Princess, came and unclasped my helmet, 
 and staunched my blood, and gave me water, 
 and soothed me, and cooled my throbbing head.'^ 
 
 He had become excited as he spoke, and the 
 faintness which he endured had subsided ; but 
 gratitude, that " memory of the heart" filled his 
 breast, and he stopped and looked on her, and 
 the tears gushed forth as if they had overflowed 
 in his bosom, and, with almost prophetic voice. 
 he continued, as he cast up his eyes to heaven, 
 
 *' ' With the merciful, thou wilt shew thyself 
 merciful,' thou hast made me an unworthy and 
 sinful man, — the instrument wherewith to re- 
 quite her charity." 
 
 Mariamne had listened with surprise, and 
 supposing that he only wished to thank her, 
 was preparing to bid him farewell, and retire, — 
 when he suddenly said ; 
 
 " Go not until I tell you that you are be- 
 trayed. — I was on my mat in the cool recess, 
 where you ordered me to be placed, and saw
 
 142 MARIAMNE. 
 
 Aulenus, one of Herod's captains, enter with a 
 woman whom I did not know. — He told her 
 that Antony was coming for you ; and they 
 agreed to dehver you up to Antigonus, who 
 would use you to buy the base Triumvir's 
 favors. — I remained as one dead, and saw the 
 wretches go, and crawled into the passage ; and 
 if I had not seen you, would have called until 
 some comrades had heard me, and who would 
 soon have dispatched the betrayer of our friend 
 and Princess. — Beware, if you travel to night, 
 with whom you go. Oh that I could march or 
 ride with Reuben and Jonathan my sons, we 
 could guard you against a host : they are 
 ready with the spear and the bow, — and re- 
 member that you had pity on their father in 
 his distress." 
 
 She replied, with great agitation, — 
 " Thanks for the great service you have 
 rendered me : — whenever I can requite it, I 
 w ill. — Herod will guide us, so we shall be safe. 
 — Where are your sons ?" 
 
 " They are guards in the Temple ; but can 
 come if you ssud for them. — Ah! Herod is a
 
 MARIAMXE. 143 
 
 lioiiVs whelp, and feareth no enemy; — but like 
 that beast, is easily roused to anger, and allayeth 
 it with blood. — Confide in his courage ; but 
 Princess, a father tells thee, — trust not in his 
 heart, which is either like the fire, that con- 
 sumeth itself and all around it, or like the 
 chill icy wind on the highest mountain : — then he 
 is deeper than the sea, and like it — insatiable 
 and prodigal. — As thy guard, he will defend 
 thee ; but trust him no farther.^' 
 
 He sunk down exhausted. Mariamne desired 
 Tezellah to call his comrades, and sent him to a 
 place of safety, with money to defray his wants. 
 She then sought Herod, whose apprehension 
 and rage swelled every vein, when he heard 
 of the intended treachery. He went for Reuben 
 and Jonathan himself; and appointed them to 
 posts about the vehicle in which Mariamne was 
 to go, and redoubled his exertions to secure their 
 safe retreat. 
 
 Mariamne's heart was filled with apprehen- 
 sion ; — the words of the wounded soldier sunk 
 deep in her memory, and grief seemed to claim 
 her as a companion.
 
 144 MARIAMNE. 
 
 She knew that the imbecile Hyrcanus could 
 not shield her, — Aristobulus was too young and 
 too narrowly watched, and her mother Alexandra, 
 from some unknown cause, had never inspired 
 her with confidence, or treated her with affection. 
 She saw no one who could and was ready to 
 protect her, excepting Herod, — whom she ad- 
 mired; yet from whom her heart turned when 
 she tried to feel the tenderness and affection 
 that would have lived in her bosom for the man 
 she had chosen for her husband under other 
 circumstances. The approaching shades of 
 evening warned her to prepare for flight: — to 
 fortify her mind, she knelt and sought the pro- 
 tection of her heavenly Father. 
 
 The night had advanced ; the women w ere 
 all assembled ; in the court yard w^ere many 
 vehicles, some of them with several horses ; no 
 voice was heard higher than a whisper from the 
 men preparing them. While Mariamne was 
 observing these preparations, and watching the 
 anxious Herod giving directions to different men, 
 Salome came to her and putting her arm round 
 her waist, said, with affected sympathy j
 
 MARIAMNE. 145 
 
 " Alas we are now in adversity, and about 
 to seek our safety by flight. — In adversity 
 friends are tried and made ; let our present lot 
 unite us, — we may become yet more closely 
 allied." 
 
 Mariamne turned her head, and fixing her eyes 
 on those of Salome, calmly replied ; 
 
 " When adversity has proved you sincere and 
 kind, then may I have the gift of a friend in 
 you; but it hath been said, tnist ye not in a 
 friend, — put ye not confidence in a guide, — 
 keep the door of thy mouth from her that lieth 
 in thy bosom ; for in the days of perplexity, our 
 enemies are of our own house." 
 
 She released herself from the embrace, and 
 was quitting the room, when she saw, in an 
 angle of the passage, Aulenus and two strange 
 men, speaking lowly and emphatically. She 
 called aloud for Tezellah. Dermah answered, 
 and coming towards her, said, as she turned 
 her back on the men who had been startled at 
 the voice, " Reuben and Jonathan are not far 
 off, and I am here;" she then looked towards 
 Aulenus, and called for Tezellah, who came 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 MARIAMNE. 
 
 running towards her ; as she passed the men, 
 she turned and looked at them ; her look spoke 
 more than the base pander could endure, and 
 he slunk away. 
 
 Salome was equally agitated by rage and 
 fear, which was added to by perplexity, when 
 she observed her minion retire from the piercing 
 look of a Parthian slave girl, and discovered 
 how ready Dermah was in her attendance on 
 the Princess. She knew that her husband and 
 Aulenus were intimate, and therefore hesitated 
 to determine, whether she were an ally or an 
 enemy. 
 
 At length Herod came, and commanding 
 silence and implicit obedience, regulated their 
 order of departure. 
 
 He placed his own mother, Alexandra, and 
 the Princess together, with Dermah and Tezel- 
 lah. At this arrangement Salome grew pale 
 and suspected that he knew of her intentions. 
 If escape had been practicable she would have 
 flown, and waited the events of future circum- 
 stances by which to have regulated her conduct. 
 In the same vehicles with the women were
 
 MARIAMNE. 147 
 
 many armed men ; the conductors, though in 
 disguise, were all trusty followers of the Tetrarch. 
 The gates were opened ; and one vehicle led 
 the way, followed by some baggage. Shortly 
 after, others proceeded by a different route ; at 
 length the carriages which contained the women 
 went forward. As they approached the gates of 
 the city, the followers became more numerous ; 
 and soon after the suburbs were passed, troops 
 of horsemen gathered round. All the vehicles 
 were together, and mingled with them crowds 
 of women, children, and aged men, on loot or 
 on asses. A numerous band of soldiers pre- 
 ceded. Far before them were many well- 
 mounted scouts; on either side were files of 
 men, and behind were bodies of soldiers on foot, 
 followed by the Teti-arch's guards. He came as 
 soon as the cavalcade was arranged, and bade 
 them all be of good courage ; then rode to the 
 rear, since it was on that quarter he expected 
 to be attacked, as soon as his flight was known. 
 The stars shone brightly, but the moon did 
 not afford her light. Silence pervaded the 
 crowd, and was, at intervals, broken by the 
 H 2
 
 148 MARIAMNE. 
 
 crying of some frightened infant, or the neighing 
 of some chafing steed. 
 
 They had proceeded nearly two leagues, and 
 began to descend a steep and circuitous road, 
 when the scouts rode in with the intelligence, 
 that they had perceived small bodies of men 
 lurking near the foot of the mountain. Herod 
 was on the point of riding on when the rushing 
 shout of many horsemen came louder and louder 
 from the rear. The pace of the cavalcade was 
 hastened that the horsemen might reach more 
 open ground ; while every man was prepared to 
 meet the threatened danger, a flight of Parthian 
 arrows told them that their enemies were near. 
 Suddenl^r a body of men appeared on their right 
 upon the hill above them, they rolled dow n 
 stones, and threw flaming brands among the 
 horses and crowd, while the rear was heavily 
 charged by the Parthian horse. The voice of 
 Herod cheered his men, and soon the rearward 
 foes were checked. In the middle of the band, 
 the shrieks of women and children and the cries 
 of the burnt animals drowned even the crash and 
 shouting of the soldiers. A body of superior
 
 MAKIAMNE. 149 
 
 mounted and armed men made a decided at- 
 tack on the vehicle which contained the Prin- 
 cess, some tried to kill the horses, some to en- 
 tangle and overthrow them. Jonathan and Reu- 
 ben, side by side, repulsed the fierce assailants, 
 and were nobly seconded by their comrades. 
 The flaming brands flew thicker, and more were 
 lighted, as if to shew the enemy their prey. The 
 defenders were borne back by the weight of num- 
 bers, and had almost given themselves and their 
 charge up for lost, when Herod, with a cry which 
 was re-echoed from the hills, came plunging on- 
 ward on his wounded steed, with a part of his 
 victorious guards. In a moment the tide of 
 battle was turned, and the attacked became pur- 
 suers. He called back his men, and hastened to 
 see if all were well within the vehicle. To his 
 dismay he found it overthrown, his mother in- 
 jured, his beloved Mariamne senseless on the 
 road, the crowd and other vehicles had hastened 
 on. He beheved his betrothed love was dead, 
 and bursting into the wailing of despair, beat his 
 bosom, tore his hair, uttered piercing cries, and 
 bending over her, wept in anguish, then seized his 
 h3
 
 150 MARIAMNE. 
 
 sword, and was on the point of plunging it into 
 his bosom, when Doris grasped his arm : her 
 shrill voice recalled Mariamne to her senses, who 
 after looking wildly for a moment, saw Herod 
 by the light of a half extinguished torch, endea- 
 vouring to disentangle himself from Doris that 
 he might slay himself. Fear gave her power, 
 she leaped up, and called aloud, 
 
 '' Herod, Herod, in the name of God forbear. 
 Thou shalt do no murder — trust in Him and He 
 will deliver us." 
 
 As she spoke she bounded forward and clung 
 to his arm. The sword fell from his grasp, and 
 his head bent on Mariamne's bosom. She roused 
 him by saying ; 
 
 " Tetrarch, the enemy will be on us, save us 
 from death and dishonour." 
 
 The words awoke him, he grasped again his 
 sword, called for his men, placed watchmen around, 
 then with eager haste raised the broken vehicle, 
 replaced the injured horses by others, attended 
 to his mother, and pushed forward to join the 
 cavalcade. The night was dark, and as he 
 neared his band voices were heard on the hill.
 
 JTAKIAMNE. 151 
 
 and more brands and darts were thrown. The 
 road was in places blocked by dying animals and 
 broken carriages, while groans and tears from 
 beings shrouded by the night, told too truly that 
 the foe had done the work of death. They met 
 many a woman going back to seek her dying or 
 wounded husband, or found them remaining by 
 their friends and children who could not go for- 
 ward. 
 
 His vigorous repulse, and the gallantry of his 
 guards stopped the many attempts made on them 
 before the morning broke. 
 
 The earliest light discovered the foremost men 
 as they emerged from a dark and narrow defile 
 to a champaigne country ; their horses were at 
 first in the deep shadow of a vineyard skirting 
 the road, their spears reaching above the vines 
 refracted from their polished points the level 
 beams, then rays bursting through the clouds 
 penetrated the light foliage, and chequered tils' 
 warlike band with tender hght. After them 
 came toiling on the long array of loaded vehicles, 
 lines of burthened animals, and tired women 
 with their families. The heavy and unvarying 
 H 4
 
 152 MARIAMNK. 
 
 tread of the travellers and carriages was broken 
 by wailing cries of those who had lost their 
 friends during the attacks, or missed their chil- 
 dren ; at intervals these solemn sounds were con- 
 trasted with the joyful cries of the selfish animals, 
 who regardless of all but themselves, hailed the 
 fresh odours from the dewy herbage. 
 
 The silent morning hastened on without being 
 decked in its usual bright and varied hues ; at 
 length the sun shone on the long train of weary 
 wanderers : when the day had advanced orders 
 were given to encamp near a brook beneath the 
 shade of palm trees mingled with the vine. 
 
 The thirsty animals, the wounded, and the 
 tired hastened to quaff the cool and limpid waters. 
 As soon as their outer garments were spread, 
 many groups were formed, some returning thanks 
 for their deliverance, others heaping dust upon 
 their heads and bewaihng their dead companions 
 jtvith loud lament. 
 
 The vigilant Herod placed his centinels, sent 
 out his scouts, and gave every necessary direc- 
 tion before he even sought the tent where his 
 mother, Mariamne, and the other women were
 
 MARIAMNE. 1.53 
 
 assembled. After providing for their comfort, 
 he walked through the encampment, cheering 
 some, rewarding others, and inspiring confidence 
 in all. His success and the excitation had elated 
 him, he now felt secure from pursuit, and hoped 
 in a short time to meet his brother-in-law Joseph 
 with an army posted at Ressa. 
 
 For some hours the whole body rested; as 
 soon as the heat of the day had passed they pur- 
 sued their weary march until night, when they 
 again halted, and slept secure under the vigilant 
 guardianship of their leader. The follovs^ng 
 morning the centinels made known the approach 
 of Joseph with the troops from Ressa. As their 
 strength was then made greater than any that 
 could be brought by Antigonus, they proceeded 
 joyfully towards their destination. 
 
 Towards the evening of the fifth day the rock 
 and fortress of Massada was descried from the 
 summit of a hill which they had reached. As 
 the sun was setting they approached it. On one 
 side the craggy steep was surmounted by walls 
 and towers, beneath which were gardens hanging 
 to the sides; on many projecting rocks smaller 
 H 5
 
 1:54 MARIAMNE. 
 
 works of defence had been raised flanked by 
 watch-towers both circular and square, this 
 eastern aspect was sinking into clear deep sha^ 
 dows. The western side rose almost perpendi- 
 cularly from the plain to the height of several 
 hundred feet, fenced on the edge by a wall and 
 many towers, from thence was a gentle acclivity 
 adorned with dwellings, sheltered by spreading 
 foliage and vines ; above this broad and beau- 
 tiful slope was the extensive citadel,, composed of 
 an enormous eentral tower an hundred feet above 
 masses of buildings of various forms and ages 
 erected around it. The setting sun glanced the full 
 power of its golden beams on these rugged preci- 
 pices, smiling gardens, habitations, and command- 
 ing fortress, making one broad gleam graduating 
 into every degree of reflected Ught and shadow as it 
 met the various forms of the enormous pile, The 
 distant plain was intersected by the declining 
 rays as they burst from beneath a bank of 
 floating clouds, varying from gold and crimson 
 to hues of purple softening into tints that mingled 
 with the aetherial blue. The bold and numerous 
 forms of a range of mountains bounding the
 
 MARIAMNE. 155 
 
 plain were clearly defined by the dark edges re- 
 lieved from the sky, while here and there a lofty 
 peak was illumined by the parting ray. 
 
 From the fortress were seen the horsemen and 
 marshalled bowmen entering the shadow cast by 
 the mountain, while beyond them the light 
 played on the long train, and tinged both men 
 and animals with its sunset colours. It was 
 night before the rearmost entered the gateway. 
 The busy throngs were occupied in erecting tents, 
 obtaining possession of buildings, and converting 
 the niches of the walls into temporary habita- 
 tions. Numberless fires were kindled, whose 
 flickering flames lighted up the sunburnt faces 
 of those providing the food for their companions 
 or labouring to raise some shelter from the dews 
 for their wives and little ones. 
 
 H 6
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Salome's suspicion had been excited by the 
 conduct of Mariamne towards her the night of 
 their flight from the Palace ; it had the usual ef- 
 fect of increasing the hatred she had engendered 
 for the injured Princess, and was also produc- 
 tive of more active reflections on the readiest 
 mode of sacrificing her. 
 
 Although she associated with Alexandra, and 
 found her opinions on their /leaving Jerusalem 
 accord with her own, and that the glories of the 
 world were her ruling passion, she was unable to 
 draw from her any information relative to Mari- 
 amne. 
 
 Herod was too actively employed in disbanding 
 those troops he could not maintain in Massada, 
 in affairs relating to his government, in the pro- 
 ceedings of Antigonus, and in devising plans 
 to obtain the liberation of Hyrcanus and Pha- 
 saelus, to be capable of passing much of his
 
 MAHIAMNE* 157 
 
 time even with the betrothed Mariamne. She 
 had lived in retirement since her arrival, owing to 
 indisposition from excess of fatigue, and the injury 
 she had sustained on the night of the attack. 
 
 A week had elapsed without the return of any 
 messenger with intelligence of importance, when 
 Aulenus came to Herod with the news of An- 
 tony's having been at Damascus, and of his 
 being then on his way to Tyre, where a numerous 
 body of Jews had assembled to lay before the Tri- 
 umvir fresh complaints against him and his bro- 
 ther. Herod saw the necessity of hastening there 
 to refute them, although he knew that the Tri- 
 umvir was favourably disposed towards him. He 
 was unwilling to leave Massada, and determined 
 not to permit Aulenus to remain without him. 
 
 His first wish was to consummate his marriage 
 with Mariamne, but his proposal was answered 
 by a calm reference to his oath. He knew that 
 she was very apprehensive of the conduct of An- 
 tony ; and was consequently in doubt of the rea- 
 sons of her conduct, since he could not conceive 
 that she entertained any serious objection to the 
 aUiance on account of Doris.
 
 158 MTARIAMNE. 
 
 While in this state of perplexity, the Arab 
 Babarrah returned from Egypt. The Tetrarch's 
 first direction to him was, not to make known 
 from whence he had come, and if questioned, to 
 say that he had been sent to the King of Arabia 
 to claim the payment of a debt which he owed 
 to the Tetrarch's father. 
 
 Dermah the wife of Babarrah and Tezellah 
 were known to each other ; some kind offices of 
 the former had won the affection and confidence 
 of the latter, who communicated to her all that 
 she had overheard. Dermah possessed herself a 
 high and noble spirit, and felt an instinctive con- 
 fidence in the Princess, as well as a firm deter- 
 mination to protect her against the machinations 
 of her enemies. She often saw her alone, and 
 once, with that decision and openness, which is a 
 leading characteristic of a superior mind, told 
 her not only what Tezellah had overheard, but 
 what she had seen transpire between Aulenus 
 and Salome since their arrival at Massada. Ma- 
 riamne quickly perceived that the Arab had a 
 soul more congenial to her own, than any other 
 person in her train, and without hesitation com-
 
 MABIAMNE. 159 
 
 municated to her the tale of the wounded sol- 
 dier. The Arab directly accused Salome as the 
 person in whom the infernal scheme had origi- 
 nated, and warned the Princess not only to mis- 
 trust her, but to be most cautious of Doris, 
 whom she saw was an instrument in her hands. 
 Dermah's husband was of a nature similar to 
 his wife's, but more cool in action, and capable 
 of the deepest policy, but which ability he 
 scorned to use but when he could defend the op- 
 pressed against the wicked, who were proof 
 against all other appeal. They had entire and 
 mutual confidence, and told to each other their 
 most secret thoughts as freely as if they were 
 merely reflecting on them. He, as soon as they 
 were alone, made known to her every thing that 
 had occurred to him in Egypt ; she on the other 
 hand expressed all her anxiety for the welfare of 
 Mariamne, and her suspicions of Aulenus. He 
 was faithful to Herod, and possessed too much 
 manliness of spirit, not to feel eager to snatch a 
 young and innocent victim from the grasp of so 
 powerful a profligate as Antony, and so selfish a 
 pander as Aulenus; he was equally afraid of
 
 160 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 Salome, since he was well aware of her influence 
 over her brother, and of her perfidious and. re- 
 vengeful nature. He was intimate with Aulenus, 
 and on meeting him the following morning, was 
 thus accosted by him. 
 
 " Peace be with you, and may prayer be your 
 thought's companion — So long have we been 
 separated, that I began to doubt if you would 
 return from Egypt." 
 
 " FideUty and truth keep you, Aulenus, with 
 all their attendant blessings. Your doubts were 
 not misplaced, for I could not return from whence 
 I never had gone." 
 
 " That saying is as true, as that Antony is at 
 Tyre," replied Aulenus. 
 
 " Which is as true perchance, as that we are 
 at Massada. What brought us here is more 
 doubtful." 
 
 " My explanation Babarrah would be, that 
 Antigonus with the restless Parthians drove us 
 from Jerusalem." 
 
 *' Aulenus you are as profound as a Pharisee, 
 and I suppose in addition to what you see, take 
 for truth what you have heard by tradition "
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 161 
 
 '' I see the Tetrarch, his family, friends, and 
 soldiers here, and leam from every mouth that 
 you all fled from Antigonus." 
 
 " Why Herod might have returned to Daphne, 
 and left his adherents to the pleasures of Jeru- 
 salem, if that had been the only reason ; I have 
 been to Arabia where there is sand enough, and 
 little intelligence." 
 
 Aulenus with more seriousness continued ; 
 
 " Babarrah, our friend and master is much 
 altered of late — He is sometimes as it were 
 under the effect of some charm, for he is not so 
 uniformly active as he was. Sometimes he is 
 thoughtful, he whined over his wounded horse 
 the other day, as a girl would have done over a 
 dead gazelle, he has not sent a soul to see what 
 the other world contains these three months, 
 save some score of Parthians that came capering 
 at his heels when he left Jerusalem." 
 
 " And no cause for all this ?" 
 
 " Babarrah, you and I are old comrades, and 
 have seen strange doings in our time, and more 
 Generals than one made to repeat the farce of 
 Hercules and Omphale ; perhaps we may have a
 
 162 MARIAMNE. 
 
 dramatic interlude here, to make up for the loss 
 of feasts and music, things, and pleasant ones, 
 much in vogue at Jerusalem." 
 
 " When they're not fighting, or turning their 
 noble and godlike laws into unintelhgible jargon; 
 but who are the dramatis personse here?" 
 
 Aulenus gaily answered ; 
 
 " Had you been here five hours longer, and 
 asked me that question, I should have thought 
 you at your old game of satirising the fools about 
 you — ^but I suppose you have been dallying 
 elsewhere, and so have not seen what I perceive 
 is going on." 
 
 " Friend, be more serious, your penetration I 
 know well, and have good reason for thinking 
 your surmises approach nearer to proofs, than 
 the declarations of others, more particularly on 
 points like these." 
 
 " You and I Babarrah can converse on such mat- 
 ters, but babblers must not hear it from any as 
 much with Herod as we are. Babarrah, he is in love 
 with the Asmonean girl, who is as proud and cun- 
 ning as ever was the most notorious of her tribe — 
 She has another wooer, whom she would prefer, if
 
 MARIAMNE. 163 
 
 something like stratagem or force could gloss 
 over her Hving with a worshipper of Jupiter, or 
 Venus, or any other fanciful deity." 
 
 '* This Is more than I expected. — Who is this 
 successful wooer of the proud Asmonean ?" 
 
 " Who could win her but Antony ? When but 
 a child she saw him, and now talks of his caresses, 
 and noble mien. These women, Baban-ah, from 
 their cradles, cry nothing but coo, coo, and like 
 bright plumage from the moment their eyes are 
 opened till they are closed, even after, they will 
 be decorated, to rot in silks and odours." 
 
 " Cage them, cage them all; what say you 
 Aulenus to that? Methinks you would then be 
 forced to marry, and become like Hercules, as 
 too many of us are." 
 
 " They mar or make us — It is our fault if our 
 fortunes should be marred by this Herod crossing 
 the Triumvir's fancy ; think you not so ?" 
 
 Babarrah replied ; *' We should not, if we can 
 avoid it, suffer our hopes to be blasted by such 
 things ; if two so great contend on such a point, 
 how can we help ourselves ?" 
 
 " I have served with Antony, and so may
 
 164 MARIAMNE. 
 
 serve again ; but I owe much to Herod, as you do, 
 Babarrah, and would fain repay it in some way, by 
 privately shielding him from the danger which 
 overhangs him, and which we know he will pull 
 down on his head, with fierce and reckless hand. 
 My plan is to please the Princess and Antony, — by 
 giving her to him with just as much stratagem 
 and force as this coy cooing damsel may require/' 
 
 Babarrah with assumed gravity said ; 
 
 *' It is a kind and bold design, — to at once 
 serve our master — thwart his unwise passion 
 — please the pretty Princess and the Triumvir— 
 and, by so doing, save Herod's life to do us 
 good. A great undertaking may be stated in 
 few words ; but will take a world of time, and 
 trouble, and danger, to effect it. — Perhaps you 
 have matured your thoughts on it." 
 
 " Not yet :— But who cojnes here ? — it is the 
 Tetrarch's messenger." 
 
 The messenger approaching, took Babarrah's 
 hand ; and after kissing it, placed it on his fore- 
 head. The Arab acknowledged the respectful 
 salute, by touching his own fingers with his 
 lips. The messenger said j
 
 MARIAMNE, 165 
 
 " May success attend you both ;" then ad- 
 dressed Babarrah — 
 
 *' May my message bear you to happiness. 
 The Tetrarch commands your immediate attend- 
 ance : he has, it is said, received sad information 
 of Antigonus cruel conduct." 
 
 He followed the messenger ; and as he went, 
 pondered on Aulenus villany, and resolved to 
 tell his master, and to counterplot him. 
 
 As soon as he entered the apartment, where 
 Herod sat on a cushion near a comer of the 
 room, he took off his sandals, and made obei- 
 sance. The Tetrarch bade the attendants to 
 retire ; then made him sit near, and said ; 
 
 " Babarrah, I know that in you is truth and 
 courage. Dangers are gathering round me, 
 both in my home and abroad, as if they would 
 beset the road, that is open before me, to glory 
 and power. Antigonus has cut off Hyrcanus 
 ears, as if he were a mangy cur, and so unfitted 
 him for the priesthood. He will murder my 
 brother if he dares ; but if he does, he may think 
 of Malichus and vengeance. Their law sayeth, 
 the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer
 
 166 MARIAMNE. 
 
 when he meeteth him. The factious Jews are 
 going in tribes to tell Antony base lies of me and 
 Phasaelus, their protectors. I must be there ; 
 and yet I have reasons for wishing to stay here. 
 Did you not say that Cleopatra intended to 
 hasten to Tyre?" 
 
 ** She did say so. Had you not commanded 
 me to attend you, I should have come without 
 your summons; for I have just learnt from that 
 selfish wretch Aulenus much that you should 
 know. But as our safety mainly depends upon 
 our caution, your slave wishing that the dew of 
 joy may cool your beard, trusts that your just 
 indignation may be for a time suspended, so 
 that gladness may fill your heart, and the punish- 
 ment of your enemies make you rejoice." 
 
 As he spoke, the impatient Herod fixed his 
 stem gaze on the calm Arab, and drew deep in- 
 spirations, then eagerly said ; 
 
 " Thou impenetrable diamond, what would I 
 give to be as firm and pure as thou art. I know 
 that I must, if I would succeed, listen to you, — 
 and, though your master, implicitly obey you. 
 -— Babarrah, thou and thine art free : — here's
 
 ^ MARIAMNE. 167 
 
 my garment wherewith to clothe you, and thou 
 shalt have gold to take thee to thy silent deserts, 
 where Romans cannot rule, where rabbis can- 
 not wag their lying tongues, and where no An- 
 tonies and longinsi: harlots can bask and feast 
 while thousands die, and justice stands trembling 
 at the guilly balance, making poor virtue 
 seem void of weis-ht : — where there is nothing^ 
 save the pure sky above you, and the inanimate 
 earth beneath. — I am sick of man, though I 
 would rule him for his good. But w^hat has 
 this grateful friend Aulenus plotted against his 
 benefactor?" 
 
 Babarrah then repeated what had passed. 
 Herod sprung from his seat, seized his sword, 
 and was on the point of rushing out, and in his 
 fury, wreaking his vengeance, when Babarrah 
 rose, and standing in his passage, looked on 
 him with an expression in which contempt was 
 scarcely quite suppressed, while he said, in a 
 subdued yet emphatic voice — 
 
 " Shall I bid the Triumvir come here with his 
 legions, to block your way to happiness ?" 
 Herod stopped ; and trembling with agitation.
 
 168 MARIAMNE. 
 
 placed his hand on the Arab's shoulder, while 
 he articulated ; 
 
 *' Such villainous ingratitude and treachery — 
 ni slay him by my soul — I'll slay the base 
 pandering traitor." 
 
 He tried to rush past Babarrah, who sprung 
 towards the entrance ; — on which the furious 
 man exclaimed ; 
 
 " What, stop me from going ? — You are not 
 leagued with him, are you V 
 
 The Arab, looking fiercely at him, replied ; 
 
 " Not even the Tetrarch shall receive an 
 answer to such a question. — If it pleases you,^ — 
 go." 
 
 He stood back, keeping his eye fixed on 
 Herod, who, checking his steps, said hastily ; 
 
 " Had your Arab blood been roused by a 
 plot for the dishonour of your wife, you would 
 have felt what I now do." 
 , " I would have ensured vengeance by not ap- 
 pearing to feel until I had provided for her safety ; 
 and I would not have insulted my friend, the 
 guardian of my honour, for standing between 
 me and the exhibition of useless, but natural
 
 MARIAMNE. 169 
 
 wrath. I am your faithful Arab, and cannot 
 brook an insult even from a Tetrarch ; for I, be- 
 fore the cruel Ethiopian at one tiger-like spring, 
 carried off or slew my tribe, was an Emir." 
 
 The dignity and collected words of BabaiTah, 
 restored Herod to a calmer state, who, after 
 walking many times the length of the apart- 
 ment, said ; 
 
 " Babarrah, I have erred ; but coidd you feel 
 for one minute the fires that burn within me, 
 you would pity me. I have heard of good and 
 evil spirits. I can compare the workings of 
 my soul to two legions of them — one good — one 
 evil; each has possession of a share of my 
 thoughts : one, all the good ; the other, all the 
 bad : and these spirits are ever contending for 
 the mastery. And alas, the ground occupied 
 by the evil, seems the strongest. Were you 
 with me always, or one w^ho seems a guardian 
 angel, I should get the vantage ground of the 
 accursed legion." 
 
 He sat down, and forcing a smile to his face, said, 
 
 " Come, proud Emir, and sit beside your bro- 
 ther Tetrarch, and tell him what he shall do." 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 MARIAMNE. 
 
 Babarrah directly replied ; 
 
 *' First counterplot him, next use him as a 
 tool to work your own ends, and having done so, 
 let him suffer a traitor's doom." 
 
 A smile of admiration and pleasure played on 
 the Tetrarch's face and he hastily asked ; 
 
 " How shall we counterplot him ?" 
 
 " By fooling Antony ; but as the means are 
 difficult since the dupe is above the herd, they 
 must be thought of with calmness. First, Cleo- 
 patra must go unknown to Tyre. Let Aulenus 
 tell Antony that Mariamne's health requires to 
 be renovated by sea air, and that she is coming 
 too. With your permission I will to Egypt 
 forthwith, but that must not be known to any 
 but ourselves, and my wife, on whom we may 
 depend. When circumstances are ready for 
 farther action, we can proceed. The Princess 
 will soon recover at Massada. Have I your per- 
 mission to depart ?" 
 
 The Tetrarch embraced him as he laughed 
 with savage joy, perceiving the scheme of the 
 crafty yet noble Arab. He departed at sunset. 
 
 If Babarrah's rules of virtue were not as re-
 
 MARIAMNE. 171 
 
 fined as ours are, it must be remembered, that 
 the laws by which he regulated his conduct were 
 not hke ours ; he knew but imperfectly the di- 
 vine covenant of the Jews, then corrupted by 
 vain inteipretations ; his habits, the state of the 
 society by which he was surrounded, will ac- 
 count for his falling short of our perfect 
 standard. 
 
 Dermah had received instructions from her 
 husband Babarrah before he set off, and pur- 
 posely placed herself in the way of Aulenus, that 
 she might pursue the plan which he hoped to 
 execute. 
 
 He met her in the garden near the Palace, and 
 immediately accosted her ; 
 
 " Dermah, may the wings of guardian angels 
 ever shadow thee ; and may thy beauty outlive 
 the destroyer Time." 
 
 " Virtue and valour guide thee, Aulenus." 
 
 " We have not met of late, and yet you seem 
 eager to pass me without our usual friendly com- 
 munication." 
 
 '' If I were not pressed for time to execute 
 some urgent business I should not be so desirous 
 i2
 
 172 MARIAMNE. 
 
 of leaving you without some enquiries after your 
 welfare, and seeking some intelligence of what is 
 going on at Antioch. My spirits too are damped, 
 for Babarrah has set out again on a mission to 
 Arabia." 
 
 " To Arabia again ? Does he seek assistance 
 from his master to dispossess Antigonus ?" 
 
 " I know not ; but I must leave you to attend 
 the Princess, whose health has been so much 
 affected that in a short time she will go to Tyre 
 to enjoy the breezes from the sea." 
 
 " What say you Dermah, the Princess going 
 to Tyre? Who accompanies her?" 
 
 " Her mother and Salome, but I suppose 
 that as Herod is going to refute the charges to 
 be again preferred against him, that he will 
 escort them. I must be gone, or my duty 
 may be questioned — honour and triumph attend 
 you." 
 
 Although he attempted to continue the con- 
 versation she left him, and ascending the steps 
 which led to the part of the fortress where Ma- 
 riamne dwelt, proceeded to the apartment of the 
 Princess. She held some conversation with her.
 
 MARIAMNE. 173 
 
 which was ended by the entrance of Salome and 
 Doris, who came to enquire after her health. 
 
 Dermah, though purchased from the Ethio- 
 pians, who had destroyed her tribe, was al- 
 lowed, in . consideration of her former rank, to 
 be on the footing of a companion rather than of 
 a slave. She saw the great advantage of de- 
 taining Salome until it was too late for her to 
 meet Aulenus, whom she hoped and beheved 
 would set out for Tyre the following morning, 
 to communicate to the Triumvir what he had 
 heard of the intended movements of the Prin- 
 cess. 
 
 She kept them listening to her suggestions of 
 the object of her husband's journey to the Ara- 
 bian king ; to her accounts of the ciiiel indig- 
 nities offered to Hyrcanus, of the state of Jeru- 
 salem, and other topics of equal interest, until 
 the night had so far advanced that she knew no 
 one could pass the barrier gate. After their de- 
 parture Mariamne half rebuked her for detaining 
 them. The Arabian woman smiled and told her 
 that they were far better safely lodged under 
 their eyes, than wandering where they might 
 I 3
 
 174 MARIAMNE. 
 
 work her evil ! Mariamne not having any sus- 
 picion of what was going on made no remark, 
 for she felt confidence in the fidelity and attach- 
 ment of Dermah. Aulenus set out on the follow- 
 ing day for Tyre as she fully expected.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The sudden and unexpected flight from Jem- 
 salem had fnistrated, in a great degree, the 
 heartless intentions of Salome, and completely 
 destroyed the hope she had cherished of placing 
 Mariamne in the power of Antigonus, with the 
 conviction that he would exchange her with An- 
 tony for the crown of Judaea. Her disappointments 
 of vengeance only made her mind more active in 
 devising schemes to gratify it. Although she 
 found it easy to delude the gentle Doris, she 
 knew that it would be impossible to make her 
 subservient to her schemes against the Princess ; 
 so merely kept her suspicion alive, and used her 
 as a means of attempting to learn her opinions 
 and feelings. Doris mind was too highly ex- 
 cited by her having caused the defection of her 
 i4
 
 176 MARIAMNE. 
 
 husband's love not to be ready to imbibe the 
 false estimate of all her words and actions stated 
 by Salome. 
 
 There were times when Doris gentler feelings 
 excited doubts of Salome's opinion, and taught 
 her to form more correct conclusions on the con- 
 duct of the Princess, and even to pardon Herod 
 for loving her: when Salome, with artful so- 
 phistry, placed her conduct in lights which 
 weakened those conclusions, and taught her to 
 consider Mariamne as her enemy, and the woman 
 who had unjustly deprived her of the love of the 
 man she adored and had married, and who would 
 rob her child of his birth-right, these charitable 
 feelings were whelmed in a flood of envious and 
 bitter tears, and she became for a season as in- 
 exorable as her cold and spiteful instructor. 
 
 Herod was cautious in his manner to his be- 
 loved Mariamne when in the presence of others, 
 but so ardent were his expressions of affection, 
 so continued his entreaties to marry, that it re- 
 quired all her fortitude and sense to restrain him 
 from pursuing his applications. She avoided, as 
 much as possible, being alone, and when with
 
 MARIAMNE. 177 
 
 him she cautiously refrained from discussion, 
 but made him clearly perceive, that his attempts 
 would tend to lower him in her estimation, which 
 from the love he bore for her he could not en- 
 dure. More than once she was compelled to 
 make a solemn appeal to the oath he had taken, 
 and even to infer that her promise of mairiage 
 was conditional. 
 
 Alexandra appeared to favour Herod's desire 
 to marry, while she secretly instigated her 
 daughter to adhere to her determination. This 
 line she pursued, not from a love of her child, or 
 a dislike to the Tetrarch, but having discovered 
 his prodigality in gifts, she knew that she should 
 reap the greatest benefit by keeping them as 
 long as possible in that state. She paid but 
 httle attention to Salome, as she was certain 
 of her dislike, and fear of her daughter. She 
 was too indifferent to examine farther Salome's 
 motives, yet followed a course as hostile to her 
 views, as if she had scrutinized her character 
 and conduct with precision. 
 
 Alexandra had not been told of the discoveries 
 made by Tezellah and Dermah. Mariamne's 
 I 5
 
 178 MARIAMNE. 
 
 silence on the subject, arose from a conviction, 
 that it would only lead to the most dangerous 
 kind of hostility between her mother and Salome, 
 and from a belief that the unprincipled subtilty 
 of the latter, would excite doubts in the mind of 
 Herod of the truth of her informants, and per- 
 haps terminate in misery to them. She had ac- 
 cidentally seen Aulenus, and her fears concerning 
 Antony were renewed. She saw that her surest 
 refuge would be in marriage, yet she revolted 
 at submitting to the custom of her people, and 
 becoming the wife of a man already bound to 
 another woman. With just and noble feehngs 
 she made every allowance for Doris manner to 
 her, and often attempted to excite confidence in 
 the mind of the neglected wife, but she found it 
 impossible, and perceived that every promise of 
 success, was blighted by some foreign and sinis- 
 ter influence, which she could not avoid con- 
 cluding to be derived from Salome. Her griefs 
 were increased by hearing of the cruel indignity 
 practised on Hyrcanus, not only because she had 
 great affection for him, and a lively recollection 
 of all his kindness, but because it left the High
 
 MARIAMNE. 179 
 
 Priesthood to be filled by Antigonus, which 
 might retard or prevent the accession of her bro- 
 ther to that dignity. The attempts to obtain 
 the political jurisdiction of Judaea, she knew 
 would be fierce, and numerous, and dreaded lest 
 he should fall a sacrifice to some jealous com- 
 petitor. The ambition of Herod made her ap- 
 prehensive for his safety, and sometimes mis- 
 trustful of the manner in which he would use 
 the power lately vested in him, (w^hen he pos- 
 sessed it) over her country. The words of the 
 wounded soldier haunted her mind, like the re- 
 collection of a phantom that had visited her in a 
 vision of the night. She sought for protection 
 where it is only to be found, and waited patiently 
 for the assistance for which she prayed. 
 
 Although Herod's love had long been the per- 
 vading passion of his soul, it was blended in his 
 thoughts with objects of ambition and power. 
 He was on the most friendly terms with the Tri- 
 umvir, the political affairs of the Jews were en- 
 trusted to him, Antigonus was hated by Antony, 
 and he often indulged the hope, that he should 
 be able to drive him from Jerusalem, and assume 
 I 6
 
 180 MARIAMKE. 
 
 the chief command. His devotion for Mariamne 
 led him to picture to his imagination a pageant 
 of noble actions; such as being instrumental in 
 making Aristobulus the High Priest, and ruler 
 of the nation, while he, as his brother-in-law, as- 
 sisted him in the cares of government, and com- 
 manded his army : he fancied himself adored by 
 Mariamne, as the preserver and supporter of her 
 family, and beheld her yield herself to him as 
 his willing bride. 
 
 He then little suspected that these ennobling 
 thoughts were to be opposed by jealousy, re- 
 venge, ambition, vanity, and unbounded love of 
 power ; that he might be placed in circumstances, 
 where the temptation would require the ut- 
 most exertion of his natural faculties, improved 
 by contemplation, and dependance on Provi- 
 dence, to resist : he did not consider, that the 
 accidental possession of power, might hurry him 
 on to the commission of actions, which would be 
 followed up by others, and bring on him despair 
 and misery. Love, the inciting monitor to all 
 which is good and great, that heavenly passion, 
 which imbues every other affection with such
 
 MARIAMNE. 181 
 
 celestial fire, that the grosser parts are all sub- 
 dued, drew the attractive picture he looked on 
 with his mental eye, and coloured it with hues of 
 heaven. He fancied his love would be the 
 means of retaining his authority, and that autho- 
 rity was all he required to recal virtue and hap- 
 piness to a distracted country. 
 
 Such are the dreams of men, and they only 
 can tell the full extent of the vain delusion, who 
 know the weakness of humanity, and the neces- 
 sity of seeking for help, where there is omnipo- 
 tent [ability to support the frail resolutions, and 
 tottering virtue of weak and eiring man. 
 
 Herod's mind was too active and vigorous for 
 love only to occupy it ; he passed as much of his 
 time as he could in the society of the Princess, 
 and each day was more astonished at her wis- 
 dom, and a greater admirer of her piety, and the 
 elevated nature of her soul ; the remaining hours 
 were occupied in strengthening his fortress, ad- 
 ministering justice, and issuing directions for 
 the governance of his province, and in preparing 
 forces to prosecute the war against Antigonus. 
 Some weeks elapsed, when Baban-ah returned.
 
 182 MAHIAMNE. 
 
 Though it was midnight when he arrived, he was 
 admitted, and had an interview with Herod. 
 Early on the following morning, he again de- 
 parted for Tyre. Dermah alone knew where 
 he had been, and what had transpired. Her 
 countenance did not express satisfaction, yet 
 now and then there played on it a smile as if 
 some jocose thought crossed her mind. 
 
 The Tetrarch was unusually animated ; and, 
 at times, appeared full of some scheme fraught 
 in his idea with hilarity. Salome and Doris, 
 when they heard of Babarrah's sudden arrival 
 and departure, and observed the excited state of 
 Herod, were certain that something of moment 
 was devised or had occurred ; and were most 
 anxious to discover what it was. 
 
 While these transactions took place at Mas- 
 sada, Aulenus had informed Antony of the ex- 
 pected arrival of Mariamne at Tyre. 
 
 Herod, observing more than usual coldness 
 between the women, availed himself of the cir- 
 cumstance, and took Salome and Doris to Petra, 
 where some affair required his attendance, and 
 left them there with Joseph, Salome's husband,
 
 MARIAMNE. 183 
 
 with directions to him to return to Massada in 
 three weeks, if the affair under hisdirection was 
 completed. A few days after, a messenger from 
 Massada to Petra enabled Dermah to write to 
 Doris. In this letter she informed her, that the 
 Tetrarch had directed her to prepare to go with 
 him to Tyre, where he intended to take both 
 Mariamne and her mother. No sooner had Sa- 
 lome received this information, than she feigned 
 great anxiety to hear more of Hjrrcanus ; and 
 proposed to her husband that he should dispatch 
 a courier to Jerusalem. Joseph dared not oppose 
 her wishes, and selected a man for that purpose. 
 Salome sent for the courier ; and after rewarding 
 him, bade him pass on to Tyre, without stopping 
 at Jerusalem, and dehver the letter she gave him 
 to Aulenus, whom he knew since he served in 
 the household of Herod. The courier promised 
 impUcit obedience, and departed. 
 
 But httle communication existed between 
 places as remote as those of which we have just 
 spoken ; so there was but httle probabihty of 
 Salome's receiving any further information. 
 
 Doris gave way to grief and melancholy.
 
 184 MARIAMNE. 
 
 since she concluded that Dermah's intelligence 
 amounted to a declaration of Herod's marriage 
 and her abandonment in that remote fortress. 
 Salome could not avoid anticipating a similar 
 result, though there appeared some probability 
 that her victim might become the prey of Antony. 
 
 It was night when Babarrah perceived a small 
 dusky galley approach the shore near Straton's 
 Tower. A skiff was launched from her, and, 
 in a few minutes, was left by the retiring surf 
 on the sand. The men leaped out and dragged 
 her up the shore ; when beyond the reach of 
 the sea, two females, closely mantled, were 
 assisted by Babarrah to disembark. He led 
 them in silence from the shore to a house near 
 the beach ; and afterwards returned to conduct 
 several others, apparently of less importance. 
 
 The door of the court yard was carefully 
 closed, and there was evident mystery in the 
 affair, and curiosity in the women. Babarrah 
 left them. The whole of the succeeding day 
 the gate and lattices were kept carefully closed. 
 
 The Arab hastened to Tyre, (where Herod 
 had arrived to refute the fresh complaints made
 
 MARIAMNE. 185 
 
 against him by the partisans of Antigonus,) 
 and on the following morning, while to all ap- 
 pearance looking at the Roman guard prepared 
 to attend the Trimnvir, he accosted Aulenus ; 
 
 ** Friend, may the winds of fortune ever blow 
 upon you." 
 
 " May the dews and free air of Arabia cherish 
 you." 
 
 " Aulenus, have you seen the Tetrarch ? I 
 wish to tell him that they are arrived." 
 
 " Who's arrived ?" he quickly asked ; 
 
 " I need not mind telling you, as you are an 
 old comrade, and the friend of Herod : — but give 
 me your promise, that you will not mention it." 
 
 " You have no cause to doubt my discretion, 
 Babarrah. — In times like these, it were well to 
 have a tried friend with whom to divide one's 
 care ; and you know how ready I am to share 
 any toil or danger with you." 
 
 " There is truth in what you say ; and great 
 is the comfort of being able to obtain the assist- 
 ance, of such a friend as yourself. — Herod must 
 be here to defend himself against the attacks of 
 the crafty Antigonians. — Whilst he is here, no
 
 186 MARIAMNE. 
 
 doubt Antigonus will, if he is prepared, besiege 
 Massada; therefore, the Tetrarch has sent 
 Salome and a portion of the women to Petra, 
 and brought Mariamne and her mother to 
 Straton's Tower. Were Antigonus followers to 
 hear of their being there, they would attempt 
 to get possession of them ; but as the Princess 
 is indisposed, and requires sea air and rest, if 
 they remain quiet, no one will be the wiser. — 
 Aulenus, keep your eye on them; and if any 
 stir arises, we can soon carry them away by 
 sea." 
 
 Aulenus replied, with all the apparent frank* 
 ness of a friend and soldier ; 
 
 " Had you not told me, Babarrah, I could 
 have quarrelled with you. — I will keep my eye 
 on them ; and it shall be my fault if they fail 
 into the hands of the Antigonians. — Where is 
 the house in which they dwell ?" 
 
 " Know you not the Villa, built by Antipater, 
 close to the margin of the sea?" 
 
 " On the Western side of the town, beneath 
 the olive wood?" 
 
 " The very same, Aulenus. — Do you not re-
 
 MARIAMNE. 187 
 
 member, when there with me, we both wished 
 to have it/' 
 
 " Now I am certain of the spot." 
 
 Aulenus made some excuse, and bade the 
 Arab farewell. 
 
 As he walked away, he smiled with the belief 
 of his own superior cunning, and at having 
 outwitted his commde. He hastened to Antony 
 with the inteUigence he had received; and on 
 his road, devised various methods by which to 
 accomplish his desired end. 
 
 Babarrah, on leaving Aulenus, cursed him for 
 his villainy, contemned him for his shallow cre- 
 dulity, and calmly reflected on the surest way 
 of deceiving him still farther. 
 
 On the following day, the Jews preferred 
 their complaint against Herod ; but Antony not 
 only refused to Hsten to them, but wishing to 
 rid himself of the presence of the Tetrarch, 
 threatened to inflict on them the severest 
 punishments. His threats were unheeded, and 
 the tumultuous assemblage urged, with factious 
 uproar, their charges against the Tetrarch. 
 
 Herod, seeing the rising wrath of Antony,
 
 188 MAHIAMNE. 
 
 hastened to try and appease them, and induce 
 them to depart. — His solicitations were treated 
 with scorn ; and they renewed, with still greater 
 vehemence, their tumultuous application. The 
 Triumvir, wearied at their importunities, and 
 angry at their insubordinate manner of proceed- 
 ing, ordered his soldiers to fall on them, and dis- 
 perse them. His orders were obeyed ; and 
 though Herod interceded, many of the Jews 
 were slain, and still more wounded. This 
 severity terminated their endeavours to injure 
 the Tetrarch in the estimation of Antony. 
 
 On the following day the Triumvir bestowed 
 on Herod some magnificent gifts, shewed him 
 public marks of his approbation, and dismissed 
 him, with advice to return immediately to Mas- 
 sada, and rely on his friendship. The Tetrarch 
 expressed his gratitude, and prepared to follow 
 his directions. 
 
 Babarrah saw him before he left Tyre. As 
 soon as he entered his apartment he exclaimed 
 with unusual hilarity ; 
 
 *' Well Emir, are they safely lodged at Stra- 
 ton's Tower?"
 
 MARIAMNE. 189 
 
 " As surely as that triumph attends thee to 
 crush thine enemies," was the reply. 
 
 *' If Antony's zeal for me leads him to such 
 summary acts of justice, I shall have no trouble 
 in directing the affairs of Judsea, since we shall 
 have none but women and children to command. 
 Such slaughter is equal to a battle ; there were 
 three hundred of the brawling fools killed and 
 wounded, and the whole of them would have 
 shared the same fate if I had not interfered." 
 
 " They are there I said, and that foul pander 
 Aulenus in full scent — Tetrarch, if I am the 
 victim of his suspicions, be kind to Dermah, you 
 never loved Mariamne better than I love her ; 
 our remaining son is yet a stripling, he has the 
 fire and spirit of his race, and were I to be cut 
 off, would be left unprotected !" 
 
 " No, he shall be about my pei-son. Babarrah 
 I like your open manly bearing, confide in me 
 and I will ever be your friend ; mistrust me and 
 I am your enemy. Aulenus won my cause 
 to-day and slew my accusers, for he has doubt- 
 less whispered to that lustful Roman gallant — 
 ' they're at Straton's Tower, Herod removed, and
 
 190 MARIAMNE. 
 
 she is yours/ Were I not to remove he might 
 be so accommodating as to save me all farther 
 trouble and anxiety for this world's affairs by re- 
 moving me to another. If matters do not turn 
 out well, join me Babarrah at Massada ; should 
 we be pent up there by some twenty thousand 
 prating fighting Jews, there is a lady who will 
 lodge you for a time, whom report says favours 
 your attentions." 
 
 Babarrah smiled half scornfully and said ; 
 
 " I will rejoin you at Massada" — 
 
 " You may want gold, so there is enough for 
 present circumstances, and I will leave two 
 horses that will soon bear you to this lady if 
 need requires your going — good Babarrah fare- 
 well — you have the ciphers, and the three cou- 
 riers are here, so communicate with me quickly." 
 
 The cool Arab bade his master farewell with 
 respectful obeisance, as one who felt his own su- 
 periority but yielded it with proud contempt to 
 greater fortunes. He went away, and wandered 
 near the strand communing with himself. 
 
 '' These are the consequences of dependance. 
 I must dupe a villain instead of scorning and
 
 MARIAMNE. 191 
 
 punishing him — must be the contriver of a plot 
 which I half smile at, half contemn. Well, the 
 Triumvir is a beast at heart — Herod is a beino; 
 with qualities that adorn a man, though a breath 
 may change the balance and make a monster of 
 him. The Princess is a pure and perfect soul, 
 imsuUied by the gross world's contaminating 
 touch, and worthy to have a hfe risked for her — 
 were I what I was, and my gallant son, who fell 
 when the treacherous Ethiopian came down upon 
 us, was living, I would point out to her the 
 chances of her misery, and if she had loved him — 
 he was beautiful, brave, and gentle — would have 
 wafted her beyond the Tetrarch's or the Roman's 
 reach. — O dreams of visionary bliss — he's gone 
 to other worlds — my son ! my son !" 
 
 He stood with looks fixed on the breaking 
 surges, and tears unheeded fell from his eyes. 
 
 On the following day Babarrah sought Au- 
 lenus, and after the usual Eastern salutation thus 
 discoursed with him ; 
 
 " When do you return to the Tetrarch, Au- 
 lenus ? If it pleases you we will travel together ; 
 there are many here who would be glad to join
 
 192 MARIAMNE. 
 
 US, and as the Parthians are prowling about the 
 land we cannot be too strong a party." 
 
 " Babarrah, it has ever been a foUower^s pri- 
 vilege to change his master, if his inclination or 
 interest prompts him. Herod has served me, but 
 I served him first ; my rewards have been no 
 greater than my services demanded ; it's true he 
 saved my life when wounded, but I was fighting 
 in his cause, and so could expect no less if the 
 opportunity offered. It so happens that I hate 
 Pharisees and Sadducees, and all the squabbling 
 incomprehensible fellows that he is surrounded 
 by. There is something intelligible in the wor- 
 ship paid at Daphne, and pleasant withal : 
 there is some glory in fighting with the legions 
 of Rome, and something to be gained by follow- 
 ing one who has a third of the world to revel in, 
 and who has the happy art of squandering some 
 portion of it : so I intend to thank the Tetrarch, 
 and accept the offer of a command under An- 
 tony." 
 
 Babarrah after a short silence replied ; 
 
 " You act as most men and animals do, give 
 your services where you are best rewarded ;
 
 MARIAMNE. 193 
 
 people say of dogs and cats, feed them and be 
 kind to them and they will love you — so it is 
 with man, feed him and be kind to him and he 
 will not perhaps love you, but attend on you, 
 and speak well of you, and smile and fawn — 
 cease to feed and caress him and he will deem 
 himself insulted and hate." 
 
 " As cynical, yet as sensible as ever — Babar- 
 rah I would serve you." 
 
 " So would I you." 
 
 "If persons are ready to gratify each other, 
 and only require a little stratagem to enable them 
 to fulfil their wishes, what can be more friendly 
 than to plan the means and open the path for 
 them to meet and accomplish their desires ?" 
 
 " Aulenus there is much truth in what you 
 say," 
 
 " Such acknowledgment from you emboldens 
 me to continue, and by so doing offer you for- 
 tune and the means of gaining all you want." 
 
 " Such an offer is worth labouring to obtain, 
 I listen to you impatiently." 
 
 Herod is gone, and has left at Straton's 
 Tower the very woman for whom Antony 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 MARIAMNE. 
 
 would give an empire. I know she loves him, 
 and know that Herod has been fooled by her 
 beauty — I have Herod's interest at heart, and 
 can, while promoting it, serve myself. If the 
 Triumvir was to discover that he stood between 
 hrm and the possession of his game, what would 
 become of Herod or twenty such ? We know, 
 by saving him, pleasing Antony, and gratifying 
 Mariamne, we are sure of fortune." 
 
 Babarrah's countenance underwent no change, 
 though he felt inclined to draw his scymitar and 
 slay him for the insult he had offered him by 
 making the proposal : he enquired ; 
 
 " How are these purposes to be effected?" 
 " Very simply — ^we have only to introduce 
 Antony into the villa, and leave the rest to him." 
 " I understand you ; if that is all, the diffi- 
 culties are not insurmountable ; I have access to 
 the inmates at all times ; and know the Triumvir's 
 person, you shall conduct him half way, where 
 I will meet you ; the remainder devolves on me ; 
 I can depend on your good offices afterwards." 
 
 Aulenus grasped his hand, overjoyed at his 
 wimiing so great an ally, then left him to watch
 
 MARIAMNE. 195 
 
 an opportunity for fixing \vith Antony the hour 
 when he would go to the appointed spot. It 
 was night before he was admitted to the pre- 
 sence. Antony was so excited at the approach- 
 ing adventure, that he wished to disguise himself 
 and set off immediately. On Aulenus explaining 
 to him the impracticableness of success, he ap- 
 pointed the following evening for the completion 
 of the scheme. He bestowed a heap of gold on 
 Aulenus. The Triumvir's pleasure was encreased 
 from his believing that he had overreached the 
 subtle Herod. 
 
 Babarrah on the ensuing morning hastened to 
 Straton's Tower, and prepared the inmates of 
 the villa for the reception of an unknown guest. 
 
 Aulenus prepared two fresh hoi-ses ; the Arab 
 had, at stated distances, two more. As Antony 
 quitted Tyre before day-break he reached the 
 neighbourhood before the sun began to decline. 
 Babarrah led him to a retired dwelling to repose 
 and refresh himself. Soon after sunset they 
 proceeded to the olive grove : although they had 
 not been waiting many minutes the Triumvir's 
 patience began to fail. A small taper exposed 
 k2
 
 196 MARIAMNE. 
 
 from one of the lattices informed Babarrah that 
 he might approach. He led the way to the door, 
 which was opened by an old woman completely 
 veiled. 
 
 Babarrah retired beyond the wall, but did not 
 go far from the villa, and looked and felt as if he 
 was humbling himself in his own esteem. An- 
 tony followed the guide, who held a small lamp 
 in her hand, without exchanging a single word. 
 He passed through several rooms richly fur- 
 nished, but he saw no one in them, nor was there 
 any other light discernible save that which his 
 guide carried : the mysterious silence accorded 
 with his romantic spirit, and added to his plea- 
 sure. He entered a long passage hung with 
 drapery ; as he approached the door, his guide 
 made a sign to advance with lighter tread. She 
 gently pushed open the door, and Antony saw, 
 reclining on some splendid cushions, a female 
 closely veiled. The guide retired. A softeried 
 light, not more than sufficient to direct him to 
 the object of his search, scarcely extended its 
 influence to the remoter parts of the chamber. 
 He advanced and bent his knee to the female.
 
 MARIAMNE. 197 
 
 who appeared much agitated; as he took her 
 hand the light was extinguished, and they were 
 enveloped in darkness. 
 
 Before the momino; broke Antonv was a2;ain 
 under the guidance of Babarrah, and returned. 
 Very little passed between them. The Triumvir 
 was evidently pleased, but restless and curious. 
 In the evening he went again to the oUve grove, 
 was again admitted and again enveloped in dark- 
 ness, and returned. On the third evening Ba- 
 barrah did not appear ; Antony waited until the 
 night had advanced, then proceeded alone to the 
 grove : no light could be discerned, he walked 
 to the house, the door was open, he entered, but 
 neither saw nor heard any one : he called, echo 
 repeated the sound ; he found his way to the 
 chamber ; it was empty, and by the pale moon- 
 beams he observed that nothing had been de- 
 ranged. He then hastened to the shore, and 
 only saw the moonlight gilding the surface of 
 the ocean, and the billows rolling on the strand. 
 Though he was disappointed and surprised, the 
 character of the adventure pleased him ; while 
 ruminating on it he wandered along the shore, 
 k3
 
 198 MARIAMNE. 
 
 and was recalled from his reverie by the footstep 
 and sudden appearance of a man. Antony at 
 first grasped his dagger, but the age and dress of 
 the intruder removed all apprehension, and he 
 asked the old fisherman if he knew aught of the 
 inliabitants of the villa ; he received some, but 
 not enough information to satisfy him. The old 
 man told him, that he had accidentally seen, at 
 night fall, many people leave the house, and soon 
 after a galley put to sea, but the darkness pre- 
 vented him from ascertaining even which way 
 she steered. 
 
 Antony returned to the dwelling and found a 
 tablet on his sword informing him, that his horses 
 would be ready to convey him to. Tyre in the 
 morning. 
 
 Aulenus met him nearly four leagues from the 
 city, but could give him no insight into the 
 mystery. A few days afterwards affairs of great 
 consequence demanded his presence at Rome.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Salome had returned to Massada before Herod 
 arrived from Tyre, and to her great astonish- 
 ment found Mariamne there. Her suspicions 
 were more highly excited than before, and she 
 determined to use every effort to discover if she 
 had been purposely made to believe that the 
 Princess had gone to Tyre, that some plot might 
 be carried into effect without her knowledge. 
 She conjectured that Aulenus had been a traitor 
 to her, but as she knew the extent of his selfish- 
 ness, and want of principle, her doubts of his 
 fidelity were not great. She questioned her bro- 
 ther on the matter, and was told that the violent 
 proceedings of his accusers had prevented his 
 taking her. 
 
 Letters by the courier whom she had dis- 
 k4
 
 200 MARIAMNE. 
 
 patched from Petra, or information from Au- 
 lenus himself, were now looked for by her with 
 great anxiety. She instructed Doris to obtain 
 all the information she could, and closely ex- 
 amined Dermah and Tezellah : from them she 
 learnt, that during the absence of Herod, the 
 Princess had seldom left her apartments, and then 
 only to walk with her brother on the terrace. 
 No other persons of the household could tell her 
 whether Mariamne had been at Massada during 
 the whole of her absence. While Salome was in 
 this state of perplexity, the courier returned, and 
 brought her a short letter from Aulenus, inform- 
 ing her that her opinion had been correct, for 
 the Princess love for Antony was so great, that 
 she had with the assistance of Babarrah admitted 
 him to her villa, but had mysteriously left it as 
 soon as she heard of Herod's return to Massada. 
 Salome's delight at this intelligence was with 
 difficulty restrained within sufficient bounds to 
 prevent her immediately accusing her to Herod. 
 She would have done so, if she had not been 
 eager to barb her vengeance with the anguish of 
 suspense, and the torture of a proud spirit at
 
 MARIAMNE. 201 
 
 thie anticipation of exposure. Her manner 
 towards the Princess assumed a contemptuous 
 carelessness, and she often referred when in her 
 company, to the pleasures afforded by a tempo- 
 porary residence near the sea, and the gratifica- 
 tion it was possible to obtain when so situated, 
 and not under restraint. When she thus con- 
 versed within hearing of the Princess, her eye 
 was constantly turned towards her, to see, if she 
 could discover from her countenance, the inward 
 workings of a tortured mind : to her surprize she 
 discovered no change, her brow still wore the 
 fair hue and placid character of dignified and 
 gentle self-possession, her eye was as usual tinged 
 with melancholy and though tfulness. Salome 
 was so blinded by malice, and the desire of re- 
 veno'e, that she did not doubt from Mariamne's 
 unchanging comitenance, that her conclusions of 
 her guilt might be without foundation : she only 
 saw in the Princess calmness, the depth of du- 
 plicity, and the determination of denial. She 
 resolved to overwhelm her by one great attack. 
 The first measure she took was to leave Aulenus 
 letter where she knew Herod would see it, al- 
 k5
 
 202 MARIAMNE. 
 
 most at the same moment that she entered Ma- 
 riamne's private apartment, to proclaim to her 
 the information she had gained. 
 
 To the Princess great astonishment, the venge- 
 ful woman entered her room, without the usual 
 ceremonies, and immediately thus addressed her. 
 " So I was to be banished to Petra, and af- 
 terwards to be duped into the belief, that you 
 had not been from Massada^ — When wanton" — 
 As this word passed her lips, Dermah stood 
 between them, and exclaimed ; 
 
 '' It was I who told you that the Princess was 
 going to Tyre — th« information I received from 
 the Tetrarch^ — ^but she has not quitted Mas- 
 sada." 
 
 The scornful and determined manner of Der- 
 mah overawed even Salome, and while she stood 
 wondering at her words, and sudden appearance, 
 the Arab woman darted on her a look of indig- 
 nant contempt and walked away. Mariamne 
 heard and saw what passed, without being more 
 than startled at the suddenness and violence of 
 the intrusion ; with a calm unchanging maxinei' 
 and countenance she said, as she waved her arm ;
 
 MARIAMNE. 203 
 
 *• Your accusation and language must have 
 been intended for some poor slave — You could 
 not thus intend to intrude on, and insult me^ I 
 beg you to leave the apartment." 
 
 Salome closed her teeth, some burning tears of 
 passion forced their way to her eyes, as she 
 obeyed the irresistible yet gently delivered man- 
 date. As she sought her room, she passed the 
 apartment of her brother, and entered it to see if 
 the letter she had put there had been left unread : 
 she found it where it had been placed, and at 
 the same time heard from Doris that Herod 
 had been in the room. Her perplexity was by 
 this fact wTought to its height, and added to 
 her vexation, disappointment, and discomfiture. 
 Sometimes she paced her room, with rapid steps, 
 at other times, she sat down as if exhausted 
 with rage and doubt, and often hot tears traced 
 each other down her cheeks. While in this per- 
 turbed state, Tezellah came in exclaiming ; 
 
 ** Babanah has just rode into the fortress 
 wounded, with the intelligence of Aulenus being 
 killed by some of the remains of Hezekiah's 
 bandits/' 
 
 K 6
 
 204 MAHIAMNE. 
 
 Salome started from her seat, and asked with 
 great agitation ; - 
 
 " What say'st thou ? Aulenus killed, when in 
 company with Babarrah 1" 
 
 " The whole fortress is in agitation, and Ba- 
 barrah has been summoned by the Tetrarch to 
 inform him of the truth." 
 
 " Go Tezellah, and bring me all the informa- 
 tioji you can obtain, do not loiter, but go." 
 
 No sooner had Tezellah departed, than she 
 clenched her hand, drew a deep inspiration, and 
 for a moment seemed lost in amazement — then 
 in a fierce and subdued tone, said ; 
 
 '' There's treachery in it — Babarrah, the cool, 
 proud, unfearing Babarrah has used him for a 
 tool, and having used him, has slain him — I will 
 avenge his death — He could have told me more 
 — She has never been from here — That subtle 
 Arab has duped him and me — Both she and 
 Herod knew this plot, and now this cursed As- 
 monean treats me as a slave, and laughs me to 
 scorn — There's Dermah too in league with them 
 -^By all the Daemons of Gehennah ; by all the 
 fires of Hinnom, I will yet avenge myself, and
 
 MARIAMNE. 205 
 
 bring that proud wanton down to mourn in dust 
 and ashes, and then I will taunt and scorn her 
 with all the bitterness her insolence deserves." 
 
 She gnashed her teeth, and while her cheek 
 became flushed, and her eyes sparkling with 
 fuiy, laughed hysterically as she strode about 
 the room. Her ear caught the sound of foot- 
 steps approaching ; she endeavoured to compose 
 herself, and sat dowTi. It proved to be her hus- 
 band, he looked on her with astonishment, then 
 said ; 
 
 " What now Salome ? you appear dis- 
 turbed." 
 
 '' Well I may be — Joseph, I will not bear ano- 
 ther hour the insolence of that proud overbearing 
 Asmonean — I tell you that I will not — She 
 knows as well as we all do — ovUy you are too 
 bUnd to see it — that Herod loves her, and so 
 lords it over us, as if we were the captured off- 
 spring of some heathen, as if we were not good 
 enough to be her slaves— I say again, I will not 
 bear it — Herod may love her, and so does some 
 one else — He shall not be her dupe, 111 trace her 
 to "
 
 206 MAEIAMNE. 
 
 *' Be not so violent — I will see to it, I will 
 speak to Herod, in the mean time compose your- 
 self." 
 
 She was on the point of giving way to her 
 rage, when Tezellah returned. — Joseph availed 
 himself of the opportunity and departed, for he 
 feared Salome ikr more than an enemy at the 
 gates. 
 
 Tezellah appeared not to notice her perturba- 
 tion, and said ; 
 
 ** The Tetrarch is going away to-night. He 
 has made Babarrah the chief officer under 
 Joseph. Not a minute since, he sent to request 
 permission to speak to Alexandra and Mariamne, 
 he is in a dreadful agitation, and every one though 
 flying to obey him, is chided, and threatened — 
 He has been with Doris for some time this 
 morning, and I saw her weeping — You can 
 soothe him more than any one, pray go and try." 
 
 Salome listened, and wonder at what she 
 heard went far towards recalling her almost 
 maddened mind to a more collected state, she 
 bade her go and find out where the Tetrarch 
 was, then cooled her face with water, ar-
 
 MARIAMNE. 207 
 
 ranged her dress, and prepared to see her 
 brother. 
 
 She watched him leave the rampart after a 
 short but earnest conversation with Babarrah, 
 and accosted him as he entered ; 
 
 " Peace and happiness attend you, my be- 
 loved brother; Is it true that we have lost our 
 faithful friend Aulenus? 
 
 Herod had always been accustomed to pay at- 
 tention to Salome, and to hold her opinion in 
 high estimation, and even then could not bring 
 himself to believe, that she intended to do any 
 thing injurious to him ; he replied with an angry 
 look and voice ; 
 
 " Aulenus is dead ; tell me not of his fidelity, 
 he would have slain me to please Antony." 
 
 She hesitated, then in a sorrowful manner 
 said ; 
 
 " Alas, poor Aulenus has found some tra- 
 ducer too- — perhaps he knew too much, and 
 came to his friend and master too quickly to 
 
 tell it him, and so perished by the way." 
 
 Herod angxily replied ; '' Perchance he might 
 have hastened to tell me what he thought he
 
 208 MARIAMNE. 
 
 knew, and what he, hke a villain, and a pander, 
 plotted." 
 
 " Surely Aulenus, the valiant Aulenus could 
 not have plotted aught against you — How came 
 you to know of his supposed treachery?" 
 
 " His villainy is not supposed ; as sure as ever 
 our father Abraham hved, so sure was he a trai- 
 tor, a most foul and villainous traitor." 
 
 " You are seldom wrong, but if Aulenus was 
 a traitor, then is confidence destroyed, for a more 
 open, noble soldier is not to be found in your 
 service, but say, how came you acquainted with 
 his treachery ; did ?iny friend betray him ?" 
 
 The Tetrarch turned suddenly, and said with 
 uncommon force ; 
 
 « Yes — Babarrah made known to me his 
 treachery, and I know that he was a traitor also 
 to you" — 
 
 " Salome's breath was suspended for a mo- 
 ment, and the blood forsook her cheek, but 
 recovering herself, she repUed ; 
 
 " He cannot be a traitor, who has nothing to 
 betray; enemies may fabricate for the purpose of 
 destroying those they hate, or who stand in their
 
 MARIAMNE. 209 
 
 way — If aught prejudicial to my honour has 
 been said, it must have arisen from my jealous 
 affection for you — Did you not say that Babar- 
 rah had made known to you, his former friend 
 Aulenus conduct? — Who was with Aulenus 
 when he perished?" 
 
 " Babarrah." 
 
 Salome fixed her look on Herod, and asked ; 
 
 " No one but Baban-ah ?" 
 
 A thought seemed to cross his brow, when he 
 answered ; 
 
 " No — no one but Babarrah.'* 
 
 " The sole accuser of Aulenus was with him 
 when he was killed — Perhaps the accuser was 
 the plotter, and poor Aulenus was the dupe — 
 Herod beware" — 
 
 Herod thought for a minutes space, then em- 
 phatically exclaimed ; 
 
 " He was no dupe, but to his own device, he 
 was the plotter of a foul scheme — I tell you that 
 he was a traitor, and that Babarrah is the best 
 and truest friend I have." 
 
 Salome remarked with affected gentleness ; 
 
 " I never heard many reports of one person,
 
 210 MABIAMNE. 
 
 which had not some foundation for them — It is 
 so said of woman, that many reports amount to 
 proof." 
 
 Herod as if apprehending her reference, said 
 with violence of gesture and voice ; 
 
 " That which is impossible, can never be 
 proved — Again I tell you Aulenus was a villain, 
 and that I would have punished him with death, 
 if some of Hezekiah's ruffians had not saved 
 aae the trouble." 
 
 Salome asked him in a tone partaking of 
 irony; 
 
 *' Were there any Arabs among the ruffians ?" 
 
 Herod annoyed and angry, fiercely replied ; 
 . " Some female dupe might have accelerated 
 his ruin — But enough of this useless prattle ; I 
 leave the fortress to-night,^ so farewell." 
 
 Salome did not stop him, she knew him too 
 well to cross the lion in his rage, and she knew 
 alsa that the reason, f^ar Aulenus death would 
 often cross her brother's mind — She embraced, 
 and left him. 
 
 Babarrah had witnessed this interview, and 
 even caught a few of the expressions used by
 
 MARIAMNE. 211 
 
 both of them, and was apprehensive of the re- 
 sult, for he was well aware of the ascendancy 
 Salome possessed over her brother. He went to 
 Dermah, who saw as well as he did the precipice 
 on which they stood. Both were determined to 
 continue theii* protection over Mariamne, though 
 at the risk of their own lives. 
 
 In the evening the Tetrarch left Massada for 
 Arabia, with the intention of sohciting the loan 
 of a sufl&cient sum, wherewith to purchase his 
 brother Phasaelus freedom, and also a body of 
 troops to carry on the war against Antigonus 
 who had been inaugurated King of Jerusalem. 
 
 Herod had taken an affectionate leave of Ma- 
 riamne, and bade her trust to Babarrah in case 
 any thing should occur. There was more con- 
 cern and agitation in his manner than she had 
 ever before observed, which, with the conduct of 
 Salome, and the death of Aulenus, created in 
 her sad forebodings, and greatly depressed her. 
 She was seated at an open lattice, watching the last 
 waning hues, left by the setting sun fading into 
 night, like hopes which had once filled the heart 
 with warmth and joy all clouded by the approach-
 
 212 MAEIAMNE. 
 
 ing hand of death, when the wailing of a female 
 reached her. The cry of woe, or the tear of 
 pity, were never unheeded by her ; for the first 
 her heart bled, with the latter she sympathized ; 
 but why, she could not tell. 
 
 Her voice summoned an attendant, from 
 whom she desired to know who the sufferer was, 
 and the cause of her grief. The attendant not 
 returning quickly, she followed the direction of 
 the sound, and entered the apartment of Doris, 
 who at first did not perceive the Princess, but 
 cried ; 
 
 " O that I had been like Rachael, and died 
 as I called him the child of sorrow ; for he was 
 bom to bring sorrow on himself and his mother. 
 — They have taken him away, and I have no 
 son to keep my name in remembrance. Let 
 them cast me out like Hagar ; but let my son — 
 my first-born — my only son, be with me." 
 
 The Princess knelt by her side, and with 
 consoling voice asked her why she wept and 
 who had taken away her child ? The unhappy 
 woman threw back the mantle with which she 
 had covered -her face, and looking, with
 
 MARIAMNE. 213 
 
 anguish depicted on her brow, at Mariamne, 
 cried ; 
 
 " The master of the flock hath carried away 
 the goodly kid, that the mother may momn, and 
 follow, and leave the pasture to a fairer hind ; 
 one that cannot consent to share her master's 
 home ; but priding herself on her beauty, de- 
 mands all his protection and care." 
 
 Again she wept bitterly and covered her 
 face. Mariamne, whose tears fell silently and 
 fast, knew not what answer to make ; for Salome 
 stood near watching her, and not far off were 
 Dermah and Tezellah. She could only try to 
 pacify her by assurances of her being in error ; 
 and kind entreaties not to yield to grief. Doris 
 had been too highly wTought, by various circum- 
 stances, to have the power of restraining herself, 
 and she again burst out ; 
 
 " O daughter of my people, I will gird me 
 with sackcloth, and wallow myself with ashes : 
 I mourn for an only son. — O a spoiler hath 
 suddenly come upon me." 
 
 She bowed herself to the earth, and, in the 
 depth of humihation, exclaimed ;
 
 214 ma:riamne. 
 
 " O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me ; 
 give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the 
 son of thine handmaid." 
 
 Mariamne, as if inspired, repeated her prayer ; 
 and, clasping the afflicted mother, said with an 
 entreating voice ; 
 
 " Doris, O Doris trust me ; — I mvtXL never cease 
 importuning Herod to restore thy son. Tell me 
 why, and where he has taken him ?" 
 
 She did not attempt to break from her em- 
 brace, but said ; 
 
 " He has taken him to Arabia, — to that faith- 
 less king, to leave him as a pledge for the wealth 
 he wants: — Malchus will bring him up an 
 idolater, and he will be cut off from among his 
 people. — O my son, my son.'* 
 
 It was in vain they tried to pacify her. She 
 wept and prayed and uttered cries of woe during 
 the greater part of the night ; towards morning 
 she sunk to sleep, but when her attendant woke, 
 she was gone. The strictest search was made 
 for her, but in vain. No one had seen her pass 
 the barrier. Mariamne's grief and fear were 
 great ; and presuming on her rank, she sum-
 
 MARIAMNE. 215 
 
 moued Joseph and Babarrah, and asked their 
 counsel. Joseph proposed to send immedi- 
 ately to Herod. 
 
 Babarrah advised that an hundred horsemen 
 should be sent out, with orders to each to per- 
 form a certain circuit ; and if they found the 
 unhappy woman, to bring her back with them. 
 
 Mariamne, though aware of her danger, im- 
 mediately requested Babarrah to head the troop, 
 and set off: promising at the same time a great 
 reward to the successful man. 
 
 This proposition was embraced, and the horse- 
 men sallied forth. 
 
 Salome watched the departure of Babarrah 
 with fiendish pleasure, since it removed the most 
 watchful guardian of the Princess. She thought 
 at the same time that the cause of Aulenus 
 death, and Doris disappearance, might be the 
 same ; for she only saw in Mariamne the proud 
 and subtle Asmonean who had injured her, and 
 to whom she had committed herself, and who 
 was consequently her enemy. She judged, as is 
 too often the case, another by herself. 
 
 No sooner were Babarrah and his hoi-semen
 
 216 MARIAMNE. 
 
 out of sight, than she sought for her husband, 
 who had then the chief command of the fortress. 
 She questioned him on the loss of Doris, and 
 endeavoured to make him comprehend, by her 
 inferences, that she might have been made away 
 with. She elicited from him all that had passed 
 with the Princess. When he told her, that she 
 over-ruled his proposal of sending to Herod, she 
 made no remark to him, but instantly enforced 
 the propriety and necessity of dispatching after 
 him a fleet and faithful courier. Joseph, ac- 
 customed to submit to her dictation, because he 
 dreaded the violence of her temper, directed 
 two men to prepare to follow the Tetrarch. 
 
 He wrote a short and simple statement, attri- 
 buting her abrupt departure to excess of grief. 
 Salome availed herself of the opportunity, and 
 seht the following letter ; 
 
 " Salome thy sister sends greeting and rever- 
 ence to her brother Herod. — The winter torrents 
 of misfortune are pouring down on me. — The 
 brave and faithful Aulenus fell by some traitor^s 
 hand. — Scarce has his death been told by his 
 friend, who accused him to thee, than my be-
 
 MARIAMNE. 217 
 
 loved Doris, thy wife, is swept away. — The 
 young Antipater may now be left with Malchus 
 without her heart being broken with sorrow 
 for the loss of her only child. — She, I think, is 
 now in her father Abraham's bosom, waiting for 
 him. I have induced my husband to dispatch 
 this courier to thee. Mariamne over-ruled his 
 wish to do so, and requested that Babarrah and 
 an hundred horse might scour the countr}* to 
 redeem her. — They may seek in vain — Now she 
 has no rival, and may, if thou art willing to 
 marry the Triumvir's love, alone possess thee. 
 Perhaps the nuptials would have been post- 
 poned if Aulenus had returned . I am thy sister ; 
 thou art dear to me, and I cannot help suspect- 
 ins: that thy happiness, nay hfe, may hang on a 
 more frail support than thou art \villing to see. 
 I have filled these tablets in haste, for the 
 couriers are waiting. — May thy life be prolonged , 
 and thy understanding be enlightened. — Our 
 mother is well, and salutes thee. — SalomeP 
 
 She rolled up and sealed this letter, and gave 
 it, with a present, to one of the couriers. 
 
 Several days elapsed before the return of 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 MARIAMNE. 
 
 Babarrah. During the interval, Salome had 
 been most actively employed in pursuing her 
 enquiries for Doris, and in endeavouring to 
 insinuate that she had been made away with. 
 Two other minions at the same time hinted the 
 belief that existed in the Palace of Mariamne 
 being enamoured of the Tetrarch, but too proud 
 to share his affections with another woman. 
 These reports were soon noised abroad, and ex- 
 cited considerable agitation among the soldiers 
 and the inhabitants ; more particularly among the 
 latter, as Doris was their countryw^oman. Te- 
 zellah brought this intelhgence to Dennah, who 
 saw the perilous situation in which Mariamne 
 was placed. She clearly perceived, that the 
 Princess would in all probability become, not 
 only an object of suspicion, but perhaps the 
 victim of the false impression, excited in the 
 minds of a quickly prejudiced and fiery po- 
 pulace. 
 
 The cause of the hatred borne by Salome to 
 the Princess was well known to her, and also the 
 implacable fierceness of her character : how to 
 act under such complicated circumstances she
 
 MARIAMNE. 219 
 
 hardly knew, and looked for the return of Ba- 
 barrah with great anxiety. 
 
 It was not long before surmises were expressed 
 among the soldiery, of Aulenus not having come 
 fairly by his death, and that he was the bearer 
 of infcMTnation which there were reasons for the 
 Tetrarch's not being acquainted with. These 
 matters were soon publicly canvassed ; and then 
 the first fabricators added the conjecture, of whe- 
 ther the loss of Doris was connected w^th the 
 other occurrences. 
 
 Suspicions and conjectures scattered among an 
 ignorant and impassioned multitude are soon 
 converted into facts and proofs, and acted on 
 with vehemence, and persisted in with perti- 
 nacity. The injuries they inflict are seldom re- 
 paired by justice, since no individual deems 
 himself more responsible than the rest. The 
 opinions formed by people when under the influ- 
 ence of strong impressions are seldom quite obli- 
 terated, for the violent and ignorant are always 
 the most prejudiced. 
 
 The first intimation Mariamne received of this 
 unjust impression against her was when proceed- 
 l2
 
 220 MARIAMNE. 
 
 ing on the Sabbath to the place of worship : 
 suddenly there arose on every side loud cries of;' 
 
 " Where is Doris ? Where is the Tetrarch's 
 wife ? Will the law of jealousy find it out?" 
 
 She looked round, and to her horror perceived 
 that the accusations were levelled at her. The 
 cries were redoubled, tumult arose, and even 
 some missiles were hurled. By that time she 
 had gained an elevated place near the en- 
 trance of the Synagogue. Her spirit was roused 
 though her soul was bitterly wounded ; she cast 
 back her veil, and waved her hand in token of 
 silence. The sounds of tumult died away like 
 the passing rush of a sudden blast of wind, 
 or the wasting strength of a surf upon the 
 shore. 
 
 At first her voice trembled and her lip became 
 pale. A fervent prayer for help was winged from 
 her soul to heaven. The blood returned to her 
 lip and mantled in her cheek ; though the tears 
 started from her eyes, her expression bore more 
 the character of indignation than a feeling of in- 
 jury. In a clear and almost thrilling voice she 
 exclaimed ;
 
 MARTAMNE. 221 
 
 *' The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but 
 the righteous are bold as a lion. You have 
 falsely, shamefully, and as cowards accused an 
 Asmonean princess of foul and infamous ciimes 
 which by our law are worthy of death. My 
 fathers were lighteous, and valiant in the cause 
 of God and Israel: their spirits can now feel 
 for the deadly insult offered to their daughter — 
 How have ye remunerated the blood they shed 
 for you ? I have not their prowess or valour, but 
 I have the spirit of a womdji and of an Asmo- 
 nean, and fear no earthly danger when my ho- 
 nour and the honour of my race is unjustly at- 
 tacked. I deny, by the Unutterable Name, your 
 accusation — I will repeat my oath on his sacred 
 altar, and tnist in the God of Israel to deliver 
 me from the hands of mine enemies and those 
 that hate me. Is there one among ye who will 
 stand forward and accuse me ? What, are ye si- 
 lent and abashed ? Go trace to its foul source 
 this venomous report, and when you have dis- 
 covered the mouth which uttered it, return and 
 tell me. — Hear again" 
 
 She unbound with tremblino; hand a coronet 
 l3
 
 222 MABIAMNE. 
 
 from her brow blazing with jewels, and holding 
 it out exclaimed ; 
 
 " The mighty Judas Maccabseus tore these 
 jewels from the head of the tyrant Antiochus 
 when he oppressed Israel, and his children have 
 worn it in remembrance of his triumph. The 
 man, the woman, or the child who brings intel- 
 ligence of Doris shall receive it with a blessing 
 from the injured Mariamne's hands." 
 
 She covered her face, and tried as she walked 
 towards the temple to suppress her tears, her 
 bosom heaved, and now and then a large tear 
 fell upon the pavement. 
 
 The multitude were moved, and murmurs were 
 heard to rise and subside, as if they were ashamed 
 of their injustice. The soldiers were won by her 
 nobility and beauty, and the recollections called 
 forth by her reference to the heroes of her race; 
 the people by her princely air and munificence, 
 and by the weight which youth and beauty 
 always gjve to declarations of innocence and in- 
 j^^ry. 
 
 When the temple was full and all was hushed, 
 she walked towards the altar, and kneeling, swore
 
 MARIAMNE. 223 
 
 by the Unutterable Name, that she was falsely 
 accused. She then arose and vowed the value 
 of an hundred burnt offerings on the restoration 
 of Doris. 
 
 Salome had watched her victim during the 
 whole of this scene, and though she was satis- 
 fied of her innocence exulted in the pain she had 
 given : yet the conviction of her error only added 
 to her perplexity and doubt, and her intense de- 
 sire to know whom Antony had visited near 
 Straton, and why he had been induced to do so. 
 
 When Alexandra heard what had passed she 
 openly expressed her suspicion that Salome had 
 spread the report, and even accused her in the 
 presence of her mother and Joseph. Loud alter- 
 cation and subsequent separation and hostility 
 were the consequences. Salome's mother de- 
 precated the hatred her daughter bore for the 
 descendant of the royal race that had raised and 
 enriched them, but could not believe that so 
 horrid and malicious a reporVoriginated with her, 
 and ordered her to deny it. 
 
 Mariamne had retired within the recesses of 
 her apartments, and gave herself up to the grief 
 l4
 
 224 MARIAMNE- 
 
 engendered by a wounded spirit, yet she made 
 every exertion to gain tidings of Doris, whom 
 she thought had followed Herod, urged by a 
 paroxysm of grief for the loss of her son, 
 
 Babarrah returned without having gained the 
 least intelligence. He was deeply affected when 
 he learnt what had passed ; and his proud spirit 
 was chafed when he heard that he had been vir- 
 tually accused of murdering Aulenus. He di- 
 rectly appeared among the soldiers, and to Joseph 
 and his peers distinctly denied that he had met 
 his death by him ; at the same time he affirmed 
 that his treachery to Herod and his intended 
 villainy deserved death, and would have sanc- 
 tioned his inflicting it. He had scarcely finished 
 speaking when some of his horsemen, who had 
 to perform a larger circuit, came in, bringing with 
 them several robbers of Hezekiah's gang ; among 
 them were two whom Babarrah recognised as 
 forming a part of the band by whom Aulenus had 
 been killed . The sword which had been taken from 
 one of them was discovered to be that which 
 Aulenus wore : on the other was found his vest. 
 Shouts of joyful acclamation rent the air — the
 
 MARIAMNB. 225 
 
 proud Babarrah turned away his hoi-se's head 
 and rode towards the upper part of the forti-ess. 
 The information was soon conveyed to Sa- 
 lome, who was secretly chagrined at the disco- 
 very. She was ready to suspect it a trick of 
 Babarrah's, but he had rode in a different direc- 
 tion, and the numbers were too gieat, the details 
 of the capture of the robbers too circumstantial, 
 to leave, even to her, room for doubting the 
 truth. It removed the impression against the 
 Princess, and the recoil affected the character of 
 Salome. 
 
 The reward offered by the Princess had in- 
 stilled great activity into many who could not 
 have been stimulated by any other means, and 
 they formed themselves into parties and searched 
 the country, but no tidings were obtained of the 
 fugitive. 
 
 One morning Tezellah, according to her usual 
 custom, had gone to the foot of the rock to get 
 cool and fresh water from a spring for the use of 
 Mariamne ; as she was filling the vessel two of 
 the sect of the Essenes came to drink and fill 
 their leathern bottles ; she perceived on the head 
 l5
 
 226 M^HIAMNE. 
 
 of the female, who had received some injury, a 
 linen bandage ornamented with a border similar 
 to one she had seen in the possession of Doris, 
 and without hesitation enquired where she had 
 obtained it. The sect of the Essenes were re- 
 markable, among other excellencies, for their lov^ 
 of truth. The woman simply replied ; 
 
 " My child, the bandage on my head was 
 given me by a forlorn and sick woman whom my 
 brother Mazrah found almost dead with want 
 near our present place of abode ; I nursed her, 
 and she made me accept this bandage as g. pledge 
 of her gratitude. The illness of a relation com- 
 pelled me to comci here, so I left her, four days 
 since^, under the care of my mother and brother ; 
 my relation is dead, and we are now going 
 back." 
 
 Tezellah made enquiries enough to satisfy her 
 that it was Doris. She bade them stay by the 
 spring until her return, assuring them that their 
 intelligence was of consequence. The kindness 
 and simpUcity of these people required no farther 
 inducement ; and Tezellah left them with the cer- 
 tainty of their esteeming their promise sacred.
 
 MARIAMNE, 227 
 
 As soon as she reached the fortress, she 
 hastened to Mariamne's room, and entered with- 
 out ceremony. 
 
 The Princess did not observe her breatliless state 
 a& her head was turned from her, but gently said ; 
 
 '* Tezellah, I have missed your usual morning 
 tribute of cold water" 
 
 She rephed, as well as her quickened breathing 
 would permit. 
 
 " Princess, I met at the spring two Essenes, 
 an aged man and a woman, who have nursed 
 and sheltered Doris." 
 
 Mariamne rose hastily, and looking at Tezel- 
 lah exclaimed ; 
 
 ** Tell me again — did I hear correctly ? Doris 
 found among the pure and good Essenes." 
 
 " Such is the joyful message which I bear, 
 now I will return for the water." 
 
 " Stay, stay," said Mariamne. Then turning 
 to Dermah who stood near her, hastily ex- 
 claimed ; 
 
 " O Dermah, we should both be thankful." 
 
 She bent on her knee, bowed her head, and 
 fervently uttered ; 
 
 L 6
 
 228 MARIAMNE. 
 
 *' Thanks unto thee, O King of Israel, who 
 hast heard my prayer." 
 
 She arose, and bade Dermah to immediately 
 summon her husband, and return with him : in 
 the same breath she directed Tezellah to prepare 
 some clothes for her, and sought herself for her 
 travelling apparel. 
 
 Babarrah came, and meeting her in the ante- 
 room did obeisance, she quickly said ; 
 
 " Rise good and brave Babarrah ; I give thee 
 thanks, and thy wife too, for all that ye have 
 done for me. I am going to assist poor Doris, 
 who in her distress had tried to follow her child, 
 and is now, where she is safe, with some Essenes. 
 I am on my way to communicate the intelligence, 
 and my intention to Joseph. Let Reuben and 
 Jonathan attend me as well as yourself, if you 
 can go, and have ready two steady well trained 
 horses for the Essenes." 
 
 Babarrah attempted to dissuade her, but she 
 stopped him, and said with a little authority ; 
 
 " I shall be ready before you, unless you 
 hasten." 
 
 Dermah smiled with delight at the spirited
 
 MARIAMNE. 229 
 
 determination of the Princess, and felt that her 
 care had not been ill bestowed. 
 
 Joseph had left the fortress, and was proceed- 
 ing to the plain to inspect some hoi-se newly 
 raised. Mariamne wishing to depart without 
 the knowledge of Salome, who had not left her 
 room, hastened to the court yard, and found 
 Babarrah and twenty followers ready in their 
 zeal to devote themselves to death for her. 
 
 She mounted her favourite horse, and rode 
 with speed to the spring. The gentle Essenes 
 saw their quick approach without apprehension, 
 or attempting to escape. When the cavalcade 
 surrounded them, the woman's face became pale, 
 but she neither moved nor spoke, the old man's 
 countenance retained its calm and benevolent look. 
 
 Mariamne rode towards them and said ; 
 
 " The blessings of the God of Abraham be on 
 you, for the inteUigence you have brought. 
 Lead us to where our sister is, and the reward I 
 have promised shall be yours — We have two well 
 trained horses for you." 
 
 The old man arose, and bowing his head 
 nearly to the ground said ;
 
 230 MAKIAMNE. 
 
 " Thanks noble Princess, for unless my aged 
 eyes deceive me, thou art Alexander's daughter, 
 we will lead thee and thy followers to our re- 
 treat, where thou wilt find thy sister, but we 
 disclaim against reward, and refuse a recom- 
 pence for deeds of brotherly kindness — The 
 way is long and tedious; your generous and 
 beautiful steeds may tire before they have borne 
 you there, if you ride as fast as you did when 
 you approached us — I have been a soldier in my 
 youth, and can with thy command regulate 
 your pace, as well as guide your steps." 
 
 The simplicity, yet firmness of the old man 
 delighted Mariamne, who with courteous look 
 and words, constituted him their guide. They 
 went to Joseph* She communicated the infor- 
 mation to him, and in spite of his intreaties rode 
 away, as she exclaimed ; 
 
 " An Asmonean Princess shall never be ac- 
 cused of dishonourable deeds, without putting 
 her enemies to shame, and confusion of face — 
 I will be Doris nurse, and never leave her, until 
 she is again under the protection of Herod — 
 Farewell."
 
 MARIAMNE. ^1 
 
 Joseph was compelled to exert his au- 
 thority to prevent the troops from following 
 her. Such conduct in a woman of their be- 
 loved race, inspired them with enthusiastic de- 
 votion. 
 
 Although the season had so far advanced, that 
 the heat was not very oppressive, they halted for 
 several hours, and proceeded towards sun-set. 
 As the night came on, they approached a 
 gloomy wood which grew on the descent of a 
 lofty mountain. Babarrah merely enquired if 
 it was probable, that any excepting their friends 
 were there, and on being assured that he need 
 not be apprehensive, prepared to enter it. He 
 had brought, as was customary, many torches 
 which were lighted. The old Essene rode be- 
 tween two soldiers, each bearing one, a few 
 yards in front to guide those who followed ; on 
 either side at intervals others were carried by the 
 soldiers, which cast above, and beyond them, 
 their uncertain light into the foliage, and among 
 the stems of the trees, making the distant re- 
 cesses wear a more awful appearance. The only 
 sounds which mingled now and then with the
 
 232 MARIAMNE. 
 
 even tread of the horses, were the cries and 
 rustling of the birds roused by the noise and 
 glare. The night had far advanced when a 
 turning brought them to a steep descent. The 
 moon had risen, and poured its mild and silvery 
 beams through a wide opening, between two 
 distant lofty crags, shewing in the vale be- 
 neath them, a sequestered peaceful village, sur- 
 rounded by vineyards, olive gardens, fields of 
 corn, and enclosures in which reposed a few ani- 
 mals. As soon as they emerged from the forest, 
 the watch dogs roused by the torches and noise, 
 gave the alarm. First, the cattle rose from their 
 lairs and gazed on the descending troop ; then 
 several men appeared, who soon roused their 
 neighbours, so that in a few minutes there were 
 at least fifty men arrayed to defend their homes. 
 When they had approached very near, the old 
 Essene requested Babarrah to order the caval- 
 cade to stop, and permit himself, and his com- 
 panion to go down to the village. In a few 
 minutes most of the men dispersed, and called 
 up their friends and families, while others came 
 quickly towards them. They approached the
 
 MARIAMNE. 233 
 
 Princess, and after paying her obeisance, one 
 older than the rest said ; 
 
 ** Welcome to the daugrhter of the Lord's 
 anointed. Peace, and heavenly contemplation 
 await on you. All we humble Essenes have is 
 thine. Thy sister Doris is, by the will of her 
 Creator, and from the effect of causes, fast re- 
 turning to health. Princess, allow an aged father 
 to conduct thee and thy female attendants to her." 
 
 Mariamne immediately complied, and followed 
 by Dermah and Tezellah, was conducted by the 
 old man to the door of a clean and lowly cabin. 
 
 As soon as they had left the cavalcade, the 
 Essene next in age, addressed Babarrah in the 
 same simple and courteous manner, and led him, 
 and several of his men to another part of the 
 village. The next in age did the same, and so 
 on until all were taken care of. There was 
 not heard from them, one churlish discontented 
 word at the interruption, or the number of their 
 guests ; they provided them and their horses 
 with food and shelter, asked if they could farther 
 assist them, then left them to sleep, and retired 
 to their homes.
 
 23'! MARIA MNE. 
 
 Mariamne hastened into the cabin, and found 
 Doris in an inner room, on a clean but humble 
 bed, awake and evidently alarmed at the un- 
 usual disturbance. She was much agitated at 
 the sight of Mariamne, who directly embraced 
 her, and with tears of joy expressed her happi- 
 ness at having discovered her. The traces of 
 sickness were too visibly pourtrayed on her face 
 to leave any doubt of the state in which she 
 had been, and also that she was yet far from 
 being strong enough to undertake the journey to 
 Massada ; even her mind was evidently weakened 
 by disease. As soon as her agitation was in 
 some measure subdued, she asked for her child 
 and Herod, and expressed her desire to proceed 
 directly to Arabia to redeem him. Mariamne 
 consoled her, but it was long before she could 
 induce her to compose herself to sleep ; she 
 wrapped herself in her upper garment, and re- 
 posed on a mat close to her. 
 
 At day hght they were awakened by the 
 sound of many voices of the Essenes offering 
 up their supplications before they proceeded 
 to their daily tasks. Doris remarked ; '* You
 
 MARIAMNE. 23$ 
 
 only hear the prayers of these pious people ; at 
 the fifth hour, they will call on us to rise, and 
 Esther will come to me with food, and Mazrah 
 will soon follow to enquire for my health." 
 
 She placed her head on her hand, and again 
 composed herself to sleep. 
 
 Before the fifth hour Esther came, and stand- 
 ing in the middle of the room, said in a loud yet 
 sonorous voice ; 
 
 " Daughters aw^ake, and rise, and thank the 
 God of Israel for the blessings of sleep. Peace 
 and welcome to you." 
 
 Mariamne looked on her with surprise, for 
 she had never before been with any of this cele- 
 brated sect. 
 
 Esther was past the middle period of hfe, taD, 
 and finely moulded : she wore a tunic of linen, 
 and a coarse garment girded round the waist, 
 which fell in full and graceful folds from 
 her shoulder. Her face was an example of se- 
 renity, while her eyes wore the character of 
 beaming benevolence, mingled with enthusiasm, 
 to which feehng she gave no utterance. Her 
 attentions were without effort, and ^vithout man-
 
 236 
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 ner ; they proceeded from habitual benevolence, 
 and were not marked with the character, which 
 implied even the semblance of obligation. She 
 gently raised Doris, arranged her bed, refreshed 
 her with water, then kissed her, and prepared 
 her simple meal. Similar attentions were shewn 
 to the Princess, who then was conducted by her 
 to a commodious tent, round which were benches 
 and tables ; in the centre was one for her. This 
 mark of distinction was paid her on account of 
 her rank, for the Essenes were scrupulous in their 
 obedience and respect to those whom they be- 
 lieved were placed by Providence in authority 
 over them. Soon after, many men and women 
 came in, each in passing did her obeisance. 
 When all were seated, an elder arose, and re- 
 turned solemn thanks for the food they were 
 going to partake of; no sooner had he ceased, 
 than several of the brethren entered, and after 
 they had respectfully supplied the Princess, 
 placed before each a dish of food. When all 
 had finished the meal, the elder arose, and re- 
 turned fervent thanks ; then they all remained 
 for some minutes in deep contemplation, during
 
 MARIAMNE. 237 
 
 which period, scarce a breath was heard ; after- 
 wards they again paid obeisance to the Princess, 
 and returned to their allotted tasks, after they 
 had taken off their white garments, and resumed 
 their labouiing dresses. 
 
 Nearly all the countenances wore the same se- 
 rene contemplative character as Esther's, most of 
 them were beautifully formed, and even those 
 whose silvery locks told that many years had 
 passed with them, seemed to enjoy " a green 
 old age," for their strength had not failed them, 
 neither had their eye grown dim. 
 
 Babarrah met the Princess at the entrance of 
 the tent, and after saluting her in the usual man- 
 ner, enquired for Doris, and requested to hear 
 her commands as to their future proceedings. 
 She smiled when she directed him to send his 
 men to labour with the Essenes while they re- 
 mained there, and advised him to follow her ex- 
 ample, and derive instruction from their laws and 
 habits ; she added ; 
 
 " For Doris is too ill to be moved, I will not 
 leave her, and I cannot send you back." 
 
 He then begged to dispatch two of his men
 
 238 MARIAMNE. 
 
 with the inteUigence to Massada ; Jonathan and 
 Reuben were selected for that purpose, they did 
 not require to be instructed in what they should 
 report, since they knew the bitterness of Salome's 
 feeling: towards the Princess. 
 
 When Mariamne returned to Doris apart- 
 ment, she found Mazrah with her, and enquiring 
 into her state. He was considered though 
 young, one of the most skilful of their sect in all 
 cases of sickness, since in his youth, his father 
 being an Hellenistic Jew, he had availed himself 
 of the instruction of a Greek physician of great 
 celebrity, and attained considerable knowledge 
 of the art. His manner was most gentle, his in- 
 quiries very minute, his language consolatory. 
 Before he gave any directions, he sat apparently 
 in deep contemplation, then instructed Esther 
 how to express and mingle the juices of certain 
 herbs, and when to administer them. 
 
 Mariamne, as well as the other women, were 
 evidently struck with Mazrah's beauty and ad- 
 dress. He was built like a tower, and more 
 than six feet in height, his limbs were so 
 finely proportioned, that their symmetry prevented
 
 MARIAMNE. 239 
 
 his immense strength from being too remarkable. 
 — His hair fell in large ringlets over his shoulders. 
 Every feature was perfect, and his whole expres- 
 sion was stamped with the impress of nobleness 
 and reflection : now and then gleams would cross 
 it as if the creative powers of genius were playing 
 within, and were hardly prevented from pouring 
 forth the newly-combined ideas arrayed in power, 
 grace, and beauty, without the marks of toil. — 
 His language was simple, but his thoughts 
 seemed the emanations of heavenly feelings, 
 with a more than human knowledge. The oc- 
 cupations allotted to him by the curators of the 
 society, were to attend the sick, instruct the un- 
 initiated, and expound the mysteries of their 
 worship. The superiority of his understanding, 
 and the unblemished purity of his character, had 
 obtained for him these high distinctions long be- 
 fore his age entitled him to them. Esther was 
 his elder sister, by whom he had been induced 
 to enter into the community where her husband 
 had placed her some years before. Owing to 
 this relationship, he usually dwelt with her. 
 Doris recovery was so slow, that ten days had
 
 240 MARIAMNE. 
 
 elapsed, and she was yet unable to return. Mari- 
 amne's sisterly attention so won the heart of the 
 afflicted mother, that she no longer saw in her 
 the monster Salome had painted; but a kind 
 and high-minded friend, whom circumstances 
 had placed in a most trying situation, and one 
 equally distressing to her. Some of the fears 
 she had entertained, in case of Herod's allying 
 himself to her, were w eakened ; and she some- 
 times thought, that she might be esteemed the 
 wife of Herod, and her son considered as hia 
 eldest born, though Mariamne shared his love. — 
 Still she revolted, as well as the Princess, at 
 the degrading custom of their country. 
 
 Both Dermah and Babarrah seemed attracted 
 by the life of this united sect, and privately con- 
 sulted on availing themselves of their freedom, 
 and passing their remaining days preparing for 
 another state of existence, while the preparation 
 enabled them to partake of that happiness which 
 in this life is alone without alloy. 
 
 The Princess had paid minute attention to all 
 their customs, habits, and manners, which to a 
 mind like her's, were more than commonly at-
 
 MARIAMNE. 241 
 
 tractive, particularly when contrasted with the 
 vanity, vice, violence, and vexation of spirit 
 reveUing in the world from which she had ac- 
 cidentally withdrawn. At the request of Dermah, 
 the Princess asked Mazrah to detail to them 
 their opinions, and the differences, between them 
 and the mass of their own and bordering nations. 
 He complied, as did every member of the com- 
 munity, when asked to do any thing not incon- 
 sistent with their ideas of rectitude. 
 
 Doris was rechning on her bed ; the Princess 
 sat near her on some cushions placed on a car- 
 pet ; Dermah and Tezellah were seated at her 
 feet; Mazrah, leaning on the sill of the open 
 lattice, thus spoke. 
 
 . " When the tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes 
 cruelly entreated our nation, the forefathers of 
 our society fled to the recesses of the mountains, 
 and there, in sohtude and security, practised the 
 true obligations of the law. Their example has 
 been followed by their children, and their pro- 
 selytes ; and many among them have received 
 revelations from the angelic messengers, and by 
 their instruction and contemplation discovered 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 MARIAMNE. 
 
 the mysteries in the divine books; and have 
 written them on records which we possess, but 
 which we never communicate to those whose 
 professions have not sustained the proof of a 
 trial for two years. 
 
 " We have every thing in common. Those 
 who become members of the society, give all 
 they possess to the common stock ; and receive, 
 with their brethren, all that is necessary, for the 
 comfort and preservation of life. 
 
 " We are all equal. As piety and experience 
 teach us, the elders are reverenced, they speak 
 the first in our assemblies, and are also our 
 curators in turns. 
 
 " The labour of each is for the general good ; 
 we apply ourselves to those tasks for which our 
 elders consider us best adapted. 
 
 ** When we leave our homes, we take neither 
 money nor apparel, but sometimes a defensive 
 weapon ; for wherever we go, those of our society 
 dwelling there, give us all that is necessary for 
 us; and if we have aught convenient to them, 
 they take it. 
 
 *'We never dissent on matters of property.
 
 MARIAMNE. 243 
 
 When civil dissension occurs, which is very 
 seldom, or when any brother or sister has fla- 
 grantly erred, an hundred elders consult, and 
 their decree is final. 
 
 *' Wine is forbidden us ; our fare is simple ; our 
 garments homely ; our labour light and regular. 
 We neither seek nor avoid marriage, but un- 
 dertake it with circumspection. 
 
 " We never swear ; but our fidelity and truth 
 are not to be shaken. Our communications are 
 simple and open. We despise riches ; and neither 
 buy nor sell ; we seduously avoid all leagues, 
 and never enter into wars nor fabricate weapons 
 of destruction. The miseries of life we look on 
 with indifference, since the body is only the cor- 
 ruptible organ which the soul inhabits and directs 
 durins: this existence.— That soul is most subtle 
 vapour, drawn by a natural law into the prison 
 of the body, and there is bound in the bonds of 
 flesh, but when released by death, it rejoices and 
 mounts upwards, and becomes an inhabitant of 
 glorious regions, and the companion of the hea- 
 venly messengers." 
 
 He became more animated as he proceeded, 
 M 2
 
 244 MARIAMNE. 
 
 and though he restrained himself, he spoke with 
 fei'vour, which added to his beauty ; his audi- 
 ence was attentive, and deeply interested ; 1^ 
 continued ; 
 
 " The riches, glory, ambition, contention, 
 warfare, vain learning, the alienation of feeling 
 from our fellow-mortals, the vicious pleasures, 
 the unnecessary luxuries, the empty occupations, 
 the parade, and pride of life, we avoid ; and by 
 so doing, escape more than half the miseries 
 which assail poor fallen and erring man. To 
 ensure us contentment here, and bliss hereafter, 
 we swear to honour and serve God ; to be just to 
 all; not to injure though commanded; to feel 
 aversion for the wicked, to assist to the utmost 
 of our power the good ; to keep unimpeached 
 our fidelity and truth, particularly to our rulers, 
 since God hath appointed them; and never to 
 abuse that power if we should be called to ex- 
 ercise it ; not even to assume a better garb, and 
 by no means to oppress our inferiors. We swear 
 also to bear inviolable love for truth, and to 
 condemn severely those who speak falsely ; 
 neither to take nor covet the property of others.
 
 MARIAMNE. 245 
 
 nor even desire unjust gain; never to conceal 
 from our brethren any of the mysteries of our 
 rehgion, nor make them known to others though 
 menaced with death. — We carefully preserve our 
 books, and the names of those who received 
 them. Such are the oaths which every one de- 
 sirous of embracinor our mode of life must take 
 and adhere to, for they who break them are 
 cast out to live "with the beasts of the field, until 
 compassion is shewn towards them ; for we pro- 
 fess mercy, love, charity, and forgiveness to all, 
 and thus fortify ourselves against the vices and 
 temptations of mankind." 
 
 He ceased. They waited in silence to hear a 
 continuation of those " soimds that to thoughts 
 of heaven the fancy led ;" but he seemed wrapped 
 in contemplation which no one disturbed : at 
 length he gently turned and went away, and yet 
 they all remained without speaking until Mari- 
 amne exclaimed ; 
 
 *' Such laws, such conduct are of heaven, and 
 
 turn this vale of woe and blood into a type of the 
 
 pleasant places of Eden. O that all men would 
 
 follow the example of the noble Mazrah and his 
 
 M 3
 
 246 MARIAMNE. 
 
 brethren ; O that their glory was in the conquest 
 over all the evil and imperfections of man, and 
 their triumphs the reward of virtue ; emulation 
 for the attainment of them would excite joy in 
 all, and be an inexhaustible source of new, end- 
 less, and life-bearing glory." 
 
 They assented, and again were silent until 
 some occupation demanded their attention. 
 
 Mariamne made many enquiries into the habits 
 and conduct of the people who had so kindly re- 
 ceived them, and found their precepts and their 
 practice accord, which accordance never existed 
 in any other religion, excepting that which had 
 divinity for its founder, and which Divine Being 
 never rebuked the Essenes. There were eiTors 
 in their creed, but those she did not discover ; 
 they arose from mysticism and enthusiasm car- 
 ried beyond the bounds of discretion, and not 
 from worldly and impious motives. 
 
 Mazrah was her chief instructor, and with him 
 she often strayed to see the brethren and the 
 women at their various occupations. The more 
 she associated with him the more her desire 
 encreased to receive information from him. Ba-
 
 MARIAMNE. 247 
 
 barrah and Dermah observed that the Princess 
 became more thoughtful, and that her cheek 
 changed its hue even when the voice or step of 
 Mazrah was heard. 
 
 They consulted together, and though both 
 agreed that she would be happier as the wife of 
 Mazrah, yet both were too well assured that she 
 was betrothed to Herod, not to earnestly wish to 
 hasten her departure, before she was aware of the 
 subtle poison which was stealing into her heart. 
 
 Mariamne had never before seen exalted virtue, 
 nobility of soul, expansion of mind, and consum- 
 mate beauty united in man : these qualities were 
 possessed by her, and it seemed as if her con- 
 genial soul naturally sought an union with its 
 fellow. It was no wonder that she became 
 thoughtful — it was no wonder that nature began 
 to exert her right. 
 
 One evening Mazrah bade them a more than 
 usually kind farewell ; on the following morning 
 he had departed, for even he had not learned to 
 combat the mighty power of love and so had 
 flown. 
 
 Doris had recovered, and Babarrah saw that 
 M 4
 
 248 MARIAMNE. 
 
 there was danger even in remaining on the spot, 
 and urged their return to Massada. They left 
 the glen of the Essenes, followed by the sounds 
 of prayer offered for their welfare. Several of 
 the soldiers went with reluctance, and promised 
 to return and dwell among them.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 On their arrival at Massada they found Joseph, 
 the garrison, and the people in great alarm, for 
 reports had reached them of the approach of 
 Antigonus with a powerful army. The intelli- 
 gence excited no surprise but great anxiety in 
 Babarrah, who immediately busied himself in 
 making preparations for defending the place. 
 
 The return of Doris with the Princess raised 
 the latter higher than ever in the estimation of 
 the people, while it filled Salome with vexation 
 and perplexity. Alexandra embraced her daugh- 
 ter, and pretended to have suffered more anxiety 
 than she had really felt at her abrupt departure. 
 Mariamne was dutiful and affectionate, yet she 
 could not confide in the sincerity of her mother, 
 after being acquainted with her general proceed- 
 M 5
 
 250 MARIAMNE. 
 
 ings, and being aware of how little maternal love 
 she bore towards her. 
 
 The son of Phasaelus, and young Antipater 
 the son of Doris, had been left at Petra on ac- 
 count of the salubrity of the air ; Herod, desirous 
 of examining the state of the place, had gone 
 there in his way to Arabia, and had taken the 
 son of Phasaelus and not Antipater to be left 
 with king Malchus as a pledge. One of the 
 persons about the Palace had overheard Herod 
 express the intention of taking his son, and had 
 unwisely misled Doris, and caused her so much 
 unnecessary grief. On her entering the Palace 
 the first objects which attracted her attention 
 were the two children at play. She flew towards 
 them and clasped her supposed lost child to her 
 bosom. 
 
 The son of Phasaelus had been sent back by 
 Herod; Malchus had dispatched messengers to 
 the Tetrarch when he heard of his arrival in his 
 country, to request him to depart, since the Par- 
 thians had declared themselves prepared to wage 
 war on him if he entertained him. Herod on 
 receiving this intimation dismissed a great por^
 
 MARlAMNfi. 251 
 
 tion of his retinue, directing them to take the 
 son of Phasaelus to Massada, and direct some 
 one to escort his own son Antipater there also. 
 The Tetrarch with his few remaining followers 
 hastened to Egypt. On his reaching Rhinoco- 
 lura he heard of his brother's cruel death. 
 
 Phasaelus being imprisoned by Antigonus 
 knew that he would take away his life, and con- 
 sidering it dishonourable to die by his hands, 
 dashed his head against a stone. Antigonus di- 
 rected his physicians to pour poison into the 
 wound, and so destroyed him. Herod loved his 
 brother, mourned for him, and waited for 
 an opportunity of avenging his death on Anti- 
 gonus. 
 
 Maichus had repented of his mean behaviour 
 to Herod, and sent couriers to overtake and in- 
 duce him to return, but he indignantly rejected 
 their entreaties, and persevered in his resolution 
 of going to Rome. 
 
 Difficulties opposed his readily effecting his 
 
 purpose, for at Pelusium he could not induce the 
 
 mariners to convey him. The magistrates treated 
 
 him with great honour, and advised him to go 
 
 m6
 
 252 MARIAMNE. 
 
 to Alexandria, where Cleopatra made many over- 
 tures. to him to remain in her service, but he de- 
 clined them, and at length, after many hin- 
 drances, arrived at Brundusium and proceeded 
 directly to Rome, 
 
 He immediately appealed to Antony and Oc- 
 tavianus, and by argument, promises of money, 
 and a recapitulation of the actions of his father 
 obtained more than he sought for or anticipated ; 
 for the senate v^^as convened, and he introduced 
 by Messala and Atratinus. These two noble 
 senators stated and extolled the services of He- 
 rod and his family, and denounced Antigonus as 
 a turbulent, rebellious, and troublesome man, 
 inimical to the Romans, and who had with 
 effrontery accepted from the Parthians the crown 
 of Judaea. Antony seconded their words, and 
 declared the advantage of having Herod as an 
 ally against the Parthians. Herod to his amaze- 
 ment was unanimously elected King of Judaea. 
 He was conducted by Octavianus and Antony 
 with great pomp and ceremony, accompanied 
 by the consuls and senators to the Capitol, and 
 there inaugurated king. He hastened back.
 
 MARIAMNE. 253 
 
 after remaining seven days, to Judaea, and 
 arrived at Ptolemais after three months ab- 
 sence. 
 
 The chief objects on his arrival at Rome were 
 to procure assistance in restoring peace to Judaea, 
 and to obtain the crown for Aristobulus the bro- 
 ther of his beloved Mariamne, and then to serve 
 under him as his minister and general. He had 
 been elected king, and now had reached beyond 
 the highest hopes his ambitious mind had ever 
 entertained. He sometimes doubted how Ma- 
 riamne would receive the intelligence, but as 
 he had not sought the crown^ he knew she 
 could not blame him : he indulged in dreams 
 of greatness, in the noblest conduct towards 
 her and her family, and looked forward to 
 being united to the woman who was his con- 
 stant thought, though surrounded by danger 
 and care. 
 
 On his landing he heard that Antigonus was 
 closely besieging Massada, and more anxious for 
 Mariamne's safety than his kingdom, he exerted 
 every nerve, and by his address and generosity 
 raised an army, won over to his interest nearly
 
 254 MARIAMNE. 
 
 the whole province of GaUlee, and obtained orders 
 from Antony to receive assistance from Dellius 
 and Ventidius. 
 
 While he was thus vigorously preparing to re- 
 lieve Massada, Antigonus pressed the siege. 
 
 Joseph and Babarrah knew too well the cruel 
 disposition and intentions of their enemy, not to 
 be determined never to yield up the place while 
 hope remained, and never to see Mariamne and 
 the other women fall into his hands. The situa- 
 tion of Massada precluded the possibility of as- 
 sault by escalade, and the strength of the be^ 
 sieging army was too great for the besieged to 
 anticipate much success from making sorties on 
 them. Antigonus formed a cordon round the 
 place at too great a distance for missiles to reach 
 them, and waited the slow effects of famine and 
 discontent. 
 
 As it was known that Herod had gone to Rome, 
 a courier had been dispatched to inform him of 
 the approach of Antigonus, and they anxiously 
 hoped that he would be able to compel his enemy 
 to raise the siege. Babarrah depended greatly 
 on his activity and military skill, but Joseph
 
 MARIAMNE. 255 
 
 dreaded that treachery and vengeance might cut 
 him off. 
 
 Several weeks elapsed and only a few sorties 
 had raised the flagging spirits of the soldiery. 
 The inhabitants began to feel the want of water 
 and provision, and careless under whose govern- 
 ment they hved, murmured at their privations, 
 and requested their commanders to deliver up 
 the place to Antigonus. Their request was re- 
 fused and their spirits somewhat raised by their 
 being assured that Herod was coming to relieve 
 them. Day succeeded day and no tidings of his 
 approach reached them. It was reported that 
 his messengers had been unable to pass the be- 
 sieger's camp, and that he would soon be seen 
 descending from the distant hills. The weather 
 became hotter, the want of water gi'eater ; 
 the murmurs of the people became loud, and 
 open complaints were fast infecting the new 
 raised soldiers. Many attempts were made to 
 get possession of the spring near the foot of the 
 precipice, 'but it was found to be impossible 
 either by stratagem or force. 
 
 During this eventful time dissension existed
 
 ^56 MARIAMNE. 
 
 among the inmates of the Palace. Although 
 Salome was ever bent on fomenting them, she 
 took no active steps against the Princess, since 
 the excitement in her favour had not yet sub- 
 sided, and she was beloved by the soldiers ; 
 moreover Salome was too anxious for her own 
 safety to think of the destruction of others. 
 
 Alexandra had long been tired of the mo- 
 notony of a fortress, and wished to be at Jeru- 
 salem. The army of Antigonus appeared to her 
 so large that she concluded he was firmly seated 
 on the throne, and herself and family were de- 
 pending on a ruined man. While Herod was 
 supported by Antony she was not averse to his 
 being allied to her daughter, though from mo- 
 tives of paltry interest she had been desirous of 
 keeping them in a state by which she could en- 
 rich herself. Now she deemed Herod a ruined 
 outcast, her greatest wish was to throw herself 
 under the protection of the Romans, and appeal 
 to Antony, with the hope that Mariamne's 
 beauty would prove a means of obtaining any 
 request she might make, and of ensuring her 
 an asylum at Rome. With these intentions
 
 MARIAMNE. 257 
 
 she sought Mariamne, and after embracing her 
 said ; 
 
 " In this great straight I care but Httle for 
 myself, it is for my own, my beloved children that I 
 am most anxious ; more especially for you ; Aris- 
 tobulus is too young to excite the apprehension 
 of Antigonus, moreover he would find protection 
 among the people — But where will you my 
 beauteous girl find protection ? Herod is either 
 slain, or so low in circumstances that he cannot 
 aid us. The people are with difficulty prevented 
 from opening their gates, the soldiers are mur- 
 muring, the water is almost expended, the pro- 
 vision gone. If we fall into the hands of Anti- 
 gonus, rely on it he wiU send us to Parthia as a 
 part of the five hundred women promised to their 
 king for his assistance — Is it not better that we 
 should shield ourselves from slavery, and in- 
 famy, by seeking the protection of the Ro- 
 man commander ? Salome, with whom I 
 have so often dissented, but with whom in 
 our necessity I have consulted, agrees with me 
 in this. 
 
 Shall we propose to Joseph and Babarrah to
 
 258 MAKIAMNE. 
 
 get us out of this fortress, and place us under 
 the protection of the Romans ?" 
 
 Mariamne was perplexed, for she clearly saw 
 that Salome agreed to her mother's proposal, be- 
 cause it would facihtate the scheme she had 
 of putting her in the Triumvir's power, on the 
 other hand, she thought with horror of being 
 consigned to a barbarian king, to be made 
 the slave, or concubine of a favourite, or a 
 ferocious captain. After a short time she re- 
 plied ; 
 
 *' Mother, our situation is dreadful, but not 
 hopeless, then why should we yield ourselves up 
 to despair? Was not Bethulia straitened, and 
 did not prayer obtain relief, let us follow the ex- 
 ample of Judith, and the Lord will send us rain 
 to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no 
 more." 
 
 She ceased speaking for ashort time, a tear fell 
 from her eye, and she seemed offering up the 
 supplication she had proposed, and then con- 
 tinued ; 
 
 " Our warriors are stout, and our cause is 
 just ; if we are compelled to yield the fortress,
 
 MARIAMNE. 
 
 269 
 
 could we not, under the protection of a body of 
 them, reach Petra, and there wait for Herod, 
 unless it pleases Providence to direct us else- 
 where ? To fall into the Parthians, or the Ro- 
 mans hands, would be equally horrible to me. 
 Death would be preferable to either. Mother, 
 I will not give myself up to despair, but trust the 
 God of my fathers. Until we have only the 
 choice of death by famine or escape left, I will 
 not agree to your proposal." 
 
 Alexandra looked angrily at her, and said ; 
 
 " You have ever opposed your mother in al! 
 her wishes for your welfare, and even betrothed 
 yourself wdthout consulting me — ^now, from some 
 vain superstition, you are ready to sacrifice me 
 and all of us — You shall obey me." 
 
 Mariamne heard with patience her mother's 
 weak and angry speech, then gently replied ; 
 
 " The good Hyrcanus told me, that I had your 
 sanction as well as his for betrothing myself to 
 Herod — I cannot recal my pledge without rebel- 
 ling against the divine laws — I will not disobey 
 you. You asked for my consent to your pro- 
 posal, not for my obedience — The former I can-
 
 260 MARIAMNE. 
 
 not conscientiously give, the latter you may com- 
 mand without the fear of resistance." 
 
 Alexandra was softened by her reply, and 
 went to consult with Salome on the measures to 
 be pursued. 
 
 Three days passed without the arrival of any 
 tidings from Herod, without the appearance of 
 any succour. The cisterns were nearly emptied, 
 the little water remaining in them was of a dele- 
 terious nature, the provisions were almost ex- 
 pended, gloom and dejection clouded every brow 
 excepting Babarrah's, his eye flashed with indig- 
 nation at every murmur, while his livid cheek 
 and quivering lip told the progress that famine 
 and anxiety were making in him. Salome, by 
 her ascendancy over her husband Joseph, in- 
 duced him to propose to Babarrah their put- 
 ting the Asmonean family under the protec- 
 tion of the Roman power ; the words had 
 scarcely passed his lips, when the indignant 
 Arab firmly said ; 
 
 i* I know you mean well, but as long as I can 
 wield a faulchion, no Asmonean here shall thank 
 a Roman for protection — No woman shall dupe
 
 MARIAMNE. 261 
 
 me by guiding him whom he ought to silence 
 and command." 
 
 Joseph looked confounded, the Arab con- 
 tinued ; 
 
 " My advice is, that we prepare to make a 
 feigned assault on the enemy from the eastern 
 gate, while we have at the western a chosen body 
 of the horse, mounted on the fleetest beasts re- 
 maining, encirchng all the women of the Te- 
 trarch's household who choose to go, and who 
 must conduct them to Petra, and if necessary 
 cut their way through the enemy's camp." 
 
 Joseph saw the inutility of opposing him, and 
 at once accorded with his proposal, adding ; 
 
 " The sooner this plan is executed the better, 
 for the little water we have may last a smaller 
 number two or three days, in which time Herod 
 may come." 
 
 Dermah learnt the plan from her husband, 
 and told it to Mariamne, who prepared herself 
 for the dreadful trial. A firm rehance on Provi- 
 dence, and passive resolution enabled her to ap- 
 pear even cheerful, and thus raise the drooping 
 spirits of her companions.
 
 262 MARIAMNE. 
 
 The following evening the centinels were 
 doubled : a body of three thousand men were 
 prepared to make the feigned attack, while 
 eight hundred were marshalled to escort the 
 women. It was decided, that, as soon as the 
 night had closed in, the attack should commence, 
 and soon after the escort should hasten away. 
 
 The sun sunk beneath the horizon a dim and 
 lurid ball ; the air was still ; the shades of night 
 veiled the earth more rapidly than usual, which 
 increased until the atmosphere was blackness ; 
 now and then blue forked lightning went like 
 waving liquid fire through the clouds, and seve- 
 ral meteors passed along and were lost; their 
 blazing brightness was rendered terrific by the 
 contrast of the dark canopy above them. Not 
 a sound was heard through the fortress, for the 
 deep darkness, and the appearances in the hea- 
 vens had appalled the bravest with undefined 
 apprehension. 
 
 Mariamne, and those who were to endeavour 
 to reach Petra assembled in a hall adjoin- 
 ing the court yard. They were roused, some 
 from their prayers, some from apathy, and some
 
 m:ariamne. 263 
 
 from wandering thoughts, by the approaching 
 heavy tread of an armed man : it was Babarrah 
 coming to summon them away ; he entered the 
 hall with a firm step, and a calm determined 
 look ; he made obeisance to Alexandra and Mari- 
 amne, then said ; 
 
 " Our guides know their way, as well as the 
 beasts of the forest to their lairs. — The night is 
 most propitious, for not an object is perceptible, 
 excepting when now and then a flash of light- 
 ning acts like a torch to shew the road. Allow 
 me to conduct you to where the horsemen are 
 waiting your arrival.'* 
 
 They rose to follow him. As soon as Mari- 
 amne reached the open court, she raised her 
 head, and tried to see into the obscurity above 
 her, while she mentally sought protection from 
 on high. She felt a drop of rain fall on her face, 
 and exclaimed ; 
 
 " The Lord is merciful, and will not suffer his 
 servants to fall into the snares of their enemies. 
 Lo ! the heavens are opened, I felt the drop de- 
 scend, — more will come. Babarrah, let us taiTy 
 here a few moments yet." While she spoke, large
 
 264 MARIAMNE. 
 
 drops fell at intervals, and the murmur of joy 
 arose among the crowd. She retired behind 
 them and returned to the hall, where in secret 
 she poured forth her soul-felt thanks. 
 
 These drops were followed by others ; then 
 a sudden gust of wind rushed by, and torrents 
 of rain came down as if shaken from their re- 
 servoirs : the blasts encreased, the clouds seemed 
 pouring forth the accumulated dews and vapours 
 of many months. The voices of thanks and joy 
 rang through the city: even the animals, by 
 their cries, appeared to return thanks for the 
 unlooked-for blessing. 
 
 Babarrah, whose eyes sparkled with joy and 
 high intent, bade them retire, then hastened to 
 the men prepared to make the feigned sortie. 
 He cheered them by a few words, and ordered 
 them to follow him. 
 
 They issued in silence through the gate. He 
 saw, by the lightning flash, the spot near the 
 enemy's camp where their provisions and pro- 
 vender were stored. He pointed to the place 
 with his sword as a flash displayed it, and 
 cried ;
 
 MARIAMNE. 265 
 
 " Follow me ; — if dispersed, the western gate, 
 or Ressa." 
 
 They stole along in a compact body, passed 
 through a small valley, then deployed and sur- 
 rounded the waggons and stores of the enemy. 
 The rear foimed, faced and attacked the camp ; 
 while the others harnessed the horses, and 
 loaded themselves and the animals. The unex- 
 pected attack in that quarter, the darkness of 
 the night, and the rain, made the enemy doubt- 
 ful of the force of the assailants, and whether 
 they were from the fortress or a foe on their 
 flank. The trumpets were sounded, and the 
 men cheered to confound the enemy still more. 
 In a few minutes the waggons were hurried off, 
 guarded on either side by one portion, while the 
 remainder in the rear kept the amazed enemy at 
 bay, as they retired to the fortress. 
 
 The gate was opened, and loud acclamations 
 from the famished people told the great success. 
 They revelled in the rain, and blessed the brave 
 Babarrah. 
 
 The cisterns were filled before the day dawned, 
 and it was found that they had captured ten 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 MARIAMNE. 
 
 days' provisions. Public thanks were returned 
 for the blessing, and hope again animated every 
 bosom. 
 
 Several days elapsed, and still Herod did not 
 appear. At length one evening at sunset, Ba- 
 barrah was on the highest pinnacle of the tower, 
 straining his sight to discover the expected suc- 
 cours. The last rays were glancing along the 
 plain, and he was on the point of descending, 
 when his eye wandered round to the distant 
 hills : on the summit of a lofty mountain, across 
 which was one of the passes to the plain, the 
 rays of the sun, now below the horizon, lingered 
 for a moment, and to his piercing ey6 discovered 
 the flashing arms of a long array ; he watched it 
 with intense anxiety for the few seconds the 
 declining light illumined it, then said to him- 
 self; 
 
 *' It's him," and hastened to Joseph. As he 
 passed, he saw his wife, and whispered, " They 
 are here, — tell the Princess." 
 
 He put his finger on his lips, and passed on, 
 well assured that she understood him. 
 
 The centinels were doubled; no one was
 
 MABIAMNE. 267 
 
 allowed to pass in or out, and silence was pre- 
 served, for Babarrah and Joseph both expected 
 that Herod w^ould directly attack the enemy. 
 
 They were not deceived in their expectation ; 
 for although Antigonus had harassed the Te- 
 trarch's army on the march, and had nearly 
 defeated Silo, who, contrary to the orders of 
 Antony, had left him ; yet Herod had deceived 
 him, and now approached by forced marches 
 and an unusual route. 
 
 Two lights shewn from the top of the tower 
 as soon as night closed in; and their height 
 above the level of the plain, were sufficient to 
 inform Herod that his approach was known. 
 
 Joseph and Babarrah issued minute orders, 
 gave out the pass-word, and prepared nearly 
 the whole garrison to aid the Tetrarch by a 
 ^eat sortie, as soon as he attacked the be- 
 siegers. 
 
 About two hours before day-break, the 
 watchmen reported that they heard the steady 
 tramp of men at some distance. Every soldier 
 in the ganison was ready with his -weapons ; 
 the porters held the barriers of the doors ; the 
 N 2
 
 268 MARIAMNE. 
 
 captains were on the watch towers, listening for 
 the noise of the first assault. 
 
 Suddenly a thousand torches flamed in the 
 air — a thousand limpets sounded an attack 
 — legions cheered and rushed on — whirlwinds 
 of cavalry swept round the besieging host, and 
 occupied the ground between them and the 
 town, with detachments ; while the others bore 
 down on the astounded enemy, who had been 
 thus roused from their deep sleep, and were 
 either panic struck, seeking for their arms, or 
 forming in small bodies, and opposing a despe- 
 rate but vain resistance to the overwhelming 
 assailants. As soon as the first attack com- 
 menced, Babarrah on the one side and Joseph 
 on the other, rushed out, and by attacking the 
 besiegers in different directions, completed the 
 rout and slaughter. 
 
 When the sun arose in silent grandeur, and 
 arrayed in noiseless splendour, it no longer shone 
 on a thousand pavilions, or glittered on polished 
 helms and spears, and moving bodies of men, 
 glorying in anticipated triumph, — but on a plain 
 strewed with the dying and the dead, tents over-
 
 MABIAMNE. 269 
 
 thrown, shattered arms, disabled horses, broken 
 vehicles, and here and there some wandering 
 plunderer, or perchance a woman, who had sought 
 a husband or a dear relative, with the hope that 
 life yet remained, and health might be restored 
 by her unceasing care. Beyond, were those who 
 guarded the field of blood. Within the fortress 
 all was noise and joy. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 Printed by R. Gilbert, St John's Square, London.
 
 WORKS 
 PUBLISHED BY G. B. WHITTAKER, 
 
 AVE-MARIA LANE. 
 
 TALES of ARDENNES. By H. Dekwent 
 
 Conway. Small 8vo. 8s. boards. 
 
 FORMER SCENES RENEWED ; or Notes, 
 
 Classical and Historical, taken in a Journey into France, Spain, 
 Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Flanders, and Holland, and Resi- 
 dence in those Countries in the Years 1818, 1819, 1820, and 
 1821 ; interspersed with Historical Anecdotes, and Memoirs of 
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