[XV.vii.I] But as soone as he [Herod] returned unto his kingdome, he found all his household troubled, and both his wife Mariamme and her mother Alexandra grievously displeased with him. For they supposing (and not without cause) that they were not shut up in the Castle for their securities sake, but as it were in a prison; so that in as much as they might neither make use of other mens, nor enjoy their owne goods, they were highly discontented. Mariamme also supposed that her husband did but dissemble his love, rather for his owne profit and commoditie, th[a]n for any intire affection he bare towards her. But nothing more grieved her, but that she had not any hope to live after him, if so be he should happen to die, especially for the order he had left as concerning her: neither could she ever forget what commandement before that time he had left with Joseph; so that by all meanes possible, she laboured to winne the affections of those that had the charge of her, and especially Sohemus, knowing verie well that her safetie depended wholy on his hands. ...
...For when as Herode beyond all expectation arrived in his countrey, being adorned with mightie fortune, he first of all, as it became him, certified his wife of good tidings and happy successe, whom onely amongst all other his friends and wives, he embraced and saluted, for the pleasing conversation and affection that was in her. But she, whilest he repeated unto her these fortunate events of his affaires, rather enter[tai]ned the same with a displeasant attention, th[a]n applauding joy: and these affections [i.e., emotions] of hers likewise she could not conceale. For at such time as he folded his armes about her necke, she unfolded her sorrow in her sighes; so simple and unfained were her affections; and seemed rather to be displeased th[a]n appeased by his narrations. Whereupon Herode was sore troubled, perceiving these things not onely suspected, but also fully manifest: but above all things he was was distracted, when he considered the incredible and apparant hatred that his wife had conceived against him, which in such sort incensed him that he could not resist the love that had attainted him; so that he neither could continue in wrath, nor listen long to peace; and being unresolved in himselfe, he now was attempted by this; straight distracted by a contrarie affection: so much was his mind travailed between love [and] hatred, that when as oftentimes he desired to punish the womans pride, his heart by loves meditation failed him in the enterprise. For nothing did more torment him th[a]n this feare, least executing his displeasure against her, he should by this meanes more grievously wound himselfe, thorow the desire he bare unto his unceased delight. [3] Whilest thus he was sweltered and devoured in his passions, and conceived sinister opinions against Mariamme his wife; Salome his sister and his mother having an inckling of his discontents, thought that they had gotten a fit opportunitie to expresse and execute their hatred towards Mariamme: for which they conferred with Herode, and whetted his spleene and displeasure with varietie of slanders, sufficient at one assault to engender hatred, and kindle his jealousy against her. ...
...Herode, who before this was highly displeased...was so much the more incensed: for which cause he presently commanded Mariammes most faithful servant to be examined by torments, as concerning the poison, supposing that it was impossible for her to undertake any thing whatsoever, without his privitie. He being tired and tormented after this cruell manner, confessed nothing of that for which he was tortured, but declared unto the king that the hatred which his wife had conceived against him, proceeded from certaine wordes that Sohemus had told her. Scarcely had he finished these words, but that the king cried out with a loud voice, saying that Sohemus who before time had beene most faithfull both to him and his kingdome, would not have declared these his privie commands, except there had been some more inward familiaritie and secrecie betwixt him and Mariamme: for which cause he presently commanded his ministers to lay hands on Sohemus, and to put him to death. As for his wife, he drew her to triall, and to this effect he assembled his most familiar friends, before whom he began to accuse her with great spight and spleene, as touching these potions and poisons aforesaid; wherein he used intemperate and unseemly speeches, and such as for their bitternesse did ill become him in cause of justice; so that in the end the assistants [i.e., those present], seeing the butte and bent of his desire, pronounced sentence of death against her; which, being past, both he, and all other the assistants were of this opinion, that she should not so speedily be executed, but that she should be kept close prisoner in some sure place of the pallace. But by Salomes sollicitations Herode was incited to hasten her death, for that she alleaged that the king ought to feare, least some sedition should be raised among the people, if he should keepe her alive in prison. And by this meanes Mariamme was led unto her death.
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