Antiquities of the Jews — Book 18, Chapter 7

1. But Herodias, Agrippa's sister, who now lived as wife to that Herod
who was tetrarch of Galilee and Peres, took this authority of her
brother in an envious manner, particularly when she saw that he had a
greater dignity bestowed on him than her husband had; since, when he ran
away, it was because he was not able to pay his debts; and now he was
come back, he was in a way of dignity, and of great good fortune. She
was therefore grieved and much displeased at so great a mutation of his
affairs; and chiefly when she saw him marching among the multitude with
the usual ensigns of royal authority, she was not able to conceal how
miserable she was, by reason of the envy she had towards him; but she
excited her husband, and desired him that he would sail to Rome, to
court honors equal to his; for she said that she could not bear to live
any longer, while Agrippa, the son of that Aristobulus who was condemned
to die by his father, one that came to her husband in such extreme
poverty, that the necessaries of life were forced to be entirely
supplied him day by day; and when he fled away from his creditors by
sea, he now returned a king; while he was himself the son of a king, and
while the near relation he bare to royal authority called upon him to
gain the like dignity, he sat still, and was contented with a privater
life. "But then, Herod, although thou wast formerly not concerned to be
in a lower condition than thy father from whom thou wast derived had
been, yet do thou now seek after the dignity which thy kinsman hath
attained to; and do not thou bear this contempt, that a man who admired
thy riches should be in greater honor than thyself, nor suffer his
poverty to show itself able to purchase greater things than our
abundance; nor do thou esteem it other than a shameful thing to be
inferior to one who, the other day, lived upon thy charity. But let us
go to Rome, and let us spare no pains nor expenses, either of silver or
gold, since they cannot be kept for any better use than for the
obtaining of a kingdom."

2. But for Herod, he opposed her request at this time, out of the love
of ease, and having a suspicion of the trouble he should have at Rome;
so he tried to instruct her better. But the more she saw him draw back,
the more she pressed him to it, and desired him to leave no stone
unturned in order to be king; and at last she left not off till she
engaged him, whether he would or not, to be of her sentiments, because
he could no otherwise avoid her importunity. So he got all things ready,
after as sumptuous a manner as he was able, and spared for nothing, and
went up to Rome, and took Herodias along with him. But Agrippa, when he
was made sensible of their intentions and preparations, he also prepared
to go thither; and as soon as he heard they set sail, he sent
Fortunatus, one of his freed-men, to Rome, to carry presents to the
emperor, and letters against Herod, and to give Caius a particular
account of those matters, if he should have any opportunity. This man
followed Herod so quick, and had so prosperous a voyage, and came so
little after Herod, that while Herod was with Caius, he came himself,
and delivered his letters; for they both sailed to Dicearchia, and found
Caius at Bairn, which is itself a little city of Campania, at the
distance of about five furlongs from Dicearchia. There are in that place
royal palaces, with sumptuous apartments, every emperor still
endeavoring to outdo his predecessor's magnificence; the place also
affords warm baths, that spring out of the ground of their own accord,
which are of advantage for the recovery of the health of those that make
use of them; and, besides, they minister to men's luxury also. Now Caius
saluted Herod, for he first met with him, and then looked upon the
letters which Agrippa had sent him, and which were written in order to
accuse Herod; wherein he accused him, that he had been in confederacy
with Sejanus against Tiberius's and that he was now confederate with
Artabanus, the king of Parthia, in opposition to the government of
Caius; as a demonstration of which he alleged, that he had armor
sufficient for seventy thousand men ready in his armory. Caius was moved
at this information, and asked Herod whether what was said about the
armor was true; and when he confessed there was such armor there, for he
could not deny the same, the truth of it being too notorious, Caius took
that to be a sufficient proof of the accusation, that he intended to
revolt. So he took away from him his tetrarchy, and gave it by way of
addition to Agrippa's kingdom; he also gave Herod's money to Agrippa,
and, by way of punishment, awarded him a perpetual banishment, and
appointed Lyons, a city of Gaul, to be his place of habitation. But when
he was informed that Herodias was Agrippa's sister, he made her a
present of what money was her own, and told her that it was her brother
who prevented her being put under the same calamity with her husband.
But she made this reply: "Thou, indeed, O emperor! actest after a
magnificent manner, and as becomes thyself in what thou offerest me; but
the kindness which I have for my husband hinders me from partaking of
the favor of thy gift; for it is not just that I, who have been made a
partner in his prosperity, should forsake him in his misfortunes."
Hereupon Caius was angry at her, and sent her with Herod into
banishment, and gave her estate to Agrippa. And thus did God punish
Herodias for her envy at her brother, and Herod also for giving ear to
the vain discourses of a woman. Now Caius managed public affairs with
great magnanimity during the first and second year of his reign, and
behaved himself with such moderation, that he gained the good-will of
the Romans themselves, and of his other subjects. But, in process of
time, he went beyond the bounds of human nature in his conceit of
himself, and by reason of the vastness of his dominions made himself a
god, and took upon himself to act in all things to the reproach of the
Deity itself.