“The King was in Persia when he heard how his armies had been defeated, not once or twice only, in the land of Judæa. Great was his rage—so great that for the space of three or four hours none dared to come near him. Then he summoned his counsellors to him, and said, ‘I will destroy this nation of rebels till there shall be not one of them left,’ and giving up all other plans he marched westward with all his army. But on his way he came to the city of Elymaïs, where there is a temple, the treasury of which is reputed to be more wealthy than any in the whole land of Persia, for it has never been spoiled within the memory of man. Even the great Alexander left it untouched, adding also much of the spoil which he had taken himself. This temple the father of the King had sought to plunder; but the people of the city rose against him, and drove him away. When the King came to this city he said, ‘Here is another nest of rebels. Did they not rise against the King, my father? Verily I will avenge his memory upon them.’ So he went into the city, having some five hundred soldiers with him. And the magistrates received him with honour. And when he said, ‘I would see your temple and its treasures,’ they consented. ‘Only,’ they said, ‘it is our custom that no armed man may come within the precincts.’ ‘Will you strip me of my sword?’ said the King. ‘Not so,’ they answered, ‘but your followers must be without any, and not more than ten in number.’ When the King heard this he was greatly wroth, and said to the magistrates of the city, ‘I will come in despite of you.’ So he went, he and his five hundred, to the square in which the temple stands. But he found the whole place filled with an armed multitude, and when he would have forced his way into the precincts he was beaten back, losing not a few of his soldiers, and being himself struck on the head with a stone. After this, whether it was from his rage, which became more terrible than ever, or from any other cause, I know not; but the King was smitten with some disease, and could no longer ride, as he had been wont, but was carried in a litter. And they say that the stench of his wounds was so great that the men who bore the litter could scarcely endure it, but were changed continually. So they brought him to Tabol, in the land of Persia, and there he died, being terribly tormented with pain. And I heard that when he was dying, he cried out with a most lamentable voice repenting him of the wrong that he had done against the gods in robbing their temples.” “Of what did he speak?” asked one of the council. “Nay,” said the man, “that I know not. Some said that he spoke of this Temple in Jerusalem, and some that it was the temple in Elymaïs, where men worship the moon-goddess, that was in his mind. But more I do not know.”