I remember that act worthy of compassion, seeing that successor of many kings, that venerable old man, receiving death from one who once knew his warm welcome, I shudder with horror, and can not turn my thoughts away, except when the image of an inanimate Aristobulus presents itself to my eyes. What had this wretched young man done to deserve his punishment? He was young, wise, kind-hearted without reservation, his biggest shortcoming was probably that he resembled me. Alas! This defect should have been advantageous to him on this occasion: for if it were true, that you had for me that passionate love which you have always tried to persuade me of, then even if Aristobulus had not been my brother, even if he had been guilty, you should always respect my image through him. The resemblance to the loved one should soften the cruelest and make them alter their plan. But why do I address myself thus to the one who wishes me harm and who, in addition to toppling the throne of my forebears, had my grandfather murdered, my brother drowned, my entire family destroyed? Now he seeks to impugn my honor by wrongfully accusing me of three crimes of which I am incapable of even contemplating. It is alleged that I sent my portrait to Antony, that I had a special relationship with Joseph, and that I conspired against your life. Is it conceivable that Mariamne should have to answer such charges? Is it not enough simply to say that if I am framed, then I am innocent? No, I perceive that despite my station and my morality, I must prepare myself to be unjustly condemned. Although I am from a prestigious lineage and therefore owe an account of my actions to God alone, yet I must justify them to you, who are my accusers, my enemies, and my judges. 

You then are asserting that I sent my portrait to Antony, someone whom I do not know and who has never seen me. Yet, without offering any details about it, other than he was in Egypt at the time, you would still wish this accusation be considered the absolute truth. But tell me, who is the painter who produced it? Who handed it over? Who are the persons to whom Antony showed it? Where are the letters that he wrote me to express his gratitude for such a gift? For it bears no reason to believe he would have received such a remarkable proof of my affection without expressing his gratitude. The heart of Mariamne is not so unglorious a conquest that there could be kings on earth who would not feel flattered to have achieved it. Yet, there is no trace of the gifts that Antony would have brought to win or retain me. Frankly, on this occasion I would have forgotten not just my own honor but also all my senses if I had contemplated the crime of which I am accused. For, if it were at the time when you were doing all you could for him, sending him all your jewels and opposing the Roman Empire on his behalf, my choice would have been unwise indeed; and it would have been impossible for me to believe that Antony, who prided himself on his generosity, would betray a man to whom he was so indebted for someone unknown to him. And if it were since you were no longer allied due to the machinations of Cleopatra, that accusation holds even less credibility. I would have been very rash indeed to arm my enemy myself, for at that time, your interests were still mine as well. And then what credibility would have...