have taken this action? At a time when the whole world was filled with love for Antony and Cleopatra,<hr>
would I have sent my picture to Antony? Has Rome found the antidote to cure him of the<hr>
charms of that Egyptian woman? Does the Empire need this remedy or did I just want to<hr>
expose myself to the pride of this unfortunate princess whose jealousy would surely have burst<hr>
open? No, Herod, none of this happened. Mariamne’s innocence is so<hR>
great that even her enemies can’t assign her any real crimes. And then you know..<hr>
very well that what is called my beauty has never made me vain. I have always been more<hr>
concerned with being deserving than beautiful. However, I don't deny the existence of a portrayal of<hr>
Mariamne circulating among all the princes of the earth and perhaps to be preserved for a long time.<hr>
      Yes, Herod, there is an immaterial image of Mariamne that travels the world, which<hR>
wins innocent conquests and without its consent, draws you secret enemies.<hr>
Her noble birth, her morals, her patience and your cruelty are the only colors used in<br/>
this portrait and blood to flow from my body will certainly make it<br/>
admirable for posterity. But to answer the second charge that is made against me,<br/>
even though it is false and does not manage to make me change my tone despite my confusion of being<hr>
forced to speak about such a thing, I would also say that thanks to heaven, I have no other<hR>
accuser but you. Now, you were in Laodicea during the alleged time of this crime, you are therefore<br/>
unable to testify about my actions. I am well assured that your eyes and your ears cannot<br/>
report anything against my innocence. And even though your court is composed solely<br/>
of your slaves or my enemies, I'm sure that even your sister Salome, who hates me because of <hr>
jealousy and state interest, and who observes with extraordinary care each of my words<br/>
and actions, would not dare to affirm having heard a single word or noticed a single one of<br/>
my looks that could question the modesty of Mariamne. It's not that I'm unaware<br/>
that your sister can tell a lie, but what gives me this boldness is that I know that<br/>
I have even more caution than she has of malice. And yet, it is enough to open the eyes to see<br/>
that the charges brought against me are a pretext to ruin me. You accuse me<br/>
of having had an affair with Joseph. Even if I had been capable of such a crime, would I have chosen<br/>
Salome’s husband, my worst enemy and Herod's confidante? She was complicit in all<br/>
mischief, she was Mariamne's jailer. Nevertheless, you dare to pretend that she should have<br/>
killed me to obey your orders. Heaven, how could I believe in such a love? Herod, you<br/>
said goodbye to me in tears, you looked at me with eyes full of affection, and yet you<br/>
would have planned my death? If you were capable, you can now pretend to believe me<br/>
guilty to make me die innocent. And don’t tell me that this order was the result of the<br/>
strong passion you had for me. The death of the loved one can never be a<br/>
proof of affection. Hatred and love do not lead to the same actions, they can sometimes <hr>
reign successively in a heart, but never simultaneously. Any man who loves <hr>
<hr>
<hr>
                                                   16<hr>