_Antiochus_
being thus made King by the friendship of the King of _Pergamus_ reigned
powerfully over _Syria_ and the neighbouring nations: but carried himself
much below his dignity, stealing privately out of his palace, rambling up
and down the city in disguise with one or two of his companions; conversing
and drinking with people of the lowest rank, foreigners and strangers;
frequenting the meetings of dissolute persons to feast and revel; clothing
himself like the _Roman_ candidates and officers, acting their parts like a
mimick, and in publick festivals jesting and dancing with servants and
light people, exposing himself by all manner of ridiculous gestures. This
conduct made some take him for a madman, and call him _Antiochus_ [Greek:
Epimenes]. In the first year of his reign he deposed _Onias_ the
high-Priest, and sold the high-Priesthood to _Jason_ the younger brother of
_Onias_: for _Jason_ had promised to give him 440 talents of silver for
that office, and 15 more for a licence to erect a place of exercise for the
training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen; which licence was
granted by the King, and put in execution by _Jason_. Then the King sending
one _Apollonius_ into _Egypt_ to the coronation of _Ptolemy Philometor_,
the young son of _Philometor_ and _Cleopatra_, and knowing _Philometor_ not
to be well affected to his affairs in _Phoenicia_, provided for his own
safety in those parts; and for that end came to _Joppa_ and _Jerusalem_,
where he was honourably received; from thence he went in like manner with
his little army to the cities of _Phoenicia_, to establish himself against
_Egypt_, by courting the people, and distributing extraordinary favours
amongst them.
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