Liber I Maccabaeorum, 8

1. Et audivit Iudas nomen Roma norum quia sunt potentes viri bus et consentiunt omnibus, quae postulantur ab eis, et, quicumque accesserint ad eos, statuerunt cum eis amicitiam,

1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they were very strong and were well-disposed toward all who made an alliance with them, that they pledged friendship to those who came to them,

2. et quia sunt potentes viribus. Et narraverunt proelia eorum et virtutes bonas, quas fecerunt in Galatia, quia obtinuerunt eos et duxerunt eos sub tributum,

2. and that they were very strong. Men told him of their wars and of the brave deeds which they were doing among the Gauls, how they had defeated them and forced them to pay tribute,

3. et quanta fecerunt in regione Hispaniae, quod in potestatem redegerunt metalla argenti et auri, quae illic sunt;

3. and what they had done in the land of Spain to get control of the silver and gold mines there,

4. et possederunt omnem locum consilio suo et patientia — et locus erat longe distans ab eis — et reges, qui supervenerant eis ab extremis terrae, donec contriverunt eos et percusserunt eos plaga magna; ceteri autem dant eis tributum omnibus annis;

4. and how they had gained control of the whole region by their planning and patience, even though the place was far distant from them. They also subdued the kings who came against them from the ends of the earth, until they crushed them and inflicted great disaster upon them; the rest paid them tribute every year.

5. et Philippum et Persea Citiorum regem et, quotquot adversum eos arma tulerant, contriverunt in bello et obtinuerunt eos;

5. Philip, and Perseus king of the Macedonians, and the others who rose up against them, they crushed in battle and conquered.

6. et Antiochum magnum regem Asiae, qui eis pugnam intulerat habens centum viginti elephantos et equitatum et currus et exercitum magnum valde, contritum ab eis,

6. They also defeated Antiochus the Great, king of Asia, who went to fight against them with a hundred and twenty elephants and with cavalry and chariots and a very large army. He was crushed by them;

7. et ceperunt eum vivum et statuerunt, ut eis daret ipse et, qui regnarent post ipsum, tributum magnum et daret obsides et constitutum;

7. they took him alive and decreed that he and those who should reign after him should pay a heavy tribute and give hostages and surrender some of their best provinces,

8. et regionem Indorum et Mediam et Lydiam et de optimis regionibus eorum et acceptas eas ab illo dederunt Eumeni regi;

8. the country of India and Media and Lydia. These they took from him and gave to Eumenes the king.

9. et quia, qui erant de Hellade, voluerunt ire et tollere eos, et innotuit sermo his,

9. The Greeks planned to come and destroy them,

10. et miserunt ad eos ducem unum et pugnaverunt contra illos et ceciderunt ex eis multi et captivas duxerunt uxores eorum et filios et diripuerunt eos et terram eorum possederunt et destruxerunt munitiones eorum et in servitutem illos redegerunt usque in hunc diem;

10. but this became known to them, and they sent a general against the Greeks and attacked them. Many of them were wounded and fell, and the Romans took captive their wives and children; they plundered them, conquered the land, tore down their strongholds, and enslaved them to this day.

11. et residua regna et insulas, quae aliquando restiterant illis, exterminaverunt et in potestatem redegerunt;

11. The remaining kingdoms and islands, as many as ever opposed them, they destroyed and enslaved;

12. cum amicis autem suis et, qui in ipsis requiem habebant, conservaverunt amicitiam; et obtinuerunt reges, qui prope et qui longe erant; et, quicumque audiebant nomen eorum, timebant eos;

12. but with their friends and those who rely on them they have kept friendship. They have subdued kings far and near, and as many as have heard of their fame have feared them.

13. quibus vero vellent auxilio esse et regnare, regnabant; quos autem vellent, amovebant; et exaltati sunt valde.

13. Those whom they wish to help and to make kings, they make kings, and those whom they wish they depose; and they have been greatly exalted.

14. Et in omnibus istis nemo portabat diadema nec induebatur purpura, ut magnificaretur in ea;

14. Yet for all this not one of them has put on a crown or worn purple as a mark of pride,

15. et curiam fecerunt sibi, et cotidie consulebant trecenti et viginti consulentes semper de multitudine, ut quiete agerent;

15. but they have built for themselves a senate chamber, and every day three hundred and twenty senators constantly deliberate concerning the people, to govern them well.

16. et committunt uni homini regnare eis per singulos annos et dominari universae terrae suae, et omnes oboediunt uni, et non est invidia neque zelus inter eos.

16. They trust one man each year to rule over them and to control all their land; they all heed the one man, and there is no envy or jealousy among them.

17. Et elegit Iudas Eupolemum filium Ioannis filii Accos et Iasonem filium Eleazari et misit eos Romam constituere cum illis amicitiam et societatem

17. So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, son of Accos, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and sent them to Rome to establish friendship and alliance,

18. et ut auferrent ab eis iugum, quia viderunt quod regnum Graecorum in servitutem premeret Israel.

18. and to free themselves from the yoke; for they saw that the kingdom of the Greeks was completely enslaving Israel.

19. Et abierunt Romam — et via multa valde — et introierunt curiam et responderunt et dixerunt:

19. They went to Rome, a very long journey; and they entered the senate chamber and spoke as follows:

20. “Iudas Maccabaeus et fratres eius et populus Iudaeorum miserunt nos ad vos statuere vobiscum societatem et pacem et conscribere nos socios et amicos vestros”.

20. "Judas, who is also called Maccabeus, and his brothers and the people of the Jews have sent us to you to establish alliance and peace with you, that we may be enrolled as your allies and friends."

21. Et placuit sermo in conspectu eorum.

21. The proposal pleased them,

22. Et hoc est rescriptum epistulae, quam rescripserunt in tabulis aereis et miserunt in Ierusalem, ut esset apud eos ibi memoriale pacis et societatis:

22. and this is a copy of the letter which they wrote in reply, on bronze tablets, and sent to Jerusalem to remain with them there as a memorial of peace and alliance:

23. “Bene sit Romanis et genti Iudaeorum in mari et in terra in aeternum, gladiusque et hostis procul sit ab eis.

23. "May all go well with the Romans and with the nation of the Jews at sea and on land for ever, and may sword and enemy be far from them.

24. Quod si institerit bellum Romanis prius aut omnibus sociis eorum in omni dominatione eorum,

24. If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their dominion,

25. auxilium feret gens Iudaeorum, prout tempus dictaverit illis, corde pleno

25. the nation of the Jews shall act as their allies wholeheartedly, as the occasion may indicate to them.

26. et proeliantibus non dabunt neque subministrabunt triticum, arma, argentum, naves, sicut placuit Romae; et custodient mandata eorum, nihil accipientes.

26. And to the enemy who makes war they shall not give or supply grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep their obligations without receiving any return.

27. Similiter autem et si genti Iudaeorum prius acciderit bellum, adiuvabunt Romani ex animo, prout eis tempus permiserit;

27. In the same way, if war comes first to the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall willingly act as their allies, as the occasion may indicate to them.

28. et adiuvantibus non dabitur triticum, arma, argentum, naves, sicut placuit Romae; et custodient mandata haec absque dolo.

28. And to the enemy allies shall be given no grain, arms, money, or ships, as Rome has decided; and they shall keep these obligations and do so without deceit.

29. Secundum haec verba ita constituerunt Romani populo Iudaeorum.

29. Thus on these terms the Romans make a treaty with the Jewish people.

30. Quod si post haec verba cogitaverint hi aut illi addere aut demere, facient ex proposito suo; et, quaecumque addiderint vel dempserint, rata erunt.

30. If after these terms are in effect both parties shall determine to add or delete anything, they shall do so at their discretion, and any addition or deletion that they may make shall be valid.

31. Et de malis, quae Demetrius rex fecit in eos, scripsimus ei dicentes: “Quare gravasti iugum tuum super amicos nostros, socios Iudaeos?

31. "And concerning the wrongs which King Demetrius is doing to them we have written to him as follows, `Why have you made your yoke heavy upon our friends and allies the Jews?

32. Si ergo iterum adierint nos adversum te, faciemus illis iudicium et pugnabimus tecum mari terraque””.

32. If now they appeal again for help against you, we will defend their rights and fight you on sea and on land.'"