Liber II Maccabaeorum, 5

1. eodem tempore Antiochus secundam profectionem paravit in Ægyptum

1. At the same time Antiochus prepared for a second journey into Egypt.

2. contigit autem per universam Hierosolymorum civitatem videri diebus quadraginta per æra equites discurrentes auratas stolas habentes et hastis quasi cohortes armatas

2. And it came to pass that through the whole city of Jerusalem for the space of forty days there were seen horsemen running in the air, in gilded raiment, and armed with spears, like bands of soldiers.

3. et cursus equorum per ordines digestos et congressiones fieri comminus et scutorum motus et galeatorum multitudinem gladiis destrictis et telorum jactus et aureorum armorum splendorem omnisque generis loricarum

3. And horses set in order by ranks, running one against another, with the shakings of shields, and a multitude of men in helmets, with drawn swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden armour, and of harnesses of all sorts.

4. quapropter omnes rogabant in bonum monstra converti

4. Wherefore all men prayed that these prodigies might turn to good.

5. sed cum falsus rumor exisset tamquam vita excessisset Antiochus adsumptis Jason non minus mille viris repente adgressus est civitatem et civibus ad murum convolantibus ad ultimum adprehensa civitate Menelaus fugit in arcem

5. Now when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though Antiochus had been dead, Jason taking with him no fewer than a thousand men, suddenly assaulted the city: and though the citizens ran together to the wall, the city at length was taken, and Menelaus fled into the castle.

6. Jason vero non parcebat in cæde civibus suis nec cogitabat prosperitatem adversus cognatos malum esse maximum arbitrans hostium et non civium se tropea capturum

6. But Jason slew his countrymen without mercy, not considering that prosperity against one's own kindred is a very great evil, thinking they had been enemies, and not citizens, whom he conquered.

7. et principatum quidem non obtinuit finem vero insidiarum suarum confusione cepit et profugus iterum abiit in Ammaniten

7. Yet he did not gee the principality, but received confusion at tile end, for the reward of his treachery, and fled again into the country of the Ammonites.

8. ad ultimum in exitum sui conclusus ab Areta Arabum tyrannum fugiens de civitate in civitatem omnibus odiosus ut refuga legum et execrabilis ut patriæ et civium hostis in Ægyptum extrusus est

8. At the last having been shut up by Aretas the king of the Arabians, in order for his destruction, flying from city to city, hated by all men, as a forsaker of the laws, and execrable, as an enemy of his country and countrymen, he was thrust out into Egypt:

9. et qui multos de patria expulerat peregre periit Lacedemonas profectus quasi pro cognatione ibi refugium habiturus

9. And he that had driven many out of their country, perished in a strange land, going to Lacedemon, as if for kindred sake he should have refuge there:

10. et qui insepultos abiecerat multos ipse et inlamentatus et insepultus abicitur sepultura neque peregrina usus neque patrio sepulchro participans

10. But he that had cast out many unburied, was himself cast forth both unlamented and unburied, neither having foreign burial, nor being partaker of the sepulchre of his fathers.

11. his ita gestis suspicatus est rex societatem deserturos Judæos et ob hoc profectus ex Ægypto efferatis animis civitatem quidem armis cepit

11. Now when these things were done, the king suspected that the Jews would forsake the alliance: whereupon departing out of Egypt with a furious mind, he took the city by force of arms.

12. jussit autem militibus interficere nec parcere occursantibus et per domos ascendentes trucidare

12. And commanded the soldiers to kill, and not to spare any that came in their way, and to go up into the houses slay.

13. fiebant ergo cædes juvenum ac seniorum mulierum et natorum exterminia virginumque et parvulorum neces

13. Thus there was a slaughter of young and old, a destruction of women children, and killing of virgins and infants.

14. erant autem toto triduo octoginta milia interfecti quadraginta milia vincti

14. And there were slain in the space o three whole days fourscore thousand, forty thousand were made prisoners, and as many sold.

15. sed nec ista sufficiunt ausus est intrare templum universa terra sanctius Menelao ductore qui legum et patriæ fuit proditor

15. But this was not enough; he presumed also to enter into the temple, the most holy in all the world, Menelaus, that traitor to the laws, and to his country, being his guide.

16. et scelestis manibus sumens sancta vasa quæ ab aliis regibus et civitatibus erant posita ad ornatum loci et gloriam contrectabat indigne et contaminabat

16. And taking in his wicked hands the holy vessels, which were given by other kings and cities, for the ornament and the glory of the place, he unworthily handled and profaned them.

17. ita alienatus mente Antiochus non considerabat quod propter peccata habitantium civitatem modicum Dominus fuerat iratus propter quod et accidit circa locum despectio

17. Thus Antiochus going astray in mind, did not consider that God was angry for a while, because of the sins of the habitants of the city: and therefore contempt had happened to the place:

18. alioquin nisi contigisset eos multis peccatis esse involutos sicut Heliodorus qui missus est a Seleuco rege ad expoliandum ærarium etiam hic statim adveniens flagellatus et repulsus utique fuisset ab audacia

18. Otherwise had they not been involved in many sins, as Heliodorus, who was sent by king Seleucus to rob treasury, so this man also, as soon as had come, had been forthwith scourged, and put back from his presumption.

19. verum non propter locum gentem sed propter gentem locum Dominus elegit

19. But God did not choose the people for the place's sake, but the place for the people's sake.

20. ideoque et ipse locus particeps factus est populi malorum postea autem fiet socius et bonorum et qui derelictus in ira Dei omnipotentis iterum in magni Domini reconciliatione cum summa gloria exaltabitur

20. And therefore the place also itself was made partaker of the evils of the people: but afterward shall communicate in the good things thereof, and as it was forsaken in the wrath of almighty God, shall be exalted again with great glory, when the great Lord shall be reconciled.

21. igitur Antiochus mille et octingentis ablatis de templo talentis velociter Antiochiam regressus est existimans se præ superbia terram ad navigandum pelagus vero ad iter agendum deducturum propter mentis elationem

21. So when Antiochus had taken away out of the temple a thousand and eight hundred talents, he went back in all haste to Antioch, thinking through pride, that he might now make the land navigable, and the sea passable on foot: such was the haughtiness of his mind.

22. reliquit autem et præpositos ad adfligendam gentem Hierosolymis quidem Philippum genere Frigem moribus crudeliorem eo ipso a quo constitutus est

22. He left also governors to afflict the people: at Jerusalem, Philip, a Phrygian by birth, but in manners more barbarous than he that set him there:

23. in Garizin autem Andronicum et Menelaum qui gravius quam ceteri inminebant civibus

23. And in Gazarim, Andronicus and Menelaus, who bore a more heavy hand upon the citizens than the rest.

24. cumque adpositus esset contra Judæos misit odiosum principem Apollonium cum exercitu viginti et duobus milibus præcipiens ei omnes perfectæ ætatis interficere mulieres ac juvenes vendere

24. And whereas he was set against the Jews, he sent that hateful prince Apollonius with an army of two and twenty thousand men, commanding him to kill all that were of perfect age, and to sell the women and the younger sort.

25. qui cum venisset Hierosolymam pacem simulans quievit usque ad sanctum diem sabbati et tunc feriatis Judæis arma capere suis præcepit

25. Who when he was come to Jerusalem, pretending peace, rested till the holy day of the sabbath: and then the Jews keeping holiday, he commanded his men to take arms.

26. omnesque qui ad spectaculum processerant trucidavit et civitatem cum armatis discurrens ingentem multitudinem peremit

26. And he slew all that were come forth to see: and running through the city with armed men, he destroyed a very great multitude.

27. Judas autem Macchabeus qui decimus fuerat secesserat in desertum locum ibique inter feras vitam in montibus cum suis agebat et fæni cibo vescentes demorabantur ne participes essent coinquinationis

27. But Judas Machabeus, who was the tenth, had withdrawn himself into a desert place, and there lived amongst wild beasts in the mountains with his company: and they continued feeding on herbs, that they might not be partakers of the pollution.