Liber II Maccabaeorum, 6

1. sed non post multum temporis misit rex senem quendam antiochenum qui conpelleret Judæos ut se transferrent a patriis et Dei legibus

1. But not long after the king sent a certain old man of Antioch, to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and of God:

2. contaminare etiam quod in Hierosolymis erat templum et cognominare Jovis Olympii et in Garizin prout erant hii qui locum inhabitabant Jovis Hospitalis

2. And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that in Gazarim of Jupiter Hospitalis, according as they were that inhabited the place.

3. pessima autem universis et gravis malorum erat incursio

3. And very bad was this invasion of evils and grievous to all.

4. nam templum luxuria et comesationibus erat plenum et scortantium cum meretricibus sacratisque ædibus mulieres se ultro ingerebant intro ferentes ea quæ non licebat

4. For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of the Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And women thrust themselves of their accord into the holy places, and brought in things that were not lawful.

5. altare etiam plenum erat inlicitis quæ legibus prohibebantur

5. The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.

6. neque autem sabbata custodiebantur neque dies sollemnes patrii servabantur nec simpliciter se quisquam Judæum esse confitebatur

6. And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the fathers observed, neither did any man plainly profess himself to be a Jew.

7. ducebantur autem cum amara necessitate in die natalis regis ad sacrificia et cum Liberi sacra celebrarentur cogebantur hedera coronati Libero circumire

7. But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they wore compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus.

8. decretum autem exiit in proximas gentilium civitates suggerentibus Ptolomeis ut pari modo et ipsi adversus Judæos agerent ut sacrificarent

8. And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice:

9. eos autem qui nollent transire ad instituta gentilium interficerent erat ergo videre miseriam

9. And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen.

10. duæ enim mulieres delatæ sunt natos suos circumcidisse quas infantibus ad ubera suspensis cum publice per civitatem circumduxissent per muros præcipitaverunt

10. For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: whom, when they had openly led about through the city with the infants hanging at their breasts, they threw down headlong from the walls.

11. alii vero ad proximas cœuntes speluncas et latenter sabbati diem celebrantes cum indicati essent Philippo flammis succensi sunt eo quod verebantur propter religionem et observantiam manu sibimet auxilium ferre

11. And others that had met together in caves that were near, and were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day.

12. obsecro autem eos qui hunc librum lecturi sunt ne abhorrescant propter adversos casus sed reputent ea quæ acciderunt non ad interitum sed ad correptionem generis esse nostri

12. Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of our nation.

13. etenim multo tempore non sinere peccatoribus ex sententia agere sed statim ultiones adhibere magni beneficii est indicium

13. For it is a token of great goodness when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently punished.

14. non enim sicut in aliis nationibus Dominus patienter expectat ut eas cum judicii dies venerit in plenitudine peccatorum puniat

14. For, not as with other nations (whom the Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them in the fulness of their sins:)

15. ita et in nobis statuit ut peccatis nostris in finem devolutis ita demum in nos vindicet

15. Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins to come to their height, and then take vengeance on us.

16. propter quod numquam quidem a nobis misericordiam suam amovet corripiens vero in adversis populum suum non derelinquit

16. And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though he chastise his people with adversity, he forsaketh them not.

17. sed hæc nobis ad commonitionem legentium dicta sint paucis jam autem veniendum est ad narrationem

17. But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. And now we must come to the narration.

18. igitur Eleazarus de primoribus scribarum vir ætate provectus et vultu decorus aperto ore hians conpellebatur carnem porcinam manducare

18. Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.

19. at ille gloriosam mortem magis quam odibilem vitam amplectens voluntarie præibat ad supplicium

19. But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went forward voluntarily to the torment.

20. intuens autem quemadmodum oportet accedere patienter sustinens destinavit non admittere inlicita propter vitæ amorem

20. And considering in what manner he was come to ii;, patiently bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.

21. hii autem qui adstabant iniqua miseratione commoti propter antiquam viri amicitiam tollentes eum secreto rogabant adferri carnes quibus vesci ei licebat et simularetur manducasse sicut rex imperaverat de sacrificii carnibus

21. But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice:

22. ut hoc facto a morte liberaretur et propter veterem amicitiam hanc in eo facerent humanitatem

22. That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.

23. at ille cogitationem cepit ætatis ac senectutis suæ eminentiam dignam et ingenuitatem nobilitatis canitiem atque a puero optimæ conversationis et secundum sanctæ et a Deo conditæ legis constituta respondit cito dicens præmitti se velle in infernum

23. But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other world.

24. non enim ætatem nostram dignum est inquit fingere ut multi adulescentium arbitrati Eleazarum nonaginta annorum transisse ad vitam alienigenarum

24. For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens:

25. et ipsi propter meam simulationem et propter modicum corruptibilis vitæ tempus decipiantur et per hoc maculam atque execrationem meæ senectuti conquiram

25. And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible life, should be deceived, end hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon my old age.

26. nam et si in præsenti tempore suppliciis hominum eripiar sed manus Omnipotentis neque vivens neque defunctus effugiam

26. For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead.

27. quam ob rem fortiter vitam excedendo senectute quidem dignus apparebo

27. Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself worthy of my old age:

28. adulescentibus autem exemplum forte relinquam si prompto animo ac fortiter pro gravissimis et sanctissimis legibus honesta morte perfungar his dictis confestim ad supplicium trahebatur

28. And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.

29. hii autem qui eum ducebant et paulo ante fuerant mitiores in iram versi sunt propter sermones ab eo dictos quos illi per arrogantiam prolatos arbitrabantur

29. And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out of arrogancy.

30. sed cum plagis perimeretur ingemuit et dixit Domine qui habes sanctam scientiam manifeste scis tu quia cum a morte possim liberari duros corporis sustineo dolores secundum animam vero propter timorem tuum libenter hæc patior

30. But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned, and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grevious pains in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things be- cause I fear thee.

31. et iste quidem hoc modo vita decessit non solum juvenibus sed et universæ genti memoriam mortis suæ ad exemplum virtutis et fortitudinis derelinquens

31. Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation, the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.