Liber I Maccabaeorum, 8
1. et audivit Judas nomen Romanorum quia sunt potentes viribus et adquiescunt ad omnia quæ postulantur ab eis et quicumque accesserunt ad eos statuerunt cum eis amicitias et quia sunt potentes viribus
1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power.
2. audierunt prœlia eorum et virtutes bonas quas faciunt in Galatia quia obtinuerunt eos et duxerunt sub tributum
2. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts, which they had done in Galatia, how they conquered them, and brought them under tribute:
3. et quanta fecerunt in regione Hispaniæ et quod in potestate redegerunt metalla argenti et auri quæ illic sunt et possederunt omnem locum consilio suo et patientia
3. And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:
4. locos qui longe erant valde ab eis et reges qui supervenerant illis ab extremis terræ contriverunt et percusserunt eos plaga magna ceteri autem dant eis tributum omnibus annis
4. And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.
5. et Philippum et Persen Citiorum regem et ceteros qui adversus eos arma tulerunt contriverunt bello et obtinuerunt eos
5. And that they had defeated in battle Philip, and Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:
6. et Antiochum magnum regem Asiæ qui eis pugnam intulerat habens centum viginti elefantos et exercitum magnum valde contritum ab eis
6. And how Antiochus the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them:
7. et quia ceperunt eum vivum et statuerunt ei ut daret ipse et qui regnaverint post eum tributum magnum et daret obsides et constitutum
7. And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,
8. et regionem Medorum et Lydos et Medos de optimis regionibus eorum et acceptas eas ab illis dederunt Eumeni regi
8. And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken from them they gave to king Eumenes.
9. et quia qui erant apud Elladam voluerunt ire et tollere eos et innotuit sermo his
9. And that they who were in Greece had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,
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 muros eorum et in servitutem illos redegerunt usque in hunc diem
10. And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.
11. et residua regna et insulas quæ aliquando restiterant illis exterminaverunt et in potestatem redegerunt
11. And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.
12. cum amicis autem suis et qui in ipsis requiem habebant conservaverunt amicitiam et obtinuerunt regna quæ erant proxima et quæ longe quia quicumque audiebant nomen eorum timebant eos
12. But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.
13. quibus vero vellent auxilio esse ut regnarent regnabant et exaltati sunt valde
13. That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from a kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.
14. et in omnibus istis nemo portabat diadema nec induebatur purpura ut magnificaretur in ea
14. And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.
15. et quia curiam fecerunt sibi et cotidie consulebant trecentos viginti consilium agentes semper de multitudine ut quæ digna sunt gerant
15. And that they made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in council always for the people, that they might do the things that were right.
16. et committunt uni homini magistratum suum per singulos annos dominari universæ terræ suæ et omnes obœdiunt uni et non est invidia neque zelus inter eos
16. And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy, nor jealousy amongst them.
17. et elegit Judas Eupolemum filium Johannis filii Jacob et Jasonem filium Eleazari et misit eos Romam constituere cum illis amicitiam et societatem
17. So Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them.
18. et ut auferrent ab eis jugum Græcorum quia viderunt quod in servitutem premerent regnum Israël
18. And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.
19. et abierunt Romam viam multam valde et introjerunt curiam et dixerunt
19. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:
20. Judas Macchabeus et fratres ejus et populus Judæorum miserunt nos ad vos statuere vobiscum societatem et pacem et conscribi nos socios et amicos vestros
20. Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews have sent us to you, to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends.
21. et placuit sermo in conspectu eorum
21. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.
22. et hoc rescriptum quod rescripserunt in tabulis æreis et miserunt Hierusalem ut esset apud eos ibi memoriale pacis et societatis
22. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace and alliance.
23. bene sit Romanis et genti Judæorum in mari et in terra in æternum gladiusque et hostis procul sit ab eis
23. GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews, by sea and by land for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.
24. quod si institerit bellum Romanis prius aut omnibus sociis eorum in omni dominatione eorum
24. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:
25. auxilium feret gens Judæorum prout tempus dictaverit corde pleno
25. The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:
26. et prœliantibus non dabunt neque subministrabunt triticum arma pecuniam naves sicut placuit Romanis et custodient mandata eorum nihil ab eis accipientes
26. Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking any thing of them.
27. similiter autem et si genti Judæorum prius acciderit bellum adiuvabunt Romani ex animo prout eis tempus permiserit
27. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them.
28. et adiuvantibus non dabitur triticum arma pecunia naves sicut placuit Romanis et custodiant mandata eorum absque dolo
28. And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.
29. secundum hæc verba constituerunt Romani populo Judæorum
29. According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.
30. quod si post hæc verba hii aut illi addere vel demere ad hæc aliquid voluerint facient ex proposito suo et quæcumque addiderint vel dempserint rata erunt
30. And if after this one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away anything, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.
31. sed et de malis quæ Demetrius rex fecit in eos scripsimus ei dicentes quare gravasti jugum tuum super amicos nostros et socios Judæos
31. Moreover concerning the evils that Demetrius the king hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends, and allies, the Jews?
32. si ergo iterum adierint nos adversum te faciemus illis judicium et pugnabimus tecum mari terraque
32. If therefore they come again to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.
