And king Antiochus the son of Demetrius sent letters from the isles of the sea to Simon the priest, and prince of the nation of the Jews, and to all the people:

Et misit rex Antiochus filius Demetrii epistolas ab insulis maris Simoni sacerdoti, et principi gentis Judæorum, et universæ genti:

Now turn we to Demetrius’ other son, Antiochus. He it was directed a letter, from the islands over sea, to Simon, high priest and ruler of the Jews, and to the whole nation;

And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon the high priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting.

et erant continentes hunc modum: Rex Antiochus Simoni sacerdoti magno, et genti Judæorum salutem.

and this was the tenour of it. King Antiochus, to the high priest Simon and to the people of the Jews, greeting.

Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the kingdom, and to restore it to its former estate: and I have chosen a great army, and have built ships of war.

Quoniam quidem pestilentes obtinuerunt regnum patrum nostrorum, volo autem vendicare regnum, et restituere illud sicut erat antea: et electam feci multitudinem exercitus, et feci naves bellicas.

Here is the kingdom of my fathers overrun by ill folk; I mean to challenge them, and bring back the old ways. To this end, I have made a great levy of mercenaries, and built ships of war;

And I design to go through the country that I may take revenge of them that have destroyed our country, and that have made many cities desolate in my realm.

Volo autem procedere per regionem ut ulciscar in eos, qui corruperunt regionem nostram, et qui desolaverunt civitates multas in regno meo.

passage I needs must have through yonder territory, ere I can take vengeance for lands of mine ravaged, cities of mine laid waste.

Now therefore I confirm unto thee all the oblations which all the kings before me remitted to thee, and what other gifts soever they remitted to thee:

Nunc ergo statuo tibi omnes oblationes, quas remiserunt tibi ante me omnes reges, et quæcumque alia dona remiserunt tibi:

This grant, then, I make thee; exemption, such as thou hadst, in the name of former kings, from public offerings and all other payment due to me;

And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy country:

et permitto tibi facere percussuram proprii numismatis in regione tua:

the right of minting money within thy own borders;

And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the armour that hath been made, and the fortresses which thou hast built, and which thou keepest in thy hands, let them remain to thee.

Jerusalem autem sanctam esse, et liberam: et omnia arma, quæ fabricata sunt, et præsidia, quæ construxisti, quæ tenes, maneant tibi.

for Jerusalem, enjoyment of her sacred liberties; of weapons thou hast made, strongholds thou hast built, the undisturbed possession.

And all that is due to the king, and what should be the king’s hereafter, from this present and for ever, is forgiven thee.

Et omne debitum regis, et quæ futura sunt regi, ex hoc et in totum tempus remittuntur tibi.

Never a claim the king has, or shall have hereafter, on his subjects, but to thee it is remitted;

And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we will glorify thee, and thy nation, and the temple with great glory, so that your glory shall be made manifest in all the earth.

Cum autem obtinuerimus regnum nostrum, glorificabimus te, et gentem tuam, et templum, gloria magna, ita ut manifestetur gloria vestra in universa terra.

and, when the kingdom is ours, such honours we will bestow as shall make thee, and thy race, and its sanctuary, renowned all the world over.

In the year one hundred and seventy-four Antiochus entered into the land of his fathers, and all the forces assembled to him, so that few were left with Tryphon.

Anno centesimo septuagesimo quarto exiit Antiochus in terram patrum suorum, et convenerunt ad eum omnes exercitus, ita ut pauci relicti essent cum Tryphone.

So, in the hundred and seventy-fourth year, Antiochus returned to his native country, and the armies rallied to him, until Tryphon had but a small following left;

And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled along by the sea coast and came to Dora.

Et insecutus est eum Antiochus rex, et venit Doram fugiens per maritimam:

all down the sea-coast he fled, with Antiochus at his heels, till he reached Dora;

For he perceived that evils were gathered together upon him, and his troops had forsaken him.

sciebat enim quod congregata sunt mala in eum, et reliquit eum exercitus:

and ever he saw the toils closing round him, now his troops had played him false.

And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and twenty thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen:

et applicuit Antiochus super Doram cum centum viginti millibus virorum belligeratorum, et octo millibus equitum:

With a hundred and twenty thousand foot, and eight thousand horse, Antiochus came to the gates of Dora

And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by sea: and they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and suffered none to come in, or to go out.

et circuivit civitatem, et naves a mari accesserunt: et vexabant civitatem a terra et mari, et neminem sinebant ingredi vel egredi.

and began the siege of it; his ships, too, blockaded the coast, so that it was cut off by land and sea alike; enter it none might, nor leave it …

And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came from the city of Rome, having letters written to the kings, and countries, the contents whereof were these:

Venit autem Numenius, et qui cum eo fuerant, ab urbe Roma, habentes epistolas regibus et regionibus scriptas, in quibus continebantur hæc:

And now here were Numenius and his fellow envoys come back from Rome, with a copy of despatches sent out to kings and nations everywhere, and this was the tenour of them.

Lucius the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee, greeting.

Lucius consul Romanorum, Ptolemæo regi salutem.

Lucius, the Roman consul, to king Ptolemy, greeting.

The ambassadors of the Jews our friends came to us, to renew the former friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon the high priest, and the people of the Jews.

Legati Judæorum venerunt ad nos amici nostri, renovantes pristinam amicitiam et societatem, missi a Simone principe sacerdotum et populo Judæorum.

Envoys we have but now received in audience from a friendly country, to wit, Judaea; the people of the Jews, with their high priest Simon, had sent to renew their old treaty of alliance with us,

And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand pounds.

Attulerunt autem et clypeum aureum mnarum mille.

and had made us a present besides, a golden target of a thousand minas weight.

It hath seemed good therefore to us to write to the kings, and countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, their cities, or countries: and that they should give no aid to them that fight against them.

Placuit itaque nobis scribere regibus et regionibus, ut non inferant illis mala, neque impugnent eos, et civitates eorum, et regiones eorum: et ut non ferant auxilium pugnantibus adversus eos.

Agreed we then to warn kings and nations everywhere, they should not hurt or assault the Jewish people, its cities and country-side, nor comfort its enemies;

And it hath seemed good to us to receive the shield of them.

Visum autem est nobis accipere ab eis clypeum.

and for the target of gold, our pleasure was to accept the gift of it.

If therefore any pestilent men are fled out of their country to you, deliver them to Simon the high priest, that he may punish them according to their law.

Si qui ergo pestilentes refugerunt de regione ipsorum ad vos, tradite eos Simoni principi sacerdotum, ut vindicet in eos secundum legem suam.

If then there be malcontents from Judaea sheltering among you, our bidding is you should hand them over to the high priest Simon, for such punishment as the Jewish law prescribes.

These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces,

Hæc eadem scripta sunt Demetrio regi, et Attalo, et Ariarathi, et Arsaci,

Copies of this decree have been sent to Demetrius, Attalus, Ariarathes and Arsaces,

And to all the countries; and to Lampsacus, and to the Spartans, and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samus, and Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and Cyrene.

et in omnes regiones: et Lampsaco, et Spartiatis, et in Delum, et in Myndum, et in Sicyonem, et in Cariam, et in Samum, et in Pamphyliam, et in Lyciam, et in Alicarnassum, et in Coo, et in Siden, et in Aradon, et in Rhodum, et in Phaselidem, et in Gortynam, et Gnidum, et Cyprum, et Cyrenen.

and to these countries following: Lampsacus, Sparta, Delos, Myndos, Sicyon, Caria, Samos, Pamphylia, Lycia, Halicarnassus, Coös, Side, Arados, Rhodes, Phaselis, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus and Cyrene.

And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon the high priest, and to the people of the Jews.

Exemplum autem eorum scripserunt Simoni principi sacerdotum, et populo Judæorum.

A further copy has been sent to the high priest Simon and to the Jewish people …

But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second time, assaulting it continually, and making engines: and he shut up Tryphon, that he could not go out.

Antiochus autem rex applicuit castra in Doram secundo, admovens ei semper manus, et machinas faciens: et conclusit Tryphonem, ne procederet:

Once again king Antiochus laid siege to Dora, bringing fresh force to bear, and devising fresh engines; and ever he kept Tryphon hemmed in, so that escape was none.

And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid him, silver also, and gold, and abundance of furniture.

et misit ad eum Simon duo millia virorum electorum in auxilium, et argentum, et aurum, et vasa copiosa:

Thereupon Simon despatched two thousand picked men to aid in the siege, with silver and gold and a deal of tackle besides;

And he would not receive them, but broke all the covenant that he had made with him before, and alienated himself from him.

et noluit ea accipere, sed rupit omnia, quæ pactus est cum eo antea, et alienavit se ab eo.

but accept them the king would not; all his promises were forgot, and Simon a stranger now.

And he sent to him Athenobius one of his friends, to treat with him, saying: You hold Joppe, and Gazara, and the castle that is in Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom:

Et misit ad eum Athenobium unum de amicis suis, ut tractaret cum ipso, dicens: Vos tenetis Joppen, et Gazaram, et arcem, quæ est in Jerusalem, civitates regni mei:

Athenobius it was, one of the king’s friends, that came to treat with him, and this was the message he bore: Cities of mine you hold, Joppe, and Gazara, and Jerusalem citadel;

Their borders you have wasted, and you have made great havock in the land, and have got the dominion of many places in my kingdom.

fines earum desolastis, et fecistis plagam magnam in terra, et dominati estis per loca multa in regno meo.

lands about them you have laid waste, and done Syria much mischief besides, encroaching everywhere on my domain.

Now therefore deliver up the cities that you have taken, and the tributes of the places whereof you have gotten the dominion without the borders of Judea.

Nunc ergo tradite civitates quas occupastis, et tributa locorum in quibus dominati estis extra fines Judææ:

Needs must you should hand over cities you have occupied, revenues of Gentile lands you have detained,

But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and for the havock that you have made, and the tributes of the cities other five hundred talents: or else we will come and fight against you.

sin autem, date pro illis quingenta talenta argenti, et exterminii, quod exterminastis, et tributorum civitatum alia talenta quingenta: sin autem, veniemus, et expugnabimus vos.

or else five hundred talents of silver in exchange, and five hundred more to compensate for damage done and revenue lost; if not, we will come and overpower you by force of arms.

So Athenobius the king’s friend came to Jerusalem, and saw the glory of Simon and his magnificence in gold, and silver, and his great equipage, and he was astonished, and told him the king’s words.

Et venit Athenobius amicus regis in Jerusalem, et vidit gloriam Simonis, et claritatem in auro, et argento, et apparatum copiosum: et obstupuit, et retulit ei verba regis.

So came Athenobius, the king’s friend, to Jerusalem, where he saw what state Simon kept, much display of gold and silver, and a great throng of attendants, till he was dazzled at the sight. Yet delivered he his errand;

And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have neither taken other men’s land, neither do we hold that which is other men’s: but the inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed by our enemies.

Et respondit ei Simon, et dixit ei: Neque alienam terram sumpsimus, neque aliena detinemus: sed hæreditatem patrum nostrorum, quæ injuste ab inimicis nostris aliquo tempore possessa est.

to which Simon made this answer: Other men’s fief seized we never, nor other men’s rights detain; here be lands that were our fathers’ once, by enemies of ours for some while wrongfully held;

But we having opportunity claim the inheritance of our fathers.

Nos vero tempus habentes, vindicamus hæreditatem patrum nostrorum.

opportunity given us, should we not claim the patrimony we had lost?

And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and Gazara, they did great harm to the people, and to our country: yet for these we will give a hundred talents. And Athenobius answered him not a word:

Nam de Joppe et Gazara quæ expostulas, ipsi faciebant in populo plagam magnam, et in regione nostra: horum damus talenta centum. Et non respondit ei Athenobius verbum.

As for thy talk of Joppe and Gazara, these were cities did much mischief to people and land of ours; for the worth of them, thou shalt have a hundred talents if thou wilt. Never a word said Athenobius,

But returning in a rage to the king, made report to him of these words, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen, and the king was exceeding angry.

Reversus autem cum ira ad regem, renuntiavit ei verba ista, et gloriam Simonis, et universa quæ vidit, et iratus est rex ira magna.

but went back to the king very ill pleased, and told him what answer was given; of Simon’s court, too, and of all else he had seen.Antiochus was in a great taking of anger;

And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias.

Tryphon autem fugit navi in Orthosiada.

here was Tryphon newly escaped by ship to Orthosias!

And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and gave him an army of footmen and horsemen.

Et constituit rex Cendebæum ducem maritimum, et exercitum peditum et equitum dedit illi.

He must needs leave the sea-coast in charge of Cendebaeus, with a strong command both of horse and foot,

And he commanded him to march with his army towards Judea: and he commanded him to build up Gedor, and to fortify the gates of the city, and to war against the people. But the king himself pursued after Tryphon.

Et mandavit illi movere castra contra faciem Judææ: et mandavit ei ædificare Gedorem, et obstruere portas civitatis, et debellare populum. Rex autem persequebatur Typhonem.

while himself gave Tryphon chase. This Cendebaeus had orders to advance and threaten Judaea; Gedor he should fortify, and there make himself fast, the better to levy war on Juda.

And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, and to ravage Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and to kill, and to build Gedor.

Et pervenit Cendebæus Jamniam, et cœpit irritare plebem, et conculcare Judæam, et captivare populum, et interficere, et ædificare Gedorem.

So he marched away to Jamnia, and set about harassing the Jews; now it was an inroad, with prisoners carried away, now a massacre; and all the while he was fortifying Gedor.

And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that they might issue forth, and make incursions upon the ways of Judea, as the king had commanded him.

Et collocavit illic equites et exercitum, ut egressi perambularent viam Judææ, sicut constituit ei rex.

Cavalry he quartered there, and other troops besides, to sally out and patrol the roads into Judaea; the king would have it so.