Et rex Antiochus perambulabat superiores regiones, et audivit esse civitatem Elymaidem in Perside nobilissimam, et copiosam in argento et auro,

Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold.

King Antiochus was still on his journey through the high countries, when he heard tell of a city in Persia called Elymais, renowned for its treasures of silver and gold;

templumque in ea locuples valde, et illic velamina aurea, et loricæ, et scuta, quæ reliquit Alexander Philippi rex Macedo, qui regnavit primus in Græcia.

And that there was in it a temple, exceeding rich: and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields which king Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian that reigned first in Greece, had left there.

here was a temple of great magnificence, that had golden armour in it, breastplate and shield left there by Philip’s son, Alexander of Macedon, the first overlord of Greece.

Et venit, et quærebat capere civitatem, et deprædari eam: et non potuit, quoniam innotuit sermo his qui erant in civitate:

Lo, he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it: but he was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the city.

Thither he marched, intent on seizing the city and plundering it; but seize it he might not, because the townsfolk had news of his purpose,

et insurrexerunt in prælium, et fugit inde, et abiit cum tristitia magna, et reversus est in Babyloniam.

And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia.

and came out to offer battle. So he was put to the rout, and must take himself back to Babylon, grievously disappointed.

Et venit qui nuntiaret ei in Perside, quia fugata sunt castra quæ erant in terra Juda:

And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that told him, how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight:

And here, in the Persian country, a messenger reached him with tidings from Juda. Fled were his armies,

et quia abiit Lysias cum virtute forti in primis, et fugatus est a facie Judæorum, et invaluerunt armis, et viribus, et spoliis multis, quæ ceperunt de castris, quæ exciderunt:

And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that they were grown strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed:

and Lysias, that erstwhile marched out with so brave a retinue, had left the Jews masters of the field. Now they were strong and well-armed, such spoil they had taken from the armies they overthrew;

et quia diruerunt abominationem, quam ædificaverat super altare quod erat in Jerusalem: et sanctificationem, sicut prius, circumdederunt muris excelsis, sed et Bethsuram civitatem suam.

And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also his city.

gone was that defiling image he had set up over the altar at Jerusalem; high walls, as of old, protected the sanctuary; nay, they had made shift to fortify his own stronghold of Bethsura.

Et factum est ut audivit rex sermones istos, expavit, et commotus est valde: et decidit in lectum, et incidit in languorem præ tristitia, quia non factum est ei sicut cogitabat.

And it came to pass when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined.

What news was this! The king was all bewilderment and consternation; he took to his bed, fallen into a decline for very sadness that his hopes had failed him.

Et erat illic per dies multos, quia renovata est in eo tristitia magna, et arbitratus est se mori.

And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and more upon him, and he made account that he should die.

Long time he languished under the double burden of his grief, and knew at last he was a-dying.

Et vocavit omnes amicos suos, et dixit illis: Recessit somnus ab oculis meis, et concidi, et corrui corde præ sollicitudine:

And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for anxiety.

So he called his friends about him, and bade them farewell; Here is sleep quite gone from me, said he; so dazed is this heart of mine with doubt unresolved.

et dixi in corde meo: In quantam tribulationem deveni, et in quos fluctus tristitiæ, in qua nunc sum: qui jucundus eram, et dilectus in potestate mea!

And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and into what floods of sorrow, wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my power!

Thus runs my thought: How comes it that I have fallen upon such evil times, such a flood of calamity as now engulfs me; I, that in the days of my greatness loved men well, and was well beloved?

Nunc vero reminiscor malorum quæ feci in Jerusalem, unde et abstuli omnia spolia aurea et argentea quæ erant in ea, et misi auferre habitantes Judæam sine causa.

But now I remember the evils that I have done in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause.

And now returns the memory of all the havoc I made in Jerusalem, spoil of gold and silver I robbed from it, doom of mine against the townsfolk, and for no fault.

Cognovi ergo quia propterea invenerunt me mala ista: et ecce pereo tristitia magna in terra aliena.

I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land.

Past all doubt, here is the source of all those miseries that have come upon me; look you, how I die consumed of grief, in a strange land!

Et vocavit Philippum, unum de amicis suis, et præposuit eum super universum regnum suum:

Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent over all his kingdom.

Then he sent for Philip, one of his trusted friends, and gave all the kingdom into his charge;

et dedit ei diadema, et stolam suam, et annulum, ut adduceret Antiochum filium suum, et nutriret eum, et regnaret.

And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his ring, that he should go to Antiochus his son, and should bring him up for the kingdom.

crown and robe and ring he delivered to him, bidding him seek out prince Antiochus, and bring him up as heir to the throne.

Et mortuus est illic Antiochus rex anno centesimo quadragesimo nono.

So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and forty-nine.

Then and there died king Antiochus, in the hundred and forty-ninth year of the Grecian empire.

Et cognovit Lysias quoniam mortuus est rex, et constituit regnare Antiochum filium ejus, quem nutrivit adolescentem: et vocavit nomen ejus Eupator.

And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he brought up young: and he called his name Eupator.

And Lysias, hearing of his death, crowned this same prince Antiochus, that he had brought up from boyhood, giving him the name of Eupator.

Et hi qui erant in arce, concluserant Israël in circuitu sanctorum: et quærebant eis mala semper, et firmamentum gentium.

Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the Israelites round about the holy places: and they were continually seeking their hurt, and to strengthen the Gentiles.

Meanwhile, what of the Jews that dwelt about the holy place? Here was the garrison of the citadel hemming them in, seeking ever to do them injury, and to sustain the Gentile cause.

Et cogitavit Judas disperdere eos: et convocavit universum populum, ut obsiderent eos.

And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all the people, to besiege them.

So Judas was fain to make an end of it, and summoned the whole people to rally for the siege.

Et convenerunt simul, et obsederunt eos anno centesimo quinquagesimo, et fecerunt ballistas et machinas.

And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines.

Rally they did, and began the siege in the hundred and fiftieth year, with much contriving of catapults and engines.

Et exierunt quidam ex eis qui obsidebantur: et adjunxerunt se illis aliqui impii ex Israël,

And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them.

But some of the defenders slipped out; and these, with traitors of Israelite stock to support them,

et abierunt ad regem, et dixerunt: Quousque non facis judicium, et vindicas fratres nostros?

And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute the judgment, and to revenge our brethren?

went off to gain the king’s audience. Wilt thou never bring redress, they asked, and do our brethren right?

Nos decrevimus servire patri tuo, et ambulare in præceptis ejus, et obsequi edictis ejus:

We determined to serve thy father and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts:

Jews are we, that resolved we would be loyal to thy father, his policy furthering, his will obeying.

et filii populi nostri propter hoc alienabant se a nobis, et quicumque inveniebantur ex nobis, interficiebantur, et hæreditates nostræ diripiebantur.

And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances.

What came of it? Our own fellow Israelites would have no more of our company, slew all they could lay hands on, robbed us of our possessions.

Et non ad nos tantum extenderunt manum, sed et in omnes fines nostros:

Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders.

Not us only, but all the country about them, their violence threatens;

et ecce applicuerunt hodie ad arcem Jerusalem occupare eam, et munitionem Bethsuram munierunt:

And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the strong hold of Bethsura:

even now they stand arrayed against the citadel of Jerusalem, ready to take it by storm, and have fortified Bethsura.

et nisi præveneris eos velocius, majora quam hæc facient, et non poteris obtinere eos.

And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.

Forestall their plans thou must, and speedily, or they will go further yet, and there will be no holding them.

Et iratus est rex, ut hæc audivit: et convocavit omnes amicos suos, et principes exercitus sui, et eos qui super equites erant:

Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen.

Angered by these tidings, the king sent for all his trusted friends, for his army captains and his commanders of horse;

sed et de regnis aliis et de insulis maritimis venerunt ad eum exercitus conductitii.

There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea hired troops.

mercenaries, too, were hired from foreign countries, and from the islands out at sea,

Et erat numerus exercitus ejus, centum millia peditum, et viginti millia equitum, et elephanti triginta duo, docti ad prælium.

And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants, trained to battle.

till he could put a hundred thousand foot and twenty thousand horse into the field, besides thirty-two elephants, inured to war.

Et venerunt per Idumæam, et applicuerunt ad Bethsuram, et pugnaverunt dies multos: et fecerunt machinas, et exierunt, et succenderunt eas igni, et pugnaverunt viriliter.

And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth and burnt them with fire, and fought manfully.

Through Edom they marched, and invested Bethsura; long they held it besieged, and built engines to attack it, but these, by a brave sally, the defenders burned to ashes.

Et recessit Judas ab arce, et movit castra ad Bethzacharam contra castra regis.

And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king’s camp.

Meanwhile, Judas drew away from the citadel, and encamped at Bethzacharam, close to the king’s army.

Et surrexit rex ante lucem, et concitavit exercitus in impetum contra viam Bethzacharam: et comparaverunt se exercitus in prælium, et tubis cecinerunt:

And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam: and the armies made themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets:

Ere dawn broke, the king was astir, and his men marching hot-foot towards Bethzacharam, where the armies made ready for battle, with a great blowing of trumpets.

et elephantis ostenderunt sanguinem uvæ et mori, ad acuendos eos in prælium:

And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes, and mulberries to provoke them to fight.

As for the elephants, they were blooded to battle with juice of grape and mulberry,

et diviserunt bestias per legiones, et astiterunt singulis elephantis mille viri in loricis concatenatis, et galeæ æreæ in capitibus eorum: et quingenti equites ordinati unicuique bestiæ electi erant.

And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and there stood by every elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were chosen for every beast.

and so divided here and there among the troops. A thousand foot-soldiers were assigned to each, in coat of mail and helmet of bronze; with each went five hundred picked horsemen;

Hi ante tempus, ubicumque erat bestia, ibi erant: et quocumque ibat, ibant, et non discedebant ab ea.

These before the time wheresoever the beast was, they were there: and whithersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it.

these were waiting ready for every beast at its station, and must go wherever it went, never leaving its side.

Sed et turres ligneæ super eos firmæ protegentes super singulas bestias: et super eas machinæ: et super singulas viri virtutis triginta duo, qui pugnabant desuper: et Indus magister bestiæ.

And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers, which covered every one of them: and engines upon them: and upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from above; and an Indian to rule the beast.

On the back of every beast was a strong protecting tower of wood, cunningly fitted; and thirty-two valiant men were appointed to do battle from this height, over and above the Indian that was the beast’s driver.

Et residuum equitatum hinc et inde statuit in duas partes, tubis exercitum commovere, et perurgere constipatos in legionibus ejus.

And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side and on that side at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof.

The remainder of the cavalry were stationed on either wing, to daunt the oncoming host with a clamour of trumpets, and harass them as they stood tight packed in their ranks.

Et ut refulsit sol in clypeos aureos et æreos, resplenduerunt montes ab eis, et resplenduerunt sicut lampades ignis.

Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire.

Brightly the sun shone down on shield of gold, shield of bronze, till all the mountain-side gave back the glancing rays of them, and dazzled like points of fire.

Et distincta est pars exercitus regis per montes excelsos, et alia per loca humilia: et ibant caute et ordinate.

And part of the king’s army was distinguished by the high mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on warily and orderly.

Part of the king’s army was drawn up on the heights, part on the level plain; warily they came on and in good order;

Et commovebantur omnes inhabitantes terram a voce multitudinis, et incessu turbæ, et collisione armorum: erat enim exercitus magnus valde, et fortis.

And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong.

and ever, as they went, murmur of voices, tramp of feet, and clash of arms daunted the country-side around them, so great yonder army was, and so valiant.

Et appropiavit Judas et exercitus ejus in prælium, et ceciderunt de exercitu regis sexcenti viri.

And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of the king’s army six hundred men.

But Judas and his men closed with them, and gave battle; and of the king’s soldiers, there were six hundred that fell.

Et vidit Eleazar filius Saura unam de bestiis loricatam loricis regis: et erat eminens super ceteras bestias, et visum est ei quod in ea esset rex:

And Eleazar the son of Saura saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king’s harness: and it was higher than the other beasts: and it seemed to him that the king was on it:

What did Eleazar that day, the son of Sauran? Here was one of the beasts that went decked in royal trappings, and towered high above the rest; There rides the king, thought he,

et dedit se ut liberaret populum suum, et acquireret sibi nomen æternum.

And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to get himself an everlasting name.

and with that, he gave his life, to win deliverance for his country, and for himself imperishable renown.

Et cucurrit ad eam audacter in medio legionis, interficiens a dextris et a sinistris, et cadebant ab eo huc atque illuc.

And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side.

Bravely he ran up to it, there in the heart of the press, slaying to right and left of him, men falling on either side,

Et ivit sub pedes elephantis, et supposuit se ei, et occidit eum: et cecidit in terram super ipsum, et mortuus est illic.

And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there.

till he could creep in between the very feet of the elephant; crouched there, and dispatched it, and so, crushed by its fall to earth, died where he lay.

Et videntes virtutem regis, et impetum exercitus ejus, diverterunt se ab eis.

Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them.

But now, finding the royal forces so strong, and so determined in their attack, the Jews withdrew from the encounter.

Castra autem regis ascenderunt contra eos in Jerusalem, et applicuerunt castra regis ad Judæam, et montem Sion.

But the king’s army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king’s army pitched their tents against Judea and mount Sion.

To Jerusalem the king’s men followed them, and now here was the king entrenched against Judaea and mount Sion itself.

Et fecit pacem cum his qui erant in Bethsura: et exierunt de civitate, quia non erant eis ibi alimenta conclusis, quia sabbata erant terræ.

And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land.

With the defenders of Bethsura he had made terms; yield up the city they must, so ill were they victualled for a siege, in a year when the land lay fallow;

Et comprehendit rex Bethsuram: et constituit illic custodiam servare eam.

And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it.

thus Bethsura was in the king’s hands, and he put a garrison there.

Et convertit castra ad locum sanctificationis dies multos: et statuit illic ballistas, et machinas, et ignis jacula, et tormenta ad lapides jactandos, et spicula, et scorpios ad mittendas sagittas, et fundibula.

And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings.

But it was against the holy place itself that he turned his arms, and long he beleaguered it; what catapults he brought to bear on it, what engines! Flew fiery darts, flew stone and javelin and arrow from mangonel and arbalest, and the slings took their turn.

Fecerunt autem et ipsi machinas adversus machinas eorum, et pugnaverunt dies multos.

And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days.

As for the Jews, they met engine with engine, and fought on day after day;

Escæ autem non erant in civitate, eo quod septimus annus esset: et qui remanserant in Judæa de gentibus, consumpserant reliquias eorum, quæ repositæ fuerant.

But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up.

but the seventh year had come round, and what store was left in the city had been eaten up by the new citizens rescued from Gentile countries, so food was none to be had.

Et remanserunt in sanctis viri pauci, quoniam obtinuerat eos fames: et dispersi sunt unusquisque in locum suum.

And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place.

Only a few defenders were left in the holy place now; the rest, overtaken by famine, had dispersed to their homes.

Et audivit Lysias quod Philippus, quem constituerat rex Antiochus cum adhuc viveret, ut nutriret Antiochum filium suum, et regnaret,

Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, and to reign, to be king,

But Lysias could not wait; he had news from Antioch. That same Philip, whom king Antiochus, on his death-bed, had appointed to bring up the young prince as heir to the throne,

reversus esset a Perside et Media, et exercitus qui abierat cum ipso, et quia quærebat suscipere regni negotia:

Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him, and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom:

was now returned at the head of his army from the land of the Medes and Persians, and would fain take charge of the realm.

festinavit ire, et dicere ad regem, et duces exercitus: Deficimus quotidie, et esca nobis modica est; et locus, quem obsidemus, est munitus, et incumbit nobis ordinare de regno.

Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom.

So Lysias must betake himself to the king and his generals, with such words as these: Our plight grows daily worse; scant food is left us, and here is a fortress well defended; all the business of the realm claims our care.

Nunc itaque demus dextras hominibus istis, et faciamus cum illis pacem, et cum omni gente eorum:

Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation.

What remains, but to make friendly advances, offer terms to the besieged and to all their countrymen?

et constituamus illis ut ambulent in legitimis suis sicut prius: propter legitima enim ipsorum, quæ despeximus, irati sunt, et fecerunt omnia hæc.

And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to their own laws as before. For because of our despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have done all these things.

Give we leave they should follow their own customs as of old, which customs neglecting, we have brought all this ill-will and all this trouble upon us.

Et placuit sermo in conspectu regis et principum: et misit ad eos pacem facere, et receperunt illam.

And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of it.

King and chieftain fell in with his design; offer peace they did, and the offer was accepted.

Et juravit illis rex et principes, et exierunt de munitione.

And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the strong hold.

So, upon terms with the king and his generals, the Jews gave up their stronghold;

Et intravit rex montem Sion, et vidit munitionem loci: et rupit citius juramentum quod juravit, et mandavit destruere murum in gyro.

Then the king entered into mount Sion, and saw the strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about.

and what must the king do, once he had set foot on mount Sion and discovered the strength of its defences, but break his oath, and have all the walls of it pulled down!

Et discessit festinanter, et reversus est Antiochiam, et invenit Philippum dominantem civitati: et pugnavit adversus eum, et occupavit civitatem.

And he departed in haste, and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the city.

Then, with all haste, he took leave of it, and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip in possession, and levied war on him, taking the city by storm.