Et audivit Judas nomen Romanorum, quia sunt potentes viribus, et acquiescunt ad omnia quæ postulantur ab eis, et quicumque accesserunt ad eos, statuerunt cum eis amicitias: et quia sunt potentes viribus.

Judas had heard tell of the Romans, and their renown. Here was a powerful nation, that would entertain overtures none the less from such as craved their friendship, plighting their word faithfully. A powerful nation indeed;

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.

Et audierunt prælia eorum, et virtutes bonas, quas fecerunt in Galatia, quia obtinuerunt eos, et duxerunt sub tributum:

what battles they had fought, what exploits achieved yonder among the Galatians, their conquered vassals now!

And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts, which they had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute:

et quanta fecerunt in regione Hispaniæ, et quod in potestatem redegerunt metalla argenti et auri, quæ illic sunt, et possederunt omnem locum consilio suo, et patientia:

In Spain, too, they had done great feats of arms; and at last, by policy and patient striving, won over the whole country, made themselves masters of all the silver and gold that was mined there.

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:

locaque quæ longe erant valde ab eis, et reges, qui supervenerant eis ab extremis terræ, contriverunt, et percusserunt eos plaga magna: ceteri autem dant eis tributum omnibus annis.

Came peoples from far away, kings from the furthest corners of earth, to offer battle, they were overwhelmed and signally defeated; those nearer at hand were content to pay yearly tribute.

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.

Et Philippum et Persen Ceteorum regem, et ceteros qui adversum eos arma tulerant, contriverunt in bello, et obtinuerunt eos:

Had they not crushed and conquered Philip, and Perseus king of the Greeks, and all others that had levied war upon them?

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:

et Antiochum magnum regem Asiæ, qui eis pugnam intulerat habens centum viginti elephantos, et equitatum, et currus, et exercitum magnum valde, contritum ab eis:

And what of Antiochus the Great, that ruled all Asia, and came against them with a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen and chariots, and a great array besides? The Romans overcame him,

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:

et quia ceperunt eum vivum, et statuerunt ei ut daret ipse, et qui regnarent post ipsum, tributum magnum, et daret obsides, et constitutum,

caught him alive, and demanded both from him and from his heirs rich tribute, and hostages, with other conditions of surrender;

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,

et regionem Indorum, et Medos, et Lydos, de optimis regionibus eorum: et acceptas eas ab eis, dederunt Eumeni regi,

took away from him India, Media, and Lydia, that were his most cherished provinces, and gave them to king Eumenes instead.

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.

et quia qui erant apud Helladam, voluerunt ire, et tollere eos: et innotuit sermo his,

Later, word came that the men of Hellas were for marching in and making an end of them; what was the issue of it?

And that they who were in Greece had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,

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:

One of the Roman generals was sent out to engage them; fell many in battle, wives and children were carried off into exile, goods plundered, the land conquered, its fortresses destroyed, and they are slaves to this day.

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.

et residua regna, et insulas, quæ aliquando restiterant illis, exterminaverunt, et in potestatem redegerunt.

So it was with all the kingdoms and islands that defied their will; the Romans crushed them and took their lands away.

And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.

Cum amicis autem suis, et qui in ipsis requiem habebant, conservaverunt amicitiam, et obtinuerunt regna, quæ erant proxima, et quæ erant longe: quia quicumque audiebant nomen eorum, timebant eos:

But to their friends, that would live at peace with them, they were ever good friends in return. Kingdoms both far and near became their vassals, nor any that heard their name but feared it;

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.

quibus vero vellent auxilio esse ut regnarent, regnabant: quos autem vellent, regno deturbabant: et exaltati sunt valde.

helped they any man to a throne, the throne was his; their good will lost, his throne was lost too; so high was their renown.

That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.

Et in omnibus istis nemo portabat diadema, nec induebatur purpura, ut magnificaretur in ea.

Yet, with all this, was never one of them that wore crown, or went clad in purple for his own aggrandizement.

And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.

Et quia curiam fecerunt sibi, et quotidie consulebant trecentos viginti consilium agentes semper de multitudine, ut quæ digna sunt, gerant:

A senate-house they would have, where a council of three hundred and twenty met day by day, providing ever for the good estate of the commonalty;

And that they had 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.

et committunt uni homini magistratum suum per singulos annos dominari universæ terræ suæ, et omnes obediunt uni, et non est invidia, neque zelus inter eos.

and every year they would entrust one man with the rule and governance of their whole country, the rest obeying him, without any debate or contention moved.

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.

Et elegit Judas Eupolemum filium Joannis filii Jacob, et Jasonem filium Eleazari, et misit eos Romam constituere cum illis amicitiam et societatem:

So now Judas made choice of two envoys, Eupolemus, son of John, son of Jacob, and Jason, son of Eleazar; to Rome they should go, and there make a treaty of good will and alliance.

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.

et ut auferrent ab eis jugum Græcorum, quia viderunt quod in servitutem premerent regnum Israël.

Rome’s task it should be to rid them of the Grecian yoke; from the Greeks it was plain they could expect nothing better than grinding slavery.

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.

Et abierunt Romam viam multam valde, et introierunt curiam, et dixerunt:

So, after long journeying, to Rome they came, and were admitted to the senate house, where they gave their message as follows:

And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:

Judas Machabæus, et fratres ejus, et populus Judæorum, miserunt nos ad vos statuere vobiscum societatem et pacem, et conscribere nos socios et amicos vestros.

We have been sent to you by Judas Machabaeus and his brethren, and by our countrymen at large, to make a treaty of alliance with you; fain would they be enrolled among your confederates and friends.

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.

Et placuit sermo in conspectu eorum.

This proposition liked the Romans well;

And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.

Et hoc rescriptum est quod rescripserunt in tabulis æreis, et miserunt in Jerusalem, ut esset apud eos ibi memoriale pacis et societatis:

and they wrote back to the Jews on tablets of bronze, that should be kept in Jerusalem to serve them for a memorial of treaty and alliance made, to this effect:

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.

Bene sit Romanis, et genti Judæorum, in mari et in terra in æternum: gladiusque et hostis procul sit ab eis.

Well speed they at all times, the Roman and the Jewish peoples, by sea and land alike; far removed from either be alarm of war, assault of the enemy!

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.

Quod si institerit bellum Romanis prius, aut omnibus sociis eorum in omni dominatione eorum,

Yet if war befall, and threaten the Romans first, or any ally of theirs in any part of their dominions,

But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:

auxilium feret gens Judæorum, prout tempus dictaverit, corde pleno:

such aid the Jewish people shall give as the occasion demands, ungrudgingly.

The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:

et præliantibus non dabunt, neque subministrabunt triticum, arma, pecuniam, naves, sicut placuit Romanis: et custodient mandata eorum, nihil ab eis accipientes.

For the needs of the enemy they shall nothing find or furnish, be it corn, or arms, or money, or ships, according to the agreement made at Rome; and they shall observe these undertakings with no thought of their own advantage.

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.

Similiter autem et si genti Judæorum prius acciderit bellum, adjuvabunt Romani ex animo, prout eis tempus permiserit:

In like manner, if the Jews be first threatened, it shall be for the Romans to give aid as the occasion demands, most willingly;

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.

et adjuvantibus non dabitur triticum, arma, pecunia, naves, sicut placuit Romanis: et custodient mandata eorum absque dolo:

providing neither corn nor arms, money nor ships, to any that take part against them, according to the agreement made at Rome; and they shall observe these undertakings honourably.

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.

secundum hæc verba constituerunt Romani populo Judæorum.

Upon these terms the Romans and the Jewish people are agreed;

According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.

Quod si post hæc verba hi aut illi addere aut demere ad hæc aliquid voluerint, facient ex proposito suo: et quæcumque addiderint, vel dempserint, rata erunt.

if hereafter it should be the will of both parties to enlarge or to restrict them, they may do so at their discretion, and such enlargement or restriction shall have force accordingly.

And if after this one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away any thing, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.

Sed et de malis, quæ Demetrius rex fecit in eos, scripsimus ei, dicentes: Quare gravasti jugum tuum super amicos nostros, et socios Judæos?

As for the wrong done by king Demetrius, we have sent him warning, What meanest thou, to burden with so heavy a yoke the Jewish people, our friends and allies?

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?

si ergo iterum adierint nos, adversum te faciemus illis judicium, et pugnabimus tecum mari terraque.

Let them complain of thee once more, and we will surely give them redress, by land and sea levying war against thee.

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.