Machabæus autem, et qui cum eo erant, Domino se protegente, templum quidem et civitatem recepit:

But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again.

Meanwhile, God aiding, Machabaeus and his followers had recovered both temple and city.

aras autem quas alienigenæ per plateas exstruxerant, itemque delubra demolitus est:

But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols.

Down came the altars Gentile folk had set up in the open streets, down came the shrines,

et purgato templo, aliud altare fecerunt, et de ignitis lapidibus igne concepto sacrificia obtulerunt post biennium, et incensum, et lucernas, et panes propositionis posuerunt.

And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition.

and the temple was purged of its defilement. They made a fresh altar, struck fire from flint, and offered sacrifice again after two years’ intermission; rose incense, burned lamp, loaves were set out on the sacred table once more.

Quibus gestis, rogabant Dominum prostrati in terram, ne amplius talibus malis inciderent: sed et, siquando peccassent, ut ab ipso mitius corriperentur, et non barbaris ac blasphemis hominibus traderentur.

And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men.

Then, bowing down to earth, they made petition to the Lord, never again such calamity might overtake them; sin if they did, himself in his great mercy should chastise them, not hand them over into the cruel power of blasphemous enemies.

Qua die autem templum ab alienigenis pollutum fuerat, contigit eadem die purificationem fieri, vigesima quinta mensis qui fuit Casleu.

Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the strangers, on the very same day it was cleansed again, to wit, on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu.

It so fell out, that the temple was purified on the twenty-fifth day of Casleu, the very time of its profanation by the Gentiles.

Et cum lætitia diebus octo egerunt in modum tabernaculorum, recordantes quod ante modicum temporis diem solemnem tabernaculorum in montibus et in speluncis more bestiarum egerant.

And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens like wild beasts.

Eight days of rejoicing they kept, with such ceremonies as belong to the feast of Tent-dwelling; it was a feast of tent-dwelling indeed they had kept a while back, when they lodged like beasts among the hill-side caverns!

Propter quod thyrsos, et ramos virides, et palmas præferebant ei qui prosperavit mundari locum suum.

Therefore they now carried boughs, and green branches, and palms for Him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

Now that God had made the way clear for his temple’s cleansing, what wonder if they set up in his honour branches, and green boughs, and arbours of palm?

Et decreverunt communi præcepto et decreto universæ genti Judæorum omnibus annis agere dies istos.

And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the nation of the Jews should keep those days every year.

What wonder if a decree was passed, by common consent, all Jewry should keep the festival year by year?

Et Antiochi quidem, qui appellatus est Nobilis, vitæ excessus ita se habuit.

And this was the end of Antiochus that was called the Illustrious.

Now the story is told, how Antiochus called the Illustrious came by his end,

Nunc autem de Eupatore Antiochi impii filio quæ gesta sunt narrabimus, breviantes mala quæ in bellis gesta sunt.

But now we will repeat the acts of Eupator the son of that wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in the wars.

turn we to his son, Antiochus Eupator, that was born of a very ill father; record we in brief the history of his reign, and the hazards of war that went with it.

Hic enim suscepto regno, constituit super negotia regni Lysiam quemdam, Phœnicis et Syriæ militiæ principem.

For when he was come to the crown, he appointed over the affairs of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria.

Upon his accession, this king entrusted all the business of the realm to one Lysias, commander of the forces in Phoenice and Coelesyria.

Nam Ptolemæus, qui dicebatur Macer, justi tenax erga Judæos esse constituit, et præcipue propter iniquitatem quæ facta erat in eos, et pacifice agere cum eis.

For Ptolemee that was called Macer, was determined to be strictly just to the Jews, and especially by reason of the wrong that had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them.

With Ptolemy, that was called Macer, we are concerned no more; fain would he have made amends to the Jews for the wrong done them, and kept their friendship,

Sed ob hoc accusatus ab amicis apud Eupatorem, cum frequenter proditor audiret, eo quod Cyprum creditam sibi a Philometore deseruisset, et ad Antiochum Nobilem translatus etiam ab eo recessisset, veneno vitam finivit.

But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus which Philometor had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison.

but for that very reason he was denounced to Eupator by his courtiers. He was a traitor, they said, twice over, false to his trust, when Philometor left him in charge of Cyprus, and now weary of his new allegiance to Antiochus the Illustrious! Whereupon he put an end to his own life by poison.

Gorgias autem cum esset dux locorum, assumptis advenis, frequenter Judæos debellabat.

But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the strangers, often fought against the Jews.

When Gorgias was given command of the district, he was for ever making war on the Jews, with mercenaries to aid him;

Judæi vero qui tenebant opportunas munitiones, fugatos ab Jerosolymis suscipiebant, et bellare tentabant.

And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war.

and there were natives of the country besides, well entrenched in their strongholds, that gave welcome to deserters from Jerusalem, and so fanned the flames of enmity.

Hi vero qui erant cum Machabæo, per orationes Dominum rogantes ut esset sibi adjutor, impetum fecerunt in munitiones Idumæorum:

Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans:

And now the followers of Machabaeus, after prayer made for the divine assistance, delivered an attack upon the Edomite strongholds.

multaque vi insistentes, loca obtinuerunt, occurrentes interemerunt, et omnes simul non minus viginti millibus trucidaverunt.

And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand.

These, by a very courageous assault, they occupied, and cut down all they met, putting not less than twenty thousand men to the sword;

Quidam autem cum confugissent in duas turres valde munitas, omnem apparatum ad repugnandum habentes,

And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all manner of provision to sustain a siege,

but there were two fortresses yet remaining, into which the survivors threw themselves, well provided with means of defence.

Machabæus ad eorum expugnationem relicto Simone, et Josepho, itemque Zachæo, eisque qui cum ipsis erant satis multis, ipse ad eas quæ amplius perurgebant pugnas conversus est.

Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were with them in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those expeditions which urged more.

Machabaeus himself went off to fight other battles of greater moment, leaving Simon, Joseph and Zacchaeus, with a strong force under their command, to carry on the siege.

Hi vero qui cum Simone erant, cupiditate ducti, a quibusdam qui in turribus erant, suasi sunt pecunia: et septuaginta millibus didrachmis acceptis, dimiserunt quosdam effugere.

Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were persuaded for the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape.

And here the avarice of Simon’s men was their undoing; for a bribe of seventy thousand silver pieces, they allowed some of the defenders to escape.

Cum autem Machabæo nuntiatum esset quod factum est, principibus populi congregatis accusavit quod pecunia fratres vendidissent, adversariis eorum dimissis.

But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape.

Machabaeus no sooner heard of it, than he summoned the leaders of the people, and arraigned the guilty men in their presence; what, would they sell their brethren’s lives, by letting the enemies of their race go free?

Hos igitur proditores factos interfecit, et confestim duas turres occupavit.

So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers.

So he put these traitors to death; and for the strongholds, he conquered both of them at a blow,

Armis autem ac manibus omnia prospere agendo in duabus munitionibus plus quam viginti millia peremit.

And having good success in arms and in all things he took in hand, he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds.

so carrying all before him by force of arms, that more than twenty thousand of the defenders perished.

At Timotheus, qui prius a Judæis fuerat superatus, convocato exercitu peregrinæ multitudinis, et congregato equitatu Asiano, advenit quasi armis Judæam capturus.

But Timotheus who before had been overcome by the Jews, having called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.

But Timotheus could not be content with one defeat at the hands of the Jews; he would bring in hordes of foreign soldiery, and cavalry from Asia, threatening Judaea with slavery.

Machabæus autem et qui cum ipso erant, appropinquante illo, deprecabantur Dominum, caput terra aspergentes, lumbosque ciliciis præcincti,

But Machabeus and they that were with him, when he drew near, prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins with haircloth,

At his coming, the party of Machabaeus fell to prayer; earth on their heads, sackcloth about their loins,

ad altaris crepidinem provoluti, ut sibi propitius, inimicis autem eorum esset inimicus, et adversariis adversaretur, sicut lex dicit.

And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law saith.

they lay prostrate at the altar’s foot, entreating the Lord he would espouse their quarrel, and their foes should be his; the law had promised it.

Et ita post orationem, sumptis armis, longius de civitate procedentes, et proximi hostibus effecti, resederunt.

And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they rested.

Then, this supplication made, they took up arms and marched out, leaving the city far away in their rear, nor ever halted till they were close to the enemy’s lines.

Primo autem solis ortu utrique commiserunt: isti quidem victoriæ et prosperitatis sponsorem cum virtute Dominum habentes: illi autem ducem belli animum habebant.

But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the one part having with their valour the Lord for a surety of victory and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in battle.

Soon as the dawn broke, they engaged; on the one side, all trust in the Lord, valour’s best pledge of victory and fairer times; on the other, naught but human eagerness to inspire courage.

Sed cum vehemens pugna esset, apparuerunt adversariis de cælo viri quinque in equis, frenis aureis decori, ducatum Judæis præstantes:

But when they were in the heat of the engagement there appeared to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely with golden bridles, conducting the Jews:

Hard went the day, and, so it seemed to the enemy, heaven itself took part. Five horsemen came riding, with splendid trappings of gold, to lead the Jews onward;

ex quibus duo Machabæum medium habentes, armis suis circumseptum incolumem conservabant: in adversarios autem tela et fulmina jaciebant, ex quo et cæcitate confusi et repleti perturbatione, cadebant.

Two of them took Machabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their arms, and kept him safe: but cast darts and fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble.

and two of these served Machabaeus for escort, covering him with their shields to keep all hurt away from him. With shaft of theirs, lightning of theirs, dazzled and dismayed, the enemy fell to earth;

Interfecti sunt autem viginti millia quingenti, et equites sexcenti.

And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.

twenty thousand and five hundred of them perished that day, besides six hundred of the cavalry.

Timotheus vero confugit in Gazaram præsidium munitum, cui præerat Chæreas.

But Timotheus fled into Gazara a strong hold, where Chereas was governor.

As for Timotheus, he took refuge in Gazara, a strong fortress that was under the command of Chaereas.

Machabæus autem et qui cum eo erant, lætantes obsederunt præsidium diebus quatuor.

Then Machabeus, and they that were with him, cheerfully laid siege to the fortress four days.

Four days together, Machabaeus and his men eagerly pressed on the siege of it;

At hi qui intus erant, loci firmitate confisi, supra modum maledicebant, et sermones nefandos jactabant.

But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words.

but the defenders were confident in its strength; loud their defiance was, and very blasphemous the words they uttered.

Sed cum dies quinta illucesceret, viginti juvenes ex his qui cum Machabæo erant, accensi animis propter blasphemiam, viriliter accesserunt ad murum, et feroci animo incedentes ascendebant:

But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds because of the blasphemy, approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce courage got up upon it.

Stung by these taunts, twenty warriors of Machabaeus’ company made a bold attack on the wall as the fifth day was dawning, and, by the fierceness of their onslaught, made shift to climb it;

sed et alii similiter ascendentes, turres portasque succendere aggressi sunt, atque ipsos maledicos vivos concremare.

Moreover others also getting up after them, went to set fire to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.

others, following at their heels, fell to burning tower and gateway alike, and made a bonfire of the blasphemers.

Per continuum autem biduum præsidio vastato, Timotheum occultantem se in quodam repertum loco peremerunt: et fratrem illius Chæream et Apollophanem occiderunt.

And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes.

For two whole days they ransacked the fort, and at last came upon Timotheus in his hiding-place; so they made an end of him, his brother Chaereas and Apollophanes perishing with him.

Quibus gestis, in hymnis et confessionibus benedicebant Dominum, qui magna fecit in Israël, et victoriam dedit illis.

And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the victory.

When all was over, they sang hymns of praise and gave thanks to the Lord, that had done marvellous things for Israel, and granted them victory.