Seven brothers there were, that lay under arrest, and their mother with them; these too were tortured at the king’s command, to see if whip and thong would not make them eat swine’s flesh, for all their scruples.

Contigit autem et septem fratres una cum matre sua apprehensos compelli a rege edere contra fas carnes porcinas, flagris et taureis cruciatos.

It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine’s flesh against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and scourges.

And thus spoke out one of them in the name of the rest: Why dost thou put us to the question? What secret wouldst thou learn? Of this be sure, we had rather die than break the divine law given to our fathers.

Unus autem ex illis, qui erat primus, sic ait: Quid quæris, et quid vis discere a nobis? parati sumus mori, magis quam patrias Dei leges prævaricari.

But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What wouldst thou ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God, received from our fathers.

The king, in a rage, would have fire-pan heated, and caldron of bronze; heated they were,

Iratus itaque rex, jussit sartagines et ollas æneas succendi: quibus statim succensis,

Then the king being angry commanded fryingpans, and brazen caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated,

and then he passed judgement upon this same spokesman. Tongue of him should be cut out, scalp torn off, hands and feet mutilated, while mother and brethren stood by to see it;

jussit ei qui prior fuerat locutus amputari linguam, et cute capitis abstracta, summas quoque manus et pedes ei præscindi, ceteris ejus fratribus et matre inspicientibus.

He commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had spoken first: and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren, and his mother, looking on.

then, so maimed, he was for the fire; they should roast him alive in a caldron. Long time he suffered, and there stood the rest with their mother, each heartening other to die bravely;

Et cum jam per omnia inutilis factus esset, jussit ignem admoveri, et adhuc spirantem torreri in sartagine: in qua cum diu cruciaretur, ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter,

And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded him, being yet alive, to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the fryingpan: and while he was suffering therein long torments, the rest, together with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully,

God sees true, said they, and will not allow us to go uncomforted. Did not Moses prophesy as much, even in his song of remonstrance, He will comfort his servants?

dicentes: Dominus Deus aspiciet veritatem, et consolabitur in nobis, quemadmodum in protestatione cantici declaravit Moyses: Et in servis suis consolabitur.

Saying: The Lord God will look upon the truth, and will take pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the profession of the canticle: And in his servants he will take pleasure.

So died the first, and now the second must make sport for them. When the hair was torn from his head and the skin with it, they asked, Would he eat, or must his whole body pay for it, limb by limb?

Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo, sequentem deducebant ad illudendum: et cute capitis ejus cum capillis abstracta, interrogabant si manducaret, priusquam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.

So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the next to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he were punished throughout the whole body in every limb.

And he answered in good round Hebrew, eat he would not; whereupon he, in his turn, suffered like the first.

At ille respondens patria voce, dixit: Non faciam. Propter quod et iste, sequenti loco, primi tormenta suscepit:

But he answered in his own language, and said: I will not do it. Wherefore he also in the next place, received the torments of the first:

Ay, miscreant, he said with his last breath, of this present life it lies in thy power to rob us; but he, who is ruler of the whole world, he, for whose laws we perish, will raise us up again, and to life everlasting.

et in ultimo spiritu constitutus, sic ait: Tu quidem scelestissime in præsenti vita nos perdis: sed Rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in æternæ vitæ resurrectione suscitabit.

And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: Thou indeed, O most wicked man, destroyest us out of this present life: but the King of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the resurrection of eternal life.

And now they had their will with the third, who was no sooner bidden than he put forth tongue and hands very courageously;

Post hunc tertius illuditur, et linguam postulatus cito protulit, et manus constanter extendit:

After him the third was made a mocking stock, and when he was required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched out his hands:

Heaven’s gift these be, he said, and for God’s law I make light account of them, well assured he will give them back to me.

et cum fiducia ait: E cælo ista possideo, sed propter Dei leges nunc hæc ipsa despicio, quoniam ab ipso me ea recepturum spero:

And said with confidence: These I have from heaven, but for the laws of God I now despise them: because I hope to receive them again from him.

Well might they marvel, king and courtiers both, at one so young that recked so little of his sufferings.

ita ut rex, et qui cum ipso erant, mirarentur adolescentis animum, quod tamquam nihilum duceret cruciatus.

So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the young man’s courage, because he esteemed the torments as nothing.

Such was the manner of his passing; the fourth, too, when with like tortures they assailed him,

Et hoc ita defuncto, quartum vexabant similiter torquentes.

And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in the like manner.

died with these words on his lips: Man’s sentence of death, what matters it, so there be hope in God, that shall raise up the dead? For thee, resurrection to new life shall be none.

Et cum jam esset ad mortem, sic ait: Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo, iterum ab ipso resuscitandos: tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit.

And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It is better, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up again by him: for, as to thee thou shalt have no resurrection unto life.

And when the fifth was put to the question, he looked Antiochus in the face, thus warning him:

Et cum admovissent quintum, vexabant eum. At ille respiciens in eum,

And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he looking upon the king,

Mortal, at thy own whim free to govern thy fellow men, think not God has abandoned this race of ours!

dixit: Potestatem inter homines habens, cum sis corruptibilis, facis quod vis: noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum:

Said: Whereas thou hast power among men, though thou art corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt: but think not that our nation is forsaken by God.

Wait but a little, and good proof thou shalt have of his sovereign power, such torment thee and thine awaits.

tu autem patienter sustine, et videbis magnam potestatem ipsius, qualiter te et semen tuum torquebit.

But stay patiently a while, and thou shalt see his great power, in what manner he will torment thee and thy seed.

So they came to the sixth, and this was his dying utterance: Never flatter thyself with vain hope; speed we amiss, it was our own doing, that sinned against our God. Strange be his dealings with us,

Post hunc ducebant sextum, et is, mori incipiens, sic ait: Noli frustra errare: nos enim propter nosmetipsos hæc patimur, peccantes in Deum nostrum, et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis:

After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready to die, spoke thus: Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of admiration are done to us:

yet think not thou to defy God unpunished.

tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum, quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris.

But do not think that thou shalt escape unpunished, for that thou hast attempted to fight against God.

And here was the greatest marvel of all, by honest folk ever to be kept in mind, that the mother of seven children should be content to lose them all in one day, for the hope she had in God’s mercy.

Supra modum autem mater mirabilis, et bonorum memoria digna, quæ pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens, bono animo ferebat propter spem quam in Deum habebat:

Now the mother was to be admired above measure, and worthy to be remembered by good men, who beheld her seven sons slain in the space of one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in God:

What generosity of mind was this, that could temper her womanly feelings with a man’s thoughts! One by one, in the speech of her own country, she put heart into them;

singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria fortiter, repleta sapientia: et, femineæ cogitationi masculinum animum inserens,

And she bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language, being filled with wisdom: and joining a man’s heart to a woman’s thought,

Into this womb you came, she told them, who knows how? Not I quickened, not I the breath of life gave you, nor fashioned the bodies of you one by one!

dixit ad eos: Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis, neque enim ego spiritum et animam donavi vobis et vitam, et singulorum membra non ego ipsa compegi:

She said to them: I know not how you were formed in my womb: for I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the limbs of every one of you.

Man’s birth, and the origin of all things, he devised who is the whole world’s Maker; and shall he not mercifully give the breath of life back to you, that for his law’s sake hold your lives so cheap?

sed enim mundi Creator, qui formavit hominis nativitatem, quique omnium invenit originem, et spiritum vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet et vitam, sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges ejus.

But the Creator of the world, that formed the nativity of man, and that found out the origin of all, he will restore to you again in his mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.

What should Antiochus do? Here was defiance of his authority, here were tones of remonstrance that liked him little. The youngest son lived yet; for him, what encouragement, what royal assurances of wealth and happiness! Would he but leave the law of his fathers, he should be the king’s friend, and have weighty matters entrusted to him.

Antiochus autem, contemni se arbitratus, simul et exprobrantis voce despecta, cum adhuc adolescentior superesset, non solum verbis hortabatur, sed et cum juramento affirmabat se divitem et beatum facturum, et translatum a patriis legibus amicum habiturum, et res necessarias ei præbiturum.

Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal despising the voice of the upbraider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers, would take him for a friend, and furnish him with things necessary.

But yield the boy would not; till at last the king beckoned the mother apart; mother of son should be the saviour yet.

Sed ad hæc cum adolescens nequaquam inclinaretur, vocavit rex matrem, et suadebat ei ut adolescenti fieret in salutem.

But when the young man was not moved with these things, the king called the mother, and counselled her to deal with the young man to save his life.

Much ado he had to win her, but she agreed at last, counsel her son she would.

Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus, promisit suasurum se filio suo.

And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son.

And a fine trick she played on the bloodthirsty tyrant, leaning over her son and counselling him in her own native speech, to this effect: Nine months in the womb I bore thee, three years at the breast fed thee, reared thee to be what thou art;

Itaque inclinata ad illum, irridens crudelem tyrannum, ait patria voce: Fili mi, miserere mei, quæ te in utero novem mensibus portavi, et lac triennio dedi et alui, et in ætatem istam perduxi.

So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in her own language: My son, have pity upon me, that bore thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age.

and now, my son, this boon grant me. Look round at heaven and earth and all they contain; bethink thee that of all this, and mankind too, God made out of nothing.

Peto, nate, ut aspicias ad cælum et terram, et ad omnia quæ in eis sunt, et intelligas quia ex nihilo fecit illa Deus, et hominum genus:

I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them: and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind also:

Of this butcher have thou no fear; claim rightful share among thy brethren in yonder inheritance of death; so shall the divine mercy give me back all my sons at once.

ita fiet, ut non timeas carnificem istum, sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus particeps, suscipe mortem, ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam.

So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may receive thee again with thy brethren.

Before ever she had finished speaking, the boy cried out, What dallying is this? To the king’s law I own no allegiance; rule I live by is the law we had through Moses.

Cum hæc illa adhuc diceret, ait adolescens: Quem sustinetis? non obedio præcepto regis, sed præcepto legis, quæ data est nobis per Moysen.

While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: For whom do you stay? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but the commandment of the law, which was given us by Moses.

Arch-enemy of the Jewish race, thinkest thou to escape from God’s hand?

Tu vero, qui inventor omnis malitiæ factus es in Hebræos, non effugies manum Dei.

But thou that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hand of God.

Grievously if we suffer, grievously we have sinned;

Nos enim pro peccatis nostris hæc patimur.

For we suffer thus for our sins.

chides he for a little, the Lord our God, he does but school, does but correct us; to us, his worshippers, he will be reconciled again.

Et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem Dominus Deus noster modicum iratus est: sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.

And though the Lord our God is angry with us a little while for our chastisement and correction: yet he will be reconciled again to his servants.

But thou, miserable wretch, viler on earth is none, wouldst thou vent thy rage on those worshippers of his, and flatter thyself with vain hopes none the less?

Tu autem, o sceleste, et omnium hominum flagitiosissime, noli frustra extolli vanis spebus in servos ejus inflammatus:

But thou, O wicked and of all men most flagitious, be not lifted up without cause with vain hopes, whilst thou art raging against his servants.

Trust me, thou shalt yet abide his judgement, who is God almighty and all-seeing.

nondum enim omnipotentis Dei, et omnia inspicientis, judicium effugisti.

For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty God, who beholdeth all things.

Brief pains, that under his warrant have seised my brethren of eternal life! And shalt not thou, by his sentence, pay the deserved penalty of thy pride?

Nam fratres mei, modico nunc dolore sustentato, sub testamento æternæ vitæ effecti sunt: tu vero judicio Dei justas superbiæ tuæ pœnas exsolves.

For my brethren, having now undergone a short pain, are under the covenant of eternal life: but thou by the judgment of God shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.

As my brethren, so I for our country’s laws both soul and body forfeit; my prayer is, God will early relent towards this nation, while thou dost learn, under the lash of his torments, that he alone is God.

Ego autem, sicut fratres mei, animam et corpus meum trado pro patriis legibus, invocans Deum maturius genti nostræ propitium fieri, teque cum tormentis et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus.

But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body for the laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our nation, and that thou by torments and stripes mayst confess that he alone is God.

And may the divine anger, that has justly fallen on our race, with me and these others be laid to rest!

In me vero et in fratribus meis desinet Omnipotentis ira, quæ super omne genus nostrum juste superducta est.

But in me and in my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which hath justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease.

No wonder if this last, that so baffled the king’s rage, was more barbarously used than all the others;

Tunc rex accensus ira in hunc, super omnes crudelius desævit, indigne ferens se derisum.

Then the king being incensed with anger, raged against him more cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was mocked.

yet kept he ever his confidence in the Lord, and made a clean end of it.

Et hic itaque mundus obiit, per omnia in Domino confidens.

So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in the Lord.

And at length, when all her sons were gone, it was the mother’s turn to die.

Novissime autem post filios, et mater consumpta est.

And last of all after the sons the mother also was consumed.

Enough! Of idolatrous sacrifice and inhuman cruelty you shall hear no more.

Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis dictum est.

But now there is enough said of the sacrifices, and of the excessive cruelties.