CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE
FOURTH BOOK
OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
REFLECTIONS ON RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE: LIKEWISE, AN ACCOUNT OF HELIODORUS’ ATTEMPT TO PLUNDER THE TEMPLE: AND THE HISTORY OF ELEAZAR AND THE SEVEN BRETHREN PERSECUTED EVEN TO DEATH FOR THEIR ADHERENCE TO RELIGION.
CHAPTER XII
B.C. 167
The speech, and death, of the seventh brother.
And when he also, having been thrown into a caldron, had died blessedly, the seventh came forward, the youngest of all: whom the tyrant commiserating, although he had been sorely put to shame by his brethren; seeing him already bound in chains, he sent for him to come nearer, and endeavoured to advise him, saying: “You see now the result of your brethren’s folly; for through disobedience they have been racked and are dead: and you yourself, unless you obey, shall, after horrible tortures, die forthwith before your time a. But, if you will be persuaded, you shall be our friend and shall take a lead in the affairs of the kingdom.”
And having thus exhorted him, he sent for the boy’s mother; that having condoled with her on the loss of so many sons, he might rouse her to save one b at least, by making this surviving one obedient. But he, after that his mother had exhorted him in the Hebrew tongue, (as we shall relate in a short time) said; “Let me go, that I may speak to the king and to all his friends with him.” And they, the king and his friends, rejoicing exceedingly at the youth’s announcement, quickly set him free. And he, running close to the frying-pans, said: “Unholy tyrant, most impious of all wicked wretches! Are you not ashamed, having received from God worldly good things and a kingdom, to slay his servants, and to rack those who practise piety? For which things, the Divine vengeance is keeping ” you in store for a more intense and eternal fire and torments, which shall not cease from you for ever. Were you not ashamed, O most savage wretch, being a man yourself, to cut out the tongues of men formed with like passions c,”
” and composed of the same elements d ; and shamefully to misuse and torment them in this manner? They, however, having died nobly, have fulfilled their piety towards God. But you, wretch, shall miserably suffer e, for having slain without cause the champions of virtue. Wherefore I, (continued he,) being myself about to die, do not desert the testimony f of my brethren. [And I invoke the God of my fathers, that He will be merciful to my family. But you He will punish, both in this life and after deaths.]”. And having prayed thus against the tyrant, he threw himself into the frying-pans, and so expired.
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