¹Contigit autemAnd it happened also that seven brothers,et septem fratres una cum matre sua apprehensos compelli a rege edere contra fas carnes porcinas,united with their mother,flagriswere apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law,et taureis cruciatos.being tormented with scourges and whips.

¹Contigit autemAnd it happened also that seven brothers,et septem fratres una cum matre sua apprehensos compelli a rege edere contra fas carnes porcinas,united with their mother,flagriswere apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law,et taureis cruciatos.being tormented with scourges and whips.

²Unus autem ex illis,But one of them,qui erat primus,who was first,sic ait:spoke in this way:Quid quæris,“What would you ask,et quid vis discere a nobis?or what would you want to learn from us?parati sumus mori,We are ready to die,magis quam patrias Dei leges prævaricari.rather than to betray the laws that our fathers received from God.”

²Unus autem ex illis,But one of them,qui erat primus,who was first,sic ait:spoke in this way:Quid quæris,“What would you ask,et quid vis discere a nobis?or what would you want to learn from us?parati sumus mori,We are ready to die,magis quam patrias Dei leges prævaricari.rather than to betray the laws that our fathers received from God.”

³Iratus itaque rex,And so the king,jussit sartaginesbeing angry,et ollas æneas succendi:ordered frying pans and bronze caldrons to be heated.quibus statim succensis,When these were presently heated,

³Iratus itaque rex,And so the king,jussit sartaginesbeing angry,et ollas æneas succendi:ordered frying pans and bronze caldrons to be heated.quibus statim succensis,When these were presently heated,

⁴jussit ei qui prior fuerat locutus amputari linguam,he ordered the tongue of him who had spoken first to be cut off, and,et cute capitis abstracta,once the skin of his head had been pulled off,summas quoque manus et pedes ei præscindi,likewise his hands and feet to be cut off at the top,ceteris ejus fratribus et matre inspicientibus.while the rest of his brothers and his mother were watching.

⁴jussit ei qui prior fuerat locutus amputari linguam,he ordered the tongue of him who had spoken first to be cut off, and,et cute capitis abstracta,once the skin of his head had been pulled off,summas quoque manus et pedes ei præscindi,likewise his hands and feet to be cut off at the top,ceteris ejus fratribus et matre inspicientibus.while the rest of his brothers and his mother were watching.

⁵Et cum jam per omnia inutilis factus esset, jussit ignem admoveri,And when now he had been made helpless in all parts, he commanded him to be moved to the fire,et adhuc spirantem torreri in sartagine:and, while still breathing, to be fried in the frying pan.in qua cum diu cruciaretur,As he was suffering long torments therein,ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter,the rest, united with the mother, exhorted one another to die with fortitude,

⁵Et cum jam per omnia inutilis factus esset, jussit ignem admoveri,And when now he had been made helpless in all parts, he commanded him to be moved to the fire,et adhuc spirantem torreri in sartagine:and, while still breathing, to be fried in the frying pan.in qua cum diu cruciaretur,As he was suffering long torments therein,ceteri una cum matre invicem se hortabantur mori fortiter,the rest, united with the mother, exhorted one another to die with fortitude,

⁶dicentes:saying:Dominus Deus aspiciet veritatem,“The Lord God will perceive the truth,et consolabitur in nobis,and he will be consoled in us,quemadmodum in protestatione cantici declaravit Moyses:in the way that Moses declared in the profession of the canticle:Et in servis suis consolabitur.‘And in his servants, he will be consoled.’”

⁶dicentes:saying:Dominus Deus aspiciet veritatem,“The Lord God will perceive the truth,et consolabitur in nobis,and he will be consoled in us,quemadmodum in protestatione cantici declaravit Moyses:in the way that Moses declared in the profession of the canticle:Et in servis suis consolabitur.‘And in his servants, he will be consoled.’”

⁷Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo,And so, when the first had died in this way,sequentem deducebant ad illudendum:they led in the next one, so as to ridicule him.et cute capitis ejus cum capillis abstracta,And when the skin of his head was pulled off with the hair,interrogabant si manducaret,they asked him if he would eat,priusquam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.instead of being punished throughout the whole body in every limb.

⁷Mortuo itaque illo primo hoc modo,And so, when the first had died in this way,sequentem deducebant ad illudendum:they led in the next one, so as to ridicule him.et cute capitis ejus cum capillis abstracta,And when the skin of his head was pulled off with the hair,interrogabant si manducaret,they asked him if he would eat,priusquam toto corpore per membra singula puniretur.instead of being punished throughout the whole body in every limb.

⁸At ille respondens patria voce,But responding in the language of his fathers,dixit:he said,Non faciam.“I will not do it.”Propter quodBecause of this,et iste,he also,sequenti loco,in the next place,primi tormenta suscepit:received the torments of the first.

⁸At ille respondens patria voce,But responding in the language of his fathers,dixit:he said,Non faciam.“I will not do it.”Propter quodBecause of this,et iste,he also,sequenti loco,in the next place,primi tormenta suscepit:received the torments of the first.

⁹et in ultimo spiritu constitutus,And when he had reached his last breath, he spoke in this way:sic ait:“You, indeed,Tu quidem scelestissime in præsenti vita nos perdis:O most wicked man, are destroying us in this present life.sed Rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in æternæ vitæ resurrectione suscitabit.But the King of the world will raise us up, in eternal life at the resurrection, for we die on behalf of his laws.”

⁹et in ultimo spiritu constitutus,And when he had reached his last breath, he spoke in this way:sic ait:“You, indeed,Tu quidem scelestissime in præsenti vita nos perdis:O most wicked man, are destroying us in this present life.sed Rex mundi defunctos nos pro suis legibus in æternæ vitæ resurrectione suscitabit.But the King of the world will raise us up, in eternal life at the resurrection, for we die on behalf of his laws.”

¹⁰Post hunc tertius illuditur,After this one, the third was ridiculed,et linguam postulatus cito protulit,and when he was asked, he quickly offered up his tongue,et manus constanter extendit:and he resolutely extended his hands.

¹⁰Post hunc tertius illuditur,After this one, the third was ridiculed,et linguam postulatus cito protulit,and when he was asked, he quickly offered up his tongue,et manus constanter extendit:and he resolutely extended his hands.

¹¹et cum fiducia ait:And he said with confidence,E cælo ista possideo,“I possess these from heaven,sed propter Dei leges nunc hæc ipsa despicio,but, because of the laws of God, I now despise them,quoniam ab ipso me ea recepturum spero:for I hope to receive them again from him.”

¹¹et cum fiducia ait:And he said with confidence,E cælo ista possideo,“I possess these from heaven,sed propter Dei leges nunc hæc ipsa despicio,but, because of the laws of God, I now despise them,quoniam ab ipso me ea recepturum spero:for I hope to receive them again from him.”

¹²ita ut rex,So then,et qui cum ipso erant,the king and those who were with him,mirarentur adolescentis animum,wondered at the soul of this youth,quod tamquam nihilum duceret cruciatus.because he considered the torments as if they were nothing.

¹²ita ut rex,So then,et qui cum ipso erant,the king and those who were with him,mirarentur adolescentis animum,wondered at the soul of this youth,quod tamquam nihilum duceret cruciatus.because he considered the torments as if they were nothing.

¹³Et hoc ita defuncto,And after he had died in this way,quartum vexabant similiter torquentes.they afflicted the fourth with similar tortures.

¹³Et hoc ita defuncto,And after he had died in this way,quartum vexabant similiter torquentes.they afflicted the fourth with similar tortures.

¹⁴Et cum jam esset ad mortem, sic ait:And when he was about to die, he spoke in this way:Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo,“It is preferable, being put to death by men, to wait for hope from God,iterum ab ipso resuscitandos:so as to be revived again by him.tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit.But the resurrection to life will not be for you.

¹⁴Et cum jam esset ad mortem, sic ait:And when he was about to die, he spoke in this way:Potius est ab hominibus morti datos spem exspectare a Deo,“It is preferable, being put to death by men, to wait for hope from God,iterum ab ipso resuscitandos:so as to be revived again by him.tibi enim resurrectio ad vitam non erit.But the resurrection to life will not be for you.

¹⁵Et cum admovissent quintum,And when they had brought the fifth,vexabant eum.they afflicted him.At ille respiciens in eum,But he, gazing at him,

¹⁵Et cum admovissent quintum,And when they had brought the fifth,vexabant eum.they afflicted him.At ille respiciens in eum,But he, gazing at him,

¹⁶dixit:said:Potestatem inter homines habens,“Having power among men,cum sis corruptibilis,though you are corruptible,facis quod vis:you do what you want,noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum:but do not think that our nation has been abandoned by God.

¹⁶dixit:said:Potestatem inter homines habens,“Having power among men,cum sis corruptibilis,though you are corruptible,facis quod vis:you do what you want,noli autem putare genus nostrum a Deo esse derelictum:but do not think that our nation has been abandoned by God.

¹⁷tu autem patienter sustine,And so,et videbis magnam potestatem ipsius,wait patiently for a while,qualiter teand you will see his great power,et semen tuum torquebit.by the manner in which he will torture you and your offspring.”

¹⁷tu autem patienter sustine,And so,et videbis magnam potestatem ipsius,wait patiently for a while,qualiter teand you will see his great power,et semen tuum torquebit.by the manner in which he will torture you and your offspring.”

¹⁸Post hunc ducebant sextum,After this one, they brought the sixth,et is,and he,mori incipiens,being about to die,sic ait: Noli frustra errare:spoke in this way: “Do not go astray in vain.nos enim propter nosmetipsos hæc patimur,For we suffer because of ourselves,peccantes in Deum nostrum,having sinned against our God,et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis:yet things worthy of admiration have been accomplished in us.

¹⁸Post hunc ducebant sextum,After this one, they brought the sixth,et is,and he,mori incipiens,being about to die,sic ait: Noli frustra errare:spoke in this way: “Do not go astray in vain.nos enim propter nosmetipsos hæc patimur,For we suffer because of ourselves,peccantes in Deum nostrum,having sinned against our God,et digna admiratione facta sunt in nobis:yet things worthy of admiration have been accomplished in us.

¹⁹tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum,But do not consider that you will be without punishment,quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris.for you have attempted to fight against God.”

¹⁹tu autem ne existimes tibi impune futurum,But do not consider that you will be without punishment,quod contra Deum pugnare tentaveris.for you have attempted to fight against God.”

²⁰Supra modum autem mater mirabilis,Now the mother was wonderful beyond measure,et bonorum memoria digna,and a worthy memorial of the good,quæ pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens,for she watched her seven sons perish within the time of one day,bono animo ferebat propter spem quam in Deum habebat:and she bore it with a good soul, because of the hope that she had in God.

²⁰Supra modum autem mater mirabilis,Now the mother was wonderful beyond measure,et bonorum memoria digna,and a worthy memorial of the good,quæ pereuntes septem filios sub unius diei tempore conspiciens,for she watched her seven sons perish within the time of one day,bono animo ferebat propter spem quam in Deum habebat:and she bore it with a good soul, because of the hope that she had in God.

²¹singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria fortiter,And, with fortitude, she exhorted every one of them,repleta sapientia: et,in the language of the fathers,femineæ cogitationi masculinum animum inserens,being filled with wisdom. And, joining masculine courage with feminine thinking,

²¹singulos illorum hortabatur voce patria fortiter,And, with fortitude, she exhorted every one of them,repleta sapientia: et,in the language of the fathers,femineæ cogitationi masculinum animum inserens,being filled with wisdom. And, joining masculine courage with feminine thinking,

²²dixit ad eos:she said to them:Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis,“I do not know how you were formed in my womb.neque enim ego spiritumFor I did not give you spirit,et animam donavi vobisnor soul,et vitam,nor life;et singulorum membra non ego ipsa compegi:neither did I construct each of your limbs.

²²dixit ad eos:she said to them:Nescio qualiter in utero meo apparuistis,“I do not know how you were formed in my womb.neque enim ego spiritumFor I did not give you spirit,et animam donavi vobisnor soul,et vitam,nor life;et singulorum membra non ego ipsa compegi:neither did I construct each of your limbs.

²³sed enim mundi Creator,Nevertheless, the Creator of the world,qui formavit hominis nativitatem,who formed the nativity of man,quique omnium invenit originem,and who founded the origins of all,et spiritum vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet et vitam,will restore both spirit and life to you again, with his mercy,sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges ejus.just as you now despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.”

²³sed enim mundi Creator,Nevertheless, the Creator of the world,qui formavit hominis nativitatem,who formed the nativity of man,quique omnium invenit originem,and who founded the origins of all,et spiritum vobis iterum cum misericordia reddet et vitam,will restore both spirit and life to you again, with his mercy,sicut nunc vosmetipsos despicitis propter leges ejus.just as you now despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.”

²⁴Antiochus autem,But Antiochus,contemni se arbitratus,thinking himself despised,simuland at the same time also despising the voice of the reproacher,et exprobrantis voce despecta,when only the youngest was still left,cum adhuc adolescentior superesset,not only exhorted him with words,non solum verbis hortabatur,but also assured him with an oath,sedthat he would make him wealthy and happy,et cum juramento affirmabat se divitemand,et beatum facturum,if he would convert from the laws of his fathers,et translatum a patriis legibus amicum habiturum,he would have him as a friend,et res necessarias ei præbiturum.and he would provide him with necessary things.

²⁴Antiochus autem,But Antiochus,contemni se arbitratus,thinking himself despised,simuland at the same time also despising the voice of the reproacher,et exprobrantis voce despecta,when only the youngest was still left,cum adhuc adolescentior superesset,not only exhorted him with words,non solum verbis hortabatur,but also assured him with an oath,sedthat he would make him wealthy and happy,et cum juramento affirmabat se divitemand,et beatum facturum,if he would convert from the laws of his fathers,et translatum a patriis legibus amicum habiturum,he would have him as a friend,et res necessarias ei præbiturum.and he would provide him with necessary things.

²⁵Sed ad hæc cum adolescens nequaquam inclinaretur,But,vocavit rex matrem,when the youth was not swayed by these things,et suadebat ei ut adolescenti fieret in salutem.the king called the mother and persuaded her to act toward the youth to save him.

²⁵Sed ad hæc cum adolescens nequaquam inclinaretur,But,vocavit rex matrem,when the youth was not swayed by these things,et suadebat ei ut adolescenti fieret in salutem.the king called the mother and persuaded her to act toward the youth to save him.

²⁶Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus,And so, when he had exhorted her with many words,promisit suasurum se filio suo.she promised that she would counsel her son.

²⁶Cum autem multis eam verbis esset hortatus,And so, when he had exhorted her with many words,promisit suasurum se filio suo.she promised that she would counsel her son.

²⁷Itaque inclinata ad illum,Then,irridens crudelem tyrannum,leaning towards him and mocking the cruel tyrant,ait patria voce:she said in the language of the fathers:Fili mi,“My son,miserere mei,take pity on me,quæ te in utero novem mensibus portavi,for I carried you for nine months in my womb,et lac triennio dedi et alui,and I gave you milk for three years,et in ætatem istam perduxi.and I nourished you and led you through to this stage of life.

²⁷Itaque inclinata ad illum,Then,irridens crudelem tyrannum,leaning towards him and mocking the cruel tyrant,ait patria voce:she said in the language of the fathers:Fili mi,“My son,miserere mei,take pity on me,quæ te in utero novem mensibus portavi,for I carried you for nine months in my womb,et lac triennio dedi et alui,and I gave you milk for three years,et in ætatem istam perduxi.and I nourished you and led you through to this stage of life.

²⁸Peto,I ask you,nate,child,ut aspicias ad cælumgaze upon heaven and earth,et terram,and all that is in them,et ad omnia quæ in eis sunt,and understand that God made them,et intelligas quia ex nihilo fecit illa Deus,and the family of man,et hominum genus:out of nothing.

²⁸Peto,I ask you,nate,child,ut aspicias ad cælumgaze upon heaven and earth,et terram,and all that is in them,et ad omnia quæ in eis sunt,and understand that God made them,et intelligas quia ex nihilo fecit illa Deus,and the family of man,et hominum genus:out of nothing.

²⁹ita fiet, ut non timeas carnificem istum,So shall it be that you will not fear this executioner,sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus particeps,but, participating worthily with your brothers,suscipe mortem,you shall accept death,ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam.so that, by this mercy, I shall receive you again with your brothers.”

²⁹ita fiet, ut non timeas carnificem istum,So shall it be that you will not fear this executioner,sed dignus fratribus tuis effectus particeps,but, participating worthily with your brothers,suscipe mortem,you shall accept death,ut in illa miseratione cum fratribus tuis te recipiam.so that, by this mercy, I shall receive you again with your brothers.”

³⁰Cum hæc illa adhuc diceret,While she was still saying these things,ait adolescens:the youth said:Quem sustinetis?“What are you waiting for?non obedio præcepto regis,I will not obey the precepts of the king,sed præcepto legis,but the precepts of the law,quæ data est nobis per Moysen.which was given to us through Moses.

³⁰Cum hæc illa adhuc diceret,While she was still saying these things,ait adolescens:the youth said:Quem sustinetis?“What are you waiting for?non obedio præcepto regis,I will not obey the precepts of the king,sed præcepto legis,but the precepts of the law,quæ data est nobis per Moysen.which was given to us through Moses.

³¹Tu vero,In truth,qui inventor omnis malitiæ factus es in Hebræos,you, who have been the inventor of all malice against the Hebrews,non effugies manum Dei.will not escape the hand of God.

³¹Tu vero,In truth,qui inventor omnis malitiæ factus es in Hebræos,you, who have been the inventor of all malice against the Hebrews,non effugies manum Dei.will not escape the hand of God.

³²Nos enim pro peccatis nostris hæc patimur.For we suffer these things because of our sins.

³²Nos enim pro peccatis nostris hæc patimur.For we suffer these things because of our sins.

³³Et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem Dominus Deus noster modicum iratus est:And if, for the sake of our chastisement and correction, the Lord our God is angry with us for a little while,sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.yet still he will be reconciled again to his servants.

³³Et si nobis propter increpationem et correptionem Dominus Deus noster modicum iratus est:And if, for the sake of our chastisement and correction, the Lord our God is angry with us for a little while,sed iterum reconciliabitur servis suis.yet still he will be reconciled again to his servants.

³⁴Tu autem,But as for you,o sceleste, et omnium hominum flagitiosissime,O wicked and most disgraceful of all men, do be not be extolled over nothing,noli frustra extolli vanis spebus in servos ejus inflammatus:with vain hopes, while you are inflamed against his servants.

³⁴Tu autem,But as for you,o sceleste, et omnium hominum flagitiosissime,O wicked and most disgraceful of all men, do be not be extolled over nothing,noli frustra extolli vanis spebus in servos ejus inflammatus:with vain hopes, while you are inflamed against his servants.

³⁵nondum enim omnipotentis Dei, et omnia inspicientis,For you have not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God,judicium effugisti.who examines all things.

³⁵nondum enim omnipotentis Dei, et omnia inspicientis,For you have not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God,judicium effugisti.who examines all things.

³⁶Nam fratres mei,Therefore, my brothers,modico nunc dolore sustentato,having now sustained brief sorrow,sub testamento æternæ vitæ effecti sunt:have been brought under the covenant of eternal life. But, in truth,tu vero judicio Dei justas superbiæ tuæ pœnas exsolves.you, by the judgment of God, will be released into just punishment for your arrogance.

³⁶Nam fratres mei,Therefore, my brothers,modico nunc dolore sustentato,having now sustained brief sorrow,sub testamento æternæ vitæ effecti sunt:have been brought under the covenant of eternal life. But, in truth,tu vero judicio Dei justas superbiæ tuæ pœnas exsolves.you, by the judgment of God, will be released into just punishment for your arrogance.

³⁷Ego autem,But I,sicut fratres mei,like my brothers,animamdeliver up my soul and my body for the sake of the laws of the fathers,et corpus meum trado pro patriis legibus,calling upon God so as to bring forgiveness upon our nation sooner,invocans Deum maturius genti nostræ propitium fieri,and so that you,teque cum tormentiswith torments and lashings,et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus.may confess that he alone is God.

³⁷Ego autem,But I,sicut fratres mei,like my brothers,animamdeliver up my soul and my body for the sake of the laws of the fathers,et corpus meum trado pro patriis legibus,calling upon God so as to bring forgiveness upon our nation sooner,invocans Deum maturius genti nostræ propitium fieri,and so that you,teque cum tormentiswith torments and lashings,et verberibus confiteri quod ipse est Deus solus.may confess that he alone is God.

³⁸In me vero et in fratribus meis desinet Omnipotentis ira,Truly, in me and in my brothers, the wrath of the Almighty,quæ super omne genus nostrum juste superducta est.which has been led over all our people justly, shall cease.”

³⁸In me vero et in fratribus meis desinet Omnipotentis ira,Truly, in me and in my brothers, the wrath of the Almighty,quæ super omne genus nostrum juste superducta est.which has been led over all our people justly, shall cease.”

³⁹Tunc rex accensus ira in hunc,Then the king, burning with anger,super omnes crudelius desævit,raged against this one with cruelty beyond all the rest,indigne ferens se derisum.bearing it indignantly that he himself was derided.

³⁹Tunc rex accensus ira in hunc,Then the king, burning with anger,super omnes crudelius desævit,raged against this one with cruelty beyond all the rest,indigne ferens se derisum.bearing it indignantly that he himself was derided.

⁴⁰Et hic itaque mundus obiit,And so this one also died in purity,per omnia in Domino confidens.trusting in the Lord through all things.

⁴⁰Et hic itaque mundus obiit,And so this one also died in purity,per omnia in Domino confidens.trusting in the Lord through all things.

⁴¹Novissime autem post filios,Then, last of all, after the sons,et mater consumpta est.the mother also was consumed.

⁴¹Novissime autem post filios,Then, last of all, after the sons,et mater consumpta est.the mother also was consumed.

⁴²Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis dictum est.Therefore, about the sacrifices and about the exceedingly great cruelties, enough has been said.

⁴²Igitur de sacrificiis et de nimiis crudelitatibus satis dictum est.Therefore, about the sacrifices and about the exceedingly great cruelties, enough has been said.