The law of God is abolished, the temple profaned, and named of Jupiter Olympius. 7. The feast of Bacchus is kept. 10. women with their circumcised children are slain. 11. others for celebrating the sabbath (12. an admonition to the reader) 18. old Eleazarus constantly observing the law suffereth glorious death.The law of God is abolished, the temple prophaned, and named of Iupiter Olympius. 7. The feast of Bacchus is kept. 10. wemen with their circumcised children are slaine. 11. others for celebrating the sabbath (12. an admonition to the reader) 18. old Eleazarus constantly obseruing the law suffereth glorious death.✦
But not long after the king sent a certain ancient man of Antioch, that should compel the Jews to remove themselves from the laws of their fathers and of God:BVT not long after the king sent a certaine ancient man of Antioch, that should compel the Iewes to remoue themselues from the lawes of their fathers and of God:✦Sed non post multum temporis, misit rex senem quemdam Antiochenum, qui compelleret Judæos ut se transferrent a patriis et Dei legibus :
2to contaminate also the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it by the name of Jupiter Olympius: and in Garizim, according as they were that inhabited the place, of Jupiter Hospitalis.to contaminate also the temple that was in Ierusalem, and to cal it by the name of Iupiter Olympius: and in Garizim, according as they were that inhabited the place, of Iupiter Hospitalis.✦contaminare etiam quod in Jerosolymis erat templum, et cognominare Jovis Olympii : et in Garizim, prout erant hi qui locum inhabitabant, Jovis hospitalis.
3And the invasion of the evils was sore and grievous to all:And the inuasion of the euiles was sore and grieuous to al:Pessima autem et universis gravis erat malorum incursio :
4for the temple was full of the lechery and gluttony of the Gentiles: and of them that played the harlots with whores. And women thrusting themselves of their own accord into the sacred houses, bringing in those things which were not lawful.for the temple was ful of the lecherie and glottonie of the Gentiles: & of them that played the harlots with whoores. And wemen thrusting themselues of their owne accord into the sacred houses, bringing in thouse thinges which were not lawful.nam templum luxuria et comessationibus gentium erat plenum, et scortantium cum meretricibus : sacratisque ædibus mulieres se ultro ingerebant, intro ferentes ea quæ non licebat.
5The altar also was full of unlawful things, which were forbidden by the laws.The altar also was ful of vnlawful thinges, which were forbidden by the lawes.Altare etiam plenum erat illicitis, quæ legibus prohibebantur.
6And neither were the Sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the fathers observed, neither plainly did any man confess himself to be a Jew.And neither were the Sabbaths kept, nor the soleme dayes of the fathers obserued neither plainely did anie man confesse him selfe to be a Iewe.Neque autem sabbata custodiebantur, neque dies solemnes patrii servabantur, nec simpliciter Judæum se esse quisquam confitebatur.
7But they were led with bitter necessity in the king's birth day to sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to go about crowned with ivy unto Bacchus.But they were led with bitter necessitie in the kings birth day to sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were compelled to goe about crowned with Iuie vnto Bacchus.✦Ducebantur autem cum amara necessitate in die natalis regis ad sacrificia : et cum Liberi sacra celebrarentur, cogebantur hedera coronati Libero circuire.
8And there went forth a decree into the next cities of the Gentiles, the Ptolemeans giving the advice, that they also in like manner should do against the Jews, that they might sacrifice:And there went forth a decree into the next cities of the Gentiles, the Ptolomeans geuing the aduise, that they also in like manner should doe against the Iewes, that they might sacrifice:✦Decretum autem exiit in proximas gentilium civitates, suggerentibus Ptolemæis, ut pari modo et ipsi adversus Judæos agerent, ut sacrificarent :
9and them that would not pass to the ordinances of the heathen, they should kill. A man then might see the misery.and them that would not passe to the ordinances of the heathen, they should kil. A man then might see the miserie.eos autem qui nollent transire ad instituta gentium, interficerent : erat ergo videre miseriam.
10For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: whom, the infants hanging at their breasts, when they had openly led them about through the city, they threw down headlong by the walls.For 1. two wemen were accused to haue circurcided their children: whom, the infantes hanging at their breasts, when they had openly led them about through the citie, they threwe downe headlong by the walles.Duæ enim mulieres delatæ sunt natos suos circumcidisse : quas, infantibus ad ubera suspensis, cum publice per civitatem circumduxissent, per muros præcipitaverunt.
11And others coming together to the next caves, and secretly keeping the day of the Sabbath, when they were discovered to Philip, were burnt with fire, because they feared for religion and observance, to help themselves with their hand.And others coming together to the next caues, & secretely 2. keping the day of the Sabbath, when they were discouered to Philip, were burnt with fyre, because they feared for religion and obseruance, to helpe themselues with their hand.✦Alii vero, ad proximas coëuntes speluncas, et latenter sabbati diem celebrantes, cum indicati essent Philippo, flammis succensi sunt, eo quod verebantur propter religionem et observantiam manu sibimet auxilium ferre.
12But I beseech them that shall read this book, that they abhor not for the adversities, but that they account those things, which have happened, not to be for the destruction, but for the chastening of our stock.But I beseech them that shal read this booke, that they abhorre not for the aduersities, but that they account those thinges, which haue happened, not to be for the destruction, but for the chastening of our stocke.Obsecro autem eos qui hunc librum lecturi sunt, ne abhorrescant propter adversos casus : sed reputent ea quæ acciderunt, non ad interitum, sed ad correptionem esse generis nostri.
13For not to suffer sinners a long time to do as they will, but forthwith to punish, is a token of a great benefit.For not to suffer sinners a long time to doe as they wil, but forthwith to punish, is a token of a great benefite.Etenim multo tempore non sinere peccatoribus ex sententia agere, sed statim ultiones adhibere, magni beneficii est indicium.
14For, not as in other nations our Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgement shall come, he may punish them in the fullness of sins:For, not as in other nations our Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of iudgement shal come, he may punish them in the fulnes of sinnes:Non enim, sicut in aliis nationibus, Dominus patienter exspectat, ut eas cum judicii dies advenerit, in plenitudine peccatorum puniat :
15so also doth he determine in us, that our sins being come to the end, so at length he may punish us.so also doth he determine in vs, that our sinnes being come to the end, so at length he may punish vs.ita et in nobis statuit ut, peccatis nostris in finem devolutis, ita demum in nos vindicet.
16For which cause he never quidem: assuredly, indeed removeth away his mercy from us: but chastening his people by adversity, he forsaketh them not.For which cause he neuer certes remoueth away his mercie from vs: but chastening his people by aduersitie, he forsaketh them not.Propter quod numquam quidem a nobis misericordiam suam amovet : corripiens vero in adversis, populum suum non dereliquit.
17But let these things be said of us in few words for an admonition of the readers. And now we must come to the story.But let these thinges be sayd of vs in few wordes for an admonition of the readers. And now we must come to the storie.Sed hæc nobis ad commonitionem legentium dicta sint paucis. Jam enim veniendum est ad narrationem.
18Therefore Eleazarus one of the chief of the Scribes, a man stricken in age, and comely of countenance, with open mouth gaping was compelled to eat swine's flesh.Therfore 3. Eleazarus one of the chief of the Scribes, a man striken in age, and comely of countenance, with open mouth gaping was compelled to eate swines flesh.✦Igitur Eleazarus, unus de primoribus scribarum, vir ætate provectus, et vultu decorus, aperto ore hians compellebatur carnem porcinam manducare.
19But he embracing rather a most glorious death than an hateful life, went before voluntarily to the punishment.But he embracing rather a most glorious death then an hateful life, went before voluntarily to the punishment.At ille gloriosissimam mortem magis quam odibilem vitam complectens, voluntarie præibat ad supplicium.
20And considering how he ought to come patiently sustaining, he determined not to commit unlawful things for love of life.And considering how he ought to come patiently susteyning, he determined not to committe vnlawful thinges for loue of life.✦Intuens autem quemadmodum oporteret accedere, patienter sustinens, destinavit non admittere illicita propter vitæ amorem.
21But they that stood by, moved with unlawful pity, for the old friendship of the man, taking him in secret, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might feign to have eaten, as the king had commanded,But they that stood by, moued with vnlawful pitie, for the old frendshipe of the man, taking him in secrete, desired that flesh might be brought, which it was lawful for him to eate, that he might feyne to haue eaten, as the king had commanded,Hi autem qui astabant, iniqua miseratione commoti propter antiquam viri amicitiam, tollentes eum secreto rogabant afferri carnes quibus vesci ei licebat, ut simularetur manducasse sicut rex imperaverat de sacrificii carnibus,
22of the flesh of the sacrifice: that by this fact he might be delivered from death: and for the old friendship of the man, they did him this courtesy.of the flesh of the sacrifice: that by this fact he might be deliuered from death: and for the old freindshipe of the man, they did him this courtesie.ut hoc facto, a morte liberaretur : et propter veterem viri amicitiam, hanc in eo faciebant humanitatem.
23But he began to think upon the worthy preeminence of his age and senectutis: old age, advanced years, and the hoar canitiem: the white hairs of old age of natural nobility, and his doings from a child of very good conversationis: manner of life, conduct, not talk or speech, and according to the ordinances, and the holy law made of God, he answered quickly, saying: that he would rather be sent unto hell.But he begane to thinke vpon the worthie preeminence of his age and ancientnes, and the houre heares of natural nobilitie, & his doinges from a childe of very good conuersation, and according to the ordinances, and the holie law made of God, he answered quickly, saying: that he would rather be sent vnto hel.✦At ille cogitare cœpit ætatis ac senectutis suæ eminentiam dignam, et ingenitæ nobilitatis canitiem, atque a puero optimæ conversationis actus : et secundum sanctæ et a Deo conditæ legis constituta, respondit cito, dicens præmitti se velle in infernum.
24For it is not dignum: fitting, proper, quoth he, for our age to feign: that many young men thinking, that Eleazarus of fourscore year and ten is passed to the life of Aliens:For it is not meete, quoth he, for our age to feyne: that manie young men thinking, that Eleazarus of foure score yeare & tenne is passed to the life of Aliens:Non enim ætati nostræ dignum est, inquit, fingere : ut multi adolescentium, arbitrantes Eleazarum nonaginta annorum transisse ad vitam alienigenarum,
25they also through my dissimulation, and for a little time of corruptible life, may be deceived, and hereby I may conquiram: to bring upon oneself, acquire, not to buy a stain, and a curse to mine old age.they also through my dissimulation, and for a litle time of corruptible life, may be deceiued, and hereby I may purchase a stayne, and a curse to mine old age.et ipsi propter meam simulationem, et propter modicum corruptibilis vitæ tempus decipiantur, et per hoc maculam atque execrationem meæ senectuti conquiram.
26For although at this present time I be delivered from the punishments of men, yet neither alive nor dead shall I escape the hand of the Almighty.For although at this present time I be deliuered from the punishments of men, yet neither aliue nor dead shal I escape the hand of the Almightie.✦Nam etsi in præsenti tempore suppliciis hominum eripiar, sed manum Omnipotentis nec vivus, nec defunctus, effugiam.
27Wherefore in departing fortiter: bravely, valiantly out of this life, I shall appear worthy of mine old age:Wherfore in departing manfully out of this life, I shal appeare worthie of mine old age:Quam ob rem fortiter vita excedendo, senectute quidem dignus apparebo :
28and to young men I shall leave a constant example, if with ready mind and stoutly I suffer an honest death, for the most grave and most holy laws. These things being spoken, forthwith he was drawn to execution.and to yong men I shal leaue a constant example, if with readie mind and stoutly I suffer an honest death, for the most graue and most holie lawes. These thinges being spoken, forthwith he was drawen to execution.✦adolescentibus autem exemplum forte relinquam, si prompto animo ac fortiter pro gravissimis ac sanctissimis legibus honesta morte perfungar. His dictis, confestim ad supplicium trahebatur.
29And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were turned into wrath for the words spoken of him, which they thought were uttered through arrogancy.And they that led him, and had bene a litle before more milde, were turned into wrath for the wordes spoken of him, which they thought were vttered through arrogancie.Hi autem qui eum ducebant, et paulo ante fuerant mitiores, in iram conversi sunt propter sermones ab eo dictos, quos illi per arrogantiam prolatos arbitrabantur.
30But when he was now in killing with the strokes, he groaned, and said: O Lord, which hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas I might be delivered from death, I do sustain sore pains of the body: but according to the soul, for thy fear I do willingly suffer these things.But when he was now in killing with the strokes, he groned, and sayd: O Lord, which hast the holie knowlege, thou knowest manifestly that wheras I might be deliuered from death, I doe susteyne sore paines of the bodie: but according to the soule, for thy feare I doe willingly suffer these thinges.✦Sed cum plagis perimeretur, ingemuit, et dixit : Domine, qui habes sanctam scientiam, manifeste tu scis quia cum a morte possem liberari, duros corporis sustineo dolores : secundum animam vero propter timorem tuum libenter hæc patior.
31And this man certes in this manner departed this life, leaving not only to young men, but also to the whole nation the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.And this man certes in this maner departed this life, leauing not only to yong men, but also to the whole nation the memorie of his death for an example of vertue and fortitude.Et iste quidem hoc modo vita decessit, non solum juvenibus, sed et universæ genti memoriam mortis suæ ad exemplum virtutis et fortitudinis derelinquens.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.