Liber II Machabaeorum

Eodem tempore, Antiochus inhoneste revertebatur de Perside.

At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia.

Idem tempore, Antiocho inhoneste reverte de Perside.

Intraverat enim in eam quæ dicitur Persepolis, et tentavit expoliare templum, et civitatem opprimere: sed multitudine ad arma concurrente, in fugam versi sunt: et ita contigit ut Antiochus post fugam turpiter rediret.

For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude running together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus being put to flight, returned with disgrace.

Intra nam in illa que dic Persepolos, et tenta expolia templo, et civitate opprime: sed multitudine ad armas concurre, in fuga verte es: et ita continge ut Antiocho post fuga turpiter reveni.

Et cum venisset circa Ecbatanam, recognovit quæ erga Nicanorem et Timotheum gesta sunt.

Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus.

Et cum veni circa Ecbatanase, recogna que erga Nicanore et Timotheo gere es.

Elatus autem in ira, arbitrabatur se injuriam illorum qui se fugaverant posse in Judæos retorquere: ideoque jussit agitari currum suum sine intermissione agens iter, cælesti eum judicio perurgente, eo quod ita superbe locutus est se venturum Jerosolymam, et congeriem sepulchri Judæorum eam facturum.

And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying place of the Jews.

Elato autem in ira, arbitra se iniuria de illos qui fuga se posse in Iudaeos retorque: et ideo iube agita curro suo sine intermissione age itinere, caelesti illo iudicio perurge, eo quod ita superbe locuto es se veni Ierosolyma, et congerie de sepulchro de Iudaeos illa fac.

Sed qui universa conspicit Dominus Deus Israël, percussit eum insanabili et invisibili plaga. Ut enim finivit hunc ipsum sermonem, apprehendit eum dolor dirus viscerum, et amara internorum tormenta:

But the Lord, the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him with an incurable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter torments of the inner parts.

Sed qui conspice universa Domino Deo Israële, percute illo insanabili et invisibili plaga. Ut nam finie hoc ipso sermone, dolore diro de visceras apprehende illo, et amaro de internos tormentos:

et quidem satis juste, quippe qui multis et novis cruciatibus aliorum torserat viscera, licet ille nullo modo a sua malitia cessaret.

And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from his malice.

Et quidem satis iuste, quippe qui multo et novo cruciases alio tor visceras, lice illo nullo solo ab suo malitia cessa.

Super hoc autem superbia repletus, ignem spirans animo in Judæos, et præcipiens accelerari negotium, contigit illum impetu euntem de curru cadere, et gravi corporis collisione membra vexari.

Moreover, being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened as he was going with violence, that he fell from the chariot, so that his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body.

Super hoc autem superbia reple, igni spira animo in Iudaeos, et praecipie accelera negotio, continge illo impetu i de curru cade, et gravi de corpore collisione membros vexa.

Isque qui sibi videbatur etiam fluctibus maris imperare, supra humanum modum superbia repletus, et montium altitudines in statera appendere, nunc humiliatus ad terram in gestatorio portabatur, manifestam Dei virtutem in semetipso contestans:

Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in himself:

Isque qui ad se vide etiam fluctus de mari impera, supra humano modo superbia reple, et de montes altitudines in statera appende, nunc humilia ad terra in gestatoria porta, manifesto de Deo virtute in semetipso contesta:

ita ut de corpore impii vermes scaturirent, ac viventis in doloribus carnes ejus effluerent, odore etiam illius et fœtore exercitus gravaretur:

So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to the army.

Ita ut de corpore impio vermes scaturi, et vive in dolores carnes de illo efflue, odore etiam de illo et foetore de exercitu grava:

et qui paulo ante sidera cæli contingere se arbitrabatur, eum nemo poterat propter intolerantiam fœtoris portare.

And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable stench.

Et qui paulo ante sideres de caelo continge se arbitra, illo nemo pote propter intolerantia foetores porta.

Hinc igitur cœpit ex gravi superbia deductus ad agnitionem sui venire, divina admonitus plaga, per momenta singula doloribus suis augmenta capientibus.

And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment.

Hinc ergo incipe ex gravi superbia deduce ad agnitione suo venire, divino admone plaga, per momentos singulo dolores suo augmentos cape.

Et cum nec ipse jam fœtorem suum ferre posset, ita ait: Justum est subditum esse Deo, et mortalem non paria Deo sentire.

And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not equal himself to God.

Et cum nec ipso jam foetore suo ferre pote, ita dic: iusto es subde es ad Deo, et mortali non pari ad Deo senti.

Orabat autem hic scelestus Dominum, a quo non esset misericordiam consecuturus.

Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like to obtain mercy.

Ora autem hoc scelesto Domino, ab quo non es misericordia consequor.

Et civitatem, ad quam festinans veniebat ut eam ad solum deduceret ac sepulchrum congestorum faceret, nunc optat liberam reddere:

And the city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with the ground, and to make it a common burying place, he now desireth to make free:

Et civitate, ad quam festina veni ut illa ad solo deduce et sepulchro congesta fac, nunc opta libro redde:

et Judæos, quos nec sepultura quidem se dignos habiturum, sed avibus ac feris diripiendos traditurum, et cum parvulis exterminaturum dixerat, æquales nunc Atheniensibus facturum pollicetur:

And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now promiseth to make equal with the Athenians.

Et Iudaeos, que nec sepultura quidem se digna habe, sed aves et feros diripe trade, et cum parvulo extermina dic, aequali nunc ad Atheniense fac polliceor:

templum etiam sanctum, quod prius expoliaverat, optimis donis ornaturum, et sancta vasa multiplicaturum, et pertinentes ad sacrificia sumptus de redditibus suis præstaturum:

The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices.

Templo etiam sancto, quod ante expolia, bono donos orna, et sancto vases multiplica, et pertine ad sacrificios de sumptu de reddes suo praesta:

super hæc, et Judæum se futurum, et omnem locum terræ perambulaturum, et prædicaturum Dei potestatem.

Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God.

Super hoc, et Iudaeo se es, et omni loco de terra perambula, et praedica de Deo potestate.

Sed non cessantibus doloribus (supervenerat enim in eum justum Dei judicium), desperans scripsit ad Judæos in modum deprecationis epistolam hæc continentem:

But his pains not ceasing, (for the just judgment of God was come upon him) despairing of life, he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a supplication, a letter in these words:

Sed non cessa dolores (iusto nam in illo superveni de Deo iudicio), despera scribe ad Iudaeos in modo de deprecatione epistola hoc contine:

Optimis civibus Judæis plurimam salutem, et bene valere, et esse felices, rex et principes Antiochus.

To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness.

Optimo cives ad Iudaeos multo salute, et bene vale, et es felice, rege et principes Antiocho.

Si bene valetis, et filii vestri, et ex sententia vobis cuncta sunt, maximas agimus gratias.

If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you to your mind, we give very great thanks.

Si bene vale, et filios vestro, et ex sententia ad vos cuncta es, magna age gratias.

Et ego in infirmitate constitutus, vestri autem memor benigne reversus de Persidis locis, et infirmitate gravi apprehensus, necessarium duxi pro communi utilitate curam habere:

As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good:

Et me in infirmitate constitue, vestro autem memore benigne reverte de Perside locos, et infirmitate gravi apprehende, necessaria duc pro communi utilitate cura habere:

non desperans memetipsum, sed spem multam habens effugiendi infirmitatem.

Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the sickness.

Non despera memetipe, sed spe multo habente effuge infirmitate.

Respiciens autem quod et pater meus, quibus temporibus in locis superioribus ducebat exercitum, ostendit qui post se susciperet principatum:

But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him:

Respice autem quod et patre meo, ad que tempores in locos superiori duc exercitu, ostende qui post se suscipe principatu:

ut si quid contrarium accideret, aut difficile nuntiaretur, scientes hi qui in regionibus erant, cui esset rerum summa derelicta, non turbarentur.

To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall out, or any bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be troubled.

Ut si quid contrario accide, aut difficile nuntia, sci hoc qui in regiones es, ad que es de res summo derelingua, non turba.

Ad hæc, considerans de proximo potentes quosque et vicinos temporibus insidiantes, et eventum exspectantes, designavi filium meum Antiochum regem, quem sæpe recurrens in superiora regna multis vestrum commendabam: et scripsi ad eum quæ subjecta sunt.

Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes, and borderers, wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him what I have joined here below.

Ad hoc, considera de proximo potente et que et vicinos tempores insidior, et evento expecta, designa filio meo Antiocho rege, quem saepe recurre in superiori regnos multo vestro commenda: et scribe ad illo que subicie es.

Ora itaque vos, et peto memores beneficiorum publice et privatim, ut unusquisque conservet fidem ad me et ad filium meum.

I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to be faithful to me and to my son.

Vos itaque pete, et oras memore de beneficios publice et privatim, ut et unusquis conserva fide ad me et ad filio meo.

Confido enim eum modeste et humane acturum, et sequentem propositum meum, et communem vobis fore.

For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and following my intentions, will be gracious unto you.

Confide nam illo modeste et humane age, et seque proposito meo, et communi ad vos es in futuro.

Igitur homicida et blasphemus pessime percussus, et ut ipse alios tractaverat, peregre in montibus miserabili obitu vita functus est.

Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange country, among the mountains.

Ergo homicida et blasphemo pessime percute, et ut ipso tracta alio, peregre in montes miserabili obitu vita fungor es.

Transferebat autem corpus Philippus collactaneus ejus: qui, metuens filium Antiochi, ad Ptolemæum Philometorem in Ægyptum abiit.

But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee Philometor.

Philippo autem collactaneo de illo transfer corpore: qui, metue filio de Antiocheo, ad Ptolemaeo Philometore in Aegypto i ab.