but I now despise them for [the sake of] His ordinance,
because I have hope in him that I may receive them again from him,'
And the king wondered, and they that were with him,
at the young man's constancy, that he despised the death-tormeht.
After this one's departure (from life), they took the fourth,
and tormented him in like manner, but he firmly quoth,
'It is better for us to die and soothly to abide
the eternal resurrection at (the hands of) the Almighty God;
but for thee shall be no resurrection to the eternal life.'
He then ended (his life) with constant belief,
and they took, to torment (him), the fifth brother.
He looked then towards the king, and quoth thus to him,
'Now (that) thou hast might amongst men for a while,
thou dost as thou wilt, but think not, nevertheless,
that the God upon whom we believe forsakes us.
thou shalt find His might, not far hence, over thyself,
how He will torment thee sharply with punishments.'
He ended (liis life) then, and they quickly caught
The sixth brother; and he, dying, quoth,
'Err not thou vainly, though the Lord permit thee
that we for our sins become such a spectacle;
and think not thou concerning thyself that thou shalt be untormented,
now (that) thou fightest against God; ' and he departed then soon.
Then wondered their mother that they strove so well,
and she with blithe mood ever exhorted her children,
each one severally, and said to them all,
'I joined not your limbs, nor did I supply you with life,
but the world's Creator gave you your spirit and life,
and He again will give you the eternal life with Him,
even as ye now ofifer yourselves for His law.'
Thereupon Antiochus, the impious king,
promised the one boy who was still alive
