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| [1]When he, too, had undergone blessed martyrdom, and died in the caldron into which he had been thrown, the seventh, the youngest of all, came forward: |
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| [2]whom the tyrant pitying, though he had been dreadfully reproached by his brethren, |
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| [3]seeing him already encompassed with chains, had him brought nearer, and endeavoured to counsel him, saying, |
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| [4]Thou seest the end of the madness of thy brethren: for they have died to torture through disobedience; and you, if disobedient, having been miserably tormented, will yourself perish prematurely. |
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| [5]But if you obey, you shall be my friend, and have a charge over the affairs of the kingdom. |
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| [6]And having thus exhorted him, he sent for the mother of the boy; that, by condoling with her for the loss of so many sons, he might incline her, through the hope of safety, to render the survivor obedient. |
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| [7]And he, after his mother had urged him on in the Hebrew tongue, (as we shall soon relate) saith, |
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| [8] Release me that I may speak to the king and all his friends. |
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| [9]And they, rejoicing exceedingly at the promise of the youth, quickly let him go. |
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| [10]And he, running up to the pans, said, |
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| [11]Impious tyrant, and most blasphemous man, wert thou not ashamed, having received prosperity and a kingdom from God, to slay His servants, and to rack the doers of godliness? |
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| [12]Wherefore the divine vengeance is reserving thee for eternal fire and torments, which shall cling to thee for all time. |
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| [13]Wert thou not ashamed, man as thou art, yet most savage, to cut out the tongues of men of like feeling and origin, and having thus abused to torture them? |
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| [14]But they, bravely dying, fulfilled their religion towards God. |
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| [15]But thou shalt groan according to thy deserts for having slain without cause the champions of virtue. |
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| [16]Wherefore, he continued, I myself, being about to die, |
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| [17]will not forsake my brethren. |
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| [18]And I call upon the God of my fathers to be merciful to my race. |
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| [19]But thee, both living and dead, he will punish. |
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| [20]Thus having prayed, he hurled himself into the pans; and so expired. |
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