1
When he also, thrown into the caldron, had died a blessed death, the seventh and youngest of all came forward.
2
Even though the tyrant had been fearfully reproached by the brothers, he felt strong compassion for this child when he saw that he was already in fetters. He summoned him to come nearer and tried to console him, saying,
3
"You see the result of your brothers' stupidity, for they died in torments because of their disobedience.
4
You too, if you do not obey, will be miserably tortured and die before your time,
5
but if you yield to persuasion you will be my friend and a leader in the government of the kingdom."
6
When he had so pleaded, he sent for the boy's mother to show compassion on her who had been bereaved of so many sons and to influence her to persuade the surviving son to obey and save himself.
7
But when his mother had exhorted him in the Hebrew language, as we shall tell a little later,
8
he said, "Let me loose, let me speak to the king and to all his friends that are with him."
9
Extremely pleased by the boy's declaration, they freed him at once.
10
Running to the nearest of the braziers,