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,
11
he said, "You profane tyrant, most impious of all the wicked, since you have received good things and also your kingdom from God, were you not ashamed to murder his servants and torture on the wheel those who practice religion?
12
Because of this, justice has laid up for you intense and eternal fire and tortures, and these throughout all time will never let you go.
13
As a man, were you not ashamed, you most savage beast, to cut out the tongues of men who have feelings like yours and are made of the same elements as you, and to maltreat and torture them in this way?
14
Surely they by dying nobly fulfilled their service to God, but you will wail bitterly for having slain without cause the contestants for virtue."
15
Then because he too was about to die, he said,