8
Such should be those who are administrators of the law, shielding it with their own blood and noble sweat in sufferings even to death.
9
You, father, strengthened our loyalty to the law through your glorious endurance, and you did not abandon the holiness which you praised, but by your deeds you made your words of divine philosophy credible.
10
O aged man, more powerful than tortures; O elder, fiercer than fire; O supreme king over the passions, Eleazar!
11
For just as our father Aaron, armed with the censer, ran through the multitude of the people and conquered the fiery angel,
12
so the descendant of Aaron, Eleazar, though being consumed by the fire, remained unmoved in his reason.
13
Most amazing, indeed, though he was an old man, his body no longer tense and firm, his muscles flabby, his sinews feeble, he became young again
14
in spirit through reason; and by reason like that of Isaac he rendered the many-headed rack ineffective.
15
O man of blessed age and of venerable gray hair and of law-abiding life, whom the faithful seal of death has perfected!
16
If, therefore, because of piety an aged man despised tortures even to death, most certainly devout reason is governor of the emotions.
17
Some perhaps might say, "Not every one has full command of his emotions, because not every one has prudent reason."
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But as many as attend to religion with a whole heart, these alone are able to control the passions of the flesh,