1
The reasoning of our father Eleazar, like a first-rate pilot, steering the vessel of piety in the sea of passions,
2
and flouted by the threats of the tyrant, and overwhelmed with the breakers of torture,
3
in no way shifted the rudder of piety till it sailed into the harbour of victory over death.
4
Not so has ever a city, when besieged, held out against many and various machines, as did that holy man, when his pious soul was tried with the fiery trial of tortures and rackings, move his besiegers through the religious reasoning that shielded him.
5
For father Eleazar, projecting his disposition, broke the raging waves of the passions as with a jutting promontory.
6
O priest worthy of the priesthood! thou didst not pollute thy sacred teeth; nor make thine appetite, which had always embraced the clean and lawful, a partaker of profanity.
7
O harmonizer with the law, and sage devoted to a divine life!
8
Of such a character ought those to be who perform the duties of the law at the risk of their own blood, and defend it with generous sweat by sufferings even unto death.
9
Thou, father, hast gloriously established our right government by thy endurance; and making of much account our service past, prevented its destruction, and, by thy deeds, hast made credible the words of philosophy.