2
Two courses were open to this mother, that of religion, and that of preserving her seven sons for a time, as the tyrant had promised.
3
She loved religion more, religion that preserves them for eternal life according to God's promise.
4
In what manner might I express the emotions of parents who love their children? We impress upon the character of a small child a wondrous likeness both of mind and of form. Especially is this true of mothers, who because of their birthpangs have a deeper sympathy toward their offspring than do the fathers.
5
Considering that mothers are the weaker sex and give birth to many, they are more devoted to their children.
6
The mother of the seven boys, more than any other mother, loved her children. In seven pregnancies she had implanted in herself tender love toward them,
7
and because of the many pains she suffered with each of them she had sympathy for them;
8
yet because of the fear of God she disdained the temporary safety of her children.
9
Not only so, but also because of the nobility of her sons and their ready obedience to the law she felt a greater tenderness toward them.
10
For they were righteous and self-controlled and brave and magnanimous, and loved their brothers and their mother, so that they obeyed her even to death in keeping the ordinances.
11
Nevertheless, though so many factors influenced the mother to suffer with them out of love for her children, in the case of none of them were the various tortures strong enough to pervert her reason.
12
Instead, the mother urged them on, each child singly and all together, to death for the sake of religion.