3
When the tyrant had given these orders, seven brothers—handsome, modest, noble, and accomplished in every way—were brought before him along with their aged mother.
4
When the tyrant saw them, grouped about their mother as though a chorus, he was pleased with them. And struck by their appearance and nobility, he smiled at them, and summoned them nearer and said,
5
"Young men, with favorable feelings I admire each and every one of you, and greatly respect the beauty and the number of such brothers. Not only do I advise you not to display the same madness as that of the old man who has just been tortured, but I also exhort you to yield to me and enjoy my friendship.
6
Just as I am able to punish those who disobey my orders, so I can be a benefactor to those who obey me.
7
Trust me, then, and you will have positions of authority in my government if you will renounce the ancestral tradition of your national life.
8
Enjoy your youth by adopting the Greek way of life and by changing your manner of living.
9
But if by disobedience you rouse my anger, you will compel me to destroy each and every one of you with dreadful punishments through tortures.
10
Therefore take pity on yourselves. Even I, your enemy, have compassion for your youth and handsome appearance.
11
Will you not consider this, that if you disobey, nothing remains for you but to die on the rack?"
12
When he had said these things, he ordered the instruments of torture to be brought forward so as to persuade them out of fear to eat the defiling food.
13
When the guards had placed before them wheels and joint-dislocators, rack and hooks and catapults and caldrons, braziers and thumbscrews and iron claws and wedges and bellows, the tyrant resumed speaking: