7
hadst thou been capable of the higher feelings of men, and possessed the hope of salvation from God.
8
Behold now, being alien from God, thou makest war against those who are religious toward God.
9
As he said this, the spearbearers bound him, and drew him to the catapelt:
10
to which binding him at his knees, and fastening them with iron fetters, they bent down his loins upon the wedge of the wheel; and his body was then dismembered, scorpion-fashion.
11
With his breath thus confined, and his body strangled, he said,
12
A great favour thou bestowest upon us, O tyrant, by enabling us to manifest our adherence to the law by means of nobler sufferings.
13
He also being dead, the sixth, quite a youth, was brought out; and on the tyrant asking him whether he would eat and be delivered, he said,
14
I am indeed younger than my brothers, but in understanding I am as old;
15
for having been born and reared unto the same end, we are bound to die also in behalf of the same cause.
16
So that if ye think proper to torment us for not eating the unclean;—torment!