6
And of all mothers the mother of the seven was the fondest of children, who in seven childbirths had deeply engendered love toward them;
7
and through her many pains undergone in connection with each one, was compelled to feel sympathy with them;
8
yet, through fear of God, she neglected the temporary salvation of her children.
9
Not but that, on account of the excellent disposition to the law, her maternal affection toward them was increased.
10
For they were both just and temperate, and manly, and high-minded, and fond of their brethren, and so fond of their mother that even unto death they obeyed her by observing the law.
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And yet, though there were so many circumstances connected with love of children to draw on a mother to sympathy, in the case of none of them were the various tortures able to pervert her principle.
12
But she inclined each one separately and all together to death for religion.
13
O holy nature and parental feeling, and reward of bringing up children, and unconquerable maternal affection!
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At the racking and roasting of each one of them, the observant mother was prevented by religion from changing.
15
She beheld her children's flesh dissolving around the fire; and their extremities quivering on the ground, and the flesh of their heads dropped forwards down to their beards, like masks.
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O thou mother, who wast tried at this time with bitterer pangs than those of parturition!