10
Will you not reason upon this—that if you disobey, there will be nothing left for you but to die in tortures?
11
Thus speaking, he ordered the instruments of torture to be brought forward, that very fear might prevail upon them to eat unclean meat.
12
And when the spearman brought forward the wheels, and the racks, and the hooks, and catapeltae, and caldrons, pans, and finger-racks, and iron hands and wedges, and bellows, the tyrant continue:
13
Fear, young men, and the righteousness which ye worship will be merciful to you if you err from compulsion.
14
Now they having listened to these words of persuasion, and seeing the fearful instruments, not only were not afraid, but even answered the arguments of the tyrant, and through their good reasoning destroyed his power.
15
Now let us consider the matter: had any of them been weak-spirited and cowardly among them, what reasonings would they have employed but these?
16
O wretched that we are, and exceeding senseless! when the king exhorts us, and calls us to his bounty, should we not obey him?
17
Why do we cheer ourselves with vain counsels, and venture upon a disobedience bringing death?
18
Shall we not fear, O brethren, the instruments of torture and weigh the threatenings of torment and shun this vain-glory and destructive pride?
19
Let us have compassion upon our age and relent over the years of our mother.
20
And let us bear in mind that we shall be dying as rebels.