5
And you think to scare us, by threatening us with death by tortures, as though thou hadst learned nothing by the death of Eleazar.
6
But if aged men of the Hebrews have died in the cause of religion after enduring torture, more rightly should we younger men die, scorning your cruel tortures, which our aged instructor overcame.
7
Make the attempt, then, O tyrant; and if thou puttest us to death for our religion, think not that thou harmest us by torturing us.
8
For we through this ill-treatment and endurance shall bear off the rewards of virtue.
9
But thou, for the wicked and despotic slaughter of us, shalt, from the Divine vengeance, endure eternal torture by fire.
10
When they had thus spoken, the tyrant was not only exasperated against them as being refractory, but enraged with them as being ungrateful.
11
So that, at his bidding, the torturers brought forth the eldest of them, and tearing through his tunic, bound his hands and arms on each side with thongs.
12
And when they had laboured hard without effect in scourging him, they hurled him upon the wheel.
13
And the noble youth, extended upon this, became dislocated.
14
And with every member disjointed, he exclaimed in expostulation,
15
O most accursed tyrant, and enemy of heavenly justice, and cruel-hearted, I am no murderer, nor sacrilegious man, whom thou thus ill-usest; but a defender of the Divine law.