The Koine Bible

Moreover, also urging on the torture, so that not only to despise the pains, but also to master the passions of brotherly affection, them

O reasonings of kings, more kingly, and of free men, more free!

O sacred and well-harmonized agreement of the seven brothers concerning godliness

Not one of the seven young men cowered nor shrank back from death

But all, as though running on the road to immortality, were hastening to death through the tortures

Just as the hands and the feet are moved in harmony with the dictates of the soul, so those holy youths, as by an immortal soul of piety, agreed to death for its sake

O all-holy seven of brothers in harmony, for just as the seven days of the creation of the world, concerning godliness

Thus, around the week, the young men dancing went around, abolishing the fear of the tortures.

Now we, hearing the affliction of those young men, shudder; but they, not only seeing, but not even only hearing the immediate word of threat, but also suffering, endured steadfastly, and this in the pains through fire

What could become more painful than these? For sharp and brief was the power of the fire, and quickly it dissolved the bodies.

And do not consider it astonishing if reason prevailed over those men in the tortures, when indeed even a woman’s mind scorned more manifold pains

For the mother of the seven young men endured the tortures upon each one of her children

But you see how manifold is the affection for children, drawing everything toward the sympathy of the inward parts

where even the irrational animals have toward the beings born from them a like compassion and affection for human beings

For even of the birds, some that are tame and roof-dwelling in the houses defend their fledglings before them

and the things among the peaks of mountains and the ravines and the hollows of trees and the heights of these, having made nests in them, it kills, and it hinders the one approaching

And if they were also unable to prevent them, flying around them in a circle, pained with affection, called back by their own voice, insofar as they are able they help their children

And why is it necessary to display to the children compassion through the irrational animals?

where indeed even bees, around the time of the honey-making, defend themselves against those who come near and, just as with an iron sting, strike those who approach their nest, and ward off even to death

But did not compassion for her children move the mother of the youths, Abraham-like in soul?