Second Book of Maccabees 7

SECOND BOOK OF MACCABEES 7: EXPLANATORY NOTES

ABBREVIATIONS: CA: Gower, Confessio Amantis; CM: Cursor mundi; CT: Chaucer, Canterbury Tales; DBTEL: A Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature, ed. Jeffrey; HS: Peter Comestor, Historia Scholastica, cited by book and chapter, followed by Patrologia Latina column in parentheses; K: Kalén-Ohlander edition; MED: Middle English Dictionary; NOAB: New Oxford Annotated Bible; OED: Oxford English Dictionary; OFP: Old French Paraphrase, British Library, MS Egerton 2710, cited by folio and column; Whiting: Whiting, Proverbs, Sentences, and Proverbial Phrases; York: York Plays, ed. Beadle. For other abbreviations, see Textual Notes.

It is an open question whether the poet paraphrases so little of the books of Maccabees because he lacks the sources to do otherwise (that is, he had only fragments of the books to work with), or because he deliberately chooses to highlight these particular passages. The cohesive specificity of the stories he provides — the most best-known martyrdoms of the Old Testament and the death of the pagan emperor to blame for them — argues for the latter position, though it does not necessitate it. It is also worth observing the length he devotes to these subjects despite their brevity in the Bible. On some of the many implications of these Jewish stories for the poet’s presumably Christian audience, see the explanatory notes (especially that to lines 17761–62), below.

17750 in forme Faders is fayre to rede. The stories of the “Maccabean martyrs” — the martyrdom of the Jewish mother and her seven sons, told here, and that of the priest Eleazar, told subsequently — are “so powerful . . . that they served the church fathers as a paradigm for Christian martyrdom” (Patterson, “‘Living Witnesses,’” p. 522, who cites Frend, Martyrdom, pp. 22–57); they thus appear, for example, in the writings of John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, and Augustine. For a thorough discussion of the medieval reception and propagation of these stories, see Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, “Maccabean Martyrs.”

17754 swylk marters may make uus mede. It is unclear whether the Paraphrase-poet here reinforces the principles of devotional reading or the doctrine of the intercession of saints — whether it is reading about the martyrs that will do his audience good or whether it is the martyrs themselves, called upon to intercede on the reader’s behalf.

17761–62 we sall sum marters nevyn / that wroyght with Moyses wyll all way. The poet’s statement that the Maccabean martyrs were Jews all way, though easily passed over, is nonetheless loaded with implications. Their story had captivated Christians from an early date (see note to line 17750), causing the martyrs to shift, as Joslyn-Siemiatkoski puts it, “from being liminal figures in late antiquity, whose Christian authenticity had to be proven, to being standard elements of the medieval Christian narrative of biblical and salvation history” (“Maccabean Martyrs,” p. 10). Indeed, they became central enough to the life of the Church that they were eventually included in the calendar of the saints, with a feast day alongside the Christian martyrs. The fact of their Jewish faith, however, was a lingering concern. Bernard of Clairvaux, for instance, dwells at some length on why, “alone of all the righteous men of the old Law,” these particular Jewish martyrs are so honored, especially given that, as Jews, Christian doctrine dictated that they were denied heavenly reward upon the instant of their martyrdom (Evans, Bernard, p. 73). Bernard, among others, ultimately argues that they were “Christian in spirit from a carnal Israel,” a typological, supersessionist understanding of their tale that ultimately led Christian exegetes, Comestor among them, to argue “that the fullest meaning of their martyrdom is found by the light of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Thus the value of dying for the Law of Moses is superseded by the value of dying for the Gospel. In this way, Christian historical exegesis of 2 Maccabees 7 presents the Church as the true Israel in contrast to contemporary Judaism” (Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, “Maccabean Martyrs,” pp. 10–11). For more on the Christian cult of the Maccabean martyrs, see also Rouwhorst, “Cult.”

17763–64 Of aght then is yt ordand evyn / in Holy Chyrch to syng and say. Until the twentieth-century suppression of the feast, the Maccabean martyrs were celebrated on the Roman Catholic calendar of the saints (1 August). The poet’s reference to their number as eight is technically accurate, insofar as he refers now specifically to the martyrdom of the seven brothers and their mother in 2 Maccabees 7, though many Christian writings omit the mother in their reckoning, referring to them collectively as the “Seven Maccabees.” For many exegetes, this was particularly fitting given the fact that, as Caxton writes in his translation of Jacobus de Voragine’s Golden Legend, “the church maketh solemnities of the Maccabees, howbeit that they descended into hell” (4.153). Among the other reasons Caxton provides to explain this discrepancy, he observes their association with “the representation of the mystery,” because “the number of seven is universal and general.” Thus, “in these seven is done reverence to them all. For as it is said by the number of seven is assigned an university.”

17801–03 How ye were bred in my body . . . God fosterd yow thore. The mother’s speech, which, like much in this discursive opening, has no biblical counterpart, here touches on a late medieval outgrowth of the Christian fascination with the Maccabean martyrs: “a typological connection between the mother who witnesses the death of her sons and the Virgin Mary, who keeps watch at the foot of the cross at the crucifixion of her son Jesus Christ” (Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, “Maccabean Martyrs,” p. 11).

17804 in forme fre. The mother perhaps references the tradition that mankind is formed in God’s “noble” image (Genesis 1:26).

17888 with Hym to wun and wynly wake. While bodily resurrection is an evolving concept in the history of Judaism (see, too, the note to line 14501), it is firmly stated in the biblical passage here paraphrased (2 Maccabees 7:9), a fact that did not go unnoticed by Christian exegetes.

18240 thei have ther hame in Hevyn. The Paraphrase here stands against traditional exegetical understandings of the martyrs, which often place them, despite their sacrifices, in (at best) limbo. See the notes to lines 17761–62 and 17763–64, above.

18245–46 in ther blud thei were baptyst, / als Innocentes were sythyn seyn. The Paraphrase-poet, as is the case with many Christian exegetes, associates the dead children with the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem said in Matthew 2:16–18 to have been massacred by Herod the Great in his effort to kill the infant Jesus. Aside from the more ready and graphic meaning of baptism by blood, the poet’s focus on their blood in connection to the Innocents might have additional meaning: Christian martyrs were often characterized by the manner of their deaths. Regarding the Christmas feasts of the martyrs — St. Stephen, St. John of Patmos, and the Holy Innocents, whose feast days immediately follow the Nativity — Jacobus de Voragine summed up the exegetical position by observing that Stephen was a martyr by will and by blood (that is, he willingly shed his blood for Christ), John by will alone (he devoted his life to Christ, but died a natural death), and the Innocents by blood alone (though they did not know it, they shed their blood for Christ).

SECOND BOOK OF MACCABEES 7: TEXTUAL NOTES

ABBREVIATIONS: L: MS Longleat 257; H: Heuser edition (partial); K: Kalén-Ohlander edition; O: Ohlander’s corrigenda to K; P: Peck edition (partial); S: MS Selden Supra 52 (base text for this edition).

17749, 51 Lines indented to leave space for an initial capital; first letter of line 17749 written in the middle of the space.

17753 marters. So K. S, L: maters.

17754 marters. So K. S, L: maters.

17761 sone. So L, K. S: sene.
marters. So K. S, L: maters.

17770 his. So L, K. S: þies.

17771 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 163r): De matre cum vij pueris.

17772 that myght befall. So L, K. S: þat þei my3t fall.

17785 Ebrews. So L, K. S: Hebrew.

17792 Heven. So L, K. S: heue.

17798 be. So L, K. S: 3e.

17800 He. S: I he.

17804 and. So L, K. S omits.
in forme fre. S: inserted above ~~yow iiij j in fere~~.

17808 gyfyn. So L, K. S: yfyn.

17812 corsus. S: inserted above ~~cour sus~~.

17813 Yf. So K. S: þe. L: Thogh.

17814 now. So L, K. S omits.

17825 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 163v): vij filii cum matre.
hestes. So L, K. S: hertes.

17829 the. So L, K. S: 3e.

17836 meyne. So L, K. S: weyne.

17841 ferd. So L, K. S: herd.

17853 dy. So L, K. S: day.

17866 make. S: ~~ma l~~ make.

17867 fare. S: ~~ferre~~ fare.

17881 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 164r): De matre et vij filiis.

17893 hym be. So L, K. S: be hym.

17899 then. S: corrected from them.

17900 bettes. So L, K. S: lettes.

17911 that. So L, K. S omits.

17914 bete. So L, K. S: bate.

17918 and. So L, K. S: he.

17938 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 164v): De matre et vij filiis.

17943 this. So L, K. S omits.

17961–64 S: these two pairs of lines (17961–62 and 17963–64) are transposed in S. Like K, I have followed the order in L.

17975 for. S: inserted above the line.

17989 then. S: corrected from them.

17993 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 165r): De vij pueris cum matre.

18001 before. So L, K. S: be forn.

18004 spech. So L, K. S omits.
sperd. So L, K. S: spred.

18017 thei. So L. S, L: the.

18032 sore. So L, K. S omits.

18042 S: inserted above canceled line 18044.

18043 boylyng. S: by boylyng.

18044 The. S: ~~þus~~ þe.

18046 as. So L, K. S: all as.

18047 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 165v): De vij pueris cum matre.

18059 us noyght. So L, K. S: noy3t vs.

18074 sore. S: ~~sere~~ sore.

18082 sakles. So L, K. S: slakly.

18085 in. So L, K. S omits.

18095 fro. So L, K. S: for.

18103 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 166r): De matre cum vij filiis.

18109 cursyd. So L, K. S: cursyd cursyd.

18113 ther. So L, K. S: þeþer.

18116 foyl. So K. S: foyb. L alters line.

18159 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 166v): no heading.

18160 that. So L, K. S omits.

18166 grove. So K. S, L: prove.

18174 assay: two canceled letters before.

18215 Marginalia in S (at top of fol. 167r): no heading.

18218 all yf. So K. S: al of. L: althogh.

18219 he. S: he ~~þan~~.

18221 yowr highnes. So L, K. S: yow.

18232 lay. S: ~~law~~ lay.

18241 myrthes. So L, K. S: marters.

18250 in₁. So L, K. S: & in.

Second Book of Maccabees 7

by: Michael Livingston (Editor)

from: The Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament 2011

	DE MATRE CUM VII FILIIS.	On the mother with seven children
[CONCERNING JEWISH MARTYRS]
17750 17755 17760	1480. Of farly fare, whoso wyll fynd, in forme Faders is fayre to rede. Bot Crystyn folke suld carpe be kynd of Crystes laws, os kens our Crede, And gud marters to have in mynd — for swylk marters may make uus mede — How that thei were persewed and pynd and done to ded be dyverse dede. Because thei Crist wold knaw, wore mony sakles slayn; And sum for Moyses Law were ded with dyverse payn.	wondrous things; (t-note) Patristic writings; read; (see note) Christian; speak naturally Christ’s; as proclaimed by our Creed martyrs; (t-note) give us reward; (see note); (t-note) pained tortured to death in diverse ways innocents
[SEVEN JEWISH BRETHREN AND THEIR MOTHER ARE BROUGHT BEFORE ANTIOCHUS (7:1)]
17765 17770	1481. And sone we sall sum marters nevyn that wroyght with Moyses wyll all way. Of aght then is yt ordand evyn in Holy Chyrch to syng and say, How that the mother and hyr suns sevyn were done to ded all on a day, All for thei stod with stabyll stevyn in mayntenance of Moyses Lay. He bad, for herd or nesch, that his folke grett and small Suld forbere swynyse flesch for oght that myght befall.	invoke; (see note); (t-note) forever (see note) tortured to death; in a single day because they stood with unyielding faith Moses’ Law for hard or soft [treatment] (i.e., come what may) (t-note) swine flesh (pork); (t-note) (t-note)
17775 17780	1482. This woman with hyr chylder yyng wayted full warly, whore thei went, To kepe and breke noyght his bydyng, therfor to be in bales bent. Anthiocus, a cursed kyng, when he herd tell of ther entent, To bare he bad men suld them bryng and sayd thei suld with sham be shent. For he was paynym prowd, with mawmentes sere umsett, Goddes Law both styll and lowd was his lykyng to lett,	young were warily watchful, wherever break not in sorrow bound Antiochus IV Epiphanes To the court of justice be destroyed pagan; (see note) various idols surrounded stop; (see note)
17785 17790 17795	1483. And all Ebrews that eftur yt wroyght. Therfor he charged men of myght That the wyfe with hyr sevyn suns were soyght and sembled sone before his syght. So unto barre sone were thei broyght with bedels and with brandes bryght; Bot of that noyte nothyng thei roght, ther hertes ware hale to Heven on hyght. The mother be manfull stevyn both with hert and hand Comforthys hyr suns all sevyn and bad them stably stand:	(t-note) sons assembled quickly court beadles; swords trouble their hearts were ever focused; high; (t-note) by powerful voice bravely stand
17800 17805	1484. “For the luf of God to lyf and dy, suns, in my blyssyng loke bown ye be. I sall yow say encheson why: none may yow help bot only He. How ye were bred in my body, that was nothyng be myght of me. God fosterd yow thore, and not I, and broyght yow furth in forme fre. And, suns, He sall yow save yf ye ryght spend your space, And all that ye here have is gyfyn of His grace.	you should be prepared; (t-note) tell you the reason (t-note) grown noble shape; (see note); (t-note) rightly; time [on this earth] (t-note)
17810 17815 17820	1485. “I gaf yow nother lyfe ne lym, ne bones ne flesch to fest yow fast. God gaf yow lyght when ye were dym, and your sawles in your corsus He cast. Yf erthly payns bene grett and grym, loves now God and bees not agast, Bot thynkes that ye sall have with Hym the joy and lyf that ever sall last. Suns, yf ye suffer sore, that space sall sone be spend, And ye sall have therfore the hele that sall have non ende.”	life nor limb to bind you to souls; bodies; (t-note) pains are; (t-note) (t-note) time will soon be past wholeness
17825 17830	1486. Thus comforth sho that cumpany, both ald and yyng, ever als thei yede. The kyng spake full dyspytfully to make them have more dowt and dred. He sayd, “Of your hestes herd have I who made yow bold forto forbede The flesch that lele men suld lyf by, that ordand is the folke to fede. Ye say the flesch of swyne suld men forsake sertayn. Ye sall be putt to pyne tyll ye ete yt full fayn.”	from the eldest to the youngest; went vows I have heard; (t-note) which noble feed pigs; (t-note) certainly pain until you eat it utterly
17835 17840	1487. Thei answerd ylkon als a man and sayd, “That syght sall never be seyne. The lawes our formfaders began ever to maynteyne sall we meyne.” The terrand toke the eldyst than and trayteyd hym them two betweyne, And thynkes, yf he overcom hym can, then ere the other overcomyn cleyne. With fayrnes fyrst he ferd and sythyn with noye new. That eldyst ever answerd with stedfast trewth and trew.	each one seen forefathers intend; (t-note) tyrant entreated quickly dealt with him; (t-note) then with troubles
[THE ELDEST SON REFUSES TO LEAVE MOSES’ LAW (7:2)]
17845 17850 17855	1488. His hert ay unto Hevyn had he, and thus he carped unto the kyng, “What sekes yow, ser, of us to se? What wyll ye lere of our lyfyng? All Gods folke ow to be fre and honor Hym over all thyng. His Law we wyll not leve for thee, ne for no bale that thou may bryng. To dy is us wele lever then in that Lay forfeyt That our faders used ever and sythyn tyll us yt seytt.”	said learn ought sorrow we would much prefer; (t-note)
[THE ELDEST SON TORTURED AND KILLED (7:3–6)]
17860 17865	1489. Then was the fend full fell of ire and manast hym with all his mayn. He sayd, “Thou sall have thi desyre; with sorow sere thou sall be slayn.” Be lyve he gart go make a fyre in myddes the place thor on the playn And bryn hym up both bone and lyre. bot fyrst he sall fele feller payn, That other so may be warre and make hym ther merrowr, When thei se hym so fare to forsake ther errowr.	fiend menaced; power Quickly he caused [men to] amidst; there burn; flesh feel crueler pain be wary their mirror; (t-note) (t-note)
17870 17875 17880	1490. The fyr was bett at hys bydyng of bowes and of best byrnand geyre. A led of brase then dyd he bryng, with pyke fulfylled, hym forto fere. And when yt was wele at wellyng, his tong he bad thei suld out schere And als a foyle for hethyng schave of his hede both hyde and heyre. All this was done in dede, and wounder was to lythe: Hys brether saw hym blede and bad he suld be blythe.	kindled branches; burning materials cauldron of brass pitch filled; fear thoroughly boiling tongue; cut out contempt shave off his head; skin and hair at once observe brothers cheerful
17885 17890	1491. And for he suld not chaunge his chere bot with trew hert the turmentes take — For God is of so grett power, of all myse may He mendes make — The mother sayd, “Sun, we ere here redy to suffer for Goddes sake; For He wyll foche us all in fere with Hym to wun and wynly wake.” When the terrand herd tell nothyng myght make them tame, He was more fers and fell and toyght to shape them shame.	mood; (t-note) receive the torments misdeeds; amends are fetch us all together dwell and pleasantly awake; (see note) tyrant heard fierce and cruel
17895 17900	1492. Ther myght no myrth to hym be mete when that he saw ther sad semlandes. He sayd, “We sall sone gayr them grett. Tyte take this herlott thor he standes, And cutt his tase of both his fete and his fyngurs of both his handes, And haves hym then into yond hete, and bettes hym with your byrnand brandes. And yf he langer last, lays hym ther in the led, And make fyr under fast to boyle tyll he be ded.”	(t-note) their steadfast faces soon make them weep Quickly; villain where toes off; feet heave; (t-note) strike; burning swords; (t-note) lasts longer lay; [molten] lead
17905 17910 17915	1493. When all this dole was done and dyght, his mother, that was most hym nere, And his sex brether saw this syght, how he sufferd thos sorows sere. Thei heyved ther handes to Hevyn on hyght and loved God with full gud chere And sayd that He suld se to ryght and reward all that worthy were. He wyll abate all bandes and bete ylka byttur brayd And solace His servandes, als Moyses sum tyme sayd.	tragedy six brothers various heaved justice; (t-note) relieve all bondages (t-note)
[THE SECOND SON TORTURED AND KILLED (7:7–9)]
17920 17925	1494. Thus when the fyrst had done his dett and sufferd ded be dyverse payn, The secund sone was sesed and sett to se what he suld say certayn. The kyng asked hym yf he wold ete swylk flesch os his folke were of fayn, Or to be mesurd with that same mett lyke to his brother and so be slayn. He answerd sone and sayd, “I am not ferd therfor.” Then was the kyng yll payd, and sone he marred hym more.	duty death; (t-note) seized his (i.e., Antiochus’) people enjoyed weighed to that same effect afraid
17930 17935 17940	1495. Of his hed gart he scrape the skyn, and then to hym thus con he say, “Wyll thou yett of thin errour blyn and mend thi myscheve whyls thou may, And lere the law that we lyf in, or lose thi lyms and lyf for ay?” That other bad, “Be lyve begyn, for, sertes, I dred nothyng that dray. The lawes our faders fand to hald hertly I hete.” And then the kyng cummand to cutt hym hand and fete.	He caused the skin to be scraped off his head cease accept forever Quickly certainly; violence founded I heartily swear to hold; (t-note)
17945 17950	1496. “And sett the fyre on ylka syde, sen he wyll byd no bettur bede; And yf he may this bale abyde, boyle hym then tyll he be ded.” Then was he turment in that tyd, and als thei stund hym in that stede, Unto the kyng full lowd he cryd and sayd, “Thou wrech with wekyd red, Be thi strenght thou dystroys oure erthly lyf in land. Bot nedleys thou the noyys; our lyf sal be lastand.	each since; have no better reward sorrow survive; (t-note) tormented at that time tortured; place wicked counsel needlessly you commit this harm everlasting
17955 17960	1497. “God that is Kyng of creatours and demer both of dedes and sawys, Hys servandes sadly He socours that to His dome ther dedes drawys. Yf we now stand thus strang in stours and lefe this lyf here for His lawys, He sall us rayse with grett honours to endlese lyf that thou noyght knawys.” And so he gaf the gast to God by cours of kynd. The kyng was made allmast and moved all out of mynd.	judge; deeds and words faithfully judgment present their deeds hardships leave resurrect you [will] know not gave [up] the ghost; (t-note) by course of nature almost crazy
[THE THIRD SON TORTURED AND KILLED (7:10–12)]
17965 17970 17975	1498. The thryd full throly then thei thrett that he suld be more stratly sted Bot he bylyve wold drynke and ete swylke fode as the folke ware with fed. The chyldes hert to Hevyn was sett, for that dray was he noyght adred. Or he was auder bun or bett, his tong full boldly furth he bedd. His handes so con he schew to byd that byttur brayd, And his fete for to hewe; and on this wyse he sayd:	violently; threaten painfully placed Unless he at once before; either bound or beaten tongue; offered [to be cut out] await; torment feet to be cut off; (t-note) in this way
17980 17985	1499. “Of God fro Hevyn I had all thies purtrayd thrugh His power playn. Now for His Law I them dyspyse and profers them to putt in payn. For wele I wott that I sall ryse and that God sall gyfe me agayn All new members and more of price. Therfor to lose thies I am fayn For His sake that them sentt and mad them mete to me. Yf thei now take turment, make them full hale may He.”	these shaped; naked power offer well I know body parts; worth these; glad suitable completely whole
17990 17995 18000	1500. The kyng then carped wordes kene, and to his counsayle fast he cryd. Both he and thei were comberd clene of tayles ther were told that tyd. Thei say swylke syght was never seyne, that a yong man in his most pride Wyll no more of his manhed mene, bot be bown byttur bale to byde. He royght noyght of ther red, ne of all the blyse in erthe. So was he done to ded, and furth thei feytt the faurth.	spoke harsh words; (t-note) confounded speeches; time such sights were; seen; (t-note) consider prepared; suffering to await reckoned nothing; counsel tortured to death fetched
[THE FOURTH SON TORTURED AND KILLED (7:13–14)]
18005 18010	1501. The faurth was fett furth them before, and full fowly with hym thei ferd And sayd, bot yf he wyser wore, his spech wold sone for hym be sperd. Thei manast hym both lese and more, and when he all ther hethyng herd, He had no lyst to lere ther lore, bot herdly thus he answerd And to the kyng he sayd, “Thiself the soth sall se: The payns thou hath purvayd sall make myrth unto me.	fetched foully; treated unless he were wiser shut off menaced; less their scorn heard desire to learn their ways heartily truth
18015 18020	1502. “For God, my Mayster most of mayn, wyll meng His mercy ever omell With His servandes that ere here slayn by terrandes that ere fers and fell, That thei sall ryse and lyf agayn and at his lyst in lykyng dwell. Bot of that fare be thou not fayn: thou sall never ryse, bot rest in Hell. Thier harmes we have by thee with myrth sall be amend; Thi body and sawle sall be in wo withoutyn end.”	of most strength mix; among are tyrants that are fierce and cruel rise [from the dead]; (t-note) desire; pleasure glad These rejoined
18025 18030 18035	1503. Then toyght the kyng he lyfed to lang; his lyms he lythyd of fast in fere And put hym sythyn to payns strang tyll he was ded with doles sere. The mother melled hyr ever amang; with murnyng mad sho mery chere And sayd that God suld gare them gang fro sorows sore to solace sere: “Whoso wyll byd His bone, there bale full wele bese bett.” Thus was the faurth fordone, and the fyft furth was fett.	he (the boy) lived too long limbs he removed quickly together then to terrible pains until; various sorrows spoke though mourning she made cause them to go many solaces; (t-note) Whoever; await; reward their sorrows [will] be completely removed destroyed fetched
[THE FIFTH SON TORTURED AND KILLED (7:15–17)]
18040 18045	1504. The fyft full felly con thei fere, and ylkon thrett hym in ther thraw. The kyng by all his goddes con swere, “Ther lurdans sall be layd full law!” His fyngers fast he dyd of shere; both tong and tothe he bade owt draw And then to boylyng fast hym bere. The chyld answerd withoutyn aw. Unto the kyng he beheld in thies stoures as he stud, And thus his tayle he teld with sembland sad and gud:	very cruelly did they [try to] frighten each one threatened; their turn These villains shall be laid low shear off tongue; tooth; draw out; (t-note) carry; (t-note) awe (fear); (t-note) these sufferings; (t-note) words he spoke; (t-note) an expression firm
18050 18055 18060	1505. “That thou is kyng in erth to kend, that shewes thou by thi werke allway. Thou proves thi myght in erthly men with all the malyce that thou may. Whatso thee lyst, and whore and when, that bus be done ever ylk day. Bot thou suld wele avyse thee than to rewle thi dede in ryght aray. All yf we thus be takyn and in thi pawsté pynyd, God hath us noyght forsakyn, ne non ellys of our kynd.	command you show against Whatever you desire must; each single day better govern yourself rule your deeds Even power pained (t-note) nor others
18065 18070	1506. “Bot suffer and thiself sall se in lytyll space full mekyll spede How God sall be His grett pawsté merke unto ylk man His mede, And how sere vengance sent sall be both on thiself and on thi sede. Do furth thi maystry now with me, for of thi dome have I no dred.” And so he leved his lyfe or he His Law wold lett. Thus are thei fayryn all fyfe, and furth the sext was sett.	Wait patiently quickly by; power provide; reward various seed (family) mastery judgment left before; leave treated
[THE SIXTH SON TORTURED AND KILLED (7:18–19)]
18075 18080	1507. The sext was fett and sesyd sone to suffer ded with sorows sore. He wold abyd no bettur bone bot als his felows ferd before. When thei had dyght and to hym done swylk marterdome and mekyll more, He lyft his hede withoutyn hone and to the kyng thus sayd he thore, “Thou cursed commawndour, that us all has sakles slayn, Sese yytt of thin errour! Thou trayvels all in vayn.	sixth; fetched; seized quickly death; (t-note) await; reward fared taken lifted his head; hesitation innocent; (t-note) Cease yet travails
18085 18090 18095	1508. “Thier payns that thou hath put us in aftur thi wyll and wekyd toyght, We suffer them all for our syn that we agayn our Lord hath wroyght. To geyte His grace forto begyn with sorowyng thus our syns bene soyght, And so we sall to welthes wyn when all thi werke sall worth to noyght. For be ye never so lathe to lose this erthly lyfe, Thou sall not scape fro scath that agayns God wyll stryfe.”	These; (t-note) wicked thought against are wealth be rewarded come to nothing loath escape from harm; (t-note)
[THE MOTHER’S WORTHINESS (7:20–23)]
18100 18105	1509. And so he dyed be dyverse ded; he had no lenger wordes at weld. Ther mother was worth mekyll mede; sho sayd ever God suld be ther beld. When that sho saw hyr sex suns blede, the same ever in hyrselfe sho felyd. Bot of the yongest had sho dred that he suld turn for tender eld. Sho sayd ever thei suld ryse with ryghtwys men by raw That here themself dyspyce for Goddes luf and Hys Law.	died; deeds to wield (speak) Their; much reward comfort she felt (t-note) convert because of his youth in due time despise
[THE YOUNGEST SON TORTURED (7:24–38)]
18110 18115 18120	1510. That cursyd Kyng Antyocus for wo in wytt he was nere wode. His knyghtes sayd, “Ser, tent to us, we con thee ken consayle full gode. Sen ther trayturs have tened thee thus and no turment may turn ther mode, Now with yond yongest boye thee bus with fayrnes fand to foyl that fode. For men uses chylder yyng with wordes forto tyll, And foyles with fayre hethyng forto werke what men wyll.”	(t-note) wits; nearly mad listen give you counsel these; injured; (t-note) change their minds must you deal specious words try to foul that child; (t-note) young children seduce fouls with fair contempt
18125 18130	1511. The kyng was of this purpase payd and curtasly then carped he: “Save now thiself, my sun,” he sayd, “for, sertes, ther sall non wytt bot we. And for I wold not thou were flayd, ther sall none mell of my meneye. Full rychly sall thou be arayd and have my helpe, that hete I thee. Thou sall have toure and town with forestes fayr and fre, And all bowand and bown at thi bedyng to be.	glad courteously; said certainly; know would not [see that] you were flayed speak [of it]; company promise tower bowing and ready bidding
18135 18140	1512. “And thresour all withoutyn tale sall thou have in thi hurd to hyde; And next myself, sun, sytt thou sall with solace sere on ylka syde. Then in thi hele thou sall be hale and have maystry and mekyll pryd. So is bettur then to be in bale, als thi brether have bene this tyd. Sun, yf thou wyll acord with our fodes to be fede, Thou sall lyf als a lord and by our lawys be led.”	treasure without reckoning treasury beside many solaces on each health; whole power and much suffering brothers; time food laws
18145 18150 18155	1513. When the chyld herd all how he ment, he answerd evyn withoutyn aw And sayd that he suld never assent to forfett in his Fader Law. Then toyght the kyng hym shamly shent when the chyld sett nothyng by his saw; Bot to the woman yyt he went with whyls hyr to his wyll at draw. Sen other sex were slayn that wold no mercy crave, He wend sho wold be fayn hyr yyngest sun to save.	heard; intended without fear forfeit thought; he should be shamefully destroyed advice yet wiles Since the other six thought; glad youngest
18160 18165	1514. He carped to hyr full curtasly, and under trayn all thus he told. “Woman,” he sayd, “wonder have I how that thi hert may be so bold To suffer thus thi suns to dy and has no mo apon this mold. To take the yyngest to mercy, that were my wyll yytt and thou wold. He is a proper page and may grove tyll a man. Now in his tender age were tym that he began	spoke; courteously deceitfully (t-note) your heart; (t-note) more upon this earth desire yet if you would [allow it] grow into a noble man; (t-note)
18170 18175 18180	1515. “To lere the law that ever sall last and in myster most mend hym may. Bestes of gold I sall do cast to be his goddes full gud and gay.” The woman mad hyr forward fast that sho suld so hyr sun assay, And thynkes, when scho is from hym past, another poynt forto purvay. To hyde hyr hert entent sho lowted unto hym law. So to hyr sun sho went and sayd to hym this saw:	learn need Beasts covenant test; (t-note) true intent bowed to him low these words
18185 18190	1516. “A, sun, see to thi mother here! Bot thou be wyse, me is full wo. Thynke, sun, thou lay my hert full nere neyn monethes and nyghtes mo; And, sun, I sufferd sorow sere or tym that we were twynd in two. I fed thee of my flesch thre yere or thou couth speke or graydly go. Fro barnhed I thee broyght to tyme that we com hydder. Dere sun, forsake me noyght! Lett us go all togeydder!	Unless you are wise you lay very close to my heart months many sorrows before the time; parted in two before; walk properly infancy; raised until the time; here
18195 18200	1517. “Behald, sun, to the Hevyn on hyght and to this werld that is full wyde, To bestes and fysch and fowles in flyght, how erth and ayre ere ocupyed, And how God mad all with His myght without substance o many syde. And men He made of reson ryght ay in His blyse to beld and byd. He aschys noyght ellys therfor, nawder in dede ne in saw, Bot that men sall ever more luf Hym and luf His Law.	beasts air are dwell and live asks nothing else neither in deed nor in words Except
18205 18210 18215	1518. “Thi brether in lytyll space ere sped, and for God sake wele sufferd thei. With hevynly fode now ere thei fed and lendes in lyf that last ay. Therfor, dere sun, be not adred of yond fals domysman with his dray, Bot led thi lyf als thers is led, that we may wend all away. Of Blys bede I no more bot the barns that I boyght so dere, Sun, when I sall com thore, to fynd them fayr in fere.”	brothers; are dead food dwell; lasts forever false judge; violence lead; as theirs were Bliss (Heaven) request children (t-note) beautiful together
18220 18225	1519. He assent to his mother saw full wysly all yf he were yyng. Then carped he to them all on raw that sat in consayle with the kyng: “Of yowr highnes have I non aw. Why tarry ye thus of this thyng? I oblysche me here to my law bot noyght unto the kynges bedyng.” Thei toyght them then begyled; the kyng was wel nere wode To be chawfyd with a chyld and myght not turn his mode.	assented; mother’s words even though he was young; (t-note) spoke; in turn; (t-note) no awe; (t-note) pledge myself bidding thought mad chafed
[THE DEATH OF THE YOUNGEST SON AND HIS MOTHER (7:39–42)]
18230 18235 18240	1520. Unto his turmenturs he bad all thar payns forto purvay: “Lyth of the lyms of that lytyll lad and lere hym so to lake our lay. And the mother, that has mad them mad, marre hyr more all that ye may!” To go therto was sho full glad. So were thei ded all on a day And under a domysman, the mother and hyr suns sevyn. For thei so wyse were than, thei have ther hame in Hevyn.	ordered Rip off the limbs teach him thus to defy our law; (t-note) made; mad mar in a single day judge their home; (see note)
18245 18250	1521. All myrthes on this mold thei myst the Laws of Moyses to maynteyn. For luf of God yt was ther lyst to leve all erthly comforth clene; And in ther blud thei were baptyst, als Innocentes were sythyn seyn; And Holy Chyrch hath them cananyst als marters evermore forto be meyn. God graunt us grace to trow in Hym and in all Hys, And to His bydynges bow that we may byd in Blyse!	earth they forsook; (t-note) desire comforts their [own] blood; baptized; (see note) as was later seen with the [Holy] Innocents canonized as martyrs; remembered believe (t-note) bidding submit dwell

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Second Book of Maccabees 7