2. Septuagint, 4 Maccabees, 1.1-1.12, 1.23, 7.10, 7.18-7.23, 13.3, 13.7, 14.13, 15.29-15.30, 16.2, 16.5-16.8, 16.12-16.13 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 1.1. The subject that I am about to discuss is most philosophical, that is, whether devout reason is sovereign over the emotions. So it is right for me to advise you to pay earnest attention to philosophy. 1.2. For the subject is essential to everyone who is seeking knowledge, and in addition it includes the praise of the highest virtue -- I mean, of course, rational judgment. 1.3. If, then, it is evident that reason rules over those emotions that hinder self-control, namely, gluttony and lust 1.4. it is also clear that it masters the emotions that hinder one from justice, such as malice, and those that stand in the way of courage, namely anger, fear, and pain. 1.5. Some might perhaps ask, "If reason rules the emotions, why is it not sovereign over forgetfulness and ignorance?" Their attempt at argument is ridiculous! 1.6. For reason does not rule its own emotions, but those that are opposed to justice, courage, and self-control; and it is not for the purpose of destroying them, but so that one may not give way to them. 1.7. I could prove to you from many and various examples that reason is domit over the emotions 1.8. but I can demonstrate it best from the noble bravery of those who died for the sake of virtue, Eleazar and the seven brothers and their mother. 1.9. All of these, by despising sufferings that bring death, demonstrated that reason controls the emotions. 1.10. On this anniversary it is fitting for me to praise for their virtues those who, with their mother, died for the sake of nobility and goodness, but I would also call them blessed for the honor in which they are held. 1.11. For all people, even their torturers, marveled at their courage and endurance, and they became the cause of the downfall of tyranny over their nation. By their endurance they conquered the tyrant, and thus their native land was purified through them. 1.12. I shall shortly have an opportunity to speak of this; but, as my custom is, I shall begin by stating my main principle, and then I shall turn to their story, giving glory to the all-wise God. 1.23. Fear precedes pain and sorrow comes after. 7.10. O aged man, more powerful than tortures; O elder, fiercer than fire; O supreme king over the passions, Eleazar! 7.18. But as many as attend to religion with a whole heart, these alone are able to control the passions of the flesh 7.19. ince they believe that they, like our patriarchs Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, do not die to God, but live in God. 7.20. No contradiction therefore arises when some persons appear to be dominated by their emotions because of the weakness of their reason. 7.21. What person who lives as a philosopher by the whole rule of philosophy, and trusts in God 7.22. and knows that it is blessed to endure any suffering for the sake of virtue, would not be able to overcome the emotions through godliness? 7.23. For only the wise and courageous man is lord of his emotions. 13.3. But in fact it was not so. Instead, by reason, which is praised before God, they prevailed over their emotions. 13.7. o the seven-towered right reason of the youths, by fortifying the harbor of religion, conquered the tempest of the emotions. 14.13. Observe how complex is a mother's love for her children, which draws everything toward an emotion felt in her inmost parts. 15.29. O mother of the nation, vindicator of the law and champion of religion, who carried away the prize of the contest in your heart! 15.30. O more noble than males in steadfastness, and more manly than men in endurance! 16.2. Thus I have demonstrated not only that men have ruled over the emotions, but also that a woman has despised the fiercest tortures. 16.5. Consider this also. If this woman, though a mother, had been fainthearted, she would have mourned over them and perhaps spoken as follows: 16.6. O how wretched am I and many times unhappy! After bearing seven children, I am now the mother of none! 16.7. O seven childbirths all in vain, seven profitless pregcies, fruitless nurturings and wretched nursings! 16.8. In vain, my sons, I endured many birth-pangs for you, and the more grievous anxieties of your upbringing. 16.12. Yet the sacred and God-fearing mother did not wail with such a lament for any of them, nor did she dissuade any of them from dying, nor did she grieve as they were dying 16.13. but, as though having a mind like adamant and giving rebirth for immortality to the whole number of her sons, she implored them and urged them on to death for the sake of religion. |
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