Primo libro dei Maccabei 6

BIBBIA TINTORI	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Or mentre il re Antioco percorreva le provincie superiori, sentì dire che nella Persia c'era la città d'Elimaide, rinomatissima e piena d'argento e d'oro,	1 Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he heard that the city of Elymais in Persia was greatly renowned, and abounding in silver and gold.
2 e che in essa v'era un tempio ricchissimo, dovo erano i veli d'oro, le corazze e gli scudi lasciati da Alessandro di Filippo re di Macedonia, il quale fu il primo a regnare n Grecia.	2 And that there was in it a temple, exceeding rich: and coverings of gold, and breastplates, and shields which king Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian that reigned first in Greece, had left there.
3 E ( Antioco) v'andò, e cercava t'impadronirsi della città per saccheggiarla, ma non gli riuscì, perchè, saputa la cosa, quelli che erano nella città	3 Lo, he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it: But he was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the city.
4 sorsero a combattere, ed egli, messo in fuga, se ne andò via con immensa tristezza, e tornò a Babilonia.	4 And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards Babylonia.
5 E venne in Persia uno ad annunziargli che gli eserciti che erano nella terra di Giuda erano stati messi in fuga;	5 And whilst he was in Persia, there came one that told him, how the armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight:
6 e che Asia, sebbene fosse andato con uno dei più forti eserciti, aveva dovuto fuggire davanti ai Giudei, i quali avevano accresciute le loro forze colle armi, coi soldati colle molte spoglie che essi avevan tolte ai campi da loro distrutti;	6 And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to flight before the face of the Jews, and that thy were grown strong by the armour, and power, and store of spoils, which they had gotten out of the camps which they had destroyed:
7 e che essi avevano atterrata l'abbominazione da lui eretta sopra l'altare che era in Gerusalemme; e che avevan cinto di alte mura come prima, il santuario ed anche la sua città di Betsura.	7 And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also his city.
8 Al sentire tali cose, il re fu preso dallo spavento e da grande agitazione, e si mise a letto, e cadde in languore dalla tristezza, perchè non era andata secondo i suoi disegni.	8 And it came to pass when the king heard these words, that he was struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him as he imagined.
9 Ed ivi si trattenne molti giorni, e siccome la sua tristezza andava sempre crescendo, si credette vicino alla morte.	9 And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and more and more upon him, and he made account that he should die.
10 Allora chiamò intorno a se tutti i suoi amici e disse loro: « Il sonno è sbandito dai miei occhi; ho il cuore abbattuto e oppresso dall'affanno.	10 And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for anxiety.
11 E son qui a dire dentro di me: A qual tribolazione mi son condotto, in qual mare di tristezza mi trovo io che ero felice e amato nella mia potenza!	11 And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and into what floods of sorrow, wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and beloved in my power!
12 Ora mi tornano a mente i mali da me fatti in Gerusalemme, da cui portai via le spoglie d'oro e d'argento che vi trovai, mandai a sterminare tutti gli abitanti della Giudea senza alcun motivo.	12 But now I remember the evils that I have done in Jerusalem, from whence also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver that were in it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause.
13 Ora riconosco che per questo mi son piombate addosso queste sciagure, ed ecco io me ne muoio oppresso dalla tristezza in terra straniera! ».	13 I know therefore that for this cause these evils have found me: and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land.
14 Chiamato Filippo, uno dei suoi amici, lo pose a capo di tutto il suo regno,	14 Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent over all his kingdom.
15 e gli consegnò il diadema, il manto, l'anello, incaricandolo d'istruire suo figlio Antioco, e di educarlo pel regno.	15 And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his ring, that he should go to Antiochus his son, and should bring him up for the kingdom.
16 Ivi mori il re Antioco, l'anno cento quarantanove.	16 So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and forty-nine.
17 Lisia, saputa la morte del re, proclamò re Antioco figlio di lui, che egli aveva allevato fino da piccolo e gli diede il nome di Eupatore.	17 And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he set up Antiochus his son to reign, whom he brought up young: and he called his name Eupator.
18 Frattanto quelli che erano nella fortezza e tenevano rinserrato Israele intorno al santuario, cercavan sempre di fargli del male e di appoggiare le nazioni.	18 Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the Israelites round about the holy places: and they were continually seeking their hurt, and to strengthen the Gentiles.
19 Giuda decise di levarseli d'intorno, e radunò tutto il popolo per assediarli.	19 And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all the people, to besiege them.
20 Radunatisi, cominciarono l'assedio nell'anno centocinquanta, e fabbricarono baliste ed altre macchine.	20 And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines.
21 Alcuni degli assediati fuggirono, e alcuni empi Israeliti s'unirono a loro,	21 And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them.
22 e andarono dal re, a dire: « Quando verrai a far giustizia, a vendicare i nostri fratelli?	22 And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute the judgment, and to revenge our brethren?
23 Siccome noi decidemmo di servire a tuo padre, di obbedirlo e di osservarne le leggi,	23 We determined to serve thy father and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts:
24 quelli della nostra nazione si allontanarono da noi, e trucidarono quanti trovarono di noi, mettendo a ruba i nostri beni.	24 And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances.
25 E non soltanto noi hanno straziato, ma anche tutto il nostro paese.	25 Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders.
26 Ed ecco ora sono ad assediare la fortezza di Gerusalemme, per impadronirsene, ed han fortificato Betsura;	26 And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the stronghold of Bethsura:
27 e se tu non t'affretti a prevenirli, faranno ancora di più, e tu non potrai tenerli ».	27 And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.
28 Udito ciò, il re si riscaldò oltremodo, e, radunati tutti i suoi amici, i capi dell'esercito, i capitani della cavalleria,	28 Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen.
29 e prese a soldo milizie anche da altri regni e dalle isole,	29 There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea hired troops.
30 formò un esercito di cento mila fanti, di venti mila cavalieri, di trentadue elefanti addestrati alla battaglia.	30 And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants, trained to battle.
31 Passati per l'Idumea, s'accamparono davanti a Betsura, l'attaccarono per molto tempo, fatte le macchine; ma quelli della fortezza, usciti fuori, le bruciarono e combatterono virilmente.	31 And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth and burnt them with fire, and fought manfully.
32 Giuda si ritirò dalla fortezza, e andò ad accamparsi a Betzacara, di faccia agli accampamenti del re.	32 And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp.
33 Il re, alzatosi avanti giorno, spinse con furia l'esercito per la strada di Betzacara. Gli eserciti, messisi in ordinedi battaglia, diedero fiato alle trombe.	33 And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam: and the armies made themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets:
34 Essi fecero vedere agli elefanti il sangue dell'uva e delle more, per aizzarli alla battaglia;	34 And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes, and mulberries to provoke them to fight.
35 e spartirono quegli animali fra le legioni; attorno ad ogni elefante stavano mille uomini, con corazze fatte a malia ed elmi di bronzo in testa; e cinquecento cavalieri scelti stavano schierati davanti a ciascuna bestia;	35 And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and there stood by every elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of brass on their heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were chosen for every beast.
36 e precedevano da per tutto la bestia, e andavano dov'ella andava, senza allontanarsi da lei.	36 These before the time wheresoever the beast was, the were there: and withersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it.
37 Sopra ciascun elefante v'eran delle salde torri di legno che loro servivan di difesa, e sopra di esse v'eran della macchine; in ciascuna torre v'erano trentadue uomini valorosi che di lassù combattevano: un Indiano guidava l'elefante.	37 And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers, which covered every one of them: and engines upon them: and upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from above; and an Indian to rule the beast.
38 Il resto della cavalleria, diviso in due parti, fu messo ai due fianchi, ad animare l'esercito col suono nelle trombe, e a tener serrate le file nelle legioni.	38 And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side and on that side at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof.
39 Appena il sole percosse gli scudi d'oro e di bronzo, le montagne furono illuminate dal loro splendore, brillandò essi come fiamme.	39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and of brass, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire.
40 Una parte dell'esercito del re veniva dalle alture delle montagne, l'altro con circospezione e bell'ordine si avanzava dal basso.	40 And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on warily and orderly.
41 Tutti gli abitanti del paese erano spaventati dalle voci di quella moltitudine, dal muoversi di tanta gente, dal frastuono belle armi. Era senza dubbio un esercito sterminato e formidabile.	41 And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong.
42 Giuda col suo esercito si avvicinò e attaccò la battaglia, ove caddero seicento uomini dell'esercito del re.	42 And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of the king's army six hundred men.
43 Eleazaro, figlio di Saura, avendo osservato un elefante coperto di reali bardature e più alto di tutti gli altri, pensò che sopra di esso ci fosse il re;	43 And Eleazar the son of Saura saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts: and it seemed to him that the king was on it:
44 e, sacrificando se stesso per liberare il suo popolo ed acquistarsi un nome eterno,	44 And he exposed himself to deliver his people and to get himself an everlasting name.
45 corse animosamente verso l'elefante, attraversò la legione, uccidendo a destra e a sinistra, e sbaragliando chi gli si parasse davanti;	45 And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side.
46 andò tra i piedi dell'elefante, se gli mise sotto e l'uccise. L'elefante gli cadde addosso, ed egli vi rimase sotto schiacciato.	46 And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there.
47 Or (i Giudei), vedendo le forze del re e l'impeto del suo esercito, si ritirarono.	47 Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them.
48 Allora le schiere del re marciarono contro di essi in Gerusalemme, e posero il campo nella Giudea contro il monte Sion.	48 But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against Judea and mount Sion.
49 Poi (il re) fece pace con quelli che erano in Betsura, i quali uscirono da quella città, perché gli assediati non avevan più da mangiare, essendo l'anno sabatico della terra.	49 And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land.
50 Cosi il re s'impadronì di Betsura e vi mise un presidio a custodirla.	50 And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it.
51 E andò a porre il campo davanti al luogo santo per molti giorni, e vi pose le baliste, le macchine, i lanciafiamme, gli strumenti per lanciar pietre e dardi, gli scorpioni per lanciar frecce, e le fiondo.	51 And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings.
52 Ma anche gli (assediati) fecero delle macchine da apporre alle loro, e combatterono per molti giorni.	52 And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days.
53 Or, siccome la città era priva di vettovaglie, perchè era il settimo anno, e quelli d'altre nazioni che erano in Giudea avevan consumato tutte le riserve,	53 But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up.
54 vi restò poca gente nel luogo santo, e anch'essa, costretta dalla fame, si sbandò, e ciascuno tornò a casa sua.	54 And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place.
55 Intanto Lisia, avendo saputo che Filippo (quello che il re Antioco, quando era ancora in vita, aveva incaricato di educare il suo figlio Antioco e di farlo regnare)	55 Now Lysias heard that Philip, whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus, and to reign, to be king,
56 era tornato di Persia e di Media coll'esercito che aveva seco, e cercava di prendere in mano gli affari del regno,	56 Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him, and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom:
57 se ne andò in fretta a dire al re e ai capitani dell'esercito: « Noi tutti i giorni diminuiamo, abbiamo pochi viveri, il luogo che assediamo è forte, e abbiamo il dovere di occuparci degli affari del regno.	57 Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom.
58 Porgiamo dunque le destre a costoro, facendo pace con essi e con tutta la loro nazione.	58 Now therefore let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation.
59 E riconosciamo loro il diritto di vivere come prima, secondo le loro leggi; infatti a causa delle loro leggi, disprezzate da noi, sono irritati ed han fatto tutte queste cose».	59 And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to their own laws as before. For because of our despising their laws, they have been provoked, and have done all these things.
60 Essendo piaciuta la cosa al re e ai principi, egli mandò ad essi per far la pace. Ed essi l'accettarono,	60 And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of it.
61 ed avendola giurata il re e i principi, essi uscirono dalla fortezza.	61 And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of the stronghold.
62 Ma il re, entrato nel monte Sion, e osservate le fortificazioni del luogo, violò subito il giuramento fatto, e comandò di atterrare il muro di einta.	62 Then the king entered into mount Sion, and saw the strength of the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave commandment to throw down the wall round about.
63 Poi partì con gran fretta, e tornò ad Antiochia, e trovando Filippo padrone della città, combattè contro di lui ed occupò la città.	63 And he departed in haste, and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the city.