Secondo libro dei Maccabei 14

NOVA VULGATA	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Sed post triennii tempus co gnoverunt, qui cum Iuda erant, DemetriumSeleuci per portum apud Tripolim adnavigantem cum multitudine valida et navibus,	1 Three years after this, Judas and his men learned that Demetrius son of Seleucus had landed at theport of Tripolis with a strong army and a fleet,
2 tenuisse regionem, sublato Antiocho et procuratore eius Lysia.	2 and that he had occupied the country and had killed Antiochus and his tutor Lysias.
3 Alcimus autemquidam, qui summus sacerdos fuerat, sed voluntarie coinquinatus temporibusseditionis, considerans nullo modo sibi esse salutem neque accessum ultra adsanctum altare,	3 A certain Alcimus, a former high priest, had wilful y incurred defilement at the time of the insurrection;realising that whichever way he turned there was no security for him, nor any further access to the holy altar,
4 venit ad regem Demetrium, centesimo quinquagesimo primo anno,offerens ei coronam auream et palmam, super haec et thallos, qui templi essevidebantur; et ipsa quidem die siluit.	4 he went to King Demetrius in about the year one hundred and fifty-one and presented him with agolden crown and a palm, together with the traditional olive branches from the Temple; there, for that day, he letthe matter rest.
5 Tempus autem opportunum dementiae suaenactus, convocatus a Demetrio ad consilium et interrogatus quo proposito etconsilio Iudaei niterentur,	5 Presently he found an opportunity to further his mad plan. When Demetrius cal ed him into his counciland questioned him about the dispositions and intentions of the Jews, he replied,
6 ad haec respondit: “ Ipsi, qui dicuntur Asidaei,Iudaeorum, quibus praeest Iudas Maccabaeus, bella nutriunt et seditiones moventnec patiuntur regnum esse quietum.	6 'Those Jews called Hasidaeans, who are led by Judas Maccabaeus, are war-mongers and rebels whoare preventing the kingdom from finding stability.
7 Unde ego defraudatus parentum gloria, dicoautem summo sacerdotio, huc nunc veni,	7 That is why, after being deprived of my hereditary dignity -- I mean the high priesthood -- I have comehere now,
8 primo quidem de his, quae pertinent adregem, mera fide sentiens, secundo autem etiam civibus meis consulens; namillorum praedictorum inconsiderantia universum genus nostrum non modice laborat.	8 first out of genuine concern for the king's interests, and secondly, out of a regard for our own fellow-citizens, because the irresponsible behaviour of those I have mentioned has brought no slight misery on ourentire race.
9 Sed his singulis, tu rex, cognitis, et regioni et obsesso generi nostro,secundum quam habes omnibus obviam humanitatem, prospice;	9 When your majesty has taken note of al these points, may it please you to make provision for thewelfare of our country and our oppressed nation, as befits the gracious benevolence you extend to al ;
10 nam, quamdiusuperest Iudas, impossibile est pacem esse negotiis ”.	10 for, as long as Judas remains alive, the State wil never enjoy peace.'
11 Talibus autem ab hoc dictis, velocius ceteri amici hostiliter se habentesadversus Iudam inflammaverunt Demetrium.	11 No sooner had he spoken thus than the rest of the King's Friends, who were hostile to Judas'activities, stoked Demetrius' anger.
12 Qui statim assumens Nicanorem, quifuit praepositus elephantorum, et ducem ostendens Iudaeae misit,	12 The latter at once selected Nicanor, then commander of the elephants, promoted him to thecommand of Judaea and despatched him
13 datismandatis, ut ipsum quidem Iudam occideret; eos vero, qui cum illo erant,dispergeret et constitueret Alcimum maximi templi summum sacerdotem.	13 with instructions to dispose of Judas, disperse his followers and instal Alcimus as high priest of thegreatest of temples.
14 Tuncgentes, quae de Iudaea fugerant Iudam, gregatim se Nicanori miscebant, miseriaset clades Iudaeorum prosperitates rerum suarum existimantes fore.	14 The foreigners in Judaea, who had fled before Judas, flocked to join Nicanor, thinking that themisfortunes and troubles of the Jews would be to their own advantage.
15 Audito itaque Nicanoris adventu et conventu nationum, conspersi terrarogabant eum, qui populum suum constituit usque in aeternum quique suamportionem signis evidentibus protegit.	15 When the Jews heard that Nicanor was coming and that the foreigners were about to attack, theysprinkled dust over themselves and made supplication to him who had established his people for ever and whonever failed to support his own heritage by direct manifestations.
16 Imperante autem duce, statim indeprofectus congreditur eis ad castellum Dessau.	16 On their leader's orders, they at once left the place where they were and confronted the enemy atthe vil age of Dessau.
17 Simon vero frater Iudaecommiserat cum Nicanore, sed lente ob repentinum adversariorum silentium victusevaserat.	17 Simon, brother of Judas, engaged Nicanor but, owing to the sudden arrival of the enemy, suffered aslight reverse.
18 Nicanor tamen audiens quam virtutem haberent, qui cum Iuda erant, et animimagnitudinem pro patriae certaminibus, sanguine iudicium facere metuebat.	18 Nicanor, however, had heard how brave Judas and his men were and how resolutely they alwaysfought for their country, and he did not dare al ow bloodshed to decide the issue.
19 Quam ob rem misit Posidonium et Theodotum et Matthathiam, ut darent dextrasatque acciperent.	19 And so he sent Posidonius, Theodotus and Mattathias to offer the Jews pledges of friendship and toaccept theirs.
20 Et, cum diu de his consilium ageretur, et ipse dux admultitudinem rettulisset, et paribus suffragiis pareret sententia, sponsionibuspacis annuerunt.	20 After careful consideration of his terms, the leader communicated them to his troops, and since theywere all clearly of one mind they agreed to the treaty.
21 Itaque diem constituerunt, qua secreto convenirent eodem, etprocessit utrimque currus, posuerunt sellas;	21 A day was fixed on which the respective leaders were to meet as individuals. A litter came out fromeither side and seats were set up.
22 disposuit Iudas armatos paratoslocis opportunis, ne forte ab hostibus repente mali aliquid fieret; congruumcolloquium fecerunt.	22 Judas had posted armed men in strategic positions, in case of a sudden treacherous move by theenemy. The leaders held their conference and reached agreement.
23 Morabatur Nicanor Hierosolymis nihilque inique agebatgregesque turbarum, quae congregatae fuerant, dimisit.	23 Nicanor took up residence in Jerusalem and did nothing out of place there; indeed, he sent away thecrowds that had flocked to join him.
24 Habebat autem Iudamsemper in conspectu, ex animo erat viro inclinatus.	24 He kept Judas constantly with him, becoming deeply attached to him
25 Rogavit eum ducere uxoremfiliosque procreare. Nuptias fecit, quiete egit, communiter vivebat.	25 and encouraged him to marry and have children. Judas married, settled down and led a normal life.
26 Alcimus autem, videns mutuam illorum benevolentiam et factas conventiones,accipiens venit ad Demetrium et dicebat Nicanorem aliena sentire a rebus; Iudamenim regni insidiatorem socium sibi designavit.	26 When Alcimus saw how friendly the two men had become, he went to Demetrius with a copy of thetreaty they had signed and told him that Nicanor was harbouring thoughts against the interests of the State, andwas planning that Judas, an enemy of the realm, should fil the next vacancy among the Friends of the King.
27 Itaque rex exasperatus etpessimi huius criminationibus irritatus, scripsit Nicanori dicens graviterquidem se ferre de conventionibus, iubere tamen Maccabaeum citius vinctummittere Antiochiam.	27 The king flew into a rage; roused by the slanders of this villain, he wrote to Nicanor, tel ing him of hisstrong displeasure at these agreements and ordering him immediately to send Maccabaeus to Antioch in chains.
28 Quibus cognitis, Nicanor confusus erat et aegre ferebat,si ea, quae convenerant, irrita faceret, nulla a viro facta iniuria;	28 When the letter reached Nicanor, he was very much upset, for he disliked the prospect of breakingan agreement with a man who had done nothing wrong.
29 sed,quia regi resisti non poterat, opportunitatem observabat, ut artificio illudperficeret.	29 Since, however, there was no way of opposing the king, he waited for an opportunity to carry out theorder by a stratagem.
30 At Maccabaeus videns secum austerius agere Nicanorem et consuetumoccursum ferocius exhibentem, intellegens non ex optimo esse austeritatem, nonpaucis suorum congregatis, occultavit se a Nicanore.	30 Maccabaeus began to notice that Nicanor was treating him more sharply and that his manner ofspeaking to him was more abrupt than it had been, and he concluded that such sharpness could have no verygood motive. He therefore collected a considerable number of his fol owers and got away from Nicanor.
31 Quod cum ille cognovitfortiter se a viro astutia praeventum, venit ad maximum et sanctum templum etsacerdotibus solitas hostias offerentibus iussit sibi tradi virum.	31 The latter, realising that the man had wel and truly outmanoeuvred him, went to the greatest andholiest of Temples when the priests were offering the customary sacrifices, and ordered them to surrenderJudas.
32 Quibus cumiuramento dicentibus nescire se ubi esset, qui quaerebatur, extendens dexteramad templum	32 When they protested on oath that they did not know where the wanted man could be,
33 iuravit haec: “ Nisi Iudam mihi vinctum tradideritis, istud Deifanum in planitiem deducam et altare effodiam et templum hic Libero illustreerigam ”.	33 he stretched out his right hand towards the Temple and swore this oath, 'If you do not hand Judasover to me as prisoner, I shal rase this dwelling of God to the ground, I shal demolish the altar, and on this veryspot I shal erect a splendid temple to Dionysus.'
34 Et, his dictis, abiit. Sacerdotes autem protendentes manus incaelum invocabant eum, qui semper propugnator fuit gentis nostrae, haecdicentes:	34 With these words he left them. The priests stretched out their hands to heaven, cal ing on him whohas at al times done battle for our nation; this was their prayer:
35 “ Tu, Domine universorum, qui nullius indiges, voluisti templumhabitationis tuae fieri in nobis;	35 'O Lord in need of nothing, it has pleased you that the Temple where you dwel should be here withus.
36 et nunc, Sancte, omnis sanctificationisDomine, conserva in aeternum impollutam domum istam, quae nuper mundata est ”.	36 Now, therefore, holy Lord of al holiness, preserve for ever from all profanation this House, so newlypurified.'
37 Razis autem quidam de senioribus ab Hierosolymis delatus est Nicanori, viramator civitatis et valde bene audiens, qui pro affectu pater Iudaeorumappellabatur.	37 Now, a man cal ed Razis, one of the elders of Jerusalem, was denounced to Nicanor. He was a manwho loved his countrymen and stood high in their esteem, and he was known as the father of the Jews becauseof his kindness.
38 Hic enim pristinis temporibus seditionis iudicium pertuleratIudaismi corpusque et animam pro Iudaismo tradiderat cum omni perseverantia.	38 In the earlier days of the insurrection he had been convicted of Judaism, and he had risked both lifeand limb for Judaism with the utmost zeal.
39 Volens autem Nicanor manifestare odium, quod habebat in Iudaeos, misit militessupra quingentos, ut eum comprehenderent;	39 Nicanor, by way of demonstrating the enmity he had for the Jews, sent over five hundred soldiers toarrest him,
40 putabat enim, si illum cepisset, secladem istis illaturum.	40 reckoning that if he eliminated this man he would be dealing them a severe blow.
41 Turbis autem turrim iam occupaturis et atrii ianuaevim facientibus atque iubentibus ignem admovere et portas incendi, ipse undiquecomprehensus supposuit sibi gladium	41 When the troops were on the point of capturing the tower and were forcing the outer door and cal ingfor fire to set the doors alight, Razis, finding himself completely surrounded, fel on his own sword,
42 volens nobiliter mori potius quamsubditus fieri peccatoribus et nobilitate sua indignis iniuriis affici.	42 nobly resolving to die rather than fal into the clutches of these villains and suffer outrages unworthyof his noble birth.
43 Sed,cum per contentionis festinationem non certo ictu plagam dedisset, et turbaeintra ostia irrumperent, recurrens audacter ad murum praecipitavit semetipsumviriliter in turbas;	43 But in the heat of conflict he missed his thrust, and while the troops swarmed in through thedoorways, he ran nimbly upstairs to the parapet and manfully threw himself down among the troops.
44 quibus velociter locum dantibus intervallo facto, venitper medium spatium vacuum.	44 But, as they immediately drew back, he fell into the middle of the empty space.
45 Et, cum adhuc spiraret, accensus animis surrexitet, cum sanguis ad modum fontis deflueret, et gravissima essent vulnera, cursuturbas pertransiens et stans supra quandam petram praeruptam,	45 Stil breathing, and blazing with anger, he struggled to his feet, blood spurting in al directions, anddespite his terrible wounds ran right through the crowd; then, taking his stand on a steep rock,
46 prorsusexsanguis iam effectus, proferens intestina et sumens utrisque manibus proiecitsuper turbas et invocans Dominatorem vitae ac spiritus, ut haec ipsi iterumredderet, ita vita defunctus est.	46 although he had now lost every drop of blood, he tore out his entrails and taking them in both handsflung them down on the crowd, cal ing on the Master of his life and spirit to give them back to him one day. Thushe died.