15 — 2 Machabees

1But when Nicanor understood that Judas was in the places of Samaria, he purposed to set upon him with all violence, on the sabbath day.Ma Nicanore avendo saputo, che Giuda era nel paese della Samaria, risolvè di assalirlo con tutte le forze in giorno di sabato.BVT Nichanor as he vnderstood that Iudas was in the places of Samaria, he purposed with al violence to ioyne batel the day of the Sabbath.Nicanor autem, ut comperit Judam esse in locis Samariæ, cogitavit cum omni impetu die sabbati committere bellum. 2And when the Jews that were constrained to follow him, said: Do not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honour to the day that is sanctified: and reverence him that beholdeth all things:Ma dicendo a lui que' Giudei, i quali per necessità lo seguivano: Non volere far cosa si strana, e barbara, ma rendi onore al giorno santo, e rispetta colui, che tutto vede:But the Iewes that of necessitie folowed him, saying do not so fearcely and barbarousely, but geue honour to the day of the sanctification, and honour him that beholdeth al thinges:Judæis vero qui illum per necessitatem sequebantur, dicentibus: Ne ita ferociter et barbare feceris, sed honorem tribue diei sanctificationis, et honora eum qui universa conspicit: 3That unhappy man asked, if there were a mighty One in heaven, that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept.Quell'infelice domandò se vi fosse in cielo un Dio potente, che avesse ordinato di osservare il giorno di sabato.that vnhappie man asked, if there were a powre in heauen, that commanded the sabbath day to be kept.ille infelix interrogavit si est potens in cælo, qui imperavit agi diem sabbatorum. 4And when they answered: There is the living Lord himself in heaven, the mighty One, that commanded the seventh day to be kept.E avendo quelli risposto: Egli è lo stesso Dio vivo possente nel cielo, che ordinò di celebrare il settimo giorno,And they answering: There is the liuing Lord himself in heauen, the potent, that commanded the seuenth day to be kept.Et respondentibus illis: Est Dominus vivus ipse in cælo potens, qui jussit agi septimam diem: 5Then he said: And I am mighty upon the earth, and I command to take arms, and to do the king’s business. Nevertheless he prevailed not to accomplish his design.Egli allora disse: Ed io sono possente sopra la terra, e comando, che si prendano le armi, e che si serva il re. Egli però non potè eseguire i suoi disegni.But he sayd: And I am potent vpon the earth, that commanded armes to be taken, and the kings affayres to be accomplished. Neuertheles he obteyned not to accomplish his counsel.at ille ait: Et ego potens sum super terram qui impero sumi arma, et negotia regis impleri. Tamen non obtinuit ut consilium perficeret.

6So Nicanor being puffed up with exceeding great pride, thought to set up a public monument of his victory over Judas.Nicanore adunque trasportato dal la sua grandissima superbia avea in animo di ergere un trofeo comune de' Giudei.And Nicanor in dede puffed vp with exceeding pride, had thought to haue set vp a common victorious memorie of Iudas.Et Nicanor quidem cum summa superbia erectus, cogitaverat commune trophæum statuere de Juda. 7But Machabeus ever trusted with all hope that God would help them.Maccabeo però avea ferma fede, e speranza, che Dio gli avrebbe mandato soccorso:But Machabeus alwayes trusted with al hope that there would come ayde from God to them.Machabæus autem semper confidebat cum omni spe auxilium sibi a Deo affuturum: 8And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations, but to remember the help they had before received from heaven, and now to hope for victory from the Almighty.Ed esortava i suoi, che non temessero gli assalti delle nazioni, ma avessero in memoria come erano stati già aiutati dal cielo, e sperassero allora, che l'Onnipotente avrebbe data loro la vittoria.And exhorted his companie, that they should not feare at the coming of the nations, but should haue in minde the aydes geuen vnto them from heauen, and now should hope that they should haue the victorie from the Almightie.et hortabatur suos ne formidarent ad adventum nationum, sed in mente haberent adjutoria sibi facta de cælo, et nunc sperarent ab Omnipotente sibi affuturam victoriam. 9And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and withal putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made them more cheerful:E ripetendo loro le parole della legge, e de' profeti, e rammentando le imprese fatte da loro ne' tempi precedenti, li rendè più animosi:And speaking vnto them out of the law, and the Prophetes, admonishing them also of the conflictes, that they had made before, he made them the more prompt:Et allocutus eos de lege et prophetis, admonens etiam certamina quæ fecerant prius, promptiores constituit eos: 10Then after he had encouraged them, he shewed withal the falsehood of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths.E ravvivato il loro coraggio, metteva anche in vista la perfidia delle genti, e i giuramenti violati.and so their hartes being encoreged, withal he shewed the fraude of the Gentils, and their breaking of oathes.et ita animis eorum erectis simul ostendebat gentium fallaciam, et juramentorum prævaricationem. 11So he armed every one of them, not with defence of shield and spear, but with very good speeches, and exhortations, and told them a dream worthy to be believed, whereby he rejoiced them all.E armò ciascheduno di essi, non con dar loro degli scudi, e delle lancie, ma con ottimi ragionamenti, ed esortazioni e col riferire una visione degna di fede, la quale li riempiè di allegrezza.And he armed euerie one of them, not with sense of buckler and speare, but with very good words, & exhortations, declaring a dreame worthy to be credited, wherby he reioyced them al.Singulos autem illorum armavit, non clypei et hastæ munitione, sed sermonibus optimis et exhortationibus, exposito digno fide somnio, per quod universos lætificavit.

12Now the vision was in this manner. Onias, who had been high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his manners, and graceful in speech, and who from a child was exercised in virtues holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews:Or la visione fu tale: Egli vedeva Onia, che era stato sommo Sacerdote, uomo dabbene, e benigno, esercitato fin da fanciullo nelle virtù, colla sua verecondia nel volto, colla modestia nel suo portamento, colla sua grazia nel favellare, il quale stendendo le mani faceva orazione per tutto il popolo dei Giudei:And the vision was in this maner: Onias who had bene the highpriest, a good and benigne man, reuerent to behold, modest of maners, and comelie of speach, and who from a childe was exercised in vertues, that he stretching forth the handes prayed for al the people of the Iewes.Erat autem hujuscemodi visus: Oniam, qui fuerat summus sacerdos, virum bonum et benignum, verecundum visu, modestum moribus, et eloquio decorum, et qui a puero in virtutibus exercitatus sit, manus protendentem orare pro omni populo Judæorum. 13After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty:E dipoi era comparso un altro uomo venerabile per l'età, e per la maestà, cinto di magnificenza da tutti i lati:After this that there appeared also an other man meruelous for age, and glorie, and for the port of great dignitie about him.Post hoc apparuisse et alium virum ætate et gloria mirabilem, et magni decoris habitudine circa illum. 14Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God.E che Onia rispondendo a lui gli avea detto: Questi è l'amico de' fratelli, e del popolo di Israele; questi è colui che prega fortemente pel popolo, e per tutta la città santa, Geremia Profeta di Dio.And that Onias answering sayd: This is a louer of his bretheren, & of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, & for the whole citie, Ieremie the Prophete of God.Respondentem vero Oniam dixisse: Hic est fratrum amator, et populi Israël: hic est qui multum orat pro populo et universa sancta civitate, Jeremias propheta Dei. 15Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to Judas a sword of gold, saying:E che Geremia aveva stesa la mano destra, e aveva data a Giuda una Spalla d'oro, dicendo:And that Ieremie put forth his righthand, and gaue vnto Iudas a sword of gold, saying:Extendisse autem Jeremiam dextram, et dedisse Judæ gladium aureum, dicentem:

16Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel.Prendi questa spada santa, dono di Dio, per mezzo del quale tu getterai per terra i nemici del mio popolo di israeliti.Take the holie sword a gift from God, wherwith thou shalt ouerthrow the aduersaries of my people Israel.Accipe sanctum gladium munus a Deo, in quo dejicies adversarios populi mei Israël. 17Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: that valour might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the temple were in danger.Quegli adunque incoraggiti dalle parole di Giuda molto efficaci, le quali servivano ad avvivare il vigore, e confortare gli animi della gioventù, risolverono di valorosamente combattere, e menare le mani, affinchè giudice della causa fosse il valore, atteso che e la città santa, e il tempio erano in pericolo.Being exhorted therefore with the wordes of Iudas exceding good, by which the coreges might be stured vp, and the hartes of the young men streingthned, they resolued to fight, and to encounter manfully: that manhood might decide the matter, because the holie citie, and the temple were in danger.Exhortati itaque Judæ sermonibus bonis valde, de quibus extolli posset impetus, et animi juvenum confortari, statuerunt dimicare et confligere fortiter: ut virtus de negotiis judicaret, eo quod civitas sancta et templum periclitarentur. 18For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and for their brethren, and kinsfolks: but their greatest and principal fear was for the holiness of the temple.Perocché minore era la pena, che facean loro le mogli, e i figliuoli, e i fratelli, e i parenti; ma il massimo, e principal timore era per la santità del tempio:For there was lesse care for their wiues, and children, and also for their bretheren, and kinsemen: but the greatest and principal feare was for the holines of the temple.Erat enim pro uxoribus et filiis, itemque pro fratribus et cognatis, minor sollicitudo: maximus vero et primus pro sanctitate timor erat templi. 19And they also that were in the city, had no little concern for them that were to be engaged in battle.Ma quelli, che erano nella città erano non poco inquieti della sorte di quelli, che erano per venire a battaglia.And they also that were in the citie, tooke no litle care for them that were to ioyne battel.Sed et eos qui in civitate erant, non minima sollicitudo habebat pro his qui congressuri erant.

20And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the horsemen ranged in convenient places,Ma quando tutti già aspettavano la decisione della contesa, e i nemici eran presenti, e l'esercito messo in ordine, e gli elefanti, e i cavalli ai luoghi loro,And when they did al hope that iudgement would be geuen, and the enimies were present, and the armie was set in aray, the beastes & horsemen disposed in conuenient place,Et cum jam omnes sperarent judicium futurum, hostesque adessent atque exercitus esset ordinatus, bestiæ equitesque opportuno in loco compositi, 21Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretching out his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, that worketh wonders, who giveth victory to them that are worthy, not according to the power of their arms, but according as it seemeth good to him.Maccabeo considerando quella moltitudine, che si avanzava, e la varia maniera delle armi, e la ferocità degli elefanti, stese le mani al cielo invocò quel Signore, che fa i prodigj, il quale non secondo la forza degli eserciti, ma conforme a lui piace, da la vittoria a chi ne è degno,Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the varietie of the prouision of armour, and the fiercenes of the beastes, stretching forth his handes vnto heauen, he inuocated our Lord, that worketh wonders, who not according to the might of armes, but according as it pleaseth him, geueth victorie to the worthie.considerans Machabæus adventum multitudinis, et apparatum varium armorum, et ferocitatem bestiarum, extendens manus in cælum, prodigia facientem Dominum invocavit, qui non secundum armorum potentiam, sed prout ipsi placet, dat dignis victoriam. 22And in his prayer he said after this manner: Thou, O Lord, who didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib:E lo invocò con queste parole: Tu, Signore, se' quegli, che mandasti il tuo Angelo a tempo di Ezechia re di Giuda, e uccidesti nel campo di Sennacherib cento ottanta cinque mila uomini:And he sayd inuocating in this maner: Thou Lord which didst send thyne Angel in the time of Ezechias king of Iuda, and didst kil an hundred eightie fiue thousand of the campe of Sennacharib:Dixit autem invocans hoc modo: Tu Domine, qui misisti angelum tuum sub Ezechia rege Juda, et interfecisti de castris Sennacherib centum octoginta quinque millia: 23Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm,E adesso o Signore dei cieli, manda il tuo buon Angelo innanzi a noi, che dia a conoscere la forza del terribile, e tremendo tuo braccio,& now ô Dominatour of the heauens send thy good Angel before vs, in feare and trembling of the greatnes of thyne arme,et nunc, dominator cælorum, mitte angelum tuum bonum ante nos in timore et tremore magnitudinis brachii tui, 24That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy holy people. And thus he concluded his prayer.Affinchè restino sbigottiti quelli, i quali bestemmiando si muovono contro il tuo popolo santo. Così terminò egli la sua orazione.that they may be afrayde, which with blasphemie come against thyne holie people. And he in dede ended his prayer thus.ut metuant qui cum blasphemia veniunt adversus sanctum populum tuum. Et hic quidem ita peroravit.

25But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with trumpets and songs.Ma Nicanore, e la sua gente si avvicinarono al suono delle trombe, e delle canzoni.But Nicanor, and they that were with him, with trumpets & songues came nere.Nicanor autem et qui cum ipso erant, cum tubis et canticis admovebant. 26But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, calling upon God by prayers:E Giuda co' suoi, invocato Dio coll'orazione, attaccarono la zuffa:But Iudas, and they that were with him, inuocating God by prayers ioyned battel:Judas vero et qui cum eo erant, invocato Deo, per orationes congressi sunt: 27So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly cheered with the presence of God.E combattendo colla mano, ma pregando Dio col cuore, uccisero niente meno di trenta cinque mila uomini, essendo stati grandiosamente confortati dalla presenza di Dio.with the hand in dede fighting, but in their hartes praying to our Lord, they ouerthrew no lesse then fiue and thirtie thousand, being greatly delighted with the presence of God.manu quidem pugnantes, sed Dominum cordibus orantes, prostraverunt non minus triginta quinque millia, præsentia Dei magnifice delectati. 28And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy, they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour.E mentre pieni di allegrezza se ne tornavano indietro, finita già la battaglia, seppero come Nicanore giaceva colle sue armi prostrato per terra.And when they had ceased, and returned with ioy, they vnderstood that Nicanor was slaine, for al his armour.Cumque cessassent, et cum gaudio redirent, cognoverunt Nicanorem ruisse cum armis suis. 29Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the Almighty Lord in their own language.Alzato perciò un grido, e levatosi un grande strepito, benedicevano nel natio linguaggio il Signore onnipotente.A shout therfore being made, and a great crie, they blessed the Almightie Lord in their countrie language.Facto itaque clamore, et perturbatione excitata, patria voce omnipotentem Dominum benedicebant. 30And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die for his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor’s head, and his hand, with the shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem.Ma Giuda sempre pronto di corpo, e di animo a morire pe' concittadini, ordinò, che si tagliasse il capo di Nicanore, e il braccio colla spalla, e si portassero a Gerusalemme.And Iudas, who by al meanes was in bodie and mind readie to dye for his citizens, commanded that Nicanors head, and hand with the shoulder being cut of, should be caried to Ierusalem.Præcepit autem Judas, qui per omnia corpore et animo mori pro civibus paratus erat, caput Nicanoris, et manum cum humero abscissam, Jerosolymam perferri.

31And when he was come thither, having called together his countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that were in the castle,E quando vi fu arrivato, radunati i concittadini, e i sacerdoti presso all'altare, chiamò anche quelli, che erano nella cittadella,Whither when he was come, hauing called his countrimen, and the Priestes to the altar, he sent also for them that were in the castel,Quo cum pervenisset, convocatis contribulibus et sacerdotibus ad altare, accersiit et eos qui in arce erant. 32And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the Almighty God,E fatto vedere il capo di Nicanore, e la scellerata mano, la quale egli avea stesa verso la casa santa dell'onnipotente Iddio con vantamenti tanto superbi,And shewing them the head of Nicanor, & the wicked hand, which he stretching forth against holie house of almightie God, had mightely bragged.Et ostenso capite Nicanoris, et manu nefaria quam extendens contra domum sanctam omnipotentis Dei magnifice gloriatus est. 33He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor should be cut out, and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious man to be hanged up over against the temple.Comandò, che la lingua dell'empio Nicanore fosse tagliata in piccoli pezzi, e gettata agli uccelli; la mano poi dell'insensato fosse appesa dirimpetto al tempio.The tongue also of impious Nicanor being cut out, he commanded to be geuen pecemeale to the birdes: and the hand of the furious man to be hanged vp against the temple.Linguam etiam impii Nicanoris præcisam jussit particulatim avibus dari: manum autem dementis contra templum suspendi. 34Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that hath kept his own place undefiled.Allora tutti benedissero il Signore del cielo, dicendo: Benedetto colui, che ha serbato esente da profanazione il suo tempio.Al therfore blessed the Lord of heauen, saying: Blessed be he, that hath kept his place vndefiled.Omnes igitur cæli benedixerunt Dominum, dicentes: Benedictus qui locum suum incontaminatum servavit. 35And he hung up Nicanor’s head in the top of the castle, that it might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God.Egli appese anche il capo di Nicanore sulla cima della cittadella, affin chè fosse visibile, e manifesto segno dell'aiuto di Dio.And he hung vp Nicanors head in the toppe of the castel, that it might be an euident, & manifest signe of the helpe of God.Suspendit autem Nicanoris caput in summa arce, ut evidens esset, et manifestum signum auxilii Dei.

36And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let this day pass without solemnity:Or tutti di comune consenso determinarono, che non fosse in alcuni modo da passarsi quel giorno senza solennità;Therfore al by common counsel decreed, by no meanes to let passe this day without solemnitie:Itaque omnes communi consilio decreverunt nullo modo diem istum absque celebritate præterire: 37But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias’ day.E che questa solennità si facesse a' tredici del mese chiamato con voce Siriaca Adar, un giorno prima del giorno di Mardocheo.but to kepe the solemnitie the thirtenth day of the moneth Adar, which is called in the Syrian language, the day before Mardocheus day.habere autem celebritatem tertiadecima die mensis Adar, quod dicitur voce syriaca, pridie Mardochæi diei. 38So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my narration.Fatte queste cose contro Nicanore essendo stati gli Ebrei da quel tempo in poi padroni della città, io pure qui porrò fine al mio racconto.These thinges therefore being done concerning Nicanor, & from that time the citie being possessed of the Hebrewes, I also in these wil make an end of speaking.Igitur his erga Nicanorem gestis, et ex illis temporibus ab Hebræis civitate possessa, ego quoque in his faciam finem sermonis. 39Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.Il quale se cammina bene, e come a una storia conviensi, questo io pure bramai; se poi non con tutta dignità, mi si conceda perdono:And if wel, and as is competent for a storie that myself also would: but if not so worthely it resteth to be pardoned me.Et si quidem bene, et ut historiæ competit, hoc et ipse velim: sin autem minus digne, concedendum est mihi. 40For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers. But here it shall be ended.Perocché siccome il bere o sempre vino, o sempre acqua fa danno, ma diletta il far uso or dell'una, or dell'altro; così il ragionare se è sempre molto limato non sarà gradito ai lettori. Qui adunque farò fine.For as to drinke alwayes wine, or alwayes water is hurtful, but to vse now one now an other is delectable: so to the readers, if the speach be alwayes exact, it wil not be gratful. Here therefore it shal be ended.Sicut enim vinum semper bibere, aut semper aquam, contrarium est; alternis autem uti, delectabile: ita legentibus si semper exactus sit sermo, non erit gratus. Hic ergo erit consummatus.