¹

Then he called Hermon, who had charge of the elephants. Full of rage, altogether fixed in his furious design,

¹

Тогда` цр~ь тяQце и^спол#нися гнњва, и^ крђчи'ны по всемђ` непремњнне, и^ приꙁва` е^рмона сло'номᲆ нача'лника, и^ повелњ вᲆ грядђщїи дн~ь и^зобилне накорми'ти слоны ѓ^броки плода ливан#ска, и^ виномъ несмњшенымъ всњх# напои^ти, и%хже б^њ числомъ, ф~. и^ ѓ^сверњпњвши виноM нещаDно, въвести въ срњтенїе сме'рти і^ё^де'искїя”^*

²

he commanded him, with a quantity of unmixed wine and handfuls of incense infused to drug the elephants early on the following day. These five hundred elephants were, when infuriated by the copious draughts of frankincense, to be led up to the execution of death upon the Jews.

²

Сїя же повелњвъ въꙁврати'ся, и^ множа'е дрђговъ въ пирова'нїе сᲆбра`. во'и же ненави'дяще бњша і^ё^де'ѓвᲆ” а^ слононача'лник# повеле'нное прилњжно съвръша'ше.

³

The king, after issuing these orders, went to his feasting, and gathered together all those of his friends and of the army who hated the Jews the most.

³

кси'м же слђги въ вече'ръ досто'ини дњ'ющеся свяꙁа'ша рђцњ стра'сᲄныX, и^ прочїе ё%зъ ѓ^нихъ ё^крњпля'хђ. мня'ще в но'щъ т^ђ прїя'ти и^мъ въкђпњ конечнђю поги'бель.

⁴

The master of the elephants, Hermon, fulfilled his commission punctually.

⁴

ѓ^ни' же вся'кого ѓ^сененїя ја%зы'ков# пђсти непщђ'ющеся бы'ти, ради ѓ^бъе%мшїа и^хъ эTвсю'дђ нђжды. призыва'хђ вседръжи'теля г~а, и^ вся'коя си'лы крњпльшаго млsтиваго б~а иX и^ эTц~а непреста'ннымъ гла'сомъ вс^и съ слеза'ми моля'щи, ја%же на ни'хъ совTњ непреподо'бныи и^змњни'ти. і^ и^зба'вити и^хъ эT и^же преD нога'ма ё^готова'нныя смр~ти, съ ѕњлною ча'стїю проја%вленїя.

⁵

The underlings appointed for the purpose went out about eventide and bound the hands of the miserable victims, and took other precautions for their security at night, thinking that the whole race would perish together.

⁵

си'хъ ё^бо прилњжна мл~тва възыиде на' нб~о” Є$рмон# же нещаDно слоны напо'и виноM і^ и^сполни всякоя сверњпости, и^ ливан#скими плоды напита`. ра'но въ дворъ прїиде ѓ^ си'х# възвњсти'ти цр~ю”

⁶

The heathen believed the Jews to be destitute of all protection; for chains fettered them about.

⁶

Зда'нїе же бл~гое эT вњ'чнаго времени в но'щи, и^ въ дн~и мни'мое бы'ти. эT дарђ'ющаго всњмъ и%мже а^ще са'мъ въсхо'щетъ. сна` ча'сть посла` въ цр~я,

⁷

They invoked the Almighty Lord, and ceaselessly besought with tears their merciful God and Father, Ruler of all, Lord of every power,

⁷

и^ слаDце и^ глђбо'це ё^дръжа'ся в неM дња'нїемъ влDки. и^ повеленїя преDё^ста'вленаго мно'го погрњши. и^ непремњ'нныи е^го совњт# ѕњлне солга`”

⁸

to overthrow the evil purpose which was gone out against them, and to deliver them by extraordinary manifestation from that death which was in store for them.

⁸

І$ё^де'и же проназнаменова'ннаго вре'мени и^збњжа'ша ст~го б~а и^хъ воспњва'хђ. и^ паки моля'хђ бл~гоизмњнна показа'ти е^го и^ ве'лма немо'щна ја^зы'комъ прегорды'мъ рђкою дръжа'вы свое'я”

⁹

Their litany so earnest went up to heaven.

⁹

Преполовя'щи же ся ё^бо деся'томђ ча'сђ і^ и^же къ зва'нїю ё%чине'ныи видя` зва'н#ныхъ събра'вшиXся. тогда` дръзнђ в#ни'де, и^ пристђпль къ цр~ю е^два` въз#дви'же е^го`, и^ покаꙁа` пи'ра врњмя прешеDше ё^же`. і^ и^же ѓ^ сихъ словесеX въспомянђ. е^же цр~ь в# себњ размы'сли. и^ ѓ^бращ#ся въ мњсто, повелњ пришеDшиX в# пирова'нїе кое^гожDо въ свое^мъ мњсте, въсклони'ти.

¹⁰

Then Hermon, who had filled his merciless elephants with copious draughts of mingled wine and frankincense, came early to the palace to certify the king thereof.

¹⁰

е^гда' же быs сїе в# пирова'нїе вда'ша себе`, и^ в немъ сђщи ѓ' мно'ѕњ че'сти гл~ахђ, е^же чаs въ веселїе поста'вити.

¹¹

He, however, who has sent his good creature sleep from all time, by night or by day thus gratifying whom he wills, diffused a portion thereof now upon the king.

¹¹

въ мно'ѕе же бесњде бы'вши и^мᲆ, цр~ь е^рмо'на приꙁва`. и^ съ ве'лїем# преще'нїемъ въпрошаше. чт^о ради и^ ко'я вина е^же ѓ^ста'вишася і^ё^де'и в сїи дн~ь жи'ви бы'ти.

¹²

By this sweet and profound influence of the Lord he was held fast, and thus his unjust purpose was quite frustrated, and his unflinching resolve greatly falsified.

¹²

ѓ%номђ же показа'вшђ и^же но'щїю повеле'нное съвершене сътвори, ксемђ же и^ дрђгоM с#послђшествова'вшиM семђ` бы'ти та'ко. и^ сего ра'ди лю'теише фалари'да сᲆтвори'ша е^го. и^ пригл~а дне'шнемђ снђ` блгDть да и%мђтъ”

¹³

But the Jews, having escaped the hour which had been fixed, praised their holy God, and again prayed him who is easily reconciled to display the power of his powerful hand to the overweening Gentiles.

¹³

Ты' же непрело'жне вᲆ грядђщїи дн~ь по прьвомђ ё^готђи сло'ны, въ погђбленїе иX.

¹⁴

The middle of the tenth hour had well nigh arrived, when the master-bidder, seeing the guests who were bidden collected, came and shook the king.

¹⁴

сїя же рекшђ цр~ю, любезне вс^и и^ съ ра'достїю прїя'ша, и^ въспњвше въкђпњ, ко'ждо в до'мъ сво'и эTи^до'ша” и^ не проводи'ша в сїе вре'мя но'щное тако. н^о совњща'ша да'же прелю'тњише посмᲇа'нїе нанесTђ стра'стнымъ.

¹⁵

He gained his attention with difficulty, and hinting that the mealtime was getting past, talked the matter over with him.

¹⁵

и^ ё^бо пᲇтлђ воꙁ#гласи'вшђ ё^трьнемђ, и^ ѕвњри ё^готова е^рмо'нъ, въ вели'цњмъ столпњ повапленомъ, і^ и^же по гра'деX мно'жество сᲆбра'шеся, ко ꙁрњнїю мђченїа и^хъ, ча'юще ё%тра съ тща'нїем#”

¹⁶

The king listened to this, and then turning aside to his potations, commanded the guests to sit down before him.

¹⁶

І$ё^деи же бес#преста'но эT дш~а стеня'щи, мно'го слезнђ мл~твђ съ слаDкимъ пњнїемъ простира'юще рђцњ на' нб~о, моля'хђ вели'каго б~а. па'ки и^мъ помощи` въскорњ”

¹⁷

This done, he asked them to enjoy themselves, and to indulge in mirth at this somewhat late hour of the banquet.

¹⁷

Внегда' же слн~це лђ'ча рас#сњя, и^ цр~ь дрђговъ въспрїя. е^рмо'нъ преDста ꙁва'ше къ и^схо'дђ. покаꙁђя провожделᲇное цр~еM готово бы'ти.

¹⁸

Conversation grew on, and the king sent for Hermon, and enquired of him, with fierce denunciations, why the Jews had been allowed to outlive that day.

¹⁸

ѓ%н же въспрїя'вши е^го ё^страшися зако'нопресᲄђпнаго ради повелњнїя. и^ по всемђ невњдњнїемъ ѓ^дръжи'мъ бы'сть. въпрошAше чт^о ве'щь сїя ю%же въско'рњ е^мђ съверши” Сїе же б^њ дња'нїе всњхъ влDки б~а, и^же проё^готова'ныя на і^ё^де'и мђченїа въ забве'нїе е^мђ в#ложи”

¹⁹

Hermon explained that he had done his bidding over night; and in this he was confirmed by his friends.

¹⁹

Є$рмо'н же показова'ше, та'коy и^ вс^и дрђѕи е^го, ѕвњры, и^ во'и ё^готованы цр~ю потвое^мђ непрело'жномђ повеле'нїю,

²⁰

The king, then, with a barbarity exceeding that of Phalaris, said, That they might thank his sleep of that day. Lose no time, and get ready the elephants against to-morrow, as you did before, for the destruction of these accursed Jews.

²⁰

ѓ%н же гл~ъ ради и^х# и^споlнися тяж#ча'е ја%рости, и^б^о разори` ѓ^ сихᲆ провидњнїе бж~їе вс^е е^го ё^мышленїе” И$ въꙁрњвъ рече съ прещенїемъ.

²¹

When the king said this, the company present were glad, and approved; and then each man went to his own home.

²¹

е^лицы роди'тели сђть здњ и^л^и ѓ^трочатъ роди'тели, и^же сверњпымъ и^ дивїимъ ё^готова'ша и^ꙁоби'ленъ ѓ^брокᲆ, вмњсто неѓ^клеветан#ныхъ мнњ` и^ прароди'телемъ мои^мъ, и^ ѓ^бъја^ви'вших# вс^ецњлђю і^ и^ꙁвњстнђю вњрђ вы'нђ. и^б^о а^ще не любви ра'ди съвоспита'телныя, и^ потрребы, живота` ё^бо си'хъ ра'ди ко'и^ждо гоньзнђлᲆ б^ы”

²²

Nor did they employ the night in sleep, so much as in contriving cruel mockeries for those deemed miserable.

²²

Сице е^рмо'нъ съ нечая'ннымъ, и^ пребњднымъ прещенїемъ эTи^де, и^ зраком#, и^ лицем# иꙁмᲇни'ся” По е^ді'номђ же и^ вс^и дрђѕи събранїи сњтованїемъ ѓ^дръжими бы'вше эTи^доша кождо въ свое беZвременїе”

²³

The morning cock had just crowed, and Hermon, having harnessed the brutes, was stimulating them in the great colonnade.

²³

І$ё^де'и же ја%же эT цр~я слы'шавше проја^вля'ющаго б~а и^ г~а, и^ и^ цр~я цр~емᲆ хваля'хђ ѓ^ полђченїи по'мощи е^го”

²⁴

The city crowds were collected together to see the hideous spectacle, and waited impatiently for the dawn.

²⁴

Поси'х же предани иX цр~ь па'ки състави пи'ръ. и^ моли` дрђгов# въ весе'лїе премњни'тися. е^рмона же призва`, и^ рече съ прещенїемъ, коли'кот^и мнится страсᲄныи ѓ^ сиX повелњти; е^ще` и^ нн~њ ё^готђи сло'ны въ ё'трїе на погђбленїе і^ё^деи'ско”

²⁵

The Jews, breathless with momentary suspense, stretched forth their hands, and prayed the Greatest God, in mournful strains, again to help them speedily.

²⁵

СроDницы же съвоꙁлежа'щїи непостоа'нномђ е^го смы'слђ дивя'щеся, прои^знесо'ша сїя. доколњ ѓ& цр~ю а^ки беслове'сныX наs и^скђша'еши, повелᲇва'я ё^же сиX третее погђби'ти, и^ па'ки ѓ^ вещаX раꙁрDњша'я вᲆ премененїе ја%же тобо'ю повелњнна.

²⁶

The sun's rays were not yet shed abroad, and the king was waiting for his friends, when Hermon came to him, calling him out, and saying, That his desires could now be realized.

²⁶

иXже ради чая'нїя гра'дъ стђжа'етъ. і^ и^спо'лнися ё^же смете'нїя. и^ множицею нђ'дится разыити'ся”

²⁷

The king, receiving him, was astonished at his unwonted exit; and, overwhelmed with a spirit of oblivion about everything, enquired the object of this earnest preparation.

²⁷

Цр~ь же и^спо'лнися беслове'сїя по всемђ ја%ко фалари'дъ. и^ бы'вшимᲆ къ призре'нїю і^ё^де'искђ повелњ` т#щатися. а^ в# своеиy дш~и премњне'нїе нивᲆчто'же в#мени.

²⁸

But this was the working of that Almighty God who had made him forget all his purpose.

²⁸

и^ съврьше'ною і^ и^звњ'стною кля'твою кля'тся, сихъ неэTло'жно посла'ти въ а'дъ, ногами и^ копы'ты ѕвњреи сверњпыхᲆ съкрђши'ти и^хъ, и^ посеM вое^ва'ти ѓ^гне'мъ на і^ё&дею, и^ гро'бища в не'и сътвори'ти. и^ про'чая ко'пїемъ низложи'ти въскорњ. и^ непроходи'мыи на'ми хра'мъ и^хъ ѓ^гнеM съжещи`. и^ съвръшаю'щихъ та'мо жрътвђ въ вњ'чное время поста'вити”

²⁹

Hermon, and all his friends, pointed out the preparation of the animals. They are ready, O king, according to your own strict injunction.

²⁹

Тогда дрђзи съ ра'достїю эTи^до'ша, и^ сродницы съ вњрою. и^ повелњша во'иномъ стрещи` бл~говре'мен#ныя мњста града.

³⁰

The king was filled with fierce anger at these words; for, by the Providence of God regarding these things, his mind had become entirely confused. He looked hard at Hermon, and threatened him as follows:

³⁰

слононачалниk же звњремъ въско'рњ, ја%ко и^ прежде въ поставле'нїе ѓ^бро'къ повелњ` и^зоѓ^би'ленъ эT ливан#скихъ плоD ё^готова'ти, и^ пи'тїе эT вина` несмњшеnнаго. и^хже ё^готова` стра'шне на погђбле'нїе и^хъ. сего же дњлма бесчи'сленни чл~цы и^же эT града в# конорыста'теlное мњсто събра'шася ви'дњти. ѓ^н# же вни'де въ дво'ръ преDлежи'маго ра'ди възбђди'ти цр~я”

³¹

Your parents, or your children, were they here, to these wild beasts a large repast they should have furnished; not these innocent Jews, who me and my forefathers loyally have served.

³¹

цр~ь же гнњвомᲆ тя'жцемъ и^спо'лнися съ звњр#ми сверњпыми и^ꙁы'иде, хотя` непремеnнымъ срDцемъ, и^ зњницею ѓ'ка ви'дᲇти бо'лњꙁнь, и^ страсть проназнаменова'нныхъ въ сме'рть болњзнђю.

³²

Had it not been for familiar friendship, and the claims of your office, your life should have gone for theirs.

³²

вънегда же сло'ны и^сходи'ша и^ꙁᲆ ѓ^гра'ды, и^ съпослњдова'ша и^мъ во'и въѓ^рђже'нны. и^ эT мно'гихъ ше'ствїя пра'хъ ви'дњша, и^ тя'жка гласа кли'чь слы'шаша і^ё^де'и. и^ мнњша бы'ти коне'цъ живоᲄа свое^го въ м#гновенїи,

³³

Hermon, being threatened in this unexpected and alarming manner, was troubled in visage, and depressed in countenance.

³³

и^ стра'стнаго чая'нїя и^хъ. въ ё^миле'нїе и^ стена'нїе и^ꙁмени'шаs и^ ѓ^блобыꙁа'хђ дрђгъ дрђга съплњта'ющеся сро'дникомъ, и^ на вы'я напада'юще прародителемъ свои^м#. такоже и^ эTц~ы сн~ом# и^ матере ча'доM.

³⁴

The friends, too, stole out one by one, and dismissed the assembled multitudes to their occupations.

³⁴

но'во же поро'ждьшїи ё^ со'сцъ и^мђще младе'нцы коне'чно здоя'хђ мле'ко.

³⁵

The Jews, having heard of these events, praised the glorious God and King of kings, because they had obtained this help, too, from him.

³⁵

въспомянђвши же ё^бо паки преDбы'вшђю и^мъ съ нб~си по'мощь, въско'рњ и^ еді'нодђшне възврᲆгше себе на ню`. и^ младе'нца эTлђчиша эT со'сцъ и^ възᲆпи'ша гласом# велїи'мᲆ ѕњло.

³⁶

Now the king arranged another banquet after the same manner, and proclaimed an invitation to mirth.

³⁶

и^ силнаго всњхъ нача'ша моли'ти, ё^щедри'ти ихъ съ ја^вле'нїемъ, при вратехъ ё^же` стоя'щихъ”

³⁷

And he summoned Hermon to his presence, and said, with threats, How often, O wretch, must I repeat my orders to thee about these same persons?

³⁸

Once more, arm the elephants against the morrow for the extermination of the Jews.

³⁹

His kinsmen, who were reclining with him, wondered at his instability, and thus expressed themselves:

⁴⁰

O king, how long dost thou make trial of us, as of men bereft of reason? This is the third time that thou hast ordered their destruction. When the thing is to be done, thou changest thy mind, and recallest thy instructions.

⁴¹

For this cause the feeling of expectation causes tumult in the city: it swarms with factions; and is continually on the point of being plundered.

⁴²

The king, just like another Phalaris, a prey to thoughtlessness, made no account of the changes which his own mind had undergone, issuing in the deliverance of the Jews. He swore a fruitless oath, and determined forthwith to send them to Hades, crushed by the knees and feet of the elephants.

⁴³

He would also invade Judea, and level its towns with fire and the sword; and destroy that temple which the heathen might not enter, and prevent sacrifices ever after being offered up there.

⁴⁴

Joyfully his friends broke up, together with his kinsmen; and, trusting in his determination, arranged their forces in guard at the most convenient places of the city.

⁴⁵

And the master of the elephants urged the beasts into an almost maniacal state, drenched them with incense and wine, and decked them with frightful instruments.

⁴⁶

About early morning, when the city was now filled with an immense number of people at the hippodrome, he entered the palace, and called the king to the business in hand.

⁴⁷

The king's heart teemed with impious rage; and he rushed forth with the mass, along with the elephants. With feelings unsoftened, and eyes pitiless, he longed to gaze at the hard and wretched doom of the above-mentioned Jews.

⁴⁸

But the Jews, when the elephants went out at the gate, followed by the armed force; and when they saw the dust raised by the throng, and heard the loud cries of the crowd,

⁴⁹

thought that they had come to the last moment of their lives, to the end of what they had tremblingly expected. They gave way, therefore, to lamentations and moans: they kissed each other: those nearest of kin to each other hung about one another's necks: fathers about their sons, mothers their daughters: other women held their infants to their breasts, which drew what seemed their last milk.

⁵⁰

Nevertheless, when they reflected upon the succour before granted them from heaven, they prostrated themselves with one accord; removed even the sucking children from the breast, and

⁵¹

sent up an exceeding great cry, entreating the Lord of all power to reveal himself, and have mercy upon those who now lay at the gates of Hades.