1For this is why even the very young, by following a philosophy in accordance with pious reason, have prevailed over the most painful instruments of torture.
2 and catapults and caldrons, braziers and thumbscrews and iron claws and wedges and bellows, the tyrant resumed speaking:
14“Be afraid, young fellows; whatever justice you revere will be merciful to you when you transgress under compulsion.”
15But when they had heard the inducements and saw the dreadful devices, not only were they not afraid, but they also opposed the tyrant with their own philosophy and by their right reasoning nullified his tyranny.
16Let us consider, on the other hand, what arguments might have been used if some of them had been cowardly and unmanly. Would they not have been the following?
17“O wretches that we are and so senseless! Since the king has summoned and exhorted us to accept kind treatment if we obey him,
18why do we take pleasure in vain resolves and venture upon a disobedience that brings death?
19O men and brothers, should we not fear the instruments of torture and consider the threats of torments and give up this vanity and this arrogance that threatens to destroy us?
20Let us take pity on our youth and have compassion on our mother’s age,
21and let us seriously consider that if we disobey we are dead!
22Also, divine justice will excuse us for fearing the king when we are under compulsion.
23Why do we banish ourselves from this most pleasant life and deprive ourselves of this delightful world?
24Let us not struggle against compulsion or take hollow pride in being put to the rack.
25Not even the law itself would consent to put us to death for fearing the instruments of torture.
26Why does such contentiousness excite us and such a fatal stubbornness please us, when we can live in peace if we obey the king?”
27But the youths, though about to be tortured, neither said any of these things nor even seriously considered them.
28For they were contemptuous of the passions and sovereign over agonies,
29so that as soon as the tyrant had ceased counseling them to eat defiling food, all with one voice together, as from one mind, said:
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