Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/123

 the Jewish  country  after  Jonathan  his  brother,

and in  all  his  days  no  man  harmed  them,

but they  ever  dwelt  in  peace  in  Simon's  day,

until that  he  at  last  was  also  slain,

even as  his  brothers,  for  true  worship,

and for  their  people's  defence;    but  they  live  to  eternity

with the  patriarchs,  for  their  fidelity  towards  God.

John was  chosen,  the  son  of  Simon  [1  Macc. xvi. 21 ],

who was,  after  his  father,  the  people's  leader,

and gloriously  protected  them  against  the  heathen  people

throughout all  his  life,  and  defended  the  land.

XI. We have  passed  over,  because  of  this  long  narrative,

a wonderful  thing  that  we  will  say  now.

In the  days  when  Jerusalem,  and  all  the  land  of  Judaea

dwelt in  peace,  there  was  a  certain  priest,

Onias named,  a  man  of  holy  life.

And Seleucus  the  king  sent  many  offerings,

in gold  and  in  silver,  to  the  temple  of  God,

from the  land  of  Asia,  the  Eastern  kingdom,

and far  through  the  world  men  honoured  tbe  temple.

And Onias  the  venerable  would  with  the  offerings

protect against  hunger  widows  and  step-children  [orphans].

Then came  a  certain  liar,  and  betrayed  the  treasure,

said to  the  governor,  called  Apollonius,

that the  treasure  might  come  to  the  hand  of  the  king;

and the  governor  soon  said  it  to  the  king.

Thereupon the  king  sent  soon  a  thane,

Heliodorus named,  to  the  holy  temple,