Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/91

 now, to-day,  he  is  highminded,  and  tomorrow  be  shall  not  be,

he returneth  to  earth,  and  his  thought  perisheth.

Your brother    Simon  is  wise  and  prudent,

he shall  be  your  father;    follow  ye  his  counsels.

Judas Machabeus  is  mighty  and  strong,

let him  be  your  elder  in  every  fight;

and gather  to  yourselves  them  who  love  God's  law,

and avenge  your  folk  on  the  foul  heathen,

and hold  God's  law  in  good  services.'

He blessed  then  his  sons,  and  so  departed  from  life,

and his  body  was  buried  in  his  own  city,

and Israel  wept  for  him, in  the  ancient  wise.

III. Moreover, Judas  Machabeus  mightily  arose

in his  father's  stead,  and  withstood  his  enemies,

and his  four  brothers  supported  him  with  one  accord,

and all  they  who  were  dwelling  with  his  father,

and fought  then  with  joy,  and  defeated  the  heathen.

Judas then  girt  himself  with  his  shining  breast-plate,

even as  an  immense  giant,  and  completely  armed  himself,

and guarded  his  host  against  the  foes  with  his  sword.

He became  then  like  a  lion  in  his  strifes  and  deeds,

and pursued  the  heathen  and  cleared  his  country.

His enemies  then  fled  (being)  afraid  of  him,

and all  the  evil-workers  were  driven  away.

And safety  then  prospered  in  Judas'  hands,

and he  made  his  kin  joyful,  that  was  named  Jacob;

and his  glory  then  extended  to  the  uttermost  lands.

Then gathered  Apollonius,  a  wrathful  leader,

from the  city  of  Samaria,  an  immense  army,