Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/95

 The fear  of  Judas  then  extended  far  across  the  land,

and the  dread  of  his  brethren,  over  all  the  heathen;

and all  peoples  said  how  nobly  they  fought.

Judea-land was  then  long  without  a  king

in all  these  contests,  but  Judas  defended  them,

and afterwards  his  brethren,  after  his  ending.

IV. Afterwards it  was  made  known  to  king  Antiochus

concerning Judas'  victory,  and  he  grew  angry  in  his  mood,

and sent  then  his  army  with  a  high-thane  [nobleman],

named Lysias,  to  Judea-land.

In that  army  were  forty  thousand  [foot],

and seven  thousand  [horse]  well  armed,

and they  came  with  power  to  the  Jews'  kindred.

Judas then  encouraged  his  companions  with  words,

and fasted  one  day,  praying  for  assistance

from the  Almighty  God,  that  He  would  protect  them,

and defend  His  holy  temple  against  the  heathen.

They went  then,  thus  encouraged,  towards  the  battle,

and Judas  then  again  spake  to  all  his  companions —

'Be ye  girt  about  strongly  for  this  hard  contest,

because that  it  is  better  for  us,  that  we  should  die  in  battle

than see  this  misery  upon  our  kindred  thus,

and upon  our  sanctuary;    but  even  as  the  heavenly  God

will do  concerning  us,  so  let  it  be!

Be ye  mindful  how  mightily  He  delivered

our fathers  formerly  against  Pharaoh  the  king

in the  Red  Sea,  wherein  he  sank  to  the  bottom.

Let us  call  to  the  heavens,  that  God  may  help  us,

and destroy  this  army,  that  the  heathen  may  acknowledge