WEB ▾4 Maccabees ▾13 ▾4 Maccabees 131If then, the seven kindred despised troubles even to death, it is admitted on all sides that righteous reasoning is absolute master over the emotions.2For just as if they had eaten of the unholy as slaves to the emotions, we would have said that they had been conquered by them.3Now it is not so. But by means of the reasoning which is praised by God, they mastered their emotions.4It is impossible to overlook the leadership of reflection, for it gained the victory over both emotions and troubles.5How, then, can we avoid according to these men mastery of emotion through right reasoning, since they didn’t withdraw from the pains of fire?6For just as by means of towers projecting in front of harbors men break the threatening waves, and thus assure a still course to vessels entering port,7so that seven-towered right-reasoning of the young men, securing the harbour of religion, conquered the tempest of emotions.8For having arranged a holy choir of piety, they encouraged one another, saying,9“Brothers, may we die brotherly for the law. Let us imitate the three young men in Assyria who despised the equally afflicting furnace.10Let’s not be cowards in the manifestation of piety.”11One said, “Courage, brother!” and another, “Nobly endure!”12Another said, “Remember of what stock you are;” and by the hand of our father Isaac endured to be slain for the sake of piety.13One and all, looking at each other serene and confident, said, “Let’s sacrifice with all our heart our souls to God who gave them, and employ our bodies for the keeping of the law.14Let’s not fear him who thinks he kills;15for great is the trial of soul and danger of eternal torment laid up for those who transgress the commandment of God.16Let’s arm ourselves, therefore, in the self-control, which is divine reasoning.17If we suffer like this, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will receive us, and all the fathers will commend us.18As each one of the kindred was hauled away, the rest exclaimed, “Don’t disgrace us, O brother, nor falsify those who died before you!”19Now you are not ignorant of the charm of brotherhood, which the Divine and all wise Providence has imparted through fathers to children, and has engendered through the mother’s womb.20These brothers remained an equal time in their mother’s womb, and were formed for the same period, and nourished by the same blood, and were perfected through the same principle of life.21They were brought forth at equal intervals, and sucked milk from the same fountains. Their brotherly souls were reared up lovingly together,22and increase more powerfully by reason of this simultaneous rearing, and by daily companionship, and by other education, and exercise in the law of God.23Brotherly love being thus sympathetically constituted, the seven kindred had a more sympathetic mutual harmony.24For being educated in the same law, and practicing the same virtues, and reared up in a just course of life, they increased this harmony with each other.25For the same ardor for what is right and honorable increased their goodwill and harmony toward each other.26For it acting along with religion, made their brotherly feeling more desirable to them.27And yet, although nature, companionship, and virtuous morals increased their brotherly love, those who were left endured to see their kindred, who were mistreated for their religion, tortured even to death.4 Maccabees 124 Maccabees 14