2 Maccabees. Eleazarus.
Douay-Rheims translation
6:18 Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, and
of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh.
6:19 But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful life, went
forward voluntarily to the torment.
6:20 And considering in what manner he was come to it, patiently bearing,
he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of life.
6:21 But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old friendship
they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh might be brought,
which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make as if he had eaten,
as the king had commanded of the flesh of the sacrifice:
6:22 That by so doing he might be delivered from death: and for the sake of
their old friendship with the man they did him this courtesy.
6:23 But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient years,
and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and conversation
from a child: and he answered without delay, according to the ordinances of
the holy law made by God, saying, that he would rather be sent into the other
world.
6:24 For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby many young
persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore and ten years, was
gone over to the life of the heathens:
6:25 And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a corruptible
life, should be deceived, end hereby I should bring a stain and a curse upon
my old age.
6:26 For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the punishments
of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor
dead.
6:27 Wherefore by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew myself
worthy of my old age:
6:28 And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a ready
mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most venerable and
most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith carried to execution.
6:29 And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, were changed
to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought were uttered out
of arrogancy.
6:30 But when he was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned, and said:
O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly that whereas
I might be delivered from death, I suffer grevious pains in body: but in soul
am well content to suffer these things because I fear thee.
6:31 Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to the
whole nation, the memory of his death for an example of virtue and fortitude.