1. When Eleazar had in this manner answered the exhortations of the tyrant, the spearbearers came up, and rudely haled Eleazar to the instruments of torture.
2. And first, they stripped the old man, adorned as he was with the comeliness of piety.
3. Then tying back his arms and hands, they disdainfully used him with stripes;
4. a herald opposite crying out, Obey the commands of the king.
5. But Eleazar, the high-minded and truly noble, as one tortured in a dream, regarded it not all.
6. But raising his eyes on high to heaven, the old man’s flesh was stripped off by the scourges, and his blood streamed down, and his sides were pierced through.
7. And falling upon the ground, from his body having no power to support the pains, he yet kept his reasoning upright and unbending.
8. then one of the harsh spearbearers leaped upon his belly as he was falling, to force him upright.
9. But he endured the pains, and despised the cruelty, and persevered through the indignities;
10. and like a noble athlete, the old man, when struck, vanquished his torturers.
11. His countenance sweating, and he panting for breath, he was admired by the very torturers for his courage.
12. Wherefore, partly in pity for his old age,
13. partly from the sympathy of acquaintance, and partly in admiration of his endurance, some of the attendants of the king said,
14. Why do you unreasonably destroy yourself, O Eleazar, with these miseries?
15. We will bring you some meat cooked by yourself, and do you save yourself by pretending that you have eaten swine’s flesh.
16. And Eleazar, as though the advice more painfully tortured him, cried out,