“How illustrious, moreover, how great were the proclamations of confession which they uttered, what great evidences of faith they provided! King Antiochus, hostile, indeed, in Antiochus the Antichrist was foreshadowed, sought to stain the glorious mouths of the martyrs, joined and invincible in the spirit of confession…”
Rabanus Maurus, 9th c. — Commentary on 2 Maccabees
Original
2But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.
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In context
1It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine’s flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.
— 2 Maccabees 7:2 —
3Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot:
4Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.