The arrival of Apelles, the emissary of Antiochus Epiphanes, had thrown the town of Modin into a state of great excitement. A proclamation was made in the morning of the following day, that all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, should assemble in the market-place at noon, to obey the mandate1 of the king, by worshipping at an altar of Bacchus, which was erected2 at that spot. "Curses, not loud but deep," were muttered in many a Hebrew home. Some of the Syrian soldiers had been quartered for the night with the inhabitants of Modin. The fatted calf3 had to be killed, the best wine poured out, for idolatrous guests whose very presence polluted a banquet. The Syrians repaid the reluctant hospitality of their hosts by recital5 of all the horrors of the persecution6 in Jerusalem. They told of the barbarities perpetrated on Solomona and her sons; shuddering7 women clasped their children closer to their bosoms8 as they heard how two mothers had been flung from the battlements at the south side of the Temple, with their infants hung round their necks, because they had dedicated9 those martyr10 babes to God in the way commanded by Moses. Such examples of cruelty struck terror into the hearts of all whose faith and courage were not strong. It was evident that Antiochus was terribly in earnest, and that if his wrath11 were aroused by opposition12, the horrors which had been witnessed at Jerusalem might be repeated at Modin. The plea of terrible necessity half silenced the consciences of many Hebrews who secretly abhorred13 the rites14 of the heathen. A quantity of ivy15 was gathered, and twined by unwilling16 hands, to be worn in honour of the false deity17 whose worship was to be forced upon a reluctant people.
A lofty shrine18 on which was raised a marble image of the god of wine, with his temples crowned with ivy, a bunch of grapes in his hand, and sensuality stamped on every feature, was erected in the centre of the market-place. Before it was the altar of sacrifice, and around this, as the hour of noon approached, collected a motley crowd. There were the white-robed priests of Bacchus, with the victims chosen for sacrifice. Men of war, both on foot and on horseback, formed a semicircle about the shrine, to enforce, if necessary, compliance19 with the decree of the Syrian monarch20. Apelles himself, magnificently attired21, with tunic22 of Tyrian purple, jewelled sandals, and fringes of gold, sat on a lofty seat on the right side of the altar, awaiting the appointed time when the sun should reach his meridian23 height. Numbers of people filled the market-place, of both sexes, and of every age, for the soldiery had swept through Modin, forcing all the inhabitants to quit their dwellings24 and assemble to offer sacrifice upon the altar of Bacchus.
Directly opposite to the altar there was one group of Hebrews conspicuous25 above all the rest, and towards this group the eyes of the assembled people were frequently turned. There stood Mattathias, with snowy beard descending26 to his girdle--a venerable patriarch, surrounded by his five stalwart sons. There appeared Johannan, the first-born; Simon, with his calm intellectual brow; Eleazar, with his quick glance of fire; Jonathan; and Judas, third in order of birth, but amongst those illustrious brethren already first in fame. In stern silence the Asmonean family watched the preparations made by the Syrian priests to celebrate their unhallowed rites. Not a word escaped the lips of the Hebrews; they stood almost as motionless as statues, only their glances betraying the secret indignation of their souls.
Mattathias, as a direct descendant of Aaron through Phineas, and a man of great wisdom and spotless integrity, possessed27 great influence within his native city of Modin. Disputes were referred to his decision, his judgment28 was appealed to in cases of difficulty, and his example was likely to carry with it greater weight than that of any other man in Judaea. Apelles was perfectly29 aware of this. "Mattathias once gained, all is gained," the Syrian courtier had said to the king before departing on his mission to Modin; "the old man's sons have no law but his will, and if the Asmoneans bow their heads in worship, all Judaea will join in offering sacrifice to your gods."
Anxious to win over by soft persuasions30 the only Hebrews whose opposition could cause any difficulty in the execution of the king's commands, when the hour for offering sacrifice had almost arrived, Apelles descended31 from his seat of state, and approached the Asmonean group. This unexpected movement of the Syrian awakened32 eager attention amongst the assembled crowds.
"Venerable Mattathias," said Apelles, saluting33 the old man with stately courtesy, "your high position, your wide-spread fame, entitle you to the place of leader in performing the solemn act by which Modin at once declares her fealty34 to our mighty35 monarch, Antiochus Epiphanes, and her devotion to the worship of Bacchus. Now, therefore, come you first and fulfil the king's commandment, like as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Judah also, and such as remain at Jerusalem; so shall you and your house be in the number of the king's friends, and you and your children shall be honoured with silver and gold and many rewards." When the Syrian had ceased speaking, the silence amongst the expectant people was so profound that the roll of the billows on the beach, and the scream of a white-winged sea-bird, could be distinctly heard.
Sternly the old man had heard Apelles to the end; then fixing upon him the keen eyes which flashed under the white overhanging brows, like volcano fire bursting from beneath a mountain crest36 of snow, he replied, in tones so loud that they rang all over the market-place, "Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion37 obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments, yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant38 of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake39 the law and the ordinances40! We will not hearken to the king's words to go from our religion, either on the right hand or the left."
Hardly had the brave words died on the ears of those who heard them, when, in strange contrast, there sounded a hymn41 in honour of Bacchus, and, gaily42 dressed and crowned with ivy, a wretched apostate43 Jew, eager to win the king's favour by being the first to obey his will, came forward singing towards the altar. All the blood of Phineas boiled in the veins44 of his descendant; was the Lord of Hosts to be thus openly insulted, His judgments45 thus impiously defied! Forward sprang the old Asmonean, as if once more endowed with youth, one moment his dagger46 glittered in the sunlight, the next moment the apostate groaned47 out his soul upon the altar of Bacchus!
To execute justice in this summary manner, and before all the people, was indeed to draw the sword and throw the scabbard away. A fierce shout for vengeance48 arose from the Syrian soldiers, and their ranks closed around Mattathias, but not around him alone. Not for a minute had his sons deserted49 his side, and now, like lions at bay, they united in the defence of their father. Nor were they to maintain the struggle unaided. There were Hebrews amongst the assembled crowds to whom the voice of Mattathias had been as the trumpet-call to the war-horse; there were men who counted their holy faith as dearer than life. These, with shouts, rushed to the rescue, and the market-place of Modin became the scene of a hand-to-hand desperate struggle, where discipline and numbers on the one side, devotion, heroism50, and a good cause on the other, maintained a fearful strife51. Though sharp, it was but a brief one. The fight was thickest near the altar--around it flowed the blood of human victims; there the powerful arm of Judas laid Apelles lifeless in the dust. This was the crisis of the struggle, for at the fall of their leader the Syrians were seized with sudden panic. The horses, whose trappings had glittered so gaily, were either urged by their riders to frantic52 speed, or dashed with emptied saddles through the throng53, to carry afar the news of defeat. Flight was all that was left to the troops of Antiochus or the priests of Bacchus, and few succeeded in making their escape, for many Jews who had stood aloof54 from the struggle joined in the pursuit. The very women caught up stones from the path to fling at the flying foe55; children's voices swelled56 the loud shout of triumph. The altar of Bacchus was thrown down with wild exultation57; the idol4 was broken to pieces, and its fragments were rolled in the blood-stained dust. Those Jews who had shown most fear an hour before, now by more furious zeal58 tried to efface59 from other minds and their own the memory of their former submission60. One spirit seemed to animate61 all--the spirit of freedom! Modin had arisen like Samson, when he snapped the green withes and went forth62 to the fight with the strength of a giant.
But this was an ebullition of zeal likely to be more fiery63 than lasting64. Mattathias little trusted that courage which only follows in the train of success. The old man knew that the struggle with the power of Syria was only commencing; that it would probably be long protracted65, and that it would be impracticable to defend Modin against the hosts which would soon be sent to assail66 it. The patriarch stood in the centre of the market-place, with his foot on the fragments of the broken altar, and once more his loud clear voice rang far and wide. "Whosoever is zealous67 of the law, and maintaineth the Covenant, let him follow me! Let us away to the mountains, ye men of Judah!"
How many of the inhabitants of Modin obeyed the call? how many resolved to leave city and home, to dwell with the beasts in the caves of the mountains? History relates that but a little band of ten, inclusive of the Asmoneans, by retiring to the fastnesses of the mountains, formed the nucleus68 of that brotherhood69 of heroes who were to wrest70 victory after victory from the hosts of Syria, and win that unsullied fame which belongs only to those who display firm endurance and devoted71 courage in a righteous and holy cause.
1 mandate | |
n.托管地;命令,指示 | |
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2 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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3 calf | |
n.小牛,犊,幼仔,小牛皮 | |
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4 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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5 recital | |
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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6 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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7 shuddering | |
v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 | |
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8 bosoms | |
胸部( bosom的名词复数 ); 胸怀; 女衣胸部(或胸襟); 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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9 dedicated | |
adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
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10 martyr | |
n.烈士,殉难者;vt.杀害,折磨,牺牲 | |
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11 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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12 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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13 abhorred | |
v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 );(厌恶地)回避;拒绝;淘汰 | |
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14 rites | |
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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15 ivy | |
n.常青藤,常春藤 | |
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16 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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17 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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18 shrine | |
n.圣地,神龛,庙;v.将...置于神龛内,把...奉为神圣 | |
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19 compliance | |
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从 | |
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20 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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21 attired | |
adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服,使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 tunic | |
n.束腰外衣 | |
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23 meridian | |
adj.子午线的;全盛期的 | |
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24 dwellings | |
n.住处,处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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25 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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26 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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27 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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28 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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29 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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30 persuasions | |
n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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31 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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32 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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33 saluting | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的现在分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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34 fealty | |
n.忠贞,忠节 | |
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35 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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36 crest | |
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖 | |
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37 dominion | |
n.统治,管辖,支配权;领土,版图 | |
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38 covenant | |
n.盟约,契约;v.订盟约 | |
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39 forsake | |
vt.遗弃,抛弃;舍弃,放弃 | |
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40 ordinances | |
n.条例,法令( ordinance的名词复数 ) | |
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41 hymn | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 | |
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42 gaily | |
adv.欢乐地,高兴地 | |
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43 apostate | |
n.背叛者,变节者 | |
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44 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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45 judgments | |
判断( judgment的名词复数 ); 鉴定; 评价; 审判 | |
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46 dagger | |
n.匕首,短剑,剑号 | |
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47 groaned | |
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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48 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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49 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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50 heroism | |
n.大无畏精神,英勇 | |
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51 strife | |
n.争吵,冲突,倾轧,竞争 | |
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52 frantic | |
adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的 | |
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53 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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54 aloof | |
adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的 | |
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55 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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56 swelled | |
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情) | |
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57 exultation | |
n.狂喜,得意 | |
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58 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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59 efface | |
v.擦掉,抹去 | |
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60 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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61 animate | |
v.赋于生命,鼓励;adj.有生命的,有生气的 | |
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62 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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63 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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64 lasting | |
adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持 | |
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65 protracted | |
adj.拖延的;延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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66 assail | |
v.猛烈攻击,抨击,痛斥 | |
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67 zealous | |
adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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68 nucleus | |
n.核,核心,原子核 | |
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69 brotherhood | |
n.兄弟般的关系,手中情谊 | |
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70 wrest | |
n.扭,拧,猛夺;v.夺取,猛扭,歪曲 | |
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71 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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