Open English Translation 4 MAC Chapter 14

11 Don’t think it wonderful that reasoning ruled over those men in their torments, when even a woman’s mind despised more manifold pains. 12 Because the mother of those seven youths endured the rackings of each of her children.

13 Consider how comprehensive is the love of one’s descendants, which draws every one to sympathy of affection, 14 where irrational animals possess a similar sympathy and love for their offspring with men. 15 The tame birds frequenting the roofs of our houses defend their fledglings. 16 Others build their nests, and hatch their young, on the tops of mountains and in the precipices of valleys, and the holes and tops of trees, and keep away the intruder. 17 If not able to do that, they fly circling round them in agony of affection, calling out in their own note, and save their offspring in whatever manner they’re able. 18 But why should we point attention to the sympathy towards children shown by irrational animals? 19 Even bees, at the season of honey-making, attack all who approach, and pierce with their sting, as with a sword, those who draw near their hive, and repel them even to death. 20 But sympathy with her children didn’t turn away the mother of the young men, who had a spirit kindred with that of Avraham.