because he is sinking from our view, as that the noble
spirits which animated those tortured forms could perish with them for
ever!"

Pollux turned his head aside; he cared not that his companion should
see the gesture of pain with which he gnawed his nether lip.

"It is certain that the sufferers looked forward to existence beyond
death," continued the young Athenian. "One of the brothers, as he came
forward to suffer, fixed his calm, stern gaze on Antiochus (I doubt not
but that gaze will haunt the memory of Syria's king when his own dying
hour shall arrive), and said--I well remember his words--'Wicked
prince, you bereave us of earthly life; but the King of heaven and
earth, if we die in defence of His laws, will one day raise us up to
life eternal.' The next sufferer, stretching forth his hands as if to
receive the palm rather than the executioner's stroke, said, with the
same calm assurance, 'I received these limbs from Heaven, but I now
despise them, since I am to defend the laws of God; from the sure and
steadfast hope that He will one day restore them to me.' Is it
possible that these men believed that not only souls but bodies would
rise again--that some mysterious Power could and would restore them to
life eternal? Is this the faith of the Hebrews?" The last question
was impatiently repeated by Lycidas before it received an answer.

"Some of them hold such a wild faith," said Pollux.

"A sublime, mysterious faith!" observed Lycidas; "one which makes the
souls of those who hold it invulnerable as was the body of Achilles,
and without the one weak point. It inspires even women and children
with the courage of heroes, as I witnessed this day. The seventh of
the Hebrew brethren was of tender years, and goodly. Even the king
pitied his youth, and offered him mercy and honours if he would forsake
the law of his God. Antiochus swore that he would raise the youth to
riches and power, and rank him amongst his favoured courtiers, if he
would bend to the will of the king. I watched the countenance of the
boy as the offer was made. He saw on the one side the mangled forms of
his brethren--the grim faces of the executioners; on the other, all the
pomps and glories of earth: and yet he wavered not in his choice!"

Pollux could hardly suppress a groan, and listened with ill-concealed
impatience as the Athenian went on with his narrative.

"Then the king bade the mother plead with her son, obey the promptings