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His heroism, his fertility of resources, his unflagging energy, and his amazing genius in overcoming difficulties won for him the admiration of that class who idolize strength and success; so that he stands out in history as a struggling gladiator who baffled all his foes, not a dying gladiator on the arena of a pagan amphitheatre, but more like a Judas Maccabaeus, when hunted by the Syrian hosts, rising victorious, and laying the foundation of a powerful monarchy; indeed, his fame spread, irrespective of his cause and character, from one end of Christendom to the other, not such a fame as endeared Gustavus Adolphus to the heart of nations for heroic efforts to save the Protestant religion, but such a fame as the successful generals of ancient Rome won by adding territories to a warlike State, regardless of all the principles of right and wrong.
Meanwhile the long expectation of the Jews, especially during the reign of Herod, of a promised Deliverer, was fulfilled, and one claiming to be the Messiah appeared, not a temporal prince and mighty hero of war, a greater Judas Maccabaeus, as the Jews had supposed, but a helpless infant, born in a manger, and brought up as a peasant-carpenter.
In front of the scene stood History and Rhetoric, attired as "triumphant maidens, in white garments," each with a laurel crown and a burning torch. These personages, after holding a rhymed dialogue between themselves, filled with wonderful conceits and quibbles, addressed the Prince of Orange and Maccabaeus, one after the other, in a great quantity of very detestable verses.
But is he capable?" "He is the great-grandson of Judas Maccabaeus! That is enough! I have not seen him since the day he wedded Laodice and left her to go to Ephesus, but no man can change the blood of his fathers in him. And Philip he shall have no excuse to fail. He shall be moneyed; he shall be moneyed!"
At the bidding of the Roman envoy, Antiochus Epiphanes himself, immediately before his incursion into Jerusalem, had slunk away from Alexandria; and hence it was natural that Judas Maccabaeus, when he had vindicated the liberty of his nation, should look to Rome for support in maintaining that liberty.
The pretender glanced again at Laodice and again at the Greek. "What is the play, lady?" he asked. Amaryllis looked at Laodice standing stony white at her place, and lost her confident smile. "Is this not he?" she asked. "Is this Philadelphus Maccabaeus?" Laodice asked. The Ephesian's face changed quickly. Enlightenment mixed with discomfiture appeared there for an instant.
When Armado tells the 'country lass' he is wooing, that he will 'tell her wonders, she exclaims, 'skittish female' that she is, 'What, with that face? And when Holofernes, nettled with the ridicule showered on his abortive impersonation of Judas Maccabaeus, says, 'I will not be put out of countenance, Byron replies, 'Because thou hast no face. The indignant pedant justifies, and, pointing to his physiognomy, inquires, 'What is this? Whereupon the waggish courtiers proceed to define it: it is 'a cittern-head, 'the head of a bodkin, 'a death's-face in a ring, 'the face of an old Roman coin, scarce seen, and so forth.
These followers grew in numbers and activity, overthrowing pagan altars, circumcising heathen children, and putting to the sword both apostates and unbelievers. When Mattathias died, in B.C. 166, he was succeeded as leader by his son Judas, called Maccabaeus, "the Hammer"; as Charles, who defeated the Saracens at Tours, is called Martel or hammer.
"Philadelphus Maccabaeus hath sent to me, bidding me send Laodice to him in Jerusalem," Costobarus said in a low voice. Philip's eyes widened with sudden comprehension. "He hath returned!" he exclaimed in a whisper. For a time there was silence between the two old men, while they gazed at each other. Then Philip's manner became intensely confident.
"Ah, that is from the `Judas Maccabaeus, I conclude," said the Rector, a little mollified at this unexpected acquiescence in his views. "Well, I see that you understand my wishes, so I hope I may leave that matter in your hands. By the way," he said, turning back as he left the vestry, "what was the piece which you played after the service just now?"
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