If he was caught practicing Jewish rites, he was subjected to the severest punishment.
My father knew of one who was taken as a small boy, who never yielded to the priests under the most hideous tortures.

As he was a very bright boy, the priests were particularly eager to convert him.

They tried him with bribes that would appeal to his ambition.

They promised to make a great man of him--a general, a noble.

The boy turned away and said his prayers.