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The Life and Passion of Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr. By Pontius the Deacon

Pontius the Deacon

Section 16

About this work

Author: Pontius the Deacon

16. At last that other day dawned

‹ Section 15 Section 17 ›

—

that

destined

,

that

promised

,

that

divine

day

—

which

,

if

even

the

tyrant

himself

had

wished

to

put

off

,

he

would

not

have

had

any

power

to

do

so

;

the

day

rejoicing

at

the

consciousness

of

the

future

martyr

;

and

,

the

clouds

being

scattered

throughout

the

circuit

of

the

world

,

the

day

shone

upon

them

with

a

brilliant

sun

.

He

went

out

from

the

house

of

the

officer

,

though

he

was

the

officer

of

Christ

and

God

,

and

was

walled

in

on

all

sides

by

the

ranks

of

a

mingled

multitude

.

And

such

a

numberless

army

hung

upon

his

company

,

as

if

they

had

come

with

an

assembled

troop

to

assault

death

itself

.

Now

,

as

he

went

,

he

had

to

pass

by

the

race

-

course

.

And

rightly

,

and

as

if

it

had

been

contrived

on

purpose

,

he

had

to

pass

by

the

place

of

a

corresponding

struggle

,

who

,

having

finished

his

contest

,

was

running

to

the

crown

of

righteousness

.

But

when

he

had

come

to

the

prætorium

,

as

the

proconsul

had

not

yet

come

forth

,

a

place

of

retirement

was

accorded

him

.

There

,

as

he

sat

moistened

after

his

long

journey

with

excessive

perspiration

(

the

seat

was

by

chance

covered

with

linen

,

so

that

even

in

the

very

moment

of

his

passion

he

might

enjoy

the

honour

of

the

episcopate

)

,

one

of

the

officers

(

“

Tesserarius

”

)

,

who

had

formerly

been

a

Christian

,

offered

him

his

clothes

,

as

if

he

might

wish

to

change

his

moistened

garments

for

drier

ones

;

and

he

doubtless

coveted

nothing

further

in

respect

of

his

proffered

kindness

than

to

possess

the

now

blood

-

stained

sweat

of

the

martyr

going

to

God

.

He

made

reply

to

him

,

and

said

,

“

We

apply

medicines

to

annoyances

which

probably

to

-

day

will

no

longer

exist

.

”

Is

it

any

wonder

that

he

despised

suffering

in

body

who

had

despised

death

in

soul

?

Why

should

we

say

more

?

He

was

suddenly

announced

to

the

proconsul

;

he

is

brought

forward

;

he

is

placed

before

him

;

he

is

interrogated

as

to

his

name

.

He

answers

who

he

is

,

and

nothing

more

.

Notes

14
[See note at end of this memoir.]