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On the Glory of Martyrdom

Pseudo-Cyprian

Section 25

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Cyprian

25. Let it present itself to your eyes, what

‹ Section 24 Section 26 ›

a

day

that

is

,

when

,

with

the

people

looking

on

,

and

all

men

watching

,

an

undismayed

devotion

is

struggling

against

earthly

crosses

and

the

threats

of

the

world

;

how

the

minds

in

suspense

,

and

hearts

anxious

about

the

tremblings

of

doubt

,

are

agitated

by

the

dread

of

the

timid

fearfulness

of

those

who

are

congratulating

them

!

What

an

anxiety

is

there

,

what

a

prayerful

entreaty

,

what

desires

are

recorded

,

when

,

with

the

victory

still

wavering

,

and

the

crown

of

conquest

hanging

in

doubt

over

the

head

while

the

results

are

still

uncertain

,

and

when

that

pestilent

and

raving

confession

is

inflamed

by

passion

,

is

kindled

by

madness

,

and

finally

,

is

heated

by

the

fury

of

the

heart

,

and

by

gnashing

threats

!

For

who

is

ignorant

how

great

a

matter

this

is

,

that

our

,

as

it

were

,

despised

frailty

,

and

the

unexpected

boldness

of

human

strength

,

should

not

yield

to

the

pangs

of

wounds

,

nor

to

the

blows

of

tortures

,

—

that

a

man

should

stand

fast

and

not

be

moved

,

should

be

tortured

and

still

not

be

overcome

,

but

should

rather

be

armed

by

the

very

suffering

whereby

he

is

tormented

?