"’I came hither to look upon the emperor, having never seen so great a man; but some cowardly brute did strike me down with a pike!’ "’Why didst thou chant such things as thou hast done even in mine own presence?’ "’What things did I chant? I know not, for the hard blow brought upon me an attack of the epilepsy, and while it continueth I know not what I say, but speak only as I am moved to speak!’ "’What, then, moveth thee to chant at all?’ "’I know not, nor do I even know that I have done so, unless some one who hath heard me informeth me thereof!’ "’Whom knowest thou in my city of Nicomedia?’ "’None save the Bishop Eusebius!’ "’Art thou, then, a Christian?’ "’Yea! Thanks to the boundless mercy of our Lord!’ "Then said the emperor: ’Let immediate search be made for this Eusebius, and let him be straightway brought before me. Keep ye this boy in strictest prison, but use him kindly; for it may be that he hath a demon!’ "I did not choose to be found upon that day, although the city was sifted well for that purpose. And upon the next day, Licinius caused the lad Gaius to be brought before him, and he spoke kindly unto him, saying: ’Thou art a strange and interesting youth, and I desire to take thee into my service, and to attach thee unto myself, and to care for thee well. Hast thou memory good enough to keep in thy mind for me a catalogue of more than three hundred ships?’ "’I know not,’ said the lad. ’At school I learned rapidly and retained well all that I acquired; but I fear that the malady wherewith I am afflicted hath injured both mind and body.’ "’Let me test thy memory somewhat to ascertain thy capacity for the service I would have thee render. Canst thou name the stations and distances upon the road from Chalcis unto Antioch, and thence unto the sea?’ "And the boy gave the whole itinerary correctly. And the emperor asked of him a great many questions with exceeding affability, and finally said unto him: ’Thou hast a fine, retentive memory, and I will make a man of thee. See, now, how much thou canst remember of the song which thou didst twice chant on yesterday!’ "But the lad said: ’I know not the words at all, and know not that I did chant at all. All that occurreth when the fit is upon me is blankness and darkness, so that I know nothing, and suffer not, and if fire were put upon me, I would not feel any pain so long as the paroxysm continueth!’ "Then the emperor gave way to wrath, and shouted furiously: ’Thou liest, villain! Thou seekest to deceive me! Repeat thy chant instantly, or I will put thee to torture to extract the truth!’ "Then the boy grew very pale, and trembled, but he only answered: ’Thou demandest of me that which is impossible! I do not know the words, and can not repeat them, though thou shouldst slay me!’ "Then cried out the emperor, ’Bring thumb-screws hither, and torment this wretch!’