"Then one put upon his thumb that cruel screw, and twisted hard upon it, and the boy shrieked with pain. Then the fit came upon him, and he fell headlong upon the floor, and the torturer removed the screw. And immediately the boy began, in a clear, sweet voice that filled the great hall with music, to chant the same words again: ’Joy to the land of Syria! Joy to the holy ones of Egypt!’--and the emperor sprang forward, and with the point of a dagger he tore up a finger-nail of the boy, watching his face intently; but the lad’s countenance changed not, and he continued his chant evenly and serenely. And the emperor commanded that fire be brought to him in a brazier, and he laid a coal thereof upon the boy’s naked breast, and blew upon it until the burned flesh smelled all about, but the boy showed no consciousness of pain, and continued to chant sweetly until his song was ended. And for a short space the lad lay as one dead, and then a strong convulsion contorted his limbs, and lifted him from the floor, and violently cast him down again; and then once more he chanted the same words, and the emperor listened and watched him with fear and wonder. And when the attack had passed away, Licinius said: ’Let this boy be guarded carefully, but let him be treated with the greatest kindness; for surely, beyond any doubt, he hath a demon!’ "And the lictors with great astonishment and fear led the boy away. "And having been fully informed of all these things on the same night, by a Christian whom we had allowed to sacrifice and so retain his place in the palace, for the good of the Church, upon the next morning went I up to the gates and boldly demanded admission, declaring to the centurion on duty who I was, and that I had been informed that the emperor was seeking me throughout the city; and speedily they brought me into the presence of Licinius, and he said, ’Art thou Eusebius, the Bishop of Nicomedia?’ "’Yea, I am he!’ "’And like all of thy treasonable sect, that lurk within my city of Nicomedia, thou art still offering up prayers for the Emperor Constantine?’ "’Yea, doubtless!’ "’And thou dost not pray for me, nor propitiate God for me, thine own lawful emperor, at all?’ "’Yea, daily I pray God for thee that he would soften thy flinty heart, and turn thee from the devices of wickedness unto the wisdom of the just!’ "’But thou prayest not for my prosperity, and for the glory and perpetuity of mine empire?’ "’Nay, verily. I have no faith to pray for the triumph of the cruel and of the wicked!’ "Then said he, ’Dost thou know the boy Gaius of Chalcis?’ "’Yea! He was with me at my house until the third day past, but he hath disappeared, and I am anxious concerning him.’ "’Is there anything peculiar about the boy?’ "’He hath a peculiar and terrible malady called epilepsy!’ "And then attentively regarding me with his hard and searching eyes, he said, ’Doth the boy prophesy?’