The Lives of the Saints, Volume 03 (of 16): MarchBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 03 (of 16): March
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Christian saints
"After some days, a rumour having got about that we were to be
examined, my father came from the city to the prison, overwhelmed with
grief. 'Daughter,' said he, 'have pity on my grey hairs, if I yet
deserve to be called your father; if I have brought you up. I pray
you consider that my love of you made me always prefer you to your
brothers, and make me not now a reproach to mankind. Have respect for
your mother and your aunt; have compassion on your child that cannot
survive you; lay aside this obstinacy, lest you ruin us all; for not
one of us will dare open his lips any more if misfortune befall you.'
He took me by the hands at the same time, and kissed them; he threw
himself at my feet in tears. I confess, I was pierced with sorrow
when I considered that my father was the only person of our family
that would not rejoice at my martyrdom. I endeavoured to comfort him,
saying, 'Father, grieve not; nothing will happen but what pleases God;
for we are not at our own disposal.' He then departed, much concerned.
Next day, whilst we were at dinner, a person came in suddenly to summon
us to examination. The report of this soon brought a vast crowd of
people into the audience chamber. We were placed on a sort of scaffold
before the judge, Hilarian, procurator of the province, the proconsul
having lately died. All who were questioned before me boldly confessed
Jesus Christ. When it came to my turn, my father stood forward, holding
up my infant. He drew me a little aside, conjuring me in the most
tender manner not to be insensible to the misery I should bring on that
innocent creature, to which I had given life. The president Hilarian
joined with my father, and said, 'What! will neither the gray hairs of
a father, nor the tender innocence of a child, move you? Sacrifice for
the prosperity of the emperors.' I replied, 'I will not do it.' 'Are
you then a Christian,' said Hilarian. I answered, 'Yes, I am.' As my
father attempted to draw me from the scaffold, Hilarian commanded him
to be beaten off, and he had a blow given him with a stick, which I
felt as much as if I had been struck myself, so much was I grieved to
see my father thus treated in his old age. Then the judge pronounced
our sentence, by which we were all condemned to be exposed to wild
beasts. We then joyfully returned to our prison; and as my infant was
not yet weaned, I immediately sent Pomponius the deacon, to demand
him of my father, but he refused to send him. And God so ordered it,
that the child no longer required to suck, nor did my milk incommode
me." Secundulus, being no more mentioned, seems to have died in prison
before this interrogatory. Before Hilarian pronounced sentence, he had
caused Saturus, Saturninus, and Revocatus to be scourged; and Perpetua
and Felicitas to be beaten on the face. They were reserved for the
shows which were to be exhibited for the soldiers in the camp, on the
festival of Geta, who had been made Cæsar four years before, by his
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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