The martyrdom of Polycarp occurred, according to Eusebius (H. E. iv, 15), in the persecution under the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus; and is recorded in a letter of the Church at Smyrna to the churches of Philomelium and other places, which is still extant, and of which Eusebius (ibid.) has given the chief part. The persecution began: one Germanicus, an ancient man, was thrown to the wild beasts, and several others, including some who were brought from Philadelphia, were put to death at Smyrna. Polycarp had at first intended to remain in the city and brave the danger of martyrdom ; but the entreaties of his flock led him to withdraw to a retreat in the adjacent coun- try, where he passed his time in prayer. Here, three days before his apprehension, he had a remarkable dream, which his anticipation of his fate led him to in- terpret as an intimation that he should be burned alive — a foreboding but too exactly verified by the event. Messengers having been sent to apprehend him, he withdrew to another hiding-place; but his place of re- treat was discovered by the confession of a child, who had been forced by torture to make known where he was. Polycarp might still have escaped by leaving the place on the approach of those sent to apprehend him ; but he refused, saying, " The will of God be done." His
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figure ainl calm and court onus deportment of his captore; and a pravcr of- fered by him affected wme of them with remorse for ire in hia apprehension. The officer into whose custody he was delivered, with the usual laxity of pa- ganism, would have persuaded him, apparently through pity, to offer divine honors and sacrifice i" the i but M- Bteady refusal changed their pity into and they violently threw him down from the carriage in which i hey were conveying him. < m entering the amphitheatre where the proconsul, Stratius Quadratus,
ice which the excited feelings of the old man and his companions led them t" regard as from heaven, exclaimed, " Be strong, <> Polycarp! and quit you like a man.'' The proconsul was, like others, moved by his appearance, and exhorted him t<> consider hi- advanci d
.•i_'>-. and <■ ply with the requirements of government :
"Swear by the fortune of Caesar, recant, and cry 'Away with the - Looking first round
u|mpii the heathen multitude, and Lben n|» to heaven, tin- old man sighed and said, "Away with th< The proconsul again urged him,"Swear by Caesar's for- tune, andl will release thee. Revile Christ." "Eighty and -ix years have 1 served him," was the reply, ••and he never did me wrong: how then can 1 revile my King and my Saviour?" Threats of being thrown to wild tnd of being committed to the flames, failed to move him; and his bold avowal that he was a Chris- tian provoked the wrath of the assembled multitude. "This man." they shouted, "is the teacher of impiety, the father of the Christians, the man that does away with "in - v iifitriptov dsiov tcaSaiosnjc) ;
who teaches many not to sacrifice to nor to worship the gods." They demanded thai he should be thrown to wild beasts, and when the Asiarch, Philip of Tralles, who presided over the games which were going on, evaded the demand, on the plea thai the combats with wild beasts were ended, thej demanded thai he should he burned alive. The demand was complied with; ami the populace, in their rage, soon collected from the
l workshops logs and fagots for the pile. The old man ungirded himself, Laid aside his garments, and took his place in the midst of the fuel; and when they would have secured him with nails to the stake, said. "Let me remain as 1 am; for he that has enabled me to brave the tire will so strengthen me that, withoul your Fastening me with nails. I shall, unmoved, endure it- fierceness." Alter he bad i tiered a shorl bul beauti- ful prayer the lire was kindled, hut a high wind drove the flames On ■me side, so that he was roasted rather
than burned; and the executioner was ordered to de- spatch him with a sword. < In hi- striking him with it, a quantity <>i blood Bowed from the wound as to quench the flames, which were, however, resuscitated, to consume hi- lifeless body. His ashes were •\ the pious eare nft hi' Christians of his flock, and deposited in a suitable place of interment. The • ar of Polycarp's martyrdom are involved in ibt Samuel Petit places it in AD. 175; : . l Bollandua in AD. 169; Eusebius
l trlier. in the seventh year of lurelius, who acceded to the throne March 7,
A-l>. I' . and Cave plat e it in
I die it iii 166 : tl Paschalt in
l' or, AD. L63; and 1 . lely from all other .
\ '• urn;;- I'm-. I', ir- ■On bril ipporl of hi- opinion.
■ med by Tillemonl in o ■
i Romish churches; by
the lorn by tin- kilter on .Ian. -Ju, ,,,- (at
1 •■■ ma. on hi. les-
I il formerly to \ i-it devoutly what i> shown as
• ruins of an ancient church or chapel, on a hill-side to the south-east of the city. Mr. Arun-