The President said to the executioners: “Put the branding irons into the fire, and brand him on his cheeks or shoulders.”
Tharacus answered: “Though thou inflict many more torments than these upon me, thou shalt nevertheless not turn the servant of God to the shameful idolatry of devils, to worship them.”
The President said: “Bring a razor; cut off his skin; shave his head bald, and put burning coals upon it.”
Tharacus replied: “And though thou cause my whole body to be flayed, I shall still not depart from my God, who strengthens me, to endure all the weapons of your torturing.”
The President said: “Get the branding irons; let them get still hotter, and apply them to all his members and joints.”
Tharacus, as he suffered this, cried out: “May the Lord look down from heaven, and judge!”
The President said: “What lord dost thou call upon, thou accursed fellow?”
Tharacus answered: “The Lord whom thou dost not know, and who recompenses every one according to his works.”
The President said: “And shall I not exterminate thee, as I have told thee? Yea, even thy remains I shall burn, and scatter thy ashes to the wind; that the women may not come, and wind thy dead body in clothes to embalm it with precious ointments and spices.”
Tharacus replied: “I have said it, and say so still, do what thou wilt: thou hast full power over my body in this world.”
The President said: “Put him back into prison, and keep him until the next time for the wild beasts. Let another be brought before the tribunal.”
_Probus brought forward._--Demetrius, the captain, said to the Proconsul: “Sir, here he is already, namely, Probus.”
The President said to Probus: “Advise with thyself, Probus, that thou mayest not fall again into the same punishment; for others, who on thy account have persisted in their obstinacy have rued it. Sacrifice now, therefore, that thou mayest be honored by us and the gods.”
Probus answered: “We are all of one mind, serving God with one heart and soul. Think not, therefore, that thou wilt hear anything different from us; for thou hast ere this heard and seen enough to convince thee, that thou canst not turn us. Here I stand before thee the third time, and do not yet regard thy threats. What dost thou wait for, then?”
The President said: “Ye have conspired together to deny the gods. Bind him, and hang him up by his heels.”
Probus replied: “Dost thou not yet cease to fight for Satan?”
Maximus said: “Believe me, before thou be tortured; have compassion upon thine own body. See, what dreadful torments are being prepared for thee.”
Probus answered: “All that thou mayest do unto me, shall conduce to the comfort of my soul; therefore, do what thou wilt.”
The President said: “Heat the branding irons red-hot, and apply them to his sides, so that he may desist from his folly.”
Probus replied: “The more foolish I appear to thee, the wiser I shall be in the law of the Lord.”
The President said: “Press the branding irons on his back.”
Probus answered as he was suffering: “My body is subject to thy power; but God will behold from heaven my humility and patience.”
In the meantime the President commanded that meat and wine should be brought, which had been sacrificed to the idols, saying to the executioners: “Pour wine down his throat, and take meat, and force it into his mouth.”
While they were busy doing this, Probus said: “The Lord behold from his high throne the violence ye do to me, and judge my cause.”
The President said: “Thou wretched man! thou hast suffered so much, and, behold! thou hast thyself received the sacrifice.”
Probus replied: “Ye have not accomplished much, by doing me violence. The Lord knoweth my intentions.”
The President said: “Thou hast eaten and drank what was sacrificed to the gods.”