Probus answered: “The Lord knoweth it, and hath seen the violence I have suffered.”
The President said to the executioners: “Apply the branding irons to the calves of his legs.”
Probus replied: “Neither the fire, nor the torments, nor thy father, Satan, can turn the servant of God from his confession.”
The President said to his servants: “Let sharp nails be heated, and put them into his hands.”
Probus answered as he suffered this: “I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast made my hands worthy, to suffer for thy name.”
The President said: “The many torments have deprived thee of thy mind.”
Probus replied: “The great power which thou hast, has not only made thee a fool, but also blind; for thou knowest not what thou art doing.”
The President said: “Thou who hast been tormented on thy whole body excepting the eyes, darest thou speak thus to me?” “Pinch his eyes,” said he to the executioners, “that he may gradually become blind.”
When this had been done, Probus said: “Behold, thou has also deprived me of my bodily eyes, but thou shalt never be permitted to destroy the eyes of my faith.”
The President said: “Dost thou think thou wilt survive all these torments, or that thus thou shalt die happy?”
Probus answered: “Fighting thus, I gradually approach the end, so that I may finish my good and perfect confession, and be put to death by you without mercy.”
The President said: “Take him away, bind him, put him in prison, and let none of his companions come near him, to praise him for having continued so steadfast in his wickedness. He, too, shall be cast before the wild beasts at the next show.”
_Andronicus put to the rack._--Then said the President: “Let Andronicus come forth.”
Demetrius, the captain, said: “He is already here.”
The President said to Andronicus: “Have at least compassion on thy youth, if thou hast prudently advised with thyself to reverence the gods: consent and sacrifice to the gods, that thou mayest be released.”
Andronicus answered: “May God never suffer thee, O tyrant, that I do aught against the law of God. Thou shalt never shake my good confession, which I have founded upon my Lord. Here I stand ready, for thee to make manifest on me thy hardness.”
The President said: “Methinks, thou art raving, and possessed of the devil.”
Andronicus replied: “If I had the devil in me, I should obey thee; but because I confess the Lord, I do not submit to the commands of the devil. But hast not thou the devil in thee? For, being deceived by the devil, thou doest the works of the devil.”
The President said to the Executioners: “Make bundles of paper, and put fire upon his body.”
When this was done, Andronicus said: “Though I burn from head to foot, the spirit nevertheless is alive in me. Thou shalt not conquer me; for the Lord, whom I serve is with me.”
The President said: “Thou madman! how long wilt thou remain thus obstinate? Seek at least to die upon thy bed.”
Andronicus answered: “As long as I live, I shall overcome thy wickedness.”
The President said: “Heat the branding-irons red-hot again, and put them between his fingers.”
Andronicus replied: “O foolish despiser of God! Thou art full of the wicked thoughts of Satan. Seest thou not that my body is almost consumed through the manifold torments thou hast inflicted upon me. Thinkest thou that now at the last I shall begin to fear thy devices? I have Christ dwelling in my heart, and despise thy torments.”
The President said: “Thou miscreant! knowest thou not that this Christ, whom thou worshipest became man, and was punished under the Judge Pontius Pilate?”
Andronicus answered: “Be silent, for it is not lawful for thee to speak evil of him.”
The President said: “What gainest thou by thy faith and hope in this man whom thou callest Christ?”