The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Taking the slave then police and cavalry[*](The arrival of the police) went out on Friday[*](παρασκευή is literally Preparation (i.e. for the Sabbath) and has always been used in the Greek Church for Friday.) about supper-time, with their usual arms, as if they were advancing against a robber.[*](robber is the traditional translation: but brigand is nearer the real meaning.) And late in the evening they came up together against him and found him lying in an upper room. And he might have departed to another place, but would not, saying, the will of God be done.

So when he heard that they had[*](Their reception by Polycarp) arrived he went down and talked with them, while those who were present wondered at his age and courage, and whether there was so much haste for the arrest of an old man of such a kind. Therefore he ordered food and drink to be set before them at that hour, whatever they should wish, and he asked them to give him an hour to pray without hindrance.

To this they assented, and he stood[*](His prayer) and prayed—thus filled with the graqe of God— so that for two hours he could not be silent, and those who listened were astounded, and many repented that they had come against such a venerable old man.

Now when he had at last finished his prayer, after remembering all who had ever even come his way, both small and great, high and low, and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the hour came for departure, and they set him on an ass, and led him[*](His arrival in Smyrna) into the city, on a great Sabbath day.[*](This may have been the Jewish feast Purim, which, according to tradition, celebrates the triumph of the Jews in Persia over their enemies, as is related in the book of Esther, or else the Sabbath in the Passover week (see p. 311).)

And the police captain Herod and his father Niketas met him and removed him into their carriage, and sat by his side trying to persuade him and saying: But what harm is it to say, Lord Caesar and to offer sacrifice, and so forth, and to be saved? But he at first did not answer them, but when they continued he said: I am not going to do what you counsel me.