The Martyrdom of Polycarp

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.

And they gave up the attempt to persuade[*](And in the arena) him, and began to speak fiercely to him, and turned him out in such a hurry that in getting down from the carriage he scraped his shin; and without turning round, as though he had suffered nothing, he walked on promptly and quickly, and was taken to the arena, while the uproar in the arena was so great that no one could even be heard.