The Martyrdom of Polycarp

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.

Now when Polycarp entered into the arena[*](Polycarp’s examination) there came a voice from heaven: Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man. And no one saw the