The Martyrdom of Polycarp

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

Therefore when he was brought forward the Pro-Consul asked him if he were Polycarp, and when he admitted it he tried to persuade him to deny, saying: Respect your age, and so forth, as they are accustomed to say Swear by the genius of Caesar, repent, say: Away with the Atheists; but Polycarp, with a stern countenance looked on all the crowd of lawless heathen in the arena, and waving his hand at them, he groaned and looked up to heaven and said: Away with the Atheists.

But when the Pro-Consul pressed him and said: Take the oath and I let you go, revile Christ, Polycarp said: For eighty and six years[*](He was therefore probably a Christian born, unless we ascribe to him a quite improbable age.) have I been his servant, and he has done me no wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King[*](βασιλεύς represents imperator not rex, and though it can hardly be translated Emperor, the antithesis to Caesar is clearly implied.) who saved me?

But when he persisted again, and said: Swear by the genius of Caesar, he answered him: If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, and pretend that you are ignorant who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the doctrine of Christianity fix a