, was anxious to save him.

"When he was led forward, a great tumult arose among those that heard he
was taken. At length, as he advanced, the proconsul asked him whether he
was Polycarp, and, he answering that he was, he urged him to deny
Christ, saying, 'Have a regard for your age,' and adding similar
expressions such as are usual for them to employ.

"'Swear,' he said, 'by the genius of Caesar. Repent. Say, "Away with
those that deny the gods."'

"But Polycarp, with a countenance grave and serious, and contemplating
the whole multitude that were collected in the stadium, beckoned with
his hand to them, and with a sigh looked up to heaven and said, 'Away
with the atheists.'

"The governor continued to urge him again, saying: 'Swear, and I will
dismiss you. Revile Christ.'

"'Revile Christ!' Polycarp replied. 'Eighty-and-six years have I served
him and he never did me wrong; and how can I now blaspheme my King who
has saved me?'"

The governor continued to urge him, and in vain threatened him with the
wild beasts. At length a herald was ordered to proclaim in the midst of
the stadium that "Polycarp confesses he is a Christian." Thereupon the
multitude cried out, "This is that teacher of Asia, the father of the
Christians, the destroyer of our gods," and demanded that he should be
burned alive; and the governor gave sentence accordingly.

According to the horrid custom of the times the executioners were about
to fasten his hands to the stake by spikes, when he begged that he might
be bound merely, saying that He who gave him strength to bear the flames
would also give him strength to remain unmoved on the pyre.

This last request was granted; and being bound to the stake, he uttered
this beautiful prayer:

"Father of thy well-beloved and blessed Son, Jesus Christ, through whom
we have received the knowledge of thee, the God of angels and powers and
all creation, and of all the family of the righteous that live before
thee, I bless thee that thou hast thought me worthy of the present day
and hour, to have a share in the number of the martyrs and in the cross
of Christ unto the resurrection of eternal life, both of the soul and
body, in the incorruptible felicity of the Holy Spirit, among whom may I
be received in thy sight this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, as
thou, the faithful and true God, hast prepared, hast revealed, and
fulfilled. Wherefore, on this account and for all things, I praise thee,
I