his feet, said:
"Martyr of Jesus Christ, forgive me my offence." But Sapricius made him
no answer. Nicephorus waited for him in another street which he was to
pass through, and as soon as he saw him coming up, broke through the
crowd, and falling again at his feet, conjured him to pardon the fault
he had committed against him, through frailty rather than design. This
he begged by the glorious confession he had made of the divinity of
Jesus Christ. Sapricius's heart was more and more hardened, and now he
would not so much as look on him. The soldiers laughed at Nicephorus,
saying: "A greater fool than thou was never seen, in being so solicitous
for a man's {389} pardon who is upon the point of being executed." Being
arrived at the place of execution, Nicephorus redoubled his humble
entreaties and supplications: but all in vain; for Sapricius continued
as obstinate as ever, in refusing to forgive. The executioners said to
Sapricius: "Kneel down that we may cut off your head." Sapricius said.
"Upon what account?" They answered: "Because you will not sacrifice to
the gods, nor obey the emperor's orders, for the love of that man that
is called Christ." The unfortunate Sapricius cried out: "Stop, my
friends; do not put me to death: I will do what you desire: I am ready
to sacrifice." Nicephorus, sensibly afflicted at his apostacy, cried
aloud to him: "Brother, what are you doing? renounce not Jesus Christ
our good master. Forfeit not a crown you have already gained by tortures
and sufferings." But Sapricius would give no manner of attention to what
he said. Whereupon, Nicephorus, with tears of bitter anguish for the
fall of Sapricius, said to the executioner: "I am a Christian, and
believe in Jesus Christ, whom this wretch has renounced; behold me here
ready to die in his stead." All present were astonished at such an
unexpected declaration. The officers of justice being under an
uncertainty how to proceed, dispatched a lictor or beadle to the
governor, with this message: "Sapricius promiseth to sacrifice, but here
is another desirous to die for the same Christ, saying: I am a
Christian, and refuse to sacrifice to your gods, and comply with the
edicts of the emperors." The governor, on hearing this, dictated the
following sentence: "If this man persist in refusing to sacrifice to the
immortal gods, let him die by the sword:" which was accordingly put in
execution. Thus Nicephorus received three immortal crowns, namely, of
fai