r his answer, commanded him to be put
on the rack and torn with iron hooks, to oblige him to a discovery. They
underwent severally the tortures of the rack, iron hooks, and cudgels.
The weaker sex fought no less gloriously, particularly the illustrious
Victoria; who, being converted to Christ in her tender years, had
signified a desire of leading a single life, which her pagan parents
would not agree to, having promised her in marriage to a rich young
nobleman. Victoria, on the day appointed for the wedding, full of
confidence in the protection of Him, whom she had chosen for the only
spouse of her soul, leaped out of a window, and was miraculously
preserved from hurt. Having made her escape, she took shelter in a
church; after which she consecrated her virginity to God, with the
ceremonies then used on such occasions at Carthage, in Italy, Gaul, and
all over the West.[1] To the crown of virginity, she earnestly desired
to join that of martyrdom. The proconsul, on account of her quality, and
for the sake of her brother, a pagan, tried all means to prevail with
her to renounce her faith. He inquired what was her religion. Her answer
was: "I am a Christian." Her brother, Fortunatianus, undertook her
defence, and endeavored to prove her lunatic. The saint, fearing his
plea might be the means of her losing the crown of martyrdom, made it
appear by her wise confutations of it, that she was in her perfect
senses, and protested that she had not been brought over to Christianity
against her will. The proconsul asked her if she would return with her
brother? She said: "She could not, being a Christian, and acknowledging
none as brethren but those who kept the law of God." The proconsul then
laid aside the quality of judge to become her humble suppliant, and
entreated her not to throw away her life. But she rejected his
entreaties with disdain, and said to him: "I have already told you my
mind. I am a Christian, and I assisted at the collect." Anulinus,
provoked at this constancy, reassumed his rage, and ordered her to
prison with the rest, to wait the sentence of death which he not long
after pronounced upon them all.

The proconsul would yet try to gain Hilarianus, Saturninus's youngest
son, not doubting to vanquish one of his tender age. But the child
showed more contempt than fear of the tyrant's threats, and answered his
interrogatories: "I am a Christian: I have been at the collect, and it
was of my own voluntary choice, wi