God called him to a conflict of the
same kind with that of St. Paregorius, which filled him with
inexpressible joy and comfort.

Wherefore, the next time he visited the martyr's tomb, instead of going
to the place through by-roads, he went boldly through the market-place,
and by the Tychaeaum, or temple of Fortune, which he saw illuminated with
lanterns. He pitied their blindness; and, being moved with zeal for the
honor of the true God, he made no scruple to break as many of the
lanterns as were within reach, and trampled on the tapers in open view,
saying: "Let your gods revenge the injury if they are able to do it."
The priest of the idol having raised the populace, cried out: "Unless
this impiety be punished, the goddess Fortune will withdraw her
protection from the city." An account of this affair soon reached the
ears of the governor, who ordered the saint to be brought before him,
and on his appearance addressed him in this manner; "Wicked wretch, thy
sacrilegious action surely bespeaks thee either ignorant of the immortal
gods, or downright mad, in flying in the face of our most divine
emperors, whom we justly regard as secondary deities and saviours." The
martyr replied with great calmness: "You are under a great mistake, in
supposing a plurality of gods; there is but one, who is the God of
heaven and earth, and who does not stand in need of being worshipped
after that gross manner that men worship idols. The most acceptable
sacrifice we can offer him is that of a contrite and humble heart."
"Answer to your indictment," said the governor, "and don't preach your
Christianity. I thank the gods, however, that they have not suffered you
to lie concealed after such a sacrilegious attempt. Choose therefore
either to sacrifice to them, with those that are here present, or to
suffer the punishment due to your impiety." The martyr said: "The fear
of torments shall never draw me from my duty. I am ready to suffer all
you shall inflict. All your tortures cannot reach beyond death. Eternal
life is not to be attained but by the way of tribulations; the scripture
accordingly {430} informs us, _that narrow is the way that leads to
life_." "Since you own the way you walk in is narrow," said the
governor, "exchange it for ours, which is broad and commodious." "When I
called it narrow," said the martyr, "this was only because it is not
entered without difficulty, and that its beginnings are often attended
with afflictions and pe