rsecutions for justice sake. But being once
entered, it is not difficult to keep in it by the practice of virtue,
which helps to widen it and render it easy to those that persevere in
it, which has been done by many."

The multitude of Jews and Gentiles cried out to the judge to silence
him. But he said, he allowed him liberty of speech, and even offered him
his friendship if he would but sacrifice. The confessor answered: "You
seem to have forgot what I just before told you, or you would not have
urged me again to sacrifice. Would you have me acknowledge for a deity
that which has nothing in its nature of divine?" These last words put
the governor in a rage, and he ordered the saint to be scourged. While
the executioners were tearing his body unmercifully, the judge said to
him: "This is nothing to the torments I am preparing for you. If you
would have me stop here, you must sacrifice." Leo said: "O judge, I will
repeat to you again what I have so often told you: I own not your gods,
nor will I ever sacrifice to them." The judge said: "Only say the gods
are great, and I will discharge you. I really pity your old age." Leo
answered: "If I allow them that title, it can only be with regard to
their power of destroying their worshippers." The judge in a fury said:
"I will cause you to be dragged over rocks and stones, till you are torn
to pieces." Leo said: "Any kind of death is welcome to me, that procures
me the kingdom of heaven, and introduces me into the company of the
blessed." The judge said: "Obey the edict, and say the gods are the
preservers of the world, or you shall die." The martyr answered: "You do
nothing but threaten: why don't you proceed to effects?" The mob began
to be clamorous, and the governor, to appease them, was forced to
pronounce sentence on the saint, which was, that he should be tied by
the feet, and dragged to the torrent, and there executed; and his orders
were immediately obeyed in a most cruel manner. The martyr being upon
the point of consummating his sacrifice, and obtaining the
accomplishment of all his desires, with his eyes lifted up to heaven,
prayed thus aloud: "I thank thee, O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, for not suffering me to be long separated from thy servant
Paregorius. I rejoice in what has befallen me as the means of expiating
my past sins. I commend my soul to the care of thy holy angels, to be
placed by them where it will have nothing to fear from the judgments