Lord, we are forty who are engaged in this combat; grant that
we may be forty crowned, and that not one be wanting to this sacred
number." The guards in the mean time ceased not to persuade them to
sacrifice, that by so doing they might be allowed to pass to the warm
bath. But though it is not easy to form a just idea of the bitter pain
they must have undergone, of the whole number only one had the
misfortune to be overcome; who, losing courage, went off from the pond
to seek the relief in readiness for such as were disposed to renounce
their faith: but as the devil usually deceives his adorers, the apostate
no sooner entered the warm water but he expired. This misfortune
afflicted the martyrs; but they were quickly comforted by seeing his
place and their number miraculously filled up. A sentinel was warming
himself near the bath, having been posted there to observe if any of the
martyrs were inclined to submit. While he was attending, he had a vision
of blessed spirits descending from heaven on the martyrs, and
distributing, {562} as from their king, rich presents, and precious
garments, St. Ephrem adds crowns, to all these generous soldiers, one
only excepted, who was their faint-hearted companion, already mentioned.
The guard, being struck with the celestial vision and the apostate's
desertion, was converted upon it; and by a particular motion of the Holy
Ghost, threw off his clothes, and placed himself in his stead among the
thirty-nine martyrs. Thus God heard their request, though in another
manner than they imagined: "Which, ought to make us adore the
impenetrable secrets of his mercy and justice," says St. Ephrem, "in
this instance, no less than in the reprobation of Judas, and the
election of St. Matthias."

In the morning the judge ordered both those that were dead with the
cold, and those that were still alive, to be laid on carriages, and cast
into a fire. When the rest were thrown into a wagon to be carried to the
pile, the youngest of them (whom the acts call Melito) was found alive;
and the executioners, hoping he would change his resolution when he came
to himself, left him behind. His mother, a woman of mean condition, and
a widow, but rich in faith, and worthy to have a son a martyr, observing
this false compassion, reproached the executioners; and when she came up
to her son, whom she found quite frozen, not able to stir, and scarce
breathing, he looked on her with languishing eyes, and made a little
s