n his bed, and only asked leave to put on his shoes; after which
he cheerfully followed the guards, who committed him and his two
companions to close prison, where he spent his time with them in fervent
prayer, full of joy at the prospect of the crown prepared for them. He
gave his benediction to the faithful who visited him, and recommended
themselves to his prayers. On Monday he baptized in jail a catechumen
named Rogatianus. On Wednesday he kept the usual fast of the stations[2]
till none, or three o'clock in {191} the afternoon. On Friday, the sixth
day after their commitment, the 21st of January, the governor ordered
them to be brought before him, and asked Fructuosus if he knew the
contents of the late edict of the emperors. The saint answered that he
did not, but that whatever they were, he was a Christian. "The
emperors," said Emilian, "command all to sacrifice to the gods."
Fructuosus answered, "I adore one God, who made heaven and earth and all
things therein." Emilian said, "Do you not know that there are gods?"
"No," replied the saint. The proconsul said, "I will make you know it
shortly." St. Fructuosus then lifted up his eyes to heaven, and began to
pray in private. The proconsul broke out into this exclamation: "What
will any man fear or adore on earth, if he contemns the worship of the
immortal gods, and of the emperors?" Then turning to the deacon
Angurius, he bade him not regard what Fructuosus had said: but he
satisfied him in a few words that he adored the same almighty God.
Emilian lastly addressed himself to the other deacon, Eulogius, asking
him if he did not adore Fructuosus. The holy man answered, "I adore not
Fructuosus, but the same God whom he adores." Emilian asked Fructuosus
if he was a bishop; and added, upon his confessing it, "say you have
been one;" meaning that he was going to lose his dignity with his life:
and immediately condemned them to be burnt alive.

The pagans themselves could not refrain from tears, on seeing them led
to the amphitheatre; for they loved Fructuosus on account of his rare
virtues. The Christians accompanied them with a sorrow mixed with joy.
The martyrs exulted to behold themselves on the verge of a glorious
eternity. The faithful offered St. Fructuosus a cup of wine, but he
would not taste it, saying, it was not yet the hour of breaking the
fast, which was observed on Fridays till three o'clock, and it was then
only ten in the morning. The holy man hoped to end