ried out: "Away with the impious; let
Polycarp be sought for." The holy man, though fearless, had been
prevailed upon by his friends to withdraw and conceal himself in a
neighboring village during the storm, spending most of his time in
prayer. Three days before his martyrdom, he in a vision saw his pillow
on fire; from which he understood by revelation, and {226} foretold his
companions, that he should be burnt alive. When the persecutors were in
quest of him he changed his retreat, but was betrayed by a boy, who was
threatened with the rack unless he discovered him. Herod, the Irenarch,
or keeper of the peace, whose office it was to prevent misdemeanors and
apprehend malefactors, sent horsemen by night to beset his lodgings. The
saint was above stairs in bed, but refused to make his escape, saying:
"God's will be done." He went down, met them at the door, ordered them a
handsome supper, and desired only some time for prayer before he went
with them. This granted, he began his prayer standing, which he
continued in that posture for two hours, recommending to God his own
flock and the whole church with so much earnestness and devotion, that
several of those that were come to seize him repented they had
undertaken the commission. They set him on an ass, and were conducting
him towards the city, when he was met on the road by Herod and his
father Nicetes, who took him into their chariot, and endeavored to
persuade him to a little compliance, saying: "What harm is there in
saying Lord Caesar, or even in sacrificing, to escape death?" By the word
Lord was meant nothing less than a kind of deity or godhead. The bishop
at first was silent, in imitation of our Saviour: but being pressed, he
gave them this resolute answer: "I shall never do what you desire of
me." At these words, taking off the mask of friendship and compassion,
they treated him with scorn and reproaches, and thrust him out of the
chariot with such violence, that his leg was bruised by the fall. The
holy man went forward cheerfully to the place where the people were
assembled. Upon his entering it, a voice from heaven was heard by many:
"Polycarp, be courageous, and act manfully."[9] He was led directly to
the tribunal of the proconsul, who exhorted him to respect his own age,
to swear by the genius of Caesar, and to say: "Take away the impious,"
meaning the Christians. The saint turning towards the people in the pit,
said, with a stern countenance: "Exterminate