the wicked," meaning by
this expression either a wish that they might cease to be wicked by
their conversion to the faith of Christ: or this was a prediction of the
calamity which befell their city in 177, when Smyrna was overturned by
an earthquake, as we read in Dion[10] and Aristides.[11] The proconsul
repeated: "Swear by the genius of Caesar, and I discharge you; blaspheme
Christ." Polycarp replied: "I have served him these fourscore and six
years, and he never did me any harm, but much good; and how can I
blaspheme my King and my Saviour? If you require of me to swear by the
genius of Caesar, as you call it, hear my free confession: I am a
Christian; but if you desire to learn the Christian religion, appoint a
time, and hear me." The proconsul said: "Persuade the people." The
martyr replied: "I addressed my discourse to you; for we are taught to
give due honor to princes as far as is consistent with religion. But the
populace is an incompetent judge to justify myself before." Indeed, rage
rendered them incapable of hearing him.

The proconsul then assuming a tone of severity, said: "I have wild
beasts:" "Call for them," replied the saint: "for we are unalterably
resolved not to change from good to evil. It is only good to pass from
evil to good." The proconsul said: "If you contemn the beasts, I will
cause you to be burnt to ashes." Polycarp answered: "You threaten me
with a fire which burns for a short time, and then goes out; but are
yourself ignorant of the {227} judgment to come, and of the fire of
everlasting torments which is prepared for the wicked. Why do you delay?
Bring against me what you please." While he said thus and many other
things, he appeared in a transport of joy and confidence, and his
countenance shone with a certain heavenly grace, and pleasant
cheerfulness, insomuch that the proconsul himself was struck with
admiration. However, he ordered a crier to make public proclamation
three times it the middle of the Stadium, (as was the Roman custom in
capital cases:) "Polycarp hath confessed himself a Christian."[12] At
this proclamation the whole multitude of Jews and Gentiles gave a great
shout, the latter crying out: "This is the great teacher of Asia; the
father of the Christians; the destroyer of our gods, who preaches to men
not to sacrifice to or adore them." They applied to Philip the
Asiarch,[13] to let loose a lion upon Polycarp. He told them that it was
not in his power, because those sho