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Chapter VIII.—Polycarp is brought into the city.

Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ass, and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath. And the Irenarch Herod, accompanied by his father Nicetes (both riding in a chariot 439 ), met him, and taking him up into the chariot, they seated themselves beside him, and endeavoured to persuade him, saying, “What harm is there in saying, Lord Cæsar, 440 and in sacrificing, with the other ceremonies observed on such occasions, and so make sure of safety?” But he at first gave them no answer; and when they continued to urge him, p. 41 he said, “I shall not do as you advise me.” So they, having no hope of persuading him, began to speak bitter 441 words unto him, and cast him with violence out of the chariot, 442 insomuch that, in getting down from the carriage, he dislocated his leg 443 [by the fall]. But without being disturbed, 444 and as if suffering nothing, he went eagerly forward with all haste, and was conducted to the stadium, where the tumult was so great, that there was no possibility of being heard.

Footnotes

Jacobson deems these words an interpolation.

Or, “Cæsar is Lord,” all the mss. having κύριος instead of κύριε, as usually printed.

Or, “terrible.”

Or, “cast him down” simply, the following words being, as above, an interpolation.

Or, “sprained his ankle.”

Or, “not turning back.”