Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/696

self. Her father, a pagan, but full of affection for his favourite offspring, importuned her to turn from the Christian faith; and her constancy appeared to him an absurd obstinacy. For a few days, while she and other catechumens (among whom was Felicitas, a slave) were under guard, but not confined in the prison, they found means to be baptized, and Perpetua's prayers were directed particularly for patience under bodily pain. They were then put into a dark prison. To the rest, more accustomed to hardships, this change of scene had nothing in it so terrible. To her, who had known nothing but the delicacies of genteel life, it was peculiarly irksome, and her concern for her infant was extreme. Two deacons of the church obtained, by money, leave for them to be refreshed by going for some hours into a more commodious place, where Perpetua gave the breast to her infant, and then recommended him carefully to her mother. For some time her mind was unhappy for the distress she had brought on her family, but in time her spirit was more composed. Her father, some time after, came to the prison overwhelmed with grief, which, in all probability, was augmented by the reflections he made on his passionate behaviour at the last interview. "Have pity, my daughter," said he, "on my grey hairs; have pity on your father, if I was ever worthy of that name; if I myself have brought you up to this age, if I have preferred you to all your brethren, make me not a reproach of mankind, respect your father and your aunt," (these, it seems, were pagans, while the mother and the rest of the family were christians, since it is said he was the only one of them who resisted her martyrdom); "have compassion on your son, who cannot survive you; lay aside your ob-

stinacy,