at the shrine of S. Peter which standeth in Rome.
The emperor welcomed him, and said to him with joy,
'When thou wentest to the battle thou didst sacrifice to the foul devils,
and since thou hast returned victorious, thou hast prayed to Christ,
and to His Apostles; tell me how is this?'
Then louted (bowed) Gallicanus to the orthodox Emperor,
and related in order how he was converted to God;
' The Scythian people had slain many of us,
and I was locked up in a little town
with a very small force, and we durst not fight
against the overwhelming army, which had besieged the town;
Then I offered often my sacrifices to the gods,
until my colleagues surrendered me and themselves
to the attacking enemies, and I then took to flight.
Then said the Christians, John and Paul,
" Promise the God of Heaven that thou wilt bow to Him,
if He now helpeth thee, and thou shalt have victory."
I then straightway promised, even as the holy men exhorted me,
and there immediately came to me God's angel with a cross,
bidding me take my sword and go with him;
thereupon I followed him, and many angels came
in the likeness of men, gloriously armed,
heartened me with their words, and bade me go forth
until we arrived where the king was;
then fell he afrighted, prostrate at my feet;
then God's champions bound Bardon the king
and his two sons, and delivered them to me;
I slew not one, nor commanded to slay.
Now is thy land preserved, and the people submit to thee;
all the chief-men, who submitted to me,
together with their soldiers, I have converted to Christ;
the others who would not so do I contemned.
I myself am so much a Christian that I have said in a vow,
that I henceforth will not have the company of a wife;
