a persecutor of Christian men, and ready to the devil's will.
Then commanded the murderer that all the emperor's soldiers
should offer their sacrifices to the gods.
There were in the army (warfare) Cappadocian soldiers,
forty Christians, unfearful in mind,
living piously after the doctrine of God;
these the judge seized and led them to the idol-sacrifice,
and said with flattery that they were noble soldiers,
and in every conflict constant to each other,
and ever victorious in sharp conflict.
'Show now therefore your constancy,
and subject yourselves to the king's commands,
and sacrifice to the gods before ye be tormented.'
Then spake the Christians to the murderer thus;
'Often have we overcome, even as thou thyself knowest,
our adversaries in every battle,
when we fought for the mortal king;
but it becometh us even more with toil to fight
for the immortal King and to withstand thee.'
Then said the judge that they should do one of these two things,
either they must sacrifice to the gods and have honour,
or else contemn the offering and be put to shame;
'Consider now, I pray you, what will best profit you.'
The saints answered the heathen murderer,
'The Lord will foreshow what may profit us.'
Then bade the murderer to bring them into a dungeon.
So then the saints bowed their knees
within the dungeon, thus praying Christ,
'Deliver us now. Lord, from the devil's temptations,
and from all the deceits of unrighteous workers.'
They sang in the evening again another psalm,
and continued vigilant in their prayers until midnight.
Then the Saviour manifested Himself to His saints,
and thus encouraged them to the coming conflict:
'God is your beginning (guide) and your encouragement,
