desiring that no man who was a Christian should be left.
He sent also immediately a certain prefect
called Sisinnius [Fescenninus?], an exceeding fierce devil,
with many companions, to the Franks' kingdom,
that they should kill Dionysius, God's servant, with weapons,
unless he would bow to the shameful gods.
Whereupon Sisinnius journeyed with great array
until he came to the city wherein was the bishop
teaching the lay folk zealously in the faith.
Then the cruel prefect bade men bind the holy man
and a mass-priest whom he found with him,
named Rusticus, and a certain arch-deacon
called Eleutherius, (all) together with hard knots.
These holy men had ever lived with the bishop,
until they all departed to God together.
Then Sisinnius immediately asked the holy man
with a great threat what God he worshipped.
Then said they all three as if with one mouth;
'We confess with mouth and believe in mind
in the Holy Trinity, Who is heavenly God,
that is Father and Son, and the Comforting Spirit,
and we preach to men the world's redemption
through the holy Son whom the Heavenly Father
of His own will sent to be slain for us.'
Then said Sisinnius, ' Say if ye will
obey the Caesar, and believe on his gods;
if then ye will not, I will not longer by words,
but by hard stripes, make known his bests to you.'
Then he bade men strip the holy bishop,
and scourge him unmercifully, and he sang his prayers
amidst the tortures, glorifying his Lord,
Who could easily have delivered him from those wicked men;
