appointed to have the charge of liim, and so Felix set out for Carthage.
When he was arrived there, he presented himself before the Lieutenant of the Proconsul. And this Lieutenant said to him, "What is thy reason for not giving up these foolish writings (Scriptures)?"
The Bishop answered,—"I confess I have them in my possession, but I will not part with them. The Scriptures which we have are not foolish, nor can they on any account be given up by us."
Upon this the Lieutenant ordered him to be put into the dungeon. Into which when the Bishop was entered, he offered this prayer to the Lord his God, saying,
"O Lord God! Creator and Governor of all things! O Lord Jesu Christ! I beseech Thee, do not forsake me, seeing that for Thee and Thy Testament I suffer these things. Have pity on me, O Lord! and receive my spirit; let my mortal body perish in this world, that according to Thy gracious promise I may be counted worthy to be clothed with immortality with Thee. For ever living in Thee, O Lord, death shall have no power against me."
But sixteen days afterwards, at the fourth hour of the night, the Bishop was brought forth from the prison, and at once introduced into the presence of Anulinus, the Proconsul.
And Anulinus said to him,—"What is thy name?"
Felix.—"I am a Christian."
Anulinus.—"I did not inquire concerning thy profession,—but I asked by what name thou art called."
Felix.—"As I said before, so now I say to thee again, I am a Christian and a Bishop."
Upon this, Anulinus being angry that he had refused to tell him his name, said to him,—"Hast thou any foolish writings?"
The Bishop answered,—"I have some writings, but they are not foolish, as thou dost assert; and know thou for certain, that I will on no account ever give them up."
Upon this the Proconsul ordered that he should be sent off to Rome, to the Prefect of the Guard.
