# The Three Martyrs Examined On The Rack The Third Time. · Page 2 of 3

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Tharacus replied: “I have said it, and say so
still, do what thou wilt: thou hast full power over
my body in this world.”

146

The President said: “Put him back into prison,
and keep him until the next time for the wild beasts.
Let another be brought before the tribunal.”

Probus brought forward.—Demetrius, the captain,
said to the Proconsul: “Sir, here he is already,
namely, Probus.”

The President said to Probus: “Advise with thyself,
Probus, that thou mayest not fall again into
the same punishment; for others, who on thy account
have persisted in their obstinacy have rued
it. Sacrifice now, therefore, that thou mayest be
honored by us and the gods.”

Probus answered: “We are all of one mind,
serving God with one heart and soul. Think not,
therefore, that thou wilt hear anything different
from us; for thou hast ere this heard and seen
enough to convince thee, that thou canst not turn
us. Here I stand before thee the third time, and do
not yet regard thy threats. What dost thou wait
for, then?”

The President said: “Ye have conspired together
to deny the gods. Bind him, and hang him up by
his heels.”

Probus replied: “Dost thou not yet cease to
fight for Satan?”

Maximus said: “Believe me, before thou be tortured;
have compassion upon thine own body. See,
what dreadful torments are being prepared for thee.”

Probus answered: “All that thou mayest do unto
me, shall conduce to the comfort of my soul; therefore,
do what thou wilt.”

The President said: “Heat the branding irons
red-hot, and apply them to his sides, so that he
may desist from his folly.”

Probus replied: “The more foolish I appear to
thee, the wiser I shall be in the law of the Lord.”

The President said: “Press the branding irons
on his back.”

Probus answered as he was suffering: “My body
is subject to thy power; but God will behold from
heaven my humility and patience.”

In the meantime the President commanded that
meat and wine should be brought, which had been
sacrificed to the idols, saying to the executioners:
“Pour wine down his throat, and take meat, and
force it into his mouth.”

While they were busy doing this, Probus said:
“The Lord behold from his high throne the violence
ye do to me, and judge my cause.”

The President said: “Thou wretched man! thou
hast suffered so much, and, behold! thou hast thyself
received the sacrifice.”

Probus replied: “Ye have not accomplished
much, by doing me violence. The Lord knoweth
my intentions.”

The President said: “Thou hast eaten and drank
what was sacrificed to the gods.”

Probus answered: “The Lord knoweth it, and
hath seen the violence I have suffered.”

The President said to the executioners: “Apply
the branding irons to the calves of his legs.”

Probus replied: “Neither the fire, nor the torments,
nor thy father, Satan, can turn the servant
of God from his confession.”

The President said to his servants: “Let sharp
nails be heated, and put them into his hands.”

Probus answered as he suffered this: “I thank
thee, O Lord, that thou hast made my hands
worthy, to suffer for thy name.”

The President said: “The many torments have
deprived thee of thy mind.”

Probus replied: “The great power which thou
hast, has not only made thee a fool, but also blind;
for thou knowest not what thou art doing.”

The President said: “Thou who hast been tormented
on thy whole body excepting the eyes,
darest thou speak thus to me?” “Pinch his eyes,”
said he to the executioners, “that he may gradually
become blind.”

When this had been done, Probus said: “Behold,
thou has also deprived me of my bodily eyes, but
thou shalt never be permitted to destroy the eyes
of my faith.”

The President said: “Dost thou think thou wilt
survive all these torments, or that thus thou shalt
die happy?”

Probus answered: “Fighting thus, I gradually
approach the end, so that I may finish my good
and perfect confession, and be put to death by you
without mercy.”

The President said: “Take him away, bind him,
put him in prison, and let none of his companions
come near him, to praise him for having continued
so steadfast in his wickedness. He, too, shall be
cast before the wild beasts at the next show.”

Andronicus put to the rack.—Then said the
President: “Let Andronicus come forth.”

Demetrius, the captain, said: “He is already
here.”

The President said to Andronicus: “Have at
least compassion on thy youth, if thou hast prudently
advised with thyself to reverence the gods:
consent and sacrifice to the gods, that thou mayest
be released.”

Andronicus answered: “May God never suffer
thee, O tyrant, that I do aught against the law of
God. Thou shalt never shake my good confession,
which I have founded upon my Lord. Here I stand
ready, for thee to make manifest on me thy hardness.”



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_146)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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