until he heard that the venerable apostles
Peter and Paul were in prison
in the city of the Romans, under the cruel Nero.
Then desired Dionysius, if so it might be,
to suffer martyrdom with the apostles,
and thereupon returned home with wondrous haste,
forthwith committed his episcopal see to another bishop,
and journeyed from the Grecian land with companions to Rome
by a long way, ever preaching the faith.
Then it so befell, by reason of his long journey,
that the holy apostles, even as the Saviour willed,
were martyred by the wicked Nero
before Dionysius could come to Rome.
Then he came at last after the Emperor Nero
had ended his life by a miserable death;
and Clement was then Pope in Peter's chair.
He received the noble bishop with honour,
and treated him lovingly for his holy service.
Then the bishop dwelt within the city of Rome
with Pope Clement familiarly some time,
until Clement said to him, even as Christ commanded him,
'Seest thou, my dear brother, how many lands remain
yet in heathenism; and our Saviour's harvest
is manifold among mankind, and few are the workmen thereto;
and thou art learned in the faith through God,
and greatly resplendent in holy virtues?
Go now in God's name to the Franks' kingdom
like Christ's champion with bold faith,
and be it given thee to bind and to loose,
even as I received from my predecessor,
the holy Peter, even as the Saviour committed to him.
I ordain that thou receive the whole Frankish kingdom
to thy preaching, and may Christ Himself be with thee,
