but the Saint was, in these short torments,
to imitate his Lord, and suffer death for Him,
even as Christ Himself did. Who gave Himself for us.
Afterwards Sisinnius bade scourge the mass-priest,
and also the deacon, Dionysius' companions,
and then commanded them to be led, in chains, together
to a lightless prison, for their fidelity.
He bade scourge them again, and afterward stretched
the bishop on an iron bed, and placed burning coals
under his naked body, as they did to Laurence;
but the Saint prayed on that bed to God.
Then the savage prefect commanded men to cast him to beasts
which were an-hungered, that they might devour the holy man;
but the fierce beasts, as soon as they came to him,
lay at his feet as if they were affrighted.
Then the judge bade men throw the Lord's servant
into a burning oven, but his prayers extinguished
all the flame, and he was left there sound.
Yet the bloodthirsty judge commanded men to make a cross,
and bade men hang the bishop ignominiously thereon;
and he, so hanging, preached the Saviour
to all bystanders, even as Andrew did.
Then after that the judge commanded men to take him from the cross .
and to take them all three to the lightless dungeon,
and many other Christians to the house of execution;
whereupon the bishop blithely allured
the Christians by teaching, in the dungeon, to God,
and celebrated mass in presence of them all. Then, as he was dividing
the holy housel, there came a heavenly light
over all the multitude, such as they had never before seen.
There came likewise the Saviour with the heavenly light,
