and one of them straightway lifted up his ax,
wishing to slay him; but another forewarned him
so that he caught the helve and restrained the blow.
He was, nevertheless, bound with his hands behind his back,
and committed to one of them that he might plunder him.
Then this man began to question him whether he was afraid,
or what manner of man he was, or if he was a Christian.
Then Martin answered him boldly, and said
that he had never been so untroubled in all his life,
because he knew God's mercy
was at hand most especially in temptations;
and said that he sorrowed the rather for the other's error,
because he was unworthy of God's mercy.
Therewith he began to preach the gospel doctrine
so long a while to the robber till he believed in God,
and followed Martin, earnestly entreating him
that he would pray for him; and he thenceforward continued
in a pious life, and afterward made this known to us.
As he was coming to Milan he met a devil
in a human form, who asked Martin
whither he was journeying. Then the Saint said to him
that he was going whither the Lord had called him.
Then the demon said to him straightway in answer;
'whithersoever thou goest, or whatsoever thou beginnest,
the devil shall be thine adversary.' And the holy man said to him,
'the Lord is a succour to me; I fear not what man may do to me; '
and straightway the devil vanished from his sight.
Then Martin journeyed forward as he had intended,
and converted his mother to the worship of God
and to holy baptism, though his father would not
turn from error; and yet, by God's assistance,
Martin rightly directed many of the people.
Then sprang up over all the world the Arian heresy,
and Martin with faith strongly contended against it
until he was tortured with cruel torments,
