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| Argument. From the Prison They are Led Forth with Joy into the Amphitheatre, Especially Perpetua and Felicitas. All Refuse to Put on Profane Garments. They are Scourged, They are Thrown to the Wild Beasts. Saturus Twice is Unhurt. Perpetua and Felicitas are Thrown Down; They are Called Back to the Sanavivarian Gate. Saturus Wounded by a Leopard, Exhorts the Soldier. They Kiss One Another, and are Slain with the Sword.
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Chapter
VI.—Argument. From the Prison They are Led Forth with Joy into
the Amphitheatre, Especially Perpetua and Felicitas. All Refuse to Put
on Profane Garments. They are Scourged, They are Thrown to the Wild
Beasts. Saturus Twice is Unhurt. Perpetua and Felicitas are Thrown
Down; They are Called Back to the Sanavivarian Gate. Saturus Wounded by
a Leopard, Exhorts the Soldier. They Kiss One Another, and are Slain
with the Sword.
1. The day of their victory shone forth, and they
proceeded from the prison into the amphitheatre, as if to an assembly,
joyous and of brilliant countenances; if perchance shrinking, it was
with joy, and not with fear. Perpetua followed with placid look, and
with step and gait as a matron of Christ, beloved of God; casting down
the luster of her eyes from the gaze of all. Moreover, Felicitas,
rejoicing that she had safely brought forth, so that she might fight
with the wild beasts; from the blood and from the midwife to the
gladiator, to wash after childbirth with a second baptism. And when
they were brought to the gate, and were constrained to put on the
clothing—the men, that of the priests of Saturn, and the women,
that of those who were consecrated to Ceres—that noble-minded
woman resisted even to the end with constancy. For she said, “We
have come thus far of our own accord, for this reason, that our liberty
might not be restrained. For this reason we have yielded our minds,
that we might not do any such thing as this: we have agreed on
this with you.” Injustice acknowledged the justice; the
tribune yielded to their being brought as simply as they were. Perpetua
sang psalms, already treading under foot the head of the Egyptian;
Revocatus, and Saturninus, and Saturus uttered threatenings against the
gazing people about this martyrdom. When they came within sight of
Hilarianus, by gesture and nod, they began to say to Hilarianus,
“Thou judgest us,” say they, “but God will judge
thee.” At this the people, exasperated, demanded that they should
be tormented with scourges as they passed along the rank of the
venatores.9005
| 9005 A row of men drawn up
to scourge them as they passed along, a punishment probably similar to
what is called “running the gauntlet.” | And they indeed
rejoiced that they should have incurred any one of their Lord’s
passions.
2. But He who had said, “Ask, and ye shall receive,”9006
gave to them when they asked, that death
which each one had wished for. For when at any time they had been
discoursing among themselves about their wish in respect of their
martyrdom, Saturninus indeed had professed that he wished that he might
be thrown to all the beasts; doubtless that he might wear a more
glorious crown. Therefore in the beginning of the exhibition he and
Revocatus made trial of the leopard, and moreover upon the scaffold
they were harassed by the bear. Saturus, however, held nothing in
greater abomination than a bear; but he imagined that he would be put
an end to with one bite of a leopard. Therefore, when a wild boar was
supplied, it was the huntsman rather who had supplied that boar who was
gored by that same beast, and died the day after the shows.
Saturus only was drawn out; and when he had been bound on the floor
near to a bear, the bear would not come forth from his den. And so
Saturus for the second time is recalled unhurt.
3. Moreover, for the young women the devil
prepared a very fierce cow, provided especially for that purpose
contrary to custom, rivalling their sex also in that of the beasts. And
so, stripped and clothed with nets, they were led forth. The populace
shuddered as they saw one young woman of delicate frame, and another
with breasts still dropping from her recent childbirth. So, being
recalled, they are unbound.9007
| 9007 Ita revocatæ
discinguntur. Dean Milmam prefers reading this, “Thus recalled,
they are clad in loose robes.” | Perpetua is first
led in. She was tossed, and fell on her loins; and when she saw her
tunic torn from her side, she drew it over her as a veil for her
middle, rather mindful of her modesty than her suffering. Then she was
called for again, and bound up her dishevelled hair; for it was not
becoming for a martyr to suffer with dishevelled hair, lest she should
appear to be mourning in her glory. So she rose up; and when she saw
Felicitas crushed, she approached and gave her her hand, and lifted her
up. And both of them stood together; and the brutality of the populace
being appeased, they were recalled to the Sanavivarian gate. Then
Perpetua was received by a certain one who was still a catechumen,
Rusticus by name, who kept close to her; and she, as if aroused from
sleep, so deeply had she been in the Spirit and in an ecstasy, began to
look round her, and to say to the amazement of all, “I cannot
tell when we are to be led out to that cow.” And when she had
heard what had already happened, she did not believe it9008
| 9008 [Routh, Reliq.
Vol. I. p. 360.] | until she had perceived certain signs of
injury in her body and in her dress, and had recognised the
catechumen. Afterwards causing that catechumen and the brother to
approach, she addressed them, saying, “Stand fast in the faith,
and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my
sufferings.”
4. The same Saturus at the other entrance exhorted
the soldier Pudens, saying, “Assuredly here I am, as I have
promised and foretold, for up to this moment I have felt no beast. And
now believe with your whole heart. Lo, I am going forth to that beast,
and I shall be destroyed with one bite of the leopard.” And
immediately at the conclusion of the exhibition he was thrown to the
leopard; and with one bite of his he was bathed with such a quantity of
blood, that the people shouted out to him as he was returning, the
testimony of his second baptism, “Saved and washed, saved and
washed.”9009
Manifestly he was
assuredly saved who had been glorified in such a spectacle. Then to the
soldier Pudens he said, “Farewell, and be mindful of my faith;
and let not these things disturb, but confirm you.” And at
the same time he asked for a little ring from his finger, and returned
it to him bathed in his wound, leaving to him an inherited token and
the memory of his blood. And then lifeless he is cast down with the
rest, to be slaughtered in the usual place. And when the populace
called for them into the midst, that as the sword penetrated into their
body they might make their eyes partners in the murder, they rose up of
their own accord, and transferred themselves whither the people wished;
but they first kissed one another, that they might consummate their
martyrdom with the kiss of peace. The rest indeed, immoveable and in
silence, received the sword-thrust; much more Saturus, who also had
first ascended the ladder, and first gave up his spirit, for he also
was waiting for Perpetua. But Perpetua, that she might taste some pain,
being pierced between the ribs, cried out loudly, and she herself
placed the wavering right hand of the youthful gladiator to her
throat.9010
| 9010 [Routh,
Reliquiæ, Vol. I. p. 358.] | Possibly such a
woman could not have been slain unless she herself had willed it,
because she was feared by the impure spirit.
O most brave and blessed martyrs! O truly called and
chosen unto the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! whom whoever magnifies,
and honours, and adores, assuredly ought to read these examples for the
edification of the Church, not less than the ancient ones, so that
new virtues also may testify that
one and the same Holy Spirit is always operating even until now, and
God the Father Omnipotent, and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, whose is
the glory and infinite power for ever and ever. Amen. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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