Section 202
The text on this page is estimated to be only 28.70% accurate
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 171 tensity of the mighty contest. Of these, indeed, about ten also fell away, causing great sorrow and excessive grief to our bre thren, and damping the ardour of those who had not yet been taken. These, however, although they endured all manner of affliction, nevertheless were always present with the martyrs, and never left them. Then, indeed, we were all struck with great fear, on account of the uncertainty of their holding out in the profession, not indeed dreading the tortures inflicted, but looking at the end, and trembling lest they should apostatize. Those, indeed, that were worthy to fill up the number of the martyrs, were seized from day to day, so that all the zealous members of the two churches, and those by whose exertions the church had been there established, were collected. Some domestics that were heathen, belonging to our brethren, were also seized as the governor had publicly commanded search to be made for all of us. But these, at the instigation of Satan, fearing the tortures which they saw the saints suffering, and the soldiers beside this urging them, charged us with feasts of Thyestes,* and the incests of Oedipus,f and such crimes as are neither lawful for us to speak nor to think ; and, such, indeed, as we do not even believe were committed by men. These things being spread abroad among the people, all were so savage in their treatment of us, that, if before some had restrained themselves on account of some affinity, they then carried their cruelty and rage against us to a great excess. Then was fulfilled the declaration of our Lord, " that the day would come when every one that slayeth you will think he is doing God a service." The holy martyrs, after this, finally endured tortures, beyond all description ; Satan striving with all his power, that some blasphemy might be uttered by them. Most violently did the collective madness of the mob, the governor and the soldiers rage against the holy deacon of Vienna, and against Maturus, a new convert, indeed, but a noble cham pion of the faith. Also, against Attalus, a native of Pergamus, who was a pillar and foundation of the church there. Against Thyestes, according to the heathen mythology, ate part of his own son, whom his brother Atreus, to revenge the crime committed against himself, had slain. f Oedipus, in ignorance, slew his father Laius, and married his mother Jocasta 17