Section 373
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342 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. was stronger than his anger ; but, punishing her with exile, he took away all her wealth. Many others, also, unable to bear even the threats of violation from the rulers of the heathen, sub mitted to every kind of torture, the rack and deadly punishment. Admirable, indeed, were all these ; but far above all most admir able, was that lady who was one of the most noble and modest of those whom Maxentius, in all respects like Maximinus, at tempted to violate. For when she understood that the minions of the tyrant in such matters, had burst into the house (for she was also a Christian), and that her husband, who was the prefect of Rome, had suffered them to carry her off, she requested but a little time, as if now for the purpose of adorning her body : she then entered her chamber, and when alone thrust a sword into her breast. Thus, dying immediately, she indeed left her body to the conductors ; but in her deeds, more effectually than any language, proclaims, to all who are now and will be hereafter, that virtue, which prevails among Christians, is the only invinci ble and imperishable possession. Such, then, was the flood of iniquity which rushed on at one and the same time, and which was wrought by the two tyrants that swayed the east and the west And who is there that examines the cause of these evils, that would be in doubt whether he should pronounce the persecution raised against us, proceeding from these as their cause ? Espe cially as the confusion of the empire, which prevailed to a great extent, did not cease before the Christians received full liberty of conscience to profess their religion ? CHAPTER XV. The events that happened to the heathen. DURING the whole ten years of the persecution, there was no cessation of plots and civil wars among the persecutors them selves. For the sea indeed was impassable to the mariner, nor could any set sail from any part, without being exposed to every kind of torment, either scourged, or racked in their limbs, or la