“After this fearful contest, as life was not extinct, their throats were at last cut, when they alone had thus been offered as a spectacle to the public instead of the variety displayed in the combat of gladiators.  Blandina, in her turn, tied to a stake, was given to the beasts:  she was seen hanging, as it were, on a sort of cross, calling upon God with trustful fervor, and the brethren present were reminded, in the person of a sister, of Him who had been crucified for their salvation. . . .  As none of the beasts would touch the body of Blandina, she was released from the stake, taken back to prison, and reserved for another occasion. . . .  Attalus, whose execution, seeing that he was a man of mark, was furiously demanded by the people, came forward ready to brave everything, as a man deriving confidence from the memory of his life, for he had courageously trained himself to discipline, and had always amongst us borne witness for the truth.  He was led all round the amphitheatre, preceded by a board bearing this inscription in Latin:  ’This is Attalus the Christian.’  The people pursued him with the most furious hootings; but the governor, having learnt that he was a Roman citizen, had him taken back to prison with the rest.  Having subsequently written to Caesar, he waited for his decision as to those who were thus detained.

“This delay was neither useless nor unprofitable, for then shone forth the boundless compassion of Christ.  Those of the brethren who had been but dead members of the Church, were recalled to life by the pains and help of the living; the martyrs obtained grace for those who had fallen away; and great was the joy in the Church, at the same time virgin and mother, for she once more found living those whom she had given up for dead.  Thus revived and strengthened by the goodness of God, who willeth not the death of the sinner, but rather inviteth him to repentance, they presented themselves before the tribunal, to be questioned afresh by the governor.  Caesar had replied that they who confessed themselves to be Christians should be put to the sword, and they who denied sent away safe and sound.  When the time for the great market had fully come, there assembled a numerous multitude from every nation and every province.  The governor had the blessed martyrs brought up before his judgment-seat, showing them before the people with all the pomp of a theatre.  He questioned them afresh; and those who were discovered to be Roman citizens were beheaded, the rest were thrown to the beasts.

“Great glory was gained for Christ by means of those who had at first denied their faith, and who now confessed it contrary to the expectation of the Gentiles.  Those who, having been privately questioned, declared themselves Christians were added to the number of the martyrs.  Those in whom appeared no vestige of faith, and no fear of God, remained without the pale of the Church.  When they were dealing with those who had been reunited to it, one