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I SHALL quote from the epistle of Dionysius to Germanus an
account of what befell the former. Speaking of himself, he writes as
follows:
"I speak before God, and he knows that I do not lie. I did not
flee on my own impulse nor without divine direction. But even before
this, at the very hour when the Decian persecution was commanded,
Sabinus sent a frumentarius to search for me, and I remained at home
four days awaiting his arrival. But he went about examining all
places, roads, rivers, and fields, where he thought I might be
concealed or on the way. But he was smitten with blindness, and did
not find the house, for he did not suppose, that being pursued, I
would remain at home. And after the fourth day God commanded me to
depart, and made a way for me in a wonderful manner; and I and my
attendants and many of the brethren went away together. And that this
occurred through the providence of God was made manifest by what
followed, in which perhaps we were useful to some." Farther on he
relates in this manner what happened to him after his flight:
"For about sunset, having been seized with those that were with me,
I was taken by the soldiers to Taposiris, but in the providence of
God, Timothy was not present and was not captured. But coming
later, he found the house deserted and guarded by soldiers, and
ourselves reduced to slavery." After a little he says:
"And what was the manner of his admirable management? for the truth
shall be told. One of the country people met Timothy fleeing and
disturbed, and inquired the cause of his haste. And he told him the
truth. And when the man heard it , he entered and announced it to
those at the table. And they, as if on a preconcerted signal, arose
with one impulse, and rushed out quickly and came and burst in upon us
with a shout. Immediately the soldiers who were guarding us fled, and
they came to us lying as we were upon the bare couches. But I, God
knows, thought at first that they were robbers who had come for spoil
and plunder. So I remained upon the bed on which I was, clothed
only in a linen garment, and offered them the rest of my clothing which
was lying beside me. But they directed me to rise and come away
quickly.
Then I understood why they were come, and I cried out, beseeching
and entreating them to depart and leave us alone. And I requested
them, if they desired to benefit me in any way, to anticipate those
who were carrying me off, and cut off my head themselves. And when I
had cried out in this manner, as my companions and partners in
everything know, they raised me by force. But I threw myself on my
back on the ground; and they seized me by the hands and feet and
dragged me away. And the witnesses of all these occurrences followed:
Gaius, Faustus, Peter, and Paul.
But they who had seized me carried me out of the village hastily, and
placing me on an ass without a saddle, bore me away."
Dionysius relates these things respecting himself.
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