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THEN indeed the emperor's real temper and disposition, which he
had hitherto kept as much as possible from observation, became fully
manifested: for he who had boasted so much of his philosophy, was no
longer able to restrain himself; but being goaded almost to madness by
these reproachful hymns, he was ready to inflict the same cruelties on
the Christians, with which Diocletian's agents had formerly visited
them. Since, however, his solicitude about the Persian expedition
afforded him no leisure for personally executing his wishes, he
commanded Sallust the Praetorion Prefect to seize those who had been
most conspicuous for their zeal in psalm-singing, in order to make
examples of them. The prefect, though a pagan, was far from being
pleased with his commission; but since he durst not contravene it, he
caused several of the Christians to be apprehended, and some of them
to be imprisoned. One young man named Theodore, whom the heathens
brought before him, he subjected to a variety of tortures, causing his
person to be so lacerated and only released him from further punishment
when he thought that he could not possibly outlive the torments: yet
God preserved this sufferer, so that he long survived that
confession. Rufinus, the author of the Ecclesiastical History
written in Latin, states that he himself conversed with the same
Theodore a considerable time afterwards: and enquired of him whether
in the process of scourging and racking he had not felt the most intense
pains; his answer was, that he felt the pain of the tortures to which
he was subjected for a very short time; and that a young man stood by
him who both wiped off the sweat which was produced by the acuteness of
the ordeal through which he was passing, and at the same time
strengthened his mind, so that he rendered this time of trial a season
of rapture rather than of suffering. Let this suffice concerning the
most wonderful Theodore. About this time Persian ambassadors came to
the emperor, requesting him to terminate the war on certain express
conditions. But Julian abruptly dismissed them, saying, 'You
shall very shortly see me in person, so that there will be no need of
an embassy.'
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