them.' " ' Then Trajan pronounced sentence as follows : " We command that Ignatius, who afifirms that he carries about within him Him that was crucified, be bound by soldiers, and carried to the great [city] Rome, there to be devoured by the beasts, for the gratification of the people." When the holy martyr heard this sentence, he cried out with joy, " I thank thee, O Lord, that Thou hast vouchsafed to honour me with a perfect love towards Thee, and hast made me to be bound with iron chains, like^ Thy Apostle Paul." Having spoken thus, he then, with delight, clasped the chains about him ; and when he had first prayed for the Church, and commended it with tears to the Lord, he was hurried away by the savage ^ cruelty of the sol- diers, like a distinguished ram,^ the leader of a goodly flock, that he might be carried to Rome, there to furnish food to the bloodthirsty beasts.