PERPETUA AND FELIC1TAS. 289 CHAPTER VI. Argument. — From theprisontheyare ledforthwithjoy into tlieamphitheatre,especiallyPerpetua and Felicitas; all refusetoput on profanegarments; theyare scourged,they are thrown to thewild leasts. Saturus twiceis unhurt. St. Perpetua and St. Felicitasare thrown down; they are calledback to the Sanavivariangate. St. Saturus wounded by a leopard,exhortsthe soldier; theykissone another,theyare slainwith thesword. 1. The day of theirvictoryshone forth,and they pro ceeded from the prison into the amphitheatre,as if to an assembly,joyousand of brilliantcountenances; ifperchance shrinking,it was with joy, and not with fear. Perpetua followedwith placidlook,and with stepand gate as a matron of Christ,belovedof God ; castingdown the lustreof her eyes from the gaze of all. Moreover,Felicitasrejoicingthat she had safelybrought forth,so thatshe might fightwith the wild beasts; from the blood and from the midwife to the gladiator,to wash after childbirthwith a second baptism. And when they were brought to the gate,and were being constrainedto put on the clothing— the men, that of the priestsof Saturn, and the women, that of those who were consecratedto Ceres— thatnoble-mindedwoman resistedeven to the end with constancy. For she said," We have come thus far of our own accord,for thisreason,thatour liberty might not be restrained.For thisreasonwe have yielded our minds, thatwe might not do any such thingas this: we have agreedon thiswith you." Injusticeacknowledged the justice; the tribuneyieldedto theirbeing brought as simply as they were. Perpetua sang psalms,alreadytreadingunder foot the head of the Egyptian ; Revocatus, and Satur- ninus, and Saturus utteredthreateningsagainstthe gazing people about thismartyrdom. When they came withinsight of Hilarianus,by gesture and nod, they began to say to Hilarianus," Thou judgest us," say they, " but God will CTr.— vol. n. T