288 THE PASSION OF
her," You who are in such sufferingnow, what willyou do
when you are thrown to the beasts,which you despisedwhen
you refused to sacrifice?"And she replied,"Now itisI
thatsufferwhat I suffer; but then therewillbe anotherin
me, who willsufferforme, becauseI alsoam about to suffer
for Him." Thus she brought forth a littlegirl,which a
certainsisterbrought up as her daughter.
3. Since then the Holy Spiritpermitted,and by permit
tingwilled,thatthe proceedingsof that exhibitionshouldbe
committed towriting,althoughwe areunworthy to complete
the descriptionof so greata glory; yet we obey asitwere the
command of the most blessedPerpetua,nay her sacredtrust,
and add one more testimony concerning her constancyand
her loftinessof mind. When they were being treatedwith
more severitj'by the tribune,because,from the intimations
of certaindeceitfulmen, he feared lestthey shouldbe with
drawn from the prisonby some sortof magic incantations,
Perpetua answered to his face,and said," Why do you not
at leastpermitus to be refreshed,being as we are objection
able to the most noble Caasar,and having to fighton his
birth-day? Or isit not your gloryif we are brought for
ward fatteron thatoccasion? " The tribuneshuddered and
blushed,and commanded thatthey shouldbe kept with more
humanity, so that permissionwas given to theirbrethren
and othersto go in and be refreshedwith them ; even the
keeper of the prisontrustingthem now himself.
4. Moreover, on the day before,when in that lastmeal,
which they callthe free meal, they were partakingas faras
they could,not of a free supper,but of an agape; withthe
same firmnessthey were utteringsuch words as thesetothe
people,denouncing [againstthem] the judgment of theLord,
bearing witnessto the felicityof theirpassion,laughingat
the curiosityof the peoplewho came together; while Saturus
said," To-morrow isnot enough foryou, for you to behold
with pleasurethatwhich you hate. Friendsto-day,enemies
to-morrow. Yet note our faces diligently,that you may
recognisethem on thatday of judgment." Thus alldeparted
thence astonished,and from thesethingsmany believed.