Now, as Polycarp was entering into the sta- dium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, " Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp ! " No one saw who it was that spoke to him ; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, " Have respect to thy old age," and other similar things, according to their cus- tom, [such as], " Swear by the fortune of Ceesar ; repent, and say. Away with the Atheists." But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, " Away with the Atheists." s Then, the procon- sul urging him, and saying, " Swear, and I will set thee at liberty, reproach Christ ; " Polycarp declared, " Eighty anei six years have I serv^ed Him, and He never did me any injury : how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour? "