72 THE TREATISES OF CYPRIAN.
lings,but glories,givingasgreata witnesstoGod by thevirtue
of her eyes,as her childrenhad given by thetorturesand suf
feringof theirlimbs; when, afterthepunishment and slaying
of six,thereremained one of the brethren,to whom the king
promisedriches,and power, and many things,thathiscruelty
and ferocitymight be soothedby the satisfactionof even one
being subdued,and asked thatthe mother would entreatthat
her son might be castdown with herself; she entreated,but
itwas as became a mother of martyrs— as became one who
was mindful of thelaw and of God — asbecame one who loved
her sonsnot delicately,but bravely. For she entreated,but
itwas that he would confessGod. She entreatedthat the
brotherwould not be separatedfrom his brothersin the
allianceof praiseand glory; then only consideringherself
the mother of sevensons,if itshouldhappen to her to have
brought forth seven sons,not to the world, but to God.
Therefore arming him, and strengthening him, and so
bearing her son by a more blessedbirth,she said," O son,
pityme that bare thee ten1months in the womb, and gave
thee milk for three years,and nourishedthee and brought
theeup to thisage ;I pray thee,O son,lookupon theheaven
and the earth; and having consideredallthe thingswhich
are in them, understandthatout of nothing God made these
thingsand the human race. Therefore,O son,1do not fear
that executioner;but being made worthy of thy brethren,
receivedeath,that in the same mercy I may receivethee
with thy brethren."* The mother'spraisewas great in her
exhortationto virtue,but greaterin the fearof God and in
the truth of faith,that she promised nothing to herselfor
her son from the honour of the sixmartyrs,nor believedthat
the prayer of the brotherswould availfor the salvationof
one who shoulddeny, but ratherpersuaded him to become a
sharerintheirsuffering,thatinthe day of judgment he might
be found with hisbrethren. After thisthe mother alsodies
with her children; for neitherwas anythingelsebecoming,
1Otherwise" nine."
2 " Thusitshallturnoutthatyou,"etc.,istheOxfordreading.
82 Mace.vii.27.