When he had pronounced this amen, and so finished his prayer, tho.se who were appointed for the purpose kindled the fire. And as the flame blazed forth in great fury,7 we, to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle, and have been preserved that we might report to others what then took place. For the fire, shaping itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, encom- passed as by a circle the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace. Moreover, we per- ceived such 2 sweet odour [coming from the pile], as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been smoking** there.