248 TREATISES ATTRIBUTED TO CYPRIAN. your minds,and from my addressreceiveso much as you know thatyou can feel. 25. Let it presentitselfto your eyes,what a day that is,when, with the peoplelookingon, and allmen watching, an undismayed devotionisstrugglingagainstearthlycrosses and the threatsof theworld;how the minds in suspense,and heartsanxious about the tremblingsof doubt,are agitated by the dread of the timid fearfulnessof thosewho are con gratulatingthem I What an anxietyisthere,what a prayer fulentreaty,what desiresarerecorded,when, with thevictory stillwavering,and the crown of conquest hanging in doubt over the head whilethe resultsare stilluncertain,and when thatpestilentand ravingconfessionisinflamedby passion,is kindledby madness,and finally,isheatedby the fury of the heart,and by gnashing threats! For who is ignoranthow great a matter thisis,that our,as itwere,despisedfrailty, and the unexpected boldnessof human strength,shouldnot yieldto the pangs of wounds, nor to the blows of tortures,— thata man shouldstand fastand not be moved, shouldbe torturedand stillnot be overcome, but should ratherbe armed by the very sufferingwhereby he istormented? 26. Considerwhat itis,belovedbrethren: setbeforeyour perceptionsand your minds allthe endurance of martyrdom. Behold,indeed,in the passionof any one you will,theywho arecalledmartyrsrejoiceas being alreadysummoned outof the world; they rejoiceas being messengersof allgood men ; they rejoicein like manner as elected. Thus the Lord rejoicesin His soldier,Christ rejoicesin the witness to His name. It isa small matter that I am speakingof,beloved brethren; itisa smallmatter,so greata subjectin thiskind of address,and so marvellousa difficultyhas been under taken by me ; but letthe gravityof the issue,I beseechyou, not be wanting for my own purpose,knowing that as much can be saidof martyrdom as couldbe appreciated. Whence also this alone has been the reason of my describingits glory,not that I judged myself equal and fittedfor its praise,but thatI saw thattherewas such a virtuein it,that however littleI might say about it,I should professthatI