19. How much stronger are our virgins, who
overcome even those powers which they do not see; whose victory is not
only over flesh and blood, but also over the prince of this world, and
ruler of this age! In age, Agnes indeed was less, but in virtue
greater, triumphing over more, more constant in her confidence; she did
not destroy her tongue through fear, but kept it for a trophy.
For there was nothing in her which she feared to betray, since that
which she acknowledged was holy, not sinful. And so the former
merely concealed her secret, the latter bore witness to the Lord, and
confessed Him in her body, Whom her age did not yet suffer to
confess.