And when the proconsul yet again pressed him, and said, " Swear by the fortune of Csesar," he answered, " Since thou art vainly urgent that, as thou sayest, I should swear by the fortune of Csesar, and pretendest not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness, I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn what the doctrines '' of Christianity are, appoint me a day, and thou shalt hear them." The proconsul re- plied, " Persuade the people." But Polycarp said, " To thee I have thought it right to offer an account [of my faith] ; for we are taught to give all due honour (which entails no injury upon ourselves) to the powers and authorities which