A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 45. The Decian-Valerian Persecution 231appeared in the next great persecution, under Diocletian, aftera long period of peace. De Lapsis was written in the spring of251, just after the end of the severity of the Decian persecutionand Cyprian's return to Carthage. Text in part in Kirch, nn.227 ff.Ch. 8. From some, alas, all these things have fallen away, andhave passed from memory. They indeed did not even wait, that,having been apprehended, they should go up, or, having beeninterrogated, they might deny. Many were conquered before thebattle, prostrated without an attack. Nor did they even leaveit to be said for them that they seemed to sacrifice to idolsunwillingly. They ran to the forum of their own accord; freelythey hastened to death, as if they had formerly wished it, as ifthey would embrace an opportunity now given which they hadalways desired. How many were put off by the magistrates at thattime, when evening was coming on! How many even asked thattheir destruction might not be delayed! What violence can sucha one plead, how can he purge his crime, when it was he himselfwho rather used force that he might perish? When they camevoluntarily to the capitol—when they freely approached to theobedience of the terrible wickedness—did not their tread falter, [209]did not their sight darken, their hearts tremble, their arms fallhelplessly down, their senses become dull, their tongues cleaveto their mouths, their speech fail? Could the servant of God standthere, he who had already renounced the devil and the world,and speak and renounce Christ? Was not that altar, whither hedrew near to die, to him a funeral pile? Ought he not to shudderat, and flee from, the altar of the devil, which he had seen tosmoke and to be redolent of a foul stench, as it were, a funeraland sepulchre of his life? Why bring with you, O wretched man,a sacrifice? Why immolate a victim? You yourself have come tothe altar an offering, yourself a victim; there you have immolatedyour salvation, your hope; there you have burned up your faithin those deadly fires.