THE PASSION OF THE HOLY MARTYRS
- CHAP. I.—ARGUMENT.—WHEN THE SAINTS WERE
APPREHENDED, ST. PERPETUA SUCCESSFULLY RESISTED HER FATHER'S PLEADING,
WAS BAPTIZED WITH THE OTHERS, WAS THRUST INTO A FILTHY DUNGEON. ANXIOUS
ABOUT HER INFANT, BY A VISION GRANTED TO HER, SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT HER
MARTYRDOM WOULD TAKE PLACE VERY SHORTLY,
- CHAP. II.—ARGUMENT. PERPETUA, WHEN BESIEGED BY
HER FATHER, COMFORTS HIM. WHEN LED WITH OTHERS TO THE TRIBUNAL, SHE
AVOWS HERSELF A CHRISTIAN, AND IS CONDEMNED WITH THE REST TO THE WILD
BEASTS. SHE PRAYS FOR HER BROTHER DINOCRATES, WHO WAS DEAD.
- CHAP. III.—ARGUMENT. PERPETUA IS AGAIN TEMPTED
BY HER FATHER. HER THIRD VISION, WHEREIN SHE IS LED AWAY TO STRUGGLE
AGAINST AN EGYPTIAN. SHE FIGHTS, CONQUERS, AND RECEIVES THE REWARD.
- CHAP. IV.—ARGUMENT. SATURUS, IN A VISION, AND
PERPETUA BEING CARRIED BY ANGELS INTO THE GREAT LIGHT, BEHOLD THE
MARTYRS. BEING BROUGHT TO THE THRONE OF GOD, ARE RECEIVED WITH A KISS.
THEY RECONCILE OPTATUS THE BISHOP AND ASPASIUS THE PRESBYTER.
- CHAP.V.—ARGUMENT. SECUNDULUS DIES IN THE PRISON.
FELICITAS IS PREGNANT, BUT WITH MANY PRAYERS SHE BRINGS FORTH IN THE
EIGHTH MONTH WITHOUT SUFFERING, THE COURAGE OF PERPETUA AND OF SATURUS
UNBROKEN.
- CHAP. VI.—ARGUMENT. FROM THE PRISON THEY ARE LED
FORTH WITH JOY INTO THE AMPHITHEATRE, ESPECIALLY PERPETUA AND
FELICITAS. ALL REFUSE TO PUT ON PROFANE GARMENTS. THEY ARE SCOURGED,
THEY ARE THROWN TO THE WILD BEASTS. SATURUS TWICE IS UNHURT. PERPETUA
AND FELICITAS ARE THROWN DOWN; THEY ARE CALLED BACK TO THE SANAVlVARIAN
GATE. SATURUS WOUNDED BY A LEOPARD, EXHORTS THE SOLDIER. THEY KISS ONE
ANOTHER, AND ARE SLAIN WITH THE SWORD.
- ELUCIDATION.
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