forward the first. She was tossed into the air, and fell upon her back. Observing that one side of her dress was torn, she adjusted it, heedless of her pain, because thoughtful for modesty. Having recovered from the fall, she put up her hair which was disheveled by the shock, for it was not seemly that a martyr should win her palm and have the appearance of one distracted by grief. This done, she stood up. Seeing Felicitas much bruised by her fall, she went to her, and giving her her hand, she raised her from the ground. Both were now ready for a fresh attack; but the people were moved to pity, and the martyrs were led to the gate called Sana-Vivaria. There Perpetua, like one that is roused from sleep, awoke from the deep ecstacy of her spirit. She looked around her, and said to the astonished multitude: When will the cow attack us?' They told her that it had already attacked them. She could not believe it, until her wounds and torn dress reminded her of what had happened. Then beckoning to her brother, and to a catechumen named Rusticus, she thus spoke to them. "Be staunch in the faith, and 'love one another, and be not 'shocked at our sufferings.'

God soon took Secundulus from this world, for he died whilst he was in the prison. Saturninus and Revocatus were

ad velamentum femorum adduxit, pudoris potius memor quam doloris. Dehinc requisita et dispersos capillos infibulavit. Non enim decebat martyrem dispersis capillis pati; ne in sua gloria plangere videretur. Ita surrexit; et elisam Felicitatem quum vidisset accessit et manum ei tradidit, et sublevavit illam. Et ambæ pariter steterunt; et populi duritia devicta, revocatæ sunt in portam Sanavivariam. Illic Perpetua, quasi a somno expergita, adeo in spiritu et extasi fuerat, circumspicere cœpit et stupentibus omnibus, ait: Quando producimur ad vaccam illam, nescio. Et quum audisset quod jam evenerat ; non prius credidit, nisi quasdam notas vexationis in corpore et habitu suo recognovisset. Exinde accersitum fratrem suum, et catechumenum Rusticum nomine, adloquuta est eos, dicens: In fide state, et invicem omnes diligite; et passionibus nostris ne scandalizemini.

:

Secundulum Deus maturiore exitu de sæculo adhuc in carcere evocaverat. Saturninus et Revocatus leo

pardum experti, etiam ab urso vexati sunt, Saturus apro oblatus est; deinde ad ursum tractus, qui de cavea prodire noluit: itaque bis illæsus revocatur. În fine spectaculi, leopardo objectus, de uno morsu ejus tanto perfusus est sanguine, ut populus revertenti illi secundi baptismatis testimonium reclamaverit: Salvum lotum, salvum lotum. Exinde jam exanimis, prosternitur cum cæteris ad jugulationem solito loco. Et quum populus illos in medium postularet, ut gladio penetrante in eorum corpore, oculos suos comites homicidii adjungeret; ultro surrexerunt, et se quo volebat populos transtulerunt: ante jam osculati invicem, ut martyrium per solemnia pacis consummarent. Cæteri quidem immobiles et cum silentio ferrum receperunt multo magis Saturus, qui prior reddidit spiritum. Perpetua autem, ut aliquid doloris gustaret, inter costas puncta exululavit; et errantem dexteram tirunculi gladiatoris ipsa in jugulum suum posuit. Fortasse tanta femina aliter non potuisset occidi, quia ab immundo spiritu timebatur, nisi ipsa voluisset.

exposed first to a leopard, and then to a bear. Saturus was exposed to a boar, and then to a bear, which would not come out of its den; thus was he twice left uninjured: but at the close of the games, he was thrown to a leopard, which bit him so severely, that he was all covered with blood, and as he was taken from the amphitheatre, the people jeered at him for this second baptism, and said: Saved, washed! Saved, 'washed!' He was then carried off, dying as he was, to the appointed place, there to be despatched by the sword, with the rest. But the people demanded that they should be led back to the middle of the amphitheatre, that their eyes might feast on the sight, and watch the sword as it pierced them. The Martyrs hearing their request, cheerfully stood up, and marched to the place where the people would have them go; but first they embraced one another, that the sacrifice of their martyrdom might be consummated with the solemn kiss of peace. All of them, without so much as a movement or a moan, received the swordman's blow, save only Saturus, who died from his previous wounds, and Perpetua, who was permitted to feel more than the rest. Her executioner was a novice in his work, and could not thrust his sword through her ribs : she slightly moaned, then took his right hand, and pointing

his sword towards her throat, told him that that was the place to strike. Perhaps it was that such a woman could not be otherwise slain than by her own consent, for the unclean spirit feared her.

Let the Church, the Spouse of Christ, celebrate in holy praise, the two dauntless women; and sing, in joyous hymns, how the weaker sex had here two manly hearts.

Both were born in Afric's sunny land; and now both shine throughout the whole world as the two glorious combatants, wearing bright laurels on their brows.

Perpetua is honoured by her fellow-citizens as being of high birth, and had but recently contracted an honourable marriage. But there was an honour far higher, in her eyes, the love and service of Christ.

Felicitas, though she served an earthly master, was free in this, that she was a servant of the great King. Like Perpetua, she thirsts for battle; and like her, she culls a palm.

Perpetua was besieged by her father, who sought, by tears

Christi Sponsa piis laudibus efferat

Binus impavido pectore feminas :

In sexu fragili corda virilia Hymnis pangat ovantibus.

Ad lucem genitæ sole sub
Africo,

Nunc ambæ pugiles actibus inclytis

In toto radiant orbe: micantibus

Fulgent tempora laureis. Exornat generis Perpe tuam decus;

Sponso connubiis juncta re centibus

Clarescit; sed honos hanc trahit altior;

Christi foedera prætulit.

Se Regis famulam libera profitens,

Dum servile jugum Felicitas subit :

Ad luctam properans gressibus æmulis,

Palmas ad similes volat. Frustra Perpetuam fletibus et minis

Impugnat genitor: quæ simul angitur, Errantem miserans. Oscula filio

Lactenti dedit ultima.

Terris Eva parens quæ mala contulit, Horum sentit onus Felicitas grave;

Nunc et passa sibi parturiens gemit,

Mox passura Deo libens.

Coeli Perpetuæ panditur ostium; Inspectare datur: jam sibi prælia Exortura videt; sed requiem Deus

Post certamina conferet. Tangit scala domus aurea cœlitum : Ast utrumque latus cuspidibus riget; Lapsos terribilis faucibus excipit

Hanc infra recubans draco.

Ascendas, mulier, nec draco terreat; Contritumque caput sit tibi pro gradu, Per quem sidereos incipias pede

Orbes scandere concito. Hortus deliciis jam patet affluens,

In quo mulget oves Pastor amabilis : Huc optata venis, filia: sic ait,

Hanc dulci recreans cibo.

In circum rapitur : fœdus et horrida

and threats, to make her deny her faith. She, on her side, was full of grief and pity at seeing him a victim of error. Her babe was taken from her; she kissed him and was content.

Felicitas begins her sufferings by those cruel pangs which Eve, our mother, brought upon the earth. Now, in child-birth, she suffers for herself, and she moans; but, in her martyrdom, she suffers for her God, and she rejoices.

The gate of heaven is thrown open to Perpetua, and she is permitted to look within. She there learns that a contest awaits her, but that, after the battle, God will grant her repose.

She sees a golden ladder reaching to the palace of heaven; but both its sides are armed with spikes, and at its foot lies an angry dragon,

which devours them that fall.

Ascend, Perpetua! fear not the dragon. Trample on his head, and make it a steppingstone, whereby thou mayst quickly mount to the starry land above.

There shalt thou find a paradise of delights, where the loving shepherd caresses his sheep. "Thou art welcome here, my daughter!" Thus did he address the Martyr, and then gave her to eat of sweetest food.

In another vision, she thought she was hurried to the