Rage seized Tigellinus, but he restrained himself yet.
“Hast thou seen,” inquired he, “how Christians die? Dost wish to die in that way?”
The old man raised his pale face; for a time his lips moved in silence, and he answered,—
“I too believe in Christ.”
Tigellinus looked at him with amazement. “Dog, thou hast gone mad in fact!”
And suddenly the rage in his breast broke its bounds. Springing at Chilo, he caught him by the beard with both hands, hurled him to the floor, trampled him, repeating, with foam on his lips,—
“Thou wilt retract! thou wilt!”
“I cannot!” answered Chilo from the floor.
“To the tortures with him!”
At this command the Thracians seized the old man, and placed him on the bench; then, fastening him with ropes to it, they began to squeeze his thin shanks with pincers. But when they were tying him he kissed their hands with humility; then he closed his eyes, and seemed dead.