Agape. What sign of madness do you see in us?
Diocletian. A great and obvious one.
Agape. In what?
Diocletian. In this, that casting from yourselves the observance of the ancient faith, you follow this new foolish Christian teaching.
Agape. Blasphemer, fear the power of God Almighty, threatening danger....
Diocletian. To whom?
Agape. To you and to the realm you govern.
Diocletian. The girl is crazy, let her be removed.’
He then interviews the other two, but with similar results; threats are of no avail and the girls are handed over to the general Dulcetius to be summarily dealt with. Dulcetius, however, is so powerfully impressed by their beauty, that he orders them to be placed in a chamber beyond the kitchen, hoping to take advantage of their helplessness and induce them to gratify his passion. He repairs at night to the chamber in spite of the warning of his soldiers, when a spell falls on him, he misses the room, and his reason so utterly forsakes him that he proceeds to fondle and caress the pots and pans which he seizes upon in his excitement. The girls are watching him from the next room through a chink in the wall and make merry over his madness.
‘Agape. What is he about?