"'What brought thee unto our palace-gates?'
"'I came hither to look upon the emperor, having never seen so great a man; but some cowardly brute did strike me down with a pike!'
"'Why didst thou chant such things as thou hast done even in mine own presence?'
"'What things did I chant? I know not, for the hard blow brought upon me an attack of the epilepsy, and while it continueth I know not what I say, but speak only as I am moved to speak!'
"'What, then, moveth thee to chant at all?'
"'I know not, nor do I even know that I have done so, unless some one who hath heard me informeth me thereof!'
"'Whom knowest thou in my city of Nicomedia?'
"'None save the Bishop Eusebius!'
"'Art thou, then, a Christian?'
"'Yea! Thanks to the boundless mercy of our Lord!'