"And the lictors with great astonishment and fear led the boy away.
"And having been fully informed of all these things on the same night, by a Christian whom we had allowed to sacrifice and so retain his place in the palace, for the good of the Church, upon the next morning went I up to the gates and boldly demanded admission, declaring to the centurion on duty who I was, and that I had been informed that the emperor was seeking me throughout the city; and speedily they brought me into the presence of Licinius, and he said, 'Art thou Eusebius, the Bishop of Nicomedia?'
"'Yea, I am he!'
"'And like all of thy treasonable sect, that lurk within my city of Nicomedia, thou art still offering up prayers for the Emperor Constantine?'
"'Yea, doubtless!'
"'And thou dost not pray for me, nor propitiate God for me, thine own lawful emperor, at all?'
"'Yea, daily I pray God for thee that he would soften thy flinty heart, and turn thee from the devices of wickedness unto the wisdom of the just!'
"'But thou prayest not for my prosperity, and for the glory and perpetuity of mine empire?'
"'Nay, verily. I have no faith to pray for the triumph of the cruel and of the wicked!'
"Then said he, 'Dost thou know the boy Gaius of Chalcis?'