The Proconsul said: “Thou shalt not gain much by this name; but listen to me, and sacrifice to the gods; that thou mayest be honored by the princes, and be our friend.”
Probus answered: “I desire neither honor from the emperors nor thy friendship; for not small was the wealth which I forsook, in order faithfully to serve the living God.”
The Proconsul commanded them, to take his cloak off him, strip him, rack him, and scourge him with raw thongs. While they scourged him, Demetrius, the captain, said: “O wretched man! behold, how thy blood is spilled upon the earth.”
Probus replied: “My body is in your hands; but all these torments are a precious balm to me.”
After he was scourged, the Proconsul said to him: “Thou wretch! wilt thou not yet cease from thy folly? and dost thou still persist in thy obstinacy?”
Probus answered: “I am not vain, but more courageous in the Lord, than you people are.”
The President said to his servants: “Turn him over, and scourge him on his stomach.”
Probus prayed, saying: “O Lord, come and succor thy servant.”
Maximus, the Proconsul, said to the executioners: “While you scourge him, ask him, saying: ‘Where is thy helper?’ ”
Probus replied as they scourged him: “He has helped me, and shall still help me.”