Tharacus answered: “I am not thine equal; but it is lawful for me to speak, and no one can silence me, for the sake of him who strengthens me, namely, the Lord.”
The Proconsul said: “Thou miscreant, I shall deprive thee of the power.”
Tharacus answered: “No one can take away the power from me, neither thou, nor your princes, nor Satan, the father of you all.”
Tharacus put to the rack.—The President said: “Now, seeing thou art bound and suspended, in order that you may be tortured, sacrifice in time, before I cause thee to be punished according to thy deserts.”
Tharacus replied: “That thou mayest do; but since I was formerly a soldier, thou mayest not torment me with all manner of punishment. Yet, lest thou think, I might yield to thy perverseness, go on and devise and inflict upon me all sorts of punishment.”
The President said: “Do not think that I shall sentence thee at once. I shall cause thee to be put to death by degrees.”
Tharacus answered: “Whatever thou intendest to do, do at once, and do not threaten.”
The President said: “If thou think, that some women will come and embalm thy body, thou art greatly mistaken, for it is my intention that nothing shall remain of thee.”
Tharacus replied: “Do with my body as pleaseth thee, now as well as after my death.”
“Maximian,” said the Proconsul, “break his jaws, and tear his lips.”