Tharacus answered: “True, thou hast crushed and marred my face; but thou hast quickened my soul.”
The President said: “Thou wretched man! Desist from thy vain thoughts, and sacrifice; that thou mayest be delivered from these pangs.”
Tharacus replied: “Dost thou think I am a fool or a madman, and that I, who trust in the Lord, shall not live in heaven? Thou mayest deprive me of this temporal life for a little while; but thou wilt thereby cast thine own soul into eternal damnation.”
The President said to the executioners: “Put the branding irons into the fire, and brand him on his cheeks or shoulders.”
Tharacus answered: “Though thou inflict many more torments than these upon me, thou shalt nevertheless not turn the servant of God to the shameful idolatry of devils, to worship them.”
The President said: “Bring a razor; cut off his skin; shave his head bald, and put burning coals upon it.”
Tharacus replied: “And though thou cause my whole body to be flayed, I shall still not depart from my God, who strengthens me, to endure all the weapons of your torturing.”
The President said: “Get the branding irons; let them get still hotter, and apply them to all his members and joints.”
Tharacus, as he suffered this, cried out: “May the Lord look down from heaven, and judge!”
The President said: “What lord dost thou call upon, thou accursed fellow?”