Probus answered: “All that thou mayest do unto me, shall conduce to the comfort of my soul; therefore, do what thou wilt.”
The President said: “Heat the branding irons red-hot, and apply them to his sides, so that he may desist from his folly.”
Probus replied: “The more foolish I appear to thee, the wiser I shall be in the law of the Lord.”
The President said: “Press the branding irons on his back.”
Probus answered as he was suffering: “My body is subject to thy power; but God will behold from heaven my humility and patience.”
In the meantime the President commanded that meat and wine should be brought, which had been sacrificed to the idols, saying to the executioners: “Pour wine down his throat, and take meat, and force it into his mouth.”
While they were busy doing this, Probus said: “The Lord behold from his high throne the violence ye do to me, and judge my cause.”
The President said: “Thou wretched man! thou hast suffered so much, and, behold! thou hast thyself received the sacrifice.”
Probus replied: “Ye have not accomplished much, by doing me violence. The Lord knoweth my intentions.”
The President said: “Thou hast eaten and drank what was sacrificed to the gods.”