"My first and best name is Christian; my second, by which men call me, is Probus."
"Of what station in life?"
"My father was a Thracian, but I was born at Sida in Pamphilia. I am a civilian, but a Christian."
"Little good you will get from that name. Follow my advice, and sacrifice to the gods, that you may receive honor from the emperors, and be a friend of mine."
"I do not want the honor of the emperors, nor am I anxious for your good offices. I had a considerable property, but I gave it up, to serve the living God through Christ."
"Take off his cloak. Gird him up. Put him at the stretch. Beat him with thongs of rawhide."
The compassionate centurion, Demetrius, again spoke: "Spare yourself, man; you see your blood running to the ground."
"My body is at your disposal," answered Probus. "But your punishments to me are an anointing with sweet ointments."
After a time Maximus began again his attempts at persuasion: "Will you not have done with this madness now? Do you persist in it, unhappy man?"
"I am not mad. I am wiser than you. I do not serve devils."