Still Julia made no reply.
'Know you not, woman, I have power to force from thee that, which thou wilt not say willingly?'
'Thou hast no such power, Priest. Thou wert else God.'
'Thy tender frame cannot endure the torture of those engines. It were better spared such suffering.'
'I would gladly be spared that suffering,' said Julia; 'but not at the expense of truth.'
'Think not that I will relent. Those irons shall rack and rend thee in every bone and joint, except thou dost renounce that foul impostor, whose curse now lies heavy upon Rome and the world.'
'Weary me not, Priest, with vain importunity. I am a Christian, and a Christian will I die.'
'Prepare then the rack!' cried Fronto, his passions rising; 'that is the medicine for obstinacy such as this. Now bind her to it.'
Hearing that, I wildly exclaimed,
'Priest! thou dar'st not do it for thy life! Touch but the hair of her head, and thy life shall answer it. Aurelian's word is pledged, and thou dar'st not break it.'