This resolute Conclusion, oblig’d the Roman Officer to break off a Conversation, whereby he plainly saw, there was no cause to hope he could shake the Constancy of Didymus; and much cause to fear, that Didymus’s Constancy and his Discourses, would stagger many of the Heathen Auditors. And therefore withdrawing himself, much discontented at the unsuccesfulness of his perswasions, he thought it would be impious, to make any intercession, for Persons he judg’d invincibly obstinate, or divert the fatal Proceedings of the Judge; who having by this time made an end of those other Affairs, whose dispatch Theodora’s respite was not to outlast; call’d for the innocent Criminals, and, with a stern Countenance and Voice, demanded, whether they were yet willing, to appease the Deities they had provok’d; and by burning Incense to them, endeavour to attone for the Affronts they had offer’d them. Adding, that there was now no more time left for deliberating, but that they must immediately renounce thir Impious Religion, or suffer Death for it.
But this could not shake the illustrious Prisoners Constancy; which prompted them to make, with as much haste as the President could desire, an answer, that consisted but of a short and resolute declaration; That they had liv’d Worshippers of Christ; and had a thousand times rather die, than cease to be, or to profess themselves such: And that for the false Gods, the President would have them adore; they had rather be their Victims, than their Suppliants; and fall Sacrifices to them, than offer them any.
This bold profession, so incens’d the person ‘twas made to, that he immediately gave order, that the Prisoners should be led away to the place of Execution; and that the Ministers of Justice, (as he misnamed his Cruelty) should, without delay, go on with the preparations that were making, to destroy them. But while these Officers were solicitous to obey those Commands, Theodora took the opportunity, to tell the generous Companion of her Sufferings: It was fit, I confess, when we discours’d with Infidels, to recommend the Objects of our hopes, by giving them the glorious Titles of Crowns, and Triumphs; since being to defend the reasonableness of our Constancy, by the greatness of the rewards we expect for it; ‘twas very proper to represent those Coelestial Recompences, under the notion of such Goods, as those we argued with, acknowledged to be the most noble and desirable. But, (continues she) when we speak of Heaven among our selves, give me leave to tell you, that I think we should look upon it under a very differing notion; and make a wide disparity betwixt the Christians Paradise, and the Poets Elysium. The Triumphs we should most desire in Heaven, should be, not over our outward Enemies, or personal Sufferings, but over Sin and Ignorance, and the frailties of our Natures, and the imperfections of our Vertues. And the positive Blessings that should most endear Heaven to us, should be, not so much that we shall there be Crown’d by Christ, as that we shall live with him, and follow that spotless Lamb where ever he goes; That our gratitude it self shall be perfect, as well as the Blessings that engage it shall be compleat; and That we shall have an eternal Day, to contemplate that Sun of Righteousness, without having that glorious Object veil’d by any interposing Cloud, much less hid from us by the vicissitudes of day and night. In short, I think, Devotion should in our future State, aspire to other things, than those that may be the Objects of meer Ambition.
And now, generous Didymus, (adds Theodora) since we are entering upon the last scene of our mortal Life; let us, (I beseech you) summon together and rouse up all the Graces and Vertues we have receiv’d from Heaven, and fervently implore both an encrease of them, and a supply of any that our present Circumstances require; That we may go off the Stage Piously, as well as Handsomly, and both act and suffer as becomes Christian Martyrs. Let not any Crueltys or Affronts of our insulting Persecutors, be able to discompose us; but let our evenness of mind convince them, that they can as little disorder us in our way to Heaven, as hinder us to get to our Journey’s end. But let not our undauntedness appear the effect of sullenness, or fierceness, or of meer resolvedness; but let it be so calm and charitable, that we may not be suspected to be the Martyrs, rather of our Glory, or our Courage, than of our Religion. Let it not be thought that we hate life, or despise it, but only that we think it a cheap purchase for Heaven, and for the honour of owning and following a Redeemer, who, to merit it for us, took the Cross in his way thither.
Admonitions so becoming a dying Christian, receiv’d such an entertainment, as the Piety of it, and the Veneration he had for the giver, might justly challenge, from so devout and elevated a Soul as that of Didymus: whose resolute answers to the Roman Officer, together with his behaviour, as well since as before he made them, leaving his Enemies no more expectation that he could be prevail’d with, either to alter his own resolution, or tempt his Mistress to change hers; he was appointed to be first led away to Execution: that the sight of his Blood might terrifie Theodora, and fright her into a care to preserve her own. This resolution of his Enemies, did not at all lessen his; but having easily obtain’d leave, from the Roman Officers, that could not but admire his Gallantry, and somewhat compassionate his condition, to say a few words to Theodora: He went to that excellent Person; and approaching her with a far greater respect, than he would shew to any Power, that could but preserve that life, which the Romans were going to take from him: He told her: Your Piety, Madam, and your Example, making me presume, that upon such an occasion as this, I may with your consent, part with a life, which ever since I had the Fate to see you, has been so much at your disposal; I am now going without reluctancy to perform that last duty, whereto Religion calls me. But thinking my self oblig’d, to begin with the most difficult part of my Martyrdom, before I bid farewel to the World, my enclination and respect, brings me to take my last leave of the fairest and excellentest Person in it. If, Madam, (so he proceeds) I were in a condition of paying you any further dutys, my humble request to you would be, to have the honour of your further Commands. But since my condition leaves me not a capacity of serving you for the future, one of my last Petitions to you must be, to be pleas’d to look upon my past Services, as extremely short of the desires of a Person, that lov’d you with as much ardency, as your Charms themselves could kindle; and yet with so pure a flame, that had it been visible, even Theodora’s Vertue, could not have disapprov’d it. But Madam, (continues he) although to rescue you from the condition you are in, there is no danger so desperate that I would not joyfully attempt, if I were again at liberty, and tho’ it were possible I could survive you; yet I am too much concern’d for the nobler part of Theodora, to wish, she would blemish so spotless a life to save it. Only, Madam, give me leave to be so kind and Charitable to the World, as to wish that Providence may find some expedient, to preserve for you, both your Crown and your Head; and that you may arrive so late at Heaven, as to have time to bless the Earth with a long and Exemplary Life; and may you lead it with as much Tranquillity, as you will with Vertue; and without knowing so much as that trouble, which, I fear, your generous compassion may now and then offer to give you, upon the remembrance of the faithfulest of your Servants.