As for the things concerning Dionysius, I will set them down from his letter to Germanus, where, telling of himself, he relates after this manner: 「But I speak also in the presence of God, and He Himself knows that I do not lie: it was not by any plan of my own, nor without God, that I made my flight.」
「But even earlier, before the persecution under Decius was proclaimed, Sabinus at that very hour sent a frumentarius to search me out; and I for my part stayed four days at home, expecting the arrival of the frumentarius. But he went round searching everything—the rivers, the roads, the fields, where he suspected that I was hidden or was walking—yet he was held in a kind of blindness, not finding the house; for he did not believe that I, being pursued, was keeping at home.」
「And scarcely, after the fourth day, when God bade me depart and miraculously made a way, I and the children and many of the brethren went forth together. And that this was a work of God's providence the sequel made plain, in which perhaps we proved of some use to certain persons.」
Then, after saying some things in between, he makes plain what befell him after his flight, adding these words: 「For I, about sunset, together with those who were with me, was seized by the soldiers and led off to Taposiris; but Timothy, by God's providence, happened not to be present and was not taken. Coming later, he found the house deserted, and attendants guarding it, but us carried off into bondage.」
And after other matters he says: 「And what was the manner of his marvellous arrangement? For the truth shall be told. One of the country-folk met Timothy as he was fleeing in confusion, and asked the cause of his haste.」
「And he told the truth; and that man, having heard it (he was on his way to feast at a wedding, for it is their custom to spend the whole night together in such gatherings), went in and announced it to those reclining at table. And they, with one impulse as if at a signal, all rose up, and rushing at a run came most quickly, and falling upon us raised a shout; and immediately, the soldiers who were guarding us having taken to flight, they stood over us as we were, lying upon the unspread pallets.」
「And I for my part—God knows—supposing them at first to be robbers come for plunder and pillage, remained upon the bed on which I was lying, naked save for a linen garment, and held out to them the rest of my clothing as it lay beside me; but they bade me get up and depart with all speed.」
「And then, perceiving for what purpose they had come, I cried out, begging and beseeching them to go away and let us be; but if they wished to do some good, to forestall those who were carrying me off and to cut off my head—so I demanded. And as I was shouting such things, as my companions and partners in all this know, they raised me up by force; and I let myself fall flat upon my back to the ground, but they took hold of my hands and feet and dragged me along.」
「And there followed me those who became witnesses of all these things: Gaius, Faustus, Peter, Paul, who also took me up and carried me out of the little town, and, setting me upon a bare donkey, led me away.」 These things Dionysius relates concerning himself.