Then indeed, then, very many of the rulers of the churches, having eagerly contended under terrible torments, displayed the records of mighty conflicts; while countless others, whose souls cowardice had numbed beforehand, proved weak thus readily at the first assault. And of the rest, each underwent diverse forms of tortures: one being maltreated in body with scourges, another being punished with rackings and unbearable tearings, whereat some already bore away an ill-fated end of life.
Yet others again passed through the conflict otherwise: for one was dismissed as having sacrificed, by reason of others who by force thrust him forward and brought him to the abominable and unholy sacrifices, even though he had not sacrificed; and another, who had not so much as drawn near, nor touched any accursed thing, when others had said that he had sacrificed, went away in silence, bearing the false accusation; another was taken up half-dead and cast aside as though already a corpse.
And again, a certain one lying on the ground was dragged a long distance by the feet, having been reckoned among those who had sacrificed. But another cried out and with a loud voice attested his denial of the sacrifice; and another shouted that he was a Christian, glorying in the confession of the saving Name; yet another firmly maintained that he had not sacrificed and never would.
Nevertheless these also, being struck on the mouth and silenced by the multitude of hands of the band of soldiers drawn up for this purpose, and being beaten upon their face and cheeks, were forcibly thrust away. So greatly did the enemies of godliness count it of much worth by every means merely to seem to have accomplished their purpose. But these things did not avail them against the holy martyrs; for what word of ours could suffice for an accurate account of them?