Seventh among these let Basilides be numbered, who led away the famous Potamiaena, concerning whom much discourse is even now sung among the people of the country: how she contended countless times against her would-be ravishers on behalf of the purity and virginity of her body, in which she excelled (for indeed, besides her soul, the bloom of her body too was in full flower); how she endured countless things for the faith in Christ; and at the last, after terrible tortures, fearful even to relate, was perfected by fire together with her mother Marcella.
They say, in fact, that the judge—Aquila was his name—after inflicting grievous torments upon her over her whole body, at last threatened to hand her over to gladiators for the outrage of her body; and that she, after considering with herself a little while, when asked what she decided, gave such an answer as seemed to utter something impious from their point of view.
No sooner had she spoken than she received the appointed sentence, and Basilides, being one of those enrolled in the army, took her and led her off to death. And when the crowd attempted to harass her and to insult her with unbridled words, he held them back, driving away those who insulted her, and showing the greatest mercy and kindness toward her. She, accepting the man's sympathy for her, exhorted him to take courage, for that she would, on departing, beseech him from her own Lord, and before long would repay him the recompense for what had been done toward her.
Having said these things, she nobly underwent her departure, boiling pitch being poured over her, gently and little by little, upon the various parts of her body from the soles of her feet up to the crown of her head.
Such was the contest waged by this maiden celebrated in song. And not long afterward, Basilides, being asked by his fellow-soldiers to take an oath for some reason, stoutly affirmed that it was wholly unlawful for him to swear, for that he was a Christian and acknowledged this openly. At first, then, for a time they thought he was jesting; but when he persistently maintained it, he was led before the judge, and having confessed his constancy in his presence, he was handed over to bonds.
And when the brethren in God came to him and inquired the cause of this sudden and incredible impulse, it is said that he stated that Potamiaena, three days after her martyrdom, had stood by him at night, placing a crown about his head, and said that she had called upon the Lord on his behalf and obtained her request, and that before long she would take him to herself. Thereupon the brethren imparted to him the seal in the Lord, and on the day after, having shone forth in the Lord's martyrdom, he was beheaded.
And it is recorded that many others also of those at Alexandria came over all at once to the word of Christ in the days of the persons mentioned, because Potamiaena appeared to them in their sleep and called them. But let these things be as they are.