Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/156

142 Christian, and no evil is committed among us." After this first trial, she and the others were thrust into the darkest and most noisome parts of the prison, their feet distended in a wooden trunk, and they suffered all the indignities which cruelty and malice could inflict. Many of them died; but the rest, though afflicted to such a degree that the kindest treatment would scarcely have recovered them, destitute as they were of all help, yet remained alive, confirmed in their faith, strengthening and comforting one another. On one of the shows of the amphitheatre, they were led out to be exposed, as food to the wild beasts, according to the common custom of these ages. Blandina, suspended to a stake, in the form of a cross, employed her time in vehement supplication; and by her meek, but undaunted behaviour inspired her fellow sufferers with fortitude: but none of the beasts at that time touching her, she was reserved for a future trial, and again thrown into prison.

On the last day of the spectacles, Blandina was again introduced, with Pontius, a youth of fifteen; they had been daily brought in to see the punishment of the rest. They were ordered to swear by their idols; and the mob, perceiving that they treated their menaces with contempt, was incensed, and aggravated their tortures by all possible methods; but menaces and punishments were equally ineffectual. Pontius, being animated by his fellow sufferer, who was observed by the heathens to strengthen and confirm him, after a magnanimous exercise of patience, yielded up the ghost. And now Blandina, last of all, as a generous mother, having exhorted her children, and sent them before her victorious to the king, reviewing the whole series of their sufferings, hastened to undergo the same herself, rejoicing and triumphing in her exit.

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