MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP
1.WHEN he had finished his prayers，having made mention of all whom he had ever known，small and great，noble and vulgar，and of the whole Church throughout the world，the hour of departing being come，they set him on an ass and led him to the city.Herod，and his father Nicetes，met him，who，taking him up into their chariot，began to advise him，asking，“What harm is it to say，Lord C？sar！and to sacrifice and be safe？”At first he was silent，but being pressed，he said，“I will not follow your advice.”When they could not persuade him，they treated him abusively，and thrust him out of the chariot，so that in falling he bruised his thigh.But he，still unmoved as if he had suffered nothing，went on cheerfully，under the conduct of his guards，to the Stadium.There the tumult being so great，that few could hear any thing，a voice from heaven said to Polycarp，as he entered on the Stadium，“Be strong，Polycarp，and behave yourself like a man.”None saw the speaker，but many heard the voice.
2.When he was brought to the tribunal，there was a great tumult，as soon as it was generally understood that Polycarp was apprehended.The proconsul asked him if he was Polycarp；to which he assented.The former then began to exhort him：“Have pity on thy own great age，and the like.Swear by the fortune of C？sar，repent，say，Take away the atheists.”Polycarp，with a grave aspect，beholding all the multitude，waving his hand to them，and looking up to heaven，said，“Take away the atheists.”The proconsul urging him，and saying，“Swear，and I will release thee，reproach Christ，”Polycarp said，“Eighty-and-six yearshave I served him，and he hath never wronged me，and how can Iblaspheme my King who hath saved me？”
（FROM MILNER ）
中文阅读
1.当波利卡普①做完祷告，离开教堂的时间到了。在祷告中，他提及了所有他认识的人，无论是小人物还是大人物、贵族还是贫民，以及全世界的教堂。他们把他放在一头毛驴的背上，带着他进城。希律和他的父亲尼塞托斯跟他相遇以后，把他拉上一辆战车，开始劝导他，问他：“你说，我们的圣主恺撒，牺牲和活命，都有什么害处呢？”开始时，波利卡普一言不发，可是，在他们不停的追问下，他说道：“我不会听从你们的劝告的。”当他们一看劝不动他，就虐待他，然后把他扔下了车。他落到地上的时候撞伤了大腿。而他，就好像没受伤似的，在卫兵的押送下，情绪高昂地走向竞技场。竞技场里喧闹异常，什么都听不到。当波利卡普进入竞技场的时候，一个从上天传来的声音对他说：“波利卡普，勇敢些，表现得像个男人一样。”没有人看见说话的人，但是很多人都听到了这个声音。
2.当他被带上法庭，人们都看出波利卡普已经被捕，法庭立刻喧闹了起来。总督询问他是否就是波利卡普，他回答说是。这时，总督开始劝导他：“我对你在这样的年龄里的所作所为表示遗憾。以恺撒的名义发誓、忏悔，跟我说，消灭无神论者。”波利卡普看着在场的所有人，神色庄重严肃，而后举起一只手，抬起头来看着上天说：“消灭无神论者。”总督催促他说：“你只要发誓，并且谴责基督，我就会释放你。”波利卡普说：“我侍奉了他八十六年，他从来没有把我引向错误，我怎么能亵渎这样一位拯救过我的王呢？”
（米尔纳）
