There were apprehended the
young catechumens, Revocatus and Felicity his fellow servant, Saturninus and
Secundulus. With them also was Vibia Perpetua, nobly born reared in a liberal
manner, wedded honorably; having a father and mother and two brothers, one of
them a catechumen likewise, and a son, a child at the breast; and she herself
was about twenty-two years of age. What follows here shall she tell herself;
the whole order of her martyrdom as she left it written with her own hand and
in her own words.
3. When, she said, we were
still under legal surveillance and my father was liked to vex me with his words
and continually strove to hurt my faith because of his love: Father, said I, Do
you see (for examples) this vessel lying, a pitcher or whatsoever it may be?
And he said, I see it. And I said to him, Can it be called by any other name
than that which it is? And he answered, No. So can I call myself nought other
than that which I am, a Christian.
Then my father angry with
this word came upon me to tear out my eyes; but he only vexed me, and he
departed vanquished, he and the arguments of the devil. Then because I was
without my father for a few days I gave thanks unto the Lord; and I was
comforted because of his absence. In this same space of a few days we were
baptised, and the Spirit declared to me, I must pray for nothing else after
that water save only endurance of the flesh. After a few days we were taken
into prison, and I was much afraid because I had never known such darkness. O
bitter day! There was a great heat because of the press, there was cruel
handling of the soldiers. Lastly I was tormented there by care for the child.
Then Tertius and Pomponius,
the blessed deacons who ministered to us, obtained with money that for a few
hours we should be taken forth to a better part of the prison and be refreshed.
Then all of them going out from the dungeon took their pleasure; I suckled my
child that was now faint with hunger. And being careful for him, I spoke to my
mother and strengthened my brother and commended my son unto them. I pined
because I saw they pined for my sake. Such cares I suffered for many days; and
I obtained that the child should abide with me in prison; and straightway I
became well and was lightened of my labour and care for the child; and suddenly
the prison was made a palace for me, so that I would sooner be there than
anywhere else.
THE VISION OF PERPETUA
4. Then said my brother to
me: Lady my sister, you are now in high honor, even such that you might ask for
a vision; and it should be shown you whether this be a passion or else a
deliverance. And I, as knowing that I conversed with the Lord, for Whose sake I
had suffered such things, did promise him nothing doubting; and I said:
Tomorrow I will tell you. And I asked, and this was shown me.
I beheld a ladder of
bronze, marvelously great, reaching up to heaven; and it was narrow, so that
not more than one might go up at one time. And in the sides of the ladder were
planted all manner of things of iron. There were swords there, spears, hooks,
and knives; so that if any that went up took not good heed or looked not
upward, he would be torn and his flesh cling to the iron. And there was right
at the ladder's foot a serpent lying, marvelously great, which lay in wait for
those that would go up, and frightened them that they might not go up. Now
Saturus went up first (who afterwards had of his own free will given up himself
for our -sakes, because it was he who had edified us; and when we were taken he
had not been there). And he came to the ladder's head; and he turned and said:
Perpetua, I await you; but see that serpent bite you not. And I said: it shall
not hurt me, in the name of Jesus Christ. And from beneath the ladder, as
though it feared me, it softly put forth its head; and as though I trod on the
first step I trod on its head. And I went up, and I saw a very great space of
garden, and in the midst a man sitting, white-headed, in shepherd's clothing,
tall milking his sheep; and standing around in white were many thousands. And
he raised his head and beheld me and said to me: Welcome, child. And he cried
to me, and from the curd he had from the milk he gave me as it were a morsel;
and I took it with joined hands and ate it up; and all that stood around said,
Amen. And at the sound of that word I awoke, yet eating I know not what of
sweet.
And at once I told my
brother, and we knew it should be a passion; and we began to have no hope any
longer in this world.
5. A few days after, the
report went abroad that we were to be tried. Also my father returned from the
city spent with weariness; and he came up to me to cast down my faith saying:
Have pity, daughter, on my grey hairs; have pity on your father, if I am worthy
to be, called father by you; if with these hands I have brought you unto this
flower of youth- and I-have preferred you before all your brothers; give me not
over to the reproach of men. Look upon your brothers; look upon your mother and
mother's sister; look upon your son, who will not endure to live after you.
Give up your resolution; do not destroy us all together; for none of us will
speak openly against men again if you suffer aught.
This he said fatherly in his
love, kissing my hands and grovelling at my feet; and with tears he named me,
not daughter, but lady. And I was grieved for my father's case because he would
not rejoice at my passion out of all my kin; and I comforted him, saying: That
shall be done at this tribunal, whatsoever God shall please; for know that we
are not established in our own power, but in God's. And he went from me very
sorrowful.
MARTYRDOM
17. Likewise on the day
before the games, when at the last feast which they call Free they made (as far
as they might) not a Free Feast but a Love Feast*, with like hardihood they
cast these words at the people; threatening the judgment of the Lord,
witnessing to the felicity of their passion, setting at nought the curiosity of
those that ran together. And Saturus said: Is not tomorrow sufficient for you?
Why do you favorably behold that which you hate? You are friends today, foes
tomorrow. Yet mark our faces diligently, that you may know us again on that
day. So they began all to go away thence astonished; of whom many believed.
[note: Apparently Roman,
as with modern, custom the condemned were allowed a choice of food. The martyrs
used the opportunity to celebrate an Agape, or Christian Love-Feast.]
18. Now dawned the day of
their victory, and they went forth from the prison into the amphitheatre as it
were into heaven, cheerful and bright of countenance; if they trembled at all,
it was for joy, not for fear. Perpetua followed behind, glorious of presence,
as a true spouse of Christ and darling of God; at whose piercing look all cast
down their eyes. Felicity likewise, rejoicing that she had borne a child in
safety, that she might fight with the beasts, came now from blood to blood,
from the midwife to the gladiator, to wash after her travail in a second
baptism. And when they had been brought to the gate and were being compelled to
put on, the men the dress of the priests of Saturn, the women the dress of the
priestesses of Ceres, the noble Perpetua remained of like firmness to the end,
and would not. For she said: For this cause came we willingly unto this, that
our liberty might not be obscured. For this cause have we devoted our lives,
that we might do no such thing as this; this we agreed with you. Injustice
acknowledged justice; the tribune suffered that they should be brought forth as
they were, without more ado. Perpetua began to sing, as already treading on the
Egyptian's head. Revocatus and Saturninus and Saturus threatened the people as
they gazed. Then when they came into Hilarian's sight, they began to say to
Hilarian, stretching forth their hands and nodding their heads: You judge us,
they said, and God you. At this the people being enraged besought that they
should be vexed with scourges before the line of gladiators (those namely who fought
with beasts). Then truly they gave thanks because they had received somewhat of
the sufferings of the Lord.