The Martyrdom of Polycarp
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng1
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These things then happened with so great speed,
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quicker than it takes to tell, and the crowd came together immediately, and prepared wood and faggots from the work-shops and baths and the Jews were extremely zealous, as is their custom, in assisting at this.
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Now when the fire wras ready he put off all his clothes, and loosened his girdle and tried also to take off his shoes, though he did not do this before, because each of the faithful was always zealous, which of them might the more quickly touch his flesh. For he had been treated with all respect because of his
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noble life,
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even before his martyrdom.
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13.3
Immediately therefore, he was fastened to the instruments which had been prepared for the fire, but when they were going to nail him as well he said: Leave me thus, for He who gives me power to endure the fire, will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved even without the security you will give by the nails.