exigencies. All this is natural, and it fully explains the language here
ascribed to Ignatius. A prisoner smarting under such treatment naturally
dwells on the dark side of the picture, without thinking how a critic,
writing in his study centuries afterwards, will interpret his
fragmentary and impulsive utterances. In short, we must treat Ignatius
as a man, and not as an automaton. Men will not talk mechanically, as
critics would have them talk.

(2) Having declared 'the whole story' to be 'absolutely incredible,' on
the grounds which I have just considered, our author continues [78:2]:--

'This conclusion, irresistible in itself, is, however, confirmed by
facts arrived at from a totally different point of view. It has
been demonstrated that Ignatius was not sent to Rome at all, but
suffered martyrdom in Antioch itself on the 20th December, A.D. 115
(^3), when he was condemned to be cast to wild beasts in the
amphitheatre, in consequence of the fanatical excitement produced
by the earthquake which took place on the 13th of that month (^4).'

The two foot-notes contain no justification of this very positive
statement, though so much depends upon it; but the reader is there
furnished with a number of references to modern critics. These
references have been analysed by Dr Westcott [79:1], with results very
similar to those which my analysis of the author's previous notes has
yielded. In some cases the writers express opinions directly opposed to
that for which they are quoted; in others they incline to views
irreconcilable with it; and in others they suspend judgment. When the
references are sifted, the sole residuum on which our author rests his
assurance is found to be a hypothesis of Volkmar [79:2], built upon a
statement of John Malalas, which I shall now proceed to examine. The
words of John Malalas are--

'The same king Trajan was residing in the same city (Antioch) when
the visitation of God (_i.e._ the earthquake) occurred. And at that
time the holy Ignatius, the bishop of the city of Antioch, was
martyred (or bore testimony, [Greek: emarturese]) before him
([Greek: epi autou]); for he was exasperated against him, because
he reviled him.' [79:3]

The earthquake is stated by Malalas to have occurred on the 13th of
December, A.D. 115. On these statements, combined with the fact that the
day dedicated to St Ignatius at a later age was the 20th of Dec