and their sides,
belly, thighs, legs, and cheeks, hideously torn with iron hooks: others
were hung by one hand, suffering excessive pain by the stretching of
their joints: others hung by both hands, their bodies being drawn down.
The governor thought no treatment too bad for Christians. Some expired
on the racks; others expired soon after they were taken down: others
were laid on their backs in the dungeons, with their legs stretched out
in the wooden stocks to the fourth hole, &c. Culcian, who had been
prefect of Thebais, was then governor of all Egypt, under the tyrant
Maximinus, but afterwards lost his head in 313, by the order of
Licinius. We have a long interrogatory of St. Phileas before him from
the presidial registers. Culcian, after many other things, asked him,
"Was Christ God?" The saint answered, "Yes;" and alleged his miracles as
a proof of his divinity. The governor professed a great regard for his
quality and merit, and said: "If you were in misery, or necessity, you
should be {352} dispatched without more ado; but as you have riches and
estates sufficient not only for yourself and family, but for the
maintenance almost of a whole province, I pity you, and will do all in
my power to save you." The counsellors and lawyers, desirous also of
saving him, said: "He had already sacrificed in the Phrontisterium, (or
academy for the exercises of literature.") Phileas cried out: "I have
not by any immolation; but say barely that I have sacrificed, and you
will say no more than the truth." Having been confined there some time,
he might perhaps have said mass in that place.[3]

His wife, children, brother, and other relations, persons of
distinction, and Pagans, were present at the trial. The governor, hoping
to overcome him by tenderness, said:--"See how sorrowful your wife
stands with her eyes fixed upon you." Phileas replied: "Jesus Christ,
the Saviour of souls, calls me to his glory: and he can also, if he
pleases, call my wife." The counsellors, out of compassion, said to the
judge: "Phileas begs a delay." Culcian said to him: "I grant it you most
willingly, that you may consider what to do." Phileas replied: "I have
considered, and it is my unchangeable resolution to die for Jesus
Christ." Then all the counsellors, the emperor's lieutenant, who was the
first magistrate of the city, all the other officers of justice, and his
relations, fell down together at his feet, embracing his knees, and
conjuring him to ha