prevail with her
to depart without her son. This was certainly as great a trial of
Fulgentius's resolution as it could well be put to; but the love of God,
having the ascendant in his breast, gave him a complete victory over all
the suggestions of nature: Faustus approved his vocation, and
accordingly recommended him to the brethren. The saint having now
obtained all he wished for in this world, made over his estate to his
mother, to be discretionally disposed of by her in favor of his brother,
as soon as he should be arrived at a proper age. He totally abstained
from oil and every thing savory; from wine also, drinking only water.
His mortifications brought on him a dangerous illness; yet after
recovery he abated nothing in them. The persecution breaking out anew,
Faustus was obliged to withdraw; and our saint, with his consent,
repaired to a neighboring monastery, of which Felix, the abbot, would
fain resign to him the government. Fulgentius was much startled at the
proposal, but at length was prevailed upon to consent that they should
jointly execute the functions. It was admirable to observe with what
harmony these two holy abbots for six years governed the house. No
contradiction ever took place between them; each always contended to
comply with the will of his colleague. Felix undertook the management of
the temporal concerns; Fulgentius's province was to preach and instruct.

In the year 499, the country being ravaged by an irruption of the
Numidians, the two abbots were necessitated to fly to Sicca Veneria, a
city of the proconsular province of Africa. Here it was, that an Arian
priest ordered them to be apprehended and scourged on account of their
preaching the consubstantiality of the Son of God. Felix, seeing the
executioners seize first on Fulgentius, cried out: "Spare that poor
brother of mine, whose delicate complexion cannot bear torments; let
them rather be my portion who am strong of body." They accordingly, at
the instigation of this wicked priest, fell on Felix first, and the old
man endured their stripes {065} with the greatest alacrity. When it was
Fulgentius's turn to experience the same rigorous treatment, he bore the
lashes with great patience; but feeling the pain excessive, that he
might gain a little respite and recruit his spirits, he requested his
judge to give ear to something he had to impart to him. The executioners
thereupon being commanded to desist, he began to entertain him with an
a