Martírio de Policarpo 12

1Dizendo estas coisas e muitas outras, encheu-se de coragem e júbilo, e o seu semblante refulgiu de graça, de sorte que não apenas não fraquejou, perturbado pelo que se dizia, mas ao contrário o procônsul ficou pasmo e enviou o seu arauto para proclamar três vezes no meio do estádio: 'Policarpo confessou ser cristão'.

1Saying these things and more besides, he was inspired with courage and joy, and his countenance was filled with grace, so that not only did it not drop in dismay at the things which were said to him, but on the contrary the proconsul was astounded and sent his own herald to proclaim three times in the midst of the stadium, 'Polycarp hath confessed himself to be a Christian.'

2Proclamado isto pelo arauto, toda a multidão de gentios e de judeus que habitavam em Esmirna bradou com ira incontida e em altos brados: 'Este é o mestre da Ásia, o pai dos cristãos, o destruidor dos nossos deuses, aquele que ensina a muitos a não sacrificar nem adorar!' Bradando tais coisas, pediram a Filipe, o asiarca, que soltasse um leão contra Policarpo. Mas ele disse que já não lhe era lícito fazê-lo, visto haver encerrado os combates de feras.

2When this was proclaimed by the herald, the whole multitude both of Gentiles and of Jews who dwelt in Smyrna cried out with ungovernable wrath and with a loud shout, 'This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the puller down of our gods, who teacheth numbers not to sacrifice nor worship.' Saying these things, they shouted aloud and asked the Asiarch Philip to let a lion loose upon Polycarp. But he said that it was not lawful for him, since he had brought the sports to a close.

3Resolveram então unanimes gritar para que Policarpo fosse queimado vivo. Pois cumpria que se cumprisse a visão que lhe fora manifestada acerca do seu travesseiro, quando o viu arder enquanto orava, e, voltando-se aos fiéis que com ele estavam, profetizou: 'Cumpre que eu seja queimado vivo'.

3Then they thought fit to shout out with one accord that Polycarp should be burned alive. For it must needs be that the matter of the vision should be fulfilled, which was shown him concerning his pillow, when he saw it on fire while praying, and turning round he said prophetically to the faithful who were with him, 'I must needs be burned alive.'