(ABOUT A.D. 272.)
[From the Acts published by Bollandus, an early recension of the
original Acts.]
When the Emperor Aurelian was in Gaul, he came to Troyes, and hearing
that there was a Christian there, named Patroclus, he ordered him to be
brought before him, when the following examination was had of him:--
_Aurelian_--"What is thy name?" He answered, "I am called Patroclus."
_Aurelian_--"What is thy religion, or, what God dost thou worship?"
_Patroclus_--"I adore the living and true God, who inhabits heaven, and
regards the humble, and knows all things or ever they are done."
_Aurelian_--"Give up this nonsense, and adore and serve our Gods, from
whom you will derive honour and riches."
_Patroclus_--"I will adore only the true God, who made all things
visible and invisible."
_Aurelian_--"Dispute of those things which you say are true."
_Patroclus_--"Those things which I declare are true and probable; but I
know why falsehood hates the truth."
_Aurelian_--"I will burn you alive if you will not sacrifice to the
gods."
_Patroclus_--"I offer the sacrifice of praise, and myself as a living
victim to God who has deigned to call me to martyrdom."
Then Aurelian commanded--"Put fetters on his feet, and hot manacles on
his hands, and cudgel him on the back, and then shut him up in a privy
cell, until I make up my mind what is to be done with him."
Then Patroclus was given into custody to one Elegius until the third
day. And when he was brought forth again to be examined, Aurelian
greeted him with, "Well, despiser, hast thou thought better of it, and
art thou ready to sacrifice?"
_Patroclus_--"The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants, and will
not forsake them that hope in Him. If thou desirest anything out of my
treasures, I will freely give it thee, for, believe me, thou art poor."
_Aurelian_--"I, poor!"
_Patroclus_--"Thou hast earthly wealth, but art poor in faith of our
Lord Jesus Christ."
_Aurelian_--"Enough of this. Our gods are mighty."
_Patroclus_--"Who are they?"
_Aurelian_--"First Apollo, the chief;[105] then Jove, the great god; and
Diana, the mother of the gods."[106]
_Patroclus_--"Why, how can they be almighty, when Apollo kept sheep for
Admetus, and Jove died of a pain in his belly; and as for your Diana,
every one knows she is the noon-tide demon."
Then Aurelian, inflamed with rage, ordered Patroclus to be taken to a
marshy place, and to be there executed. But when the soldiers led him to
the bank of the Seine, which had overflowed, Patroclus escaped from them
across the river, and took refuge on a hill dedicated to idol worship.
Here a woman saw him, and she went straightway and told the soldiers.
Then they came upon him, and smote off his head.
[Illustration: S. AGNES.
From the Vienna Missal.
Jan. 21.]
S. Patroclus in France is called _S. Parre_. He is one of the Patrons of
Troyes.