De martyrio sancti Cypriani

He sent all the suitors away harshly, having set only Christ the Lord as her bridegroom. But he, gathering the people, in the royal courts sought by force to defile the noble maiden. All who were with her cried out loudly, and all rushed from the chambers with their weapons, and immediately made the new followers of Aglaidas unseen. He himself, bearing the whole passion within his heart, struck as if by a hidden goad, desired the maiden. She at once completed the mighty seal of Christ, threw the shameless one on his back, tore with her hands the form of Aglaidas and his curly cheeks, and rent his fine garments. She exposed all to laughter, completing the harsh course of the divine Thecla. And having done these things, she returned again to the house of God. But he, enraged, besought the evil-working man, the advisor of impious magic, Cyprian, and promised him two talents of gold and bright silver, so that he might persuade by force the unwilling maiden to consent to love, not knowing the mighty and unwearying strength of Christ. Taking pity on the wretched mortal, the magician, by incantation, quickly summoned a harsh evil-working demon. Swiftly coming, it said, "Why do you call me? Speak." He said, "Terrible love for a certain maiden of Galilee has overcome my heart; tell me, can you give her to me in marriage? I desire her terribly." The sober adversary nodded to give the unexpected. Cyprian then addressed the wicked one: "Tell me your deeds, so that I may have courage in my mind." It said, "I was once foremost among the angelic hosts, but persuaded by my father, I left the Lord of the seven-planet sphere, the Most High.

All that I have done, you shall know; I will tell. I myself, by my own wickedness, shook the foundations of the pure heaven and set them at variance, and cast the host of heavenly dwellers down to earth. I again deceived Eve, the mother of mortals, by necessity, and I stole Adam from the joyous paradise. I myself made Cain’s hand fratricidal. I drenched the earth with blood; the thorny fruit, unseemly, springs up for the race of mortals because of me. I gathered together abominations hostile to God; I accomplished thievish unions. I deceived the mortal mind into worshipping feeble idols, and I incited men to offer sacrifices to a grim bull. I myself stirred up the Hebrews to stretch out the ruling Word of God, the Son without beginning, fiercely on a stake. I threw cities into confusion and cast down steep walls, and I shook many bridal chambers from strife, dancing. But having wrought all these evils and countless others, how shall I not succeed with this high-minded maiden? Cyprian said to the evil-joyful, wretched demon: “Take this herb, and sprinkle the chamber of the reverend maiden all around; then I myself will come last and put a fatherly mind into her heart. And she will obey you, who desire her, as in a dream.” But the virgin maiden then, having a form upon the earth, at the third hour of the night sang praise to God. Yet when the maiden was shaken in the midst of her wits, and perceived in her mind the wickedness of the evil-doer, she, having filled her half-cut kidneys with fire, quickly recognized the Lord, whom she longed for; but she made the sign of the cross over her whole body with her hand, and, having cried out, said:

Lord of all, glorious God, father of the pure child Jesus Christ, who bound the dread Tartarean serpent in dark halls, and all whom it had taken in chains, most glorious one, you saved; who stretched out the starry vault with your hand, and fixed the earth in the midst of chaos upon its moist back; who set the fiery torches for the steeds of Titan, and made the bright moon with its ox-yoke for the night; who fashioned a mortal man wholly like your form, whom you commanded to enjoy the delight of paradise, but when he slipped away from the well-wooded plain by the counsels of the dread serpent, you yourself, seeking him, saved him, lord, with merciful spirit, and healed the wound from that goad, cleansing all his pains by the name of Christ—for because of him the whole man-slaying earth appears, the heaven is stretched out, the earth is fixed, and the waters flow forth, and the whole starting-point knows you alone as lord and all-ruler—; come, save your servant by your mighty will, and let not dread blame overcome me; for your sake, imperishable worker, I wish to remain continually a pure virgin. For I loved you, best one, exceedingly from my heart, Jesus, my much-praised master; for you kindled the blazing torch of your desire and placed it in my heart. So now, never subdue your servant under the hand of an enemy, a hateful, lawless, godless one, nor let me, blessed one, depart from your decrees, but ward off the sinful accomplice, the dread sophist. So she, revealing each thing, having quickly armed her body with the seal of God, immediately drove away the loathsome demon by the name of Christ; and she sent him away utterly dishonored. And he went with great shame before the face of the magician.

Cyprian asked the demon: "Where is she, whom I commanded you to bring here as quickly as possible?" The adversary replied: "Do not ask me everything clearly; for I, having perceived a fearful sign, am terrified." Smiling, the magician, confident in his harsh deeds, summoned another malignant Beliar. He said to Cyprian: "I have learned both your command and this one's wickedness; therefore the Father sent me as a helper in your troubles." The magician, immediately rejoicing, said: "Take this, demon; enchant the whole of this pure virgin's garment with a spell. I will follow behind you; I think I will quickly persuade her." He departed. The most holy and reverent virgin, in the middle of the night, sent up a prayer to the Lord, uttering these words from her lips: "In the middle of the night I rose from my bed to inquire, most glorious one, of the sins I have committed, before your face of righteousness and true judgment. O ruler of the generations, ungrudging giver of mercy, lawgiver of the heavens and helper of the celestial, whom the earth trembles at; who destroyed the might of the hostile destroyer most shamefully, and accepted the sacrifice of father Abraham as a great hecatomb; who cast down Bel and slew the dragon, and through your pious servant Daniel taught all the Persian nations your divinity; who through your beloved child Christ, your son, well ordered all things and kindled light on the earth; who brought the dead back to the light after death; I beseech you, Lord, do not allow me to fall into evils, but guard my body always unharmed, and grant me the torch of virginity living, so that I may see the bridal chamber with my betrothed, Christ, and fulfill the covenants I have undertaken.

Cyprian said: "Tell me, demon, where is the maiden whom I commanded you to bring?" He replied: "A sign has overcome me mightily, which I have seen, dreadful to all, violent, not to be withstood." Then Cyprian summoned another, stronger one, who ruled over all and was the father of the black-faced ones. He said to him: "Are you worthless, having yielded, you weakling?" But he answered boldly: "I am bringing that maiden to you now, and I am most ready." Cyprian replied: "Tell me the sign, so that when it is accomplished, you may be within victory." He said: "First I shake her limbs with fevers; then after the sixth day, I, amazed at her again, am most ready to bring her to you by night." And he came, invisible, stood before the pure virgin in the form and garments of another virgin, sat down on the bed, and deceitfully spoke a word: "I have come, after you, from this very dawn, delighting in lovely virginity, since Christ the king sent me forth, that he might accomplish me here. But, dear one, tell me this: how great is the reward of lovely virginity, and how great a prize is laid out—for I see you are anointed with frankincense.

image here—of a squalid life and a most arid table?" The modest maiden replied: "The prize is paltry, but a greater reward follows." And the crafty one himself said: "Was not Eve a maiden in the garden of Paradise with Adam? Yet in the last times she mingled in the bed of the firstborn Adam, and was revealed as the mother of children. From there she sowed the race of all mortals, and learned all good things." Then Justa was about to go outside the doors, obeying the demon; but the accursed one, rejoicing, went out before the child. When she perceived the deceit of the destructive-minded enemy, she immediately turned her mind to prayer, and quickly marked her body with the sign of the cross; and sending forth a breeze from her lips, she thrust the most shameful, heavy-fated demon from the house. Having breathed a little from the turmoil, she spoke thus: "I give thanks to the immortal one, and the fiery disease has been quenched." And praying, she said: "Christ, who holds your honors, pierce my body—I tremble before you, O best one—and again pity me in your justice; and grant me the glory to bear your name." Then the antichrist came, very downcast, before the face of the magician, greatly distressed. And Cyprian then struck him with reproachful words: "Did you then tremble at the eye of the young, dark-eyed maiden? But tell me, what strength you saw in the girl." And the adversary said: "Do not ask me nor inquire; I cannot declare what sign I saw; wretched, trembling, I drew back and fled quickly. But if you wish to learn, swear a great oath yourself." Cyprian replied and asked: "What oath shall I swear?" And he answered:

Against all my might, which I hold and rule." And when he heard, he immediately swore never to abandon the noble one. And then he said boldly: "When Christ was stretched on the cross, I looked at the seal and fled trembling." And he addressed him: "Tell me, come now: is he himself much mightier than you?" And the adversary spoke: "Hear me, and I will speak the truth: all that we have done here under wretched sinfulness, deceiving mortal men with tricks, is pardonable for all. But that life is like a bent bronze-wrought instrument, which, when heated, lies in the midst; and if an angel or a mortal should err nearby, the messengers of Christ of the cross-bearing one quickly bring him to the tribunal..." And Cyprian said: "Come, leap forth; for I come to friendship without delay, and it pleases me quickly. And I longed for the cross-rejoicing one, lest I suffer the same." The loathsome one replied: "Having sworn a great oath, do you care about transgression?" And he asked: "Tell me, accursed one, what oaths did I swear to you now myself?" And he said: "To my mighty powers." The magician replied: "I fear neither you nor your works, enemy; for by night I learned all the truth from you because of the maiden's prayers and pure supplications and the terrible cross; for you are very weak. So now I will place a mighty seal upon my limbs, the one you said was very powerful; and I spurn your friendship, rejecting your plans." And when he said this, he immediately offered a gift to Christ, and drove out the dread demon, saying, "Depart far off; for I seek Christ." And the shameful one went away quickly.

Cyprian took the magical books and placed them on the sturdy shoulders of young men to carry to the house of the immaculate God, and he himself followed them. Falling at the feet before the divine priest Anthimus, he besought him, saying: "Servant of the immortal heavenly one, I have resolved to enroll my heart in the army of Christ and to consign it to the book." But the priest, angered, said to him: "Repel your wickedness behind you; is it not sufficient for you, being outside us, to do such things as you have planned? Avoid the imperial powers, for the invincible might of the all-ruler prevails." Cyprian replied: "I too have read in my mind that the power of Christ is strong and greatest; for on this night I sent antigod demons against a holy maiden, that they might hunt the mind of the strong-hearted youth in the bonds of deceit. But she, having learned in her mind, conquered mightily by the prayer and seal of Christ. Now bear with me and have mercy on me; respecting you as a suppliant, receive, O best of men, the books from which I, a sinner, wrought countless evils, and consume them with fire, pitying my soul." Persuaded, the priest took the books and burned them all, and dismissing him with gentle words of blessing, he frequently exhorted him to enter the precincts of God. Cyprian, returning straight back to his own house, then ground the forms of the feeble images into dust, and all the dark night he beat his body and said: "How could I appear before the eyes of Christ, having done so many evils? How could I bless God with my lips, through which I dishonored others, calling upon destructive demons with my lips?" And scattering the ashes, he silently begged for God's mercy to descend upon the earth, for he trembled greatly to cry out.

But when rose-fingered bright dawn came upon the great Sabbath, then there was joy for all. And as he himself, a new convert, went to the holy assembly of the great God, he prayed as he walked: "Lord, if I, your servant, am deemed worthy, grant that, entering your great halls, I may hear a word from the scriptural books for a very good omen." And when he stepped upon the threshold of the temple, the divine David, son of Jesse, spoke: "See, glorious one, do not relax, O ruler, nor, escaping you, may he place himself far from you." And again the great prophet Hosea, inspired, said this: "But if not, there will be no child." And then David spoke again: "The eyes of mine went forth at dawn, the light-bringer, the driver of dark night, so that I may ever follow your more divine words." And Isaiah elsewhere: "Let fear never take away your spirit, my child, and whom I love, Jacob, whom I have set above all other neighbors as leader." And Paul, the divine speaker, spoke thus: "The ruling Christ himself bought us from the former law of harsh strife." And again the prophet David, the excellent lyrist, spoke thus: "Who could inquire of the immortal God's power and tell with all ears the hymns of the all-ruler?" Then came the prayer of the king of more divine words; then the priest's exhortation; and then the catechetical word of the men: "Depart from the temple of God, half-finished mortals." But gentle Cyprian still sat in silence on the seats. And a certain Asterius, a deacon, said to him: "Depart from the royal halls." He answered him at once: "I am a servant of Christ of the cross, and do you drive me out?" And the deacon said to him:

But you are not yet a full servant of the mighty God." He himself spoke again: "God is ever living, who alone revealed the most shameful evil spirits, saved the virgin, and had mercy on my heart. Outside these halls it is not lawful for me to come, unless I become within the faith of Christ." Learning this, the servant of God quickly came to the priest, announcing it. He then summoned him; and as was fitting, he spoke many harsh words to Cyprian, asking what he had done. But he, having prayed so much, stirred up the works of God, all that he had wrought concerning the world. And then with divine baths he made him pure. On the eighth day he became a herald of the most revered books of Christ's utterances. But on the twenty-fifth day, being smaller and lesser, he was completed in the diaconate, and he had the gates of the sacred mystery together. When fifty days had come, he quickly became worthy of the diaconate. And he strongly subdued the phalanxes of the shameless, ungodly, and helpless, and drove away hateful diseases from the limbs of men; and he led many into the flock of Christ, renouncing the evil faith of idols in their blindness. But when the year came to an end, he obtained a seat equal to that of a priest. For sixteen years thereafter he continued to hold the chair of the elder. And then the blessed bishop Anthimus, good, summoned all the neighboring priests together; and having said all that was fitting in the assembly of Christ, still seeing the world, he gave the chair to Cyprian. And after a short time, Anthimus went to heaven, entrusting the flock, of which he was the leader, to the noble light. And Cyprian, administering the glorious house of God, received the virgin, honoring her with the diaconate.

She no longer called him Justa, but named him blameless Justina; and she placed him as mother over all the tender maidens, handmaidens of the great Christ. Having saved many who were disobedient and of evil religion, she persuaded them to yearn for Christ, and with toil she brought them into the flock of the Shepherd, who ever holds his honor. Amen. "All to whom the mystic faith of the much-hymned Christ is a care, behold with my abundant tears, that you may learn from where such pain comes to me—and I know well that you know; for I speak the truth—and all who delight in unseemly idols, learn; for I will declare the deceptions of these. For no other among men was more evil in religion and sinned more against the demons, nor was a follower of vain idols, neither knowing what they are nor what power they have. I am that Cyprian, whom once my parents, when I was a boy, gave as a gift to Apollo. While still a child, I learned the rites of the beast, the belly-piercing serpent. When the seventh year came, I was later initiated into Mithraic Phoebus; I dwelt in the steep city of the noble Athenians. And I became a resident, since this pleased my parents who bore me. Entering the tenth year, I lit torches for Deo, and underwent the bright mourning of Kore. For Athena, who holds the city on the height, I performed the serpentine rites. Having been consecrated as a priest, I came to the grove of Olympus, which the ignorant call the dwelling of the feeble blessed. There I heard the sound and noise of certain words. I saw grasses and trunks, as much as amazed the sight, which the dread evil spirits vainly surveyed.

There I saw the seasons and the changing winds, and many days such as some grievous men within create by their harsh and hostile fantasy. And I beheld a great shameless chorus of singers, and others performing deeds of Ares in a throng. And I saw the companies and mocking characters of others, and those who were terrified. There I saw how many troops of goddesses and blessed ones there were; for I myself remained there forty days and another eight besides. From there are sent forth from the mighty palaces spirits that roam the air down to the earth, to work all manner of unseemly things among all peoples, the worst possible. And I had a feast from flourishing trees, high-foliaged, at the setting of Phaethon. Having come to my fifteenth year, I myself was being taught by seven hierophants concerning all breaths and gods, and all the deeds that belong to lawless demons. And my parents were eager that I should learn all that exists on earth, in the air, and in the sea, not only those things that bring destruction to men, but also those that belong to flourishing and well-rooted plant life, and all that winds itself about the body more weakly than a man, and all that the evil-minded, hostile contriver found—the originator of this earthly craft, the serpent of shifting counsel, dishonoring the counsel of the immortal ruler. — Then I came to horse-pasturing, flourishing Argos; and there was the love of Tithonian, white-robed Eos. And I became a mystic, and there I saw the binding of the air and of the many-folded heaven, and the wind, the kinship of waters and of the fertile land, and again the dewy streams into the dry air. — I went as far as Elis.

And I beheld the mighty statue of Tauropolos Keladeine in Sparta, that I might learn the forest-slaying, exceedingly multiform nature, and the changes of pebbles and writing-styles and characters and the world's aged myths. Then, treading the land of Phrygia, I became a diviner, very prudent, and from my midriff and liver I learned all that exists in the midst, and from the Scythians, birds, resonant signs, and also the curved movements of animals upon them, the omens of men who see what follows, the booming of wooden planks and likewise of stones, voices from tombs of those long dead, the sound of doors, the palpitations of human cares, the bloody masses that stain limbs, and how the roar of ants passes over the senses, and the whisperings of myths and the numbers of words themselves, and the visible labors of flesh, and the pillars of nature, and all oaths that are true and false, and all that are contrary to the counsels of men. Nor did any action of earthly, aerial, or deep things escape me, nor any manifold phantom, nor hidden thought, nor deceitful, nor much-devising, nor crafty, until the feeble deception and

of those who work ruin and all such things as are on this earth. But when after this I entered within the twentieth year, then I came to the land of Egypt of the shadowy men and reached the threshold of Memphis. There too I attempted what is not permissible for a mortal: how they consort with the chthonic beings, what the averse spirits are called, what stars they desire, and then their ordinances and deeds, how they are worshipped, how they guard the grim darkness themselves, what spirits are opposed to them, and how many leaders of the most dread Erebos there are among the antigods, and how they are like souls and bodies of beasts and swimming creatures, and what concerns them and what they vainly do—swift course and knowledge, memory, terror, deceitful art, footprints, hidden oblivion of cities and games of the people, and all that is like them. There I learned the trembling of the earth, the generation of rainy showers and likewise the roar and swell of earth and sea, imitations like true images of immortal wisdom, ever-existing. There I perceived the souls of the mighty and long-lived mortals, of the dreadly huge Giants, dreadfully pressed within the misty darkness, bearing only a phantom upon the back of the earth, as a man carries a heavy burden of wood upon his shoulders. I saw the demonic consorts of crooked serpents, and the bitter blasts they send to mortals for destruction; from there they send forth upon men countless dread demons, rushing about into the forest. And I saw the earth laboring under a demon, and not resting upon unstable water because of the liftings and bases that were allotted to it.

I arrived also at the land where the counter-palmed ones change, which the serpent in strife of divine might built for a crooked, evil-charted whole life of mortals; from which many spirits toil, bringing impiety to men equal to the gods who come low. And indeed there I perceived one guilty of evils coming suddenly in strife against a pious mortal; a madman against a wise and righteous man, a destructive man, and that is not holy there, nor a judged matter. There I saw the much-crafted, unpleasing form of falsehood. It had the form of lewdness, threefold, of evil-craft, bloody, burnt around, equal to foam and liver. Then I saw the winged form of wrath, grievous, rough, beastly. And I saw deceit continuous, hidden, adorning itself with deceitful words. And I saw the form of hate, abominable, blind; on the back of its head it had four eyes fleeing the bright eye of radiant light; from its head alone many terrible feet hung, and it had no belly; for it is merciless and goes about without entrails. Jealousy and terrible envy are like each other, but envy carries a tongue equal to a sickle. I saw ill-temper very thin, like incense; it had many eyes, and its pupils were arrows, rushing always to defend its mind. And I saw the form of the insatiable demon; it had above a narrow, elongated head—it had two mouths, one on its chest, the other on its back—devouring solid earth and heavy stones, hungering and consuming flesh to satiety, wasted by evil. And I saw love of wealth; it was rapacious and had a sharp form.

You would think you saw a sickle; and the lashes of the eyelids were always ceasing. I also observed a low-lying, swift-crashing trade; it bore upon its shoulder every hope of wealth as a load. I saw the form of a fool; he had a good spirit and plump flesh; his bones were not white. I perceived the worship of idols, high-soaring; on its top it had two dense wings, with which it seemed to cover everything, but it could not even make a covering for its own limbs. There I saw the grievous terror of fickleness, of hypocrisy, all slender, but with mildewed chest, secretly wasting away, wind-destroyed, and easily rent. And I saw the form of madness—it had two natures together, of a young man and a woman—naked, within shamelessness and far from strength. And I saw the headlong wretch, who had a tongue far longer than all his limbs altogether. Then I saw the glutton; he had a head like a nut, a very hollow spirit, and accomplished everything openly. And there I perceived the most grievous thing of all, the form which the unseemly ones bear when they go down into the world, destructive, ill-fated, dread monsters, sixty-five and three hundred other demons of grievous passions, who rule over vanity and vainglory. I saw the great reproach of virtue, and likewise of wisdom and of vain justice, whence they lead astray the men of Greek wisdom. For one sees an image, and truth flees entirely; all things are like a shadow and useless dust. For in them all evils are active for the deception of cities. But it is not lawful for me to compose countless books myself.

From the cities I spoke of my own impiety, empty as it was, and declared it to you all. But I will also say this: when I had already become a man of thirty years, I left the land of the dark-faced men and came to the city of the ancient Chaldean men, hastening greatly, that I might learn the course of the ether, which they themselves say is upon the fiery fire, and the chosen men among them perceive it in the light. There I learned the ever-changing nature of the stars—whenever one plucks an unbounded herb from its calyx—and the starry phalanxes arrayed for wars. They themselves showed me the kinships and houses of each, and their friendship, the courts, the food and drink, and the intellectual love perfected in the light. They showed me the fates of the silver pole, sixty-five and three hundred others. There was a certain companion of the visible nature among the stars, and they spun a web of pretense; and the leader inquired of them and of these things. They revealed from them a plan and a path, concealing a much-desired command of hidden things, having only propitiations from sacrifices. They do not perceive other things, nor do they heed libations, but only the light of the murky realm concerns them. But even so I saw, for the sake of a dark plan, they proceed obediently, so that they might impart light to the stars that do not shine, mingling in a small measure. I was utterly amazed, since I beheld mediators, that even the dark aerial beings care for wealth. And I greatly marveled at their ordinances, having perceived that they are placed in the middle to be for one another, guarding the most trustworthy oaths according to their will. There also piety, friendship, swiftness, and vehement counsel, that they might mingle with one another, which the leader recounted as suggestions of evil-doing.

And he created wise men, drawing from the air the breath of the tongue of eloquence from the earth's cultivator, and from the underworld he taught all deceitful arts. From there, he restrained the whole starting-point of the world, having persuaded it not to forget its nature, while reverencing God; for by chattering he placed everything into commerce, and having scattered everything, the wretch rules over the earth. Believe me, that I saw the demon himself, having propitiated him with libations and sacrifices in the cities. Believe me, that I also saw him and addressed him with words, and heard his friendly words. And among all he called me a noble youth by nature, like Iambres, and a mighty initiate, worthy of his deeds. And he nodded to me to complete the contest of the world, laboring with him, since he saw the works of my life. Then, honoring me, he entrusted to me a grievous throng of evil demons, and said to the one leaping forth: "Cyprian, you are a mighty mortal." And rising from his seat, he sent me forth, and gave wonder to those who saw; then all the elders honored me greatly because of him. His form gleamed like gold with flowers, with a sparkle of eyes, and then with his head; he had wreaths fitted to his locks and with precious stones, whose radiance adorned that region with splendor. His clothing was similar. But when he turned, he shook the earth—and around the couches stood many shield-bearers, having their forms toward the ground, arrayed like phalanxes—flashing over that ground, like a god on Olympus, shining with constellations, increasing his cultivation, and making all things that God made similar to himself, vying with the immortal ruler and with the saints.

From there, he seemed to beguile the mind of men, as a feeble and empty shadow before the perfect, from which the demonic form arises, utterly unknowable. And this is the concern of the unstable: to be seen and to accomplish steadfast strength with flesh. For those to whom these things are needful, they give all libation and burnt offering; for from the sacred rites, as smoke goes into the vast air, the shadowy, gloomy forms, settling, draw it in and clothe themselves in it as in embroidered garments or as fine wool and the delicate down of linen—and many shadowy phantoms of high-roofed temples—and instead of truth, they enter that air and possess it. Therefore, even an ant requires a sacrifice; but also water, pitch, and fruits together, and all that the nurturing earth produces, they demand, so that they may appear to mortals as mere phantasy. As we see the forms of the dead according to our desire, and we seem to speak with them though they are not present, so the counterfeiter, being crafty, imprints the form of initiates, which he places on their faces, empty, and on the shapes of idols, in which there is never any strength; pouring forth much rain, as it were, but not real, accomplishing a fire like icy snow, giving a fish to be seen only, not to be eaten, and gleaming gold, the accomplice of evil poverty. But also, imitating wooded works, he accomplishes cities and chambers and well-wooded plains and shadowy glens and the fatherland that nurtured a mortal, and flowery garments, such as mortals produce, all shadowy things borne to bloodthirsty demons; thus, night-wanderers sleep sweetly, seeing them. But these are the works of a much-wandering demon, of the godless and impious mortals, of the polluted in religion.

But what am I to suffer, since, wishing to tremble before the heavenly god, knowing the most deadly strength of the chilling serpent and the emptiness of its arrogance, I hide in a dark cavern? For I have learned from the most holy virgin maiden, from the most revered Justa, that demons are utterly powerless here. For beside her I have seen a most extraordinary, scaly, immensely swelling, terrible great serpent; but it had no more strength than a worthless gnat. I have learned from the most holy virgin that the lord prays very much but never does what is true; but that serpent, so empty, the maiden cast down with her feet alone. Alas! The ruler of the much-wandering idols shrank from entering the doors of a woman, trembling exceedingly. He who was summoned by so many phantoms could not cast open the maiden's doors. He who seemed to rule all was subdued by a maiden. He who wished to shake the earth yielded to a woman. He who had a very greedy heart could not cast down the maiden. He who thought to roar like a ravening lion and to frighten all was played with like a gnat in the forecourts of a woman. For when I left the land of the Persians as far as the great city of Antioch in Syria, performing many wonders by dread magic art, providing a cure for love to some, and to others envy itself and hateful jealousy, and the wickedness that concerns the flesh—there a certain Aglaïdes, a charming man, very earnestly beseeched me, as did many others, and he knelt down for the sake of a maiden named Justina, that he might be joined with her in love. There a deceitful demon first appeared to me. And indeed, of all the verses it began, concerning the pure virgin, they gathered together and then flew back unaccomplished.

But also, the faith of a virgin showed Aglaïdas' defender to be unseen and rendered him powerless. And while Aglaïdas spent many sleepless nights, my magic and the strife of my adversary lasted for seven weeks and three more after that, and the leader of a demonic phalanx came with his followers to wage war against the virgin. For not only did love for the young Aglaïdas subdue him, but he also touched my heart, raging with desire. It was a wonder to see so many hostile ranks overcome by the prayers of the maiden, along with the serpent. For Beliar had no desire to inscribe our passion, even though he shook many terrible things against us. To him I would say this: "If you have such power, let the love from our hearts cease, so that we might not suffer so many pains in vain." And as I listened, he spoke to the one who rules the eagle of lust, to do what he commanded. He accomplished many things, but none of these did he achieve as before. He showed, while ruling, that the nature of man is stronger than all hateful Beliars. But if one finds a man's nature at its peak, then the heart swells with great pride, no longer seeing the flower of human life, but attributing glory to its own strength. When a weak and one-handed man fights, mounted on a horse well-versed in furious might, he greatly rejoices, having attached great glory to himself. For in young beginners, when love increases, then a vapor more violent than blazing fire is raised. There was also between me and my adversaries a great strife, and they themselves fought against each other for a long time.

And then with harsh words I spoke to the serpent, that soon his great glory would be lost; but he remained speechless, beholding his own wickedness. And though I assailed him with many loud cries, he went on calmly, knowing his strength was lesser and he was powerless. And at one time he contrived this: he deceived Aglaïdas, brought a virgin, and the trick was quickly revealed, for she did not resemble the holy Justina's body. Then, learning all this, I came to abhor the serpent. And then the chief of the wretched men changes his form to one like that of the chaste Justina. When he came very near Aglaïdas, he said joyfully: "The golden beauty of the renowned Justina has come well." But when he named the girl, the demon fled upon hearing the name; and trembling, Aglaïdas quickly lost his desire. O friends, I myself was present at the completion of these evil machinations; I know the maiden's longing for the high-ruling God and the serpent's weakness, and I endured shame along with him, never sleeping, standing by as he was present. I was changed from a man into a woman, and into a winged bird. As I went into the forecourts, the phantom vanished unseen, but I myself remained, Cyprian, persuaded by worthless magic. I know that I made Aglaïdas into a bird; he came and sat on the roof of the maiden's house. When the holy virgin cast her eye from the light-bearing door, she destroyed the winged bird. And I myself, wretched, was about to reach the gates of fate, standing there as the bird was upon it, had not the beautiful, prudent maiden taken pity on him, and spoken a good excuse to him, so that he might remain at home in peace, trembling before God; and she ordered him to quickly withdraw from the forecourt.

It was not disease, nor pain, but some other grievous thing that subdued the maiden; for the evil-working demon roused countless evils against her. Her parents, when the physicians declared the end of her life was near, lamented. But she said: "For me, dear parents, it is not yet fated to meet the end of death. Rather, a pain of the heart is present in me, not of the limbs; and a fiery vapor coming from the air consumes my body." And many other things besides we poured over the limbs of the virgin maiden; but she, with the Christ-bearing cross, overcame the poisons of the much-wandering evil demon, the adversary. But when I had inflicted evils upon her parents, killing flocks and herds and beasts of burden, the maiden quickly persuaded their minds: "Do not be vexed at these things, but rejoice in the small things, for the blessings of the pure one who prays will be boundless." For the terrible wrath of the maiden did not escape the notice of the neighbors, and they commanded the youth to betroth the maiden in true union as quickly as possible; but the maiden directed strength to the Christ-receiving cross for the mind of her parents. At another time, the demon sent a fierce plague upon the people and gave an oracle to the inhabitants, that the unyielding wrath would not cease until Justa was quickly brought to the bed of Aglaïdes, as is fitting. But the servant of Christ stopped the clamor of the people with holy prayers and drove the plague from the city. Therefore, all who dwell in the city, having been tested, glorified Christ and heaped reproach upon me; as I was a destructive man for that city, all vehemently abhorred me. But I myself went, ashamed before my kinsmen and fellow citizens, both alike.

At last, beholding the power of the cross and all it had wrought, I pondered this in my mind and spoke to the evil demon: "Woe, destructive shoot, giver of all lawless things, hollow of impiety, why have you thus deceived my soul, being worthless and feeble, as you yourself know? For if a mere shadow of the immortal God subdues you so mightily, what will you do when he comes? If you tremble at the name of Christ, then what will you accomplish when your deeds and destructive works are confronted? If the divine power of the cross so grievously afflicts you, where will you set your footsteps when he himself is present? If the seal has warded you off, then from his hand how can you deliver mortals from such mighty necessity? For you have not even obtained so great a phalanx as to defend yourself. Now I am well acquainted with your much-wandering art and know your deception well; I know you are sluggish. Your gift is but vain and harmful. Neither is your counsel firm, nor your counsel best. Nothing you accomplish is true against God; all are only phantoms and like mist. You have destroyed my heart and hope entirely and driven away the much-desired swarm of rational minds. But you have flayed my life with terrible evil and destroyed the nature I received with your impressions. I have terribly erred, my mind deceived by you. I became foolish and impious, yielding everything to you. I learned wisdom in vain, and the books of my predecessors. Obeying you, I was deprived of possessions and wealth. Along with my parents' riches, you made me bereft of breath. If the poor and destitute men have consumed as much as you yourself have destroyed, lawless one, then perhaps I would have had a little gracious God for my hopes.

Woe, why have you so utterly ruined me, evil-doer? Dreadfully I am worn away, O implacable one; I see incurable sufferings. For indeed I was a corpse, but in semblance I live among the living. Having purchased a tomb for many possessions, I have passed through the depths of death without dying. But it is lawful for me to beseech the noble servants of God, and likewise the pious men, that I might obtain mercy and pity. And I would kiss the footsteps of the most faithful maiden Justina, so that she might think well concerning my life. Flee, Satan, crafty deceiver, lawless one, dread tyrant, hater of truth and despiser of piety. But he, enraged, rushed to kill me mightily, and tried with all his strength to destroy me at once, seizing me by the throat. When I was no longer alone and thought I could not escape or avoid death, the sign of the most faithful maiden came into my mind—the sign of the all-shining cross, by which she prevailed. I spoke, praying: "Lord God, ruler of the glorious maiden, come, help me." And at once I stretched out my hand and placed the form of the cross upon my limbs. But he fled backward, like a dart leaping away, and threatened me fiercely, brandishing a spear against me. And then, taking the rush of the seal of Christ, I was greatly emboldened, crying out often to God himself. Then, enraged, the evil-minded beast spoke, withdrawing: "Christ, much invoked, will not save you from my hand, since he abhors the impious. Now he helps a little, only to lead you astray later by a wretched fate and destroy you. But when he abandons you, then you will know what I will do to you, you who have deprived me of my power. For Christ does not readily accept my followers. You have destroyed two, O evil demon.

First my friendship, and yourself the saviour, does not benefit you at all." And I, hearing these words, was terribly afraid, that he addressed me with such vain and baneful speeches. Then I declare to you, dear men, who know my lament, my wretched life, so that beholding it you may show compassion; and tell me, if it is possible to propitiate Christ, if he hears my repentance, and will help me, that I may escape the dread paths, which I learned of before." The crowd meanwhile kept silence; but later someone spoke to me, crying out loudly: