ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus

Chapter XI.—No threats have any effect on Polycarp.

The proconsul then said to him, “I have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast thee, except thou repent.” But he answered, “Call them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil;⁴⁴⁹⁴⁴⁹    Literally, “repentance from things better to things worse is a change impossible to us.” and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.”⁴⁵⁰⁴⁵⁰    That is, to leave this world for a better. But again the proconsul said to him, “I will cause thee to be consumed by fire, seeing thou despisest the wild beasts, if thou wilt not repent.” But Polycarp said, “Thou threatenest me with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt.”