CHAPTER 

 :  From Syria even unto Rome I fight with wild

beasts, by land and sea, by night and by day, being

bound amidst ten leopards, even a company of soldiers,

who only wax worse when they are kindly treated.

Howbeit through their wrong doings I become more

completely a disciple; _yet am I not hereby

justified._

 :  May I have joy of the beasts that have been

prepared for me; and I pray that I may find them

prompt; nay I will entice them that they may devour me

promptly, not as they have done to some, refusing to

touch them through fear. Yea though of themselves they

should not be willing while I am ready, I myself will

force them to it.

 :  Bear with me. I know what is expedient for me.

Now am I beginning to be a disciple. May nought of

things visible and things invisible envy me; that I

may attain unto Jesus Christ. Come fire and cross and

grapplings with wild beasts, [cuttings and manglings,]

wrenching of bones, hacking of limbs, crushings of my

whole body, come cruel tortures of the devil to assail

me. Only be it mine to attain unto Jesus Christ.