the beasts refused to touch him, and showed him every mark of respect; and at last he was beheaded, and thus ended by death his glorious combat. How did such a tender youth become so brave? Simply because he had once seen a small token from the kingdom of heaven. For when the holy martyr Julian us was by the command of Martianus being led through the streets of Antioch, laden with chains and covered with wounds, and exposed to the mockery of all, the little Celsus happened to be looking out of the window of his school, and he saw on the martyrs head a precious crown, while from all his wounds shone a most resplendent light, and by his side walked thirty persons of noble aspect who accompanied him. The boy was astonished at the sight, and turning to his master and school-fellows, cried out: Oh, what do I see? there is that condemned Christian whom the executioners are leading away, and I see on his head a golden crown set with diamonds, while a light comes from him that outshines the sun. Our lictors are leading him to public disgrace and martyrdom; but his God gives him noble companions. Truly a God of that kind must be the true God; I acknowledge Him as such and find in this profession the utmost contentment of mind. For His sake I will suffer what I see this Christian suffering; the same God that he adores I will also look on as my God! For what is there worth having in this life, where everything passes away and comes to an end with time? I will earn for myself a time that shall never end. I will strive for a light and a crown that no one will ever take from me. So saying he threw down his books and school utensils, and ran after the martyr. The teacher and his school-fellows hurried after him to restrain him, but to no purpose. He tore himself out of their hands, ran up to Julianus, embraced him, kissed his wounds, weeping most tenderly, and begged of him earnestly to take him as his inseparable companion and worshipper of his God. In vain did the soldiers try to drive him away, and at last they made him fast to the chains with which Julianus was bound, and brought him before Martianus. Thus he suffered the same martyrdom and received the same crown as Julianus. Marianilla, his mother, although she had been a most bitter pagan, became a zealous Christian, for she too saw a very small token of heaven. When she went to her son Celsus in prison in the hope of bringing him back to the worship of idols, the holy youth and all his fellow-prisoners for the faith prayed earnestly for her conversion; then she saw
