infamous_a place_n how_o be_v shut_v up_o there_o alone_o in_o a_o room_n she_o employ_v the_o little_a time_n that_o be_v grant_v she_o to_o consider_v whether_o she_o will_v yet_o burn_v incense_n to_o the_o roman_a idol_n in_o fervent_a prayer_n to_o the_o true_a god_n for_o a_o rescue_n of_o her_o purity_n not_o her_o life_n in_o order_n whereunto_o she_o design_v and_o hope_v by_o resistance_n and_o contumely_n to_o provoke_v her_o first_o assailant_n to_o become_v her_o murderer_n rather_o than_o her_o ravisher_n these_o be_v the_o chief_a content_n of_o the_o first_o book_n those_o of_o the_o second_o be_v more_o historical_a and_o consist_v of_o a_o account_n of_o the_o last_o hour_n of_o her_o life_n and_o particular_o of_o those_o suffering_n that_o end_v in_o she_o and_o didymus_n glorious_a martyrdom_n this_o piece_n have_v be_v peruse_v by_o those_o for_o who_o sake_n i_o write_v it_o be_v so_o fortunate_a that_o it_o have_v without_o my_o leave_n be_v venture_v into_o several_a hand_n as_o a_o book_n of_o a_o nameless_a and_o unknown_a author_n it_o be_v lucky_a enough_o to_o be_v by_o some_o indulgent_a reader_n attribute_v to_o one_o and_o by_o some_o to_o another_o of_o the_o two_o person_n that_o be_v at_o that_o time_n count_v the_o best_a writer_n of_o disguise_a history_n but_o among_o the_o many_o hand_n it_o pass_v through_o it_o seem_v it_o fall_v into_o some_o out_o of_o which_o a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o loose_a sheet_n which_o be_v not_o bind_v in_o a_o book_n but_o only_o tack_v together_o be_v not_o to_o be_v retrieve_v whether_o it_o be_v by_o the_o negligence_n or_o the_o contempt_n that_o some_o have_v of_o so_o unpolished_a a_o work_n or_o whether_o there_o be_v some_o fatality_n in_o the_o business_n that_o theodoras_n suffering_n shall_v outlive_v she_o and_o her_o story_n be_v as_o ill_o use_v as_o her_o person_n have_v be_v this_o loss_n if_o it_o can_v deserve_v that_o name_n i_o do_v not_o much_o regret_n since_o i_o intend_v not_o to_o make_v the_o lose_a paper_n public_a and_o have_v receive_v much_o great_a approbation_n and_o thanks_o than_o they_o merit_v from_o the_o particular_a person_n they_o be_v design_v for_o but_o after_o i_o have_v for_o many_o year_n wear_v out_o not_o only_o the_o sense_n but_o the_o memory_n of_o this_o loss_n it_o be_v make_v more_o troublesome_a to_o i_o than_o ever_o it_o be_v at_o first_o by_o the_o earnest_a solicitation_n of_o some_o eminent_a person_n that_o have_v a_o great_a power_n over_o i_o and_o some_o of_o they_o the_o repute_n of_o great_a judge_n of_o this_o kind_n of_o composure_n for_o have_v see_v several_a sheet_n that_o i_o accidental_o light_v on_o in_o tumble_v over_o some_o long_a neglect_a paper_n they_o oblige_v i_o to_o cause_v those_o old_a rude_a sheet_n to_o be_v transcribe_v and_o though_o almost_o all_o the_o first_o book_n be_v want_v upon_o which_o account_n i_o can_v not_o be_v remove_v from_o my_o resolution_n not_o to_o trouble_v myself_o about_o it_o yet_o there_o be_v so_o much_o of_o the_o second_o book_n but_o in_o part_n no_o way_n coherent_a little_a by_o little_a retrieve_v that_o a_o pretence_n be_v afford_v to_o press_v i_o to_o repair_v those_o breach_n and_o restore_v out_o of_o my_o memory_n or_o otherwise_o a_o piece_n which_o they_o will_v needs_o persuade_v i_o may_v do_v some_o good_a by_o render_v virtue_n amiable_a and_o recommend_v piety_n to_o a_o sort_n of_o reader_n that_o be_v much_o more_o affect_v by_o shine_a example_n and_o pathetical_a expression_n than_o by_o dry_a precept_n and_o grave_a discourse_n if_o some_o of_o your_o more_o scrupulous_a friend_n shall_v object_v that_o i_o have_v mention_v theodoras_n beauty_n more_o often_o and_o advantagous_o and_o represent_v her_o lover_n passion_n more_o pathetical_o than_o the_o subject_n of_o the_o story_n exact_v and_o the_o truth_n require_v in_o history_n will_v warrant_v i_o shall_v not_o altogether_o deny_v the_o charge_n be_v rather_o content_a to_o have_v it_o think_v that_o a_o youthful_a 〈◊〉_d heat_a fancy_n transport_v 〈◊〉_d pen_n somewhat_o beyond_o the_o narrow_a bound_n of_o history_n than_o that_o so_o pious_a a_o person_n as_o didymus_n do_v not_o keep_v both_o his_o flame_n and_o the_o expression_n of_o it_o within_o the_o limit_n of_o reason_n and_o religion_n but_o though_o i_o pretend_v not_o to_o justify_v all_o that_o have_v be_v say_v in_o the_o strain_n of_o a_o encomiast_n or_o a_o lover_n yet_o i_o hope_v that_o i_o may_v much_o extenuate_v if_o not_o excuse_v it_o by_o represent_v such_o thing_n as_o these_o that_o i_o have_v be_v careful_a that_o theodora_n shall_v not_o be_v make_v to_o do_v or_o say_v any_o thing_n that_o the_o great_a obligation_n she_o have_v to_o she_o rescuer_v consider_v do_v entrench_v either_o upon_o her_o piety_n or_o her_o virtue_n or_o so_o much_o as_o upon_o her_o reservedness_n that_o as_o for_o didymus_n i_o may_v say_v that_o probable_o he_o think_v those_o celebration_n that_o will_v have_v be_v flattery_n to_o another_o lady_n be_v but_o justice_n to_o a_o person_n so_o extraordinary_a and_o so_o accomplish_v as_o his_o mistress_n and_o that_o he_o think_v it_o allowable_a not_o to_o suppress_v the_o chaste_a effect_n of_o a_o passion_n that_o have_v not_o only_o be_v incident_a to_o hero_n but_o perhaps_o help_v to_o make_v they_o such_o but_o i_o will_v rather_o say_v that_o those_o only_o be_v like_a to_o find_v much_o fault_n with_o his_o expression_n who_o consider_v not_o how_o free_a they_o be_v from_o any_o degree_n of_o profaneness_n or_o immodesty_n and_o who_o be_v not_o accustom_v to_o the_o read_n of_o story_n where_o lover_n be_v introduce_v and_o make_v to_o praise_n and_o compliment_n in_o a_o far_o more_o bold_a and_o romantic_a way_n than_o i_o allow_v myself_o in_o the_o follow_a paper_n in_o which_o all_o the_o deference_n wherewith_o irene_n as_o well_o as_o didymus_n treat_v theodora_n may_v be_v be_v account_v for_o by_o this_o that_o i_o remember_v to_o have_v in_o some_o author_n or_o other_o find_v mention_v make_v of_o a_o person_n about_o dioclesian_n time_n who_o i_o take_v for_o our_o martyr_n that_o be_v intimate_v to_o be_v of_o high_a quality_n if_o not_o a_o princess_n which_o title_n i_o have_v without_o scruple_n give_v she_o if_o i_o have_v be_v half_a as_o sure_o that_o she_o be_v a_o princess_n as_o that_o she_o deserve_v to_o be_v one._n that_o perhaps_o i_o be_v not_o unwilling_a both_o to_o show_v the_o person_n i_o write_v for_o that_o one_o may_v have_v glitter_a idea_n of_o beauty_n without_o be_v dazzle_v by_o they_o and_o also_o to_o convince_v they_o that_o high_a compliment_n and_o passionate_a expression_n be_v no_o certain_a mark_n of_o his_o be_v real_o smite_v to_o speak_v in_o a_o lover_n phrase_n that_o can_v employ_v they_o since_o i_o retain_v my_o wont_a freedom_n of_o mind_n while_o i_o be_v write_v and_o present_v they_o by_o the_o mouth_n of_o didymus_n but_o what_o fancy_n not_o passion_n indict_v and_o last_o i_o be_v induce_v to_o allow_v myself_o a_o more_o fashionable_a style_n than_o will_v perhaps_o be_v suitable_a to_o a_o mere_a sermon_n or_o book_n of_o divinity_n because_o i_o fear_v that_o the_o youthful_a person_n of_o quality_n of_o both_o sex_n that_o i_o be_v chief_o to_o regard_v will_v scarce_o be_v sufficient_o affect_v by_o unfortunate_a virtue_n if_o the_o interweave_v of_o passage_n relate_v to_o beauty_n and_o love_n do_v not_o help_v to_o make_v the_o tragical_a story_n delightful_a and_o the_o excellent_a sufferer_n piety_n amiable_a if_o it_o be_v object_v that_o in_o some_o of_o the_o discourse_n of_o the_o two_o martyr_n there_o be_v passage_n that_o argue_v more_o knowledge_n than_o be_v likely_a to_o have_v be_v find_v in_o lay_v person_n no_o elder_a than_o they_o i_o answer_v that_o such_o discourse_n indeed_o be_v somewhat_o strange_a if_o they_o be_v ascribe_v to_o a_o young_a gallant_a and_o a_o young_a lady_n of_o our_o degenerate_a time_n wherein_o so_o many_o person_n of_o that_o sort_n make_v diversion_n their_o grand_a business_n and_o have_v as_o little_a leisure_n as_o concern_v to_o mind_v any_o thing_n but_o their_o pleasure_n and_o petty_a interest_n think_v it_o their_o privilege_n to_o know_v little_a of_o religion_n and_o leave_v to_o mean_a people_n the_o study_n of_o thing_n serious_a and_o useful_a but_o though_o among_o this_o sort_n of_o person_n it_o be_v so_o difficult_a to_o find_v many_o that_o will_v emulate_v such_o knowledge_n and_o virtue_n as_o shine_v in_o theodora_n that_o i_o fear_v they_o will_v not_o so_o much_o as_o believe_v they_o yet_o among_o better_a qualify_v judge_n the_o late_o propose_v objection_n will_v be_v of_o no_o great_a force_n if_o it_o be_v
consider_v that_o didymus_n and_o theodora_n live_v in_o the_o primitive_a and_o devout_a time_n of_o the_o church_n and_o in_o the_o roman_a empire_n when_o the_o christian_a religion_n be_v as_o diligent_o teach_v by_o excellent_a divine_n as_o frequent_o oppose_v by_o argument_n and_o violent_o assault_v by_o persecution_n upon_o which_o score_n the_o zealous_a candidate_n of_o martyrdom_n many_o of_o which_o obtain_v the_o crown_n of_o it_o even_o in_o their_o green_a age_n be_v early_o and_o skilful_o instruct_v in_o the_o truth_n of_o their_o own_o religion_n and_o furnish_v with_o good_a argument_n both_o to_o defend_v it_o and_o confute_v the_o erroneous_a opinion_n and_o impious_a worship_n of_o their_o heathen_a adversary_n nor_o be_v it_o any_o wonder_n that_o they_o shall_v think_v that_o religion_n worth_n study_v that_o they_o think_v worth_a die_v for_o i_o will_v not_o here_o examine_v whether_o the_o ignorance_n wont_a to_o be_v impute_v to_o woman_n be_v their_o fault_n or_o that_o of_o their_o accuser_n and_o whether_o it_o be_v any_o natural_a want_n of_o capacity_n or_o rather_o want_v of_o instruction_n that_o keep_v most_o of_o they_o from_o knowledge_n though_o this_o regard_v not_o sex_n but_o without_o inquiry_n whether_o it_o be_v not_o our_o interest_n or_o our_o envy_n that_o make_v woman_n what_o we_o be_v wont_n to_o decry_v they_o for_o be_v i_o shall_v not_o scruple_n to_o own_o that_o i_o have_v sometime_o have_v the_o honour_n to_o converse_v with_o lady_n that_o convince_v i_o that_o to_o attain_v to_o a_o great_a proficiency_n in_o knowledge_n it_o be_v not_o necessary_a to_o be_v a_o doctor_n of_o divinity_n or_o so_o much_o as_o a_o man_n since_o they_o discourse_v of_o divine_a thing_n with_o no_o less_o wit_n than_o piety_n and_o to_o return_v to_o our_o martyr_n if_o we_o may_v judge_v by_o the_o effect_n we_o may_v reasonable_o suppose_v that_o our_o virgin_n parent_n not_o only_o think_v it_o their_o duty_n but_o take_v much_o pleasure_n to_o cultivate_v so_o excellent_a and_o promise_a a_o subject_a as_o their_o fair_a daughter_n since_o great_a advantage_n of_o nature_n and_o general_a grace_n shall_v rather_o invite_v than_o excuse_v improvement_n by_o education_n as_o even_o the_o garden_n of_o eden_n though_o a_o admirable_o fertile_a soil_n and_o plant_v by_o god_n own_o hand_n be_v not_o so_o leave_v to_o itself_o but_o that_o adam_n be_v appoint_v to_o dress_v it_o and_o to_o keep_v it_o and_o if_o the_o discourse_n of_o our_o martyr_n be_v sometime_o less_o short_a than_o they_o may_v have_v be_v make_v i_o hope_v it_o may_v be_v some_o excuse_n that_o i_o be_v not_o unwilling_a to_o lay_v hold_v now_o and_o then_o of_o the_o rise_v afford_v i_o by_o some_o occasion_n to_o show_v that_o romantic_a subject_n be_v not_o as_o too_o many_o person_n of_o quality_n think_v they_o the_o only_a one_o that_o may_v be_v treat_v of_o in_o a_o gentlemanlike_a stile_n and_o that_o even_o some_o noble_a question_n in_o divinity_n and_o some_o of_o the_o severe_a dictate_v of_o the_o christian_a moral_n may_v be_v discourse_v of_o without_o the_o harshness_n of_o the_o school_n term_n or_o the_o downright_a plainness_n of_o some_o better_a mean_v than_o pen_v book_n of_o theology_n and_o devotion_n it_o be_v like_a sir_n you_o will_v think_v it_o strange_a that_o i_o make_v so_o pious_a a_o person_n as_o theodora_n offer_v her_o breast_n to_o didymus_n sword_n and_o by_o solicit_v he_o to_o kill_v she_o tempt_v he_o to_o a_o action_n which_o will_v make_v her_o guilty_a of_o a_o murder_n and_o make_v he_o great_o accessary_a to_o it_o but_o possible_o her_o action_n will_v not_o appear_v very_o strange_a if_o we_o be_v not_o too_o enclinable_a to_o estimate_v the_o affair_n of_o past_a time_n and_o remote_a region_n by_o the_o opinion_n and_o custom_n of_o our_o own_o age_n and_o country_n for_o what_o ever_o we_o now_o just_o think_v of_o the_o sinfulness_n of_o destroy_v a_o man_n self_n whether_o immediate_o or_o otherwise_o yet_o i_o must_v not_o deny_v but_o that_o divers_a of_o the_o ancient_a christian_n think_v it_o not_o criminal_a when_o it_o be_v necessary_a for_o the_o preservation_n of_o chastity_n and_o if_o i_o much_o misremember_v not_o st._n jerom_n himself_o where_o he_o speak_v of_o the_o unlawfulness_n of_o self-destroying_a intimate_v that_o he_o except_v the_o case_n of_o a_o inevitable_a danger_n of_o a_o rape_n but_o my_o chief_a answer_n be_v that_o have_v find_v the_o virgin_n martyr_n proposal_n express_o deliver_v by_o the_o author_n i_o be_v to_o follow_v i_o judge_v it_o the_o part_n of_o a_o historian_n not_o to_o suppress_v it_o which_o i_o acknowledge_v i_o the_o rather_o decline_v to_o do_v because_o theodoras_n offer_n be_v a_o noble_a evincement_n both_o of_o her_o gratitude_n and_o her_o generosity_n and_o therefore_o instead_o of_o omit_v so_o considerable_a a_o action_n of_o she_o i_o choose_v rather_o to_o set_v my_o thought_n a_o work_n to_o find_v a_o plausible_a colour_n for_o it_o which_o whether_o i_o have_v happy_o do_v by_o supply_v she_o with_o the_o example_n of_o a_o prophet_n who_o though_o he_o will_v not_o cast_v himself_o into_o the_o sea_n yet_o solicit_v other_o to_o cast_v he_o and_o that_o have_v first_o bind_v he_o i_o must_v leave_v you_o to_o judge_v i_o free_o confess_v sir_n that_o if_o the_o follow_a piece_n have_v be_v write_v by_o one_o that_o i_o be_v fond_a of_o censure_v i_o can_v myself_o find_v enough_o in_o it_o to_o criticise_v upon_o and_o shall_v object_v against_o it_o beside_o the_o want_n of_o uniformity_n throughout_o that_o if_o judge_v of_o by_o the_o strict_a rule_n of_o art_n it_o ought_v to_o pass_v for_o a_o irregular_a piece_n and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v not_o wonder_v if_o nice_a critic_n and_o more_o verse_v in_o exquisite_a composure_n than_o i_o pretend_v to_o be_v shall_v find_v fault_n with_o this_o artless_a one_o of_o i_o but_o the_o reception_n that_o the_o follow_a paper_n meet_v with_o from_o the_o person_n for_o who_o they_o be_v chief_o write_v afford_v i_o the_o consolation_n derivable_a from_o the_o ingenious_a say_n of_o that_o excellent_a wit_n who_o declare_v he_o have_v rather_o the_o dish_n serve_v up_o at_o his_o treat_n shall_v please_v the_o guest_n than_o the_o cook_n and_o i_o may_v say_v too_o that_o some_o of_o the_o passage_n that_o may_v meet_v with_o censure_n will_v perhaps_o escape_v it_o if_o in_o write_v this_o book_n many_o year_n ago_o i_o have_v not_o have_v some_o aim_n that_o i_o then_o think_v more_o fit_a to_o be_v pursue_v than_o i_o now_o do_v to_o be_v declare_v yet_o i_o will_v not_o here_o dissemble_v that_o i_o know_v it_o may_v be_v think_v by_o some_o that_o this_o paper_n shall_v have_v consist_v less_o of_o conversation_n and_o more_o of_o narratives_n but_o i_o choose_v the_o way_n of_o write_v i_o have_v employ_v partly_o because_o the_o author_n i_o meet_v with_o furnish_v i_o with_o so_o very_a few_o matter_n of_o fact_n that_o if_o i_o will_v have_v confine_v myself_o to_o relation_n i_o must_v have_v comprise_v this_o piece_n in_o a_o very_a few_o page_n and_o have_v finish_v it_o present_o after_o i_o have_v begin_v it_o and_o partly_o too_o and_o indeed_o much_o more_o because_o as_o i_o late_o begin_v to_o intimate_v my_o chief_a design_n be_v not_o so_o much_o to_o perform_v the_o office_n of_o a_o mere_a historian_n as_o to_o take_v rise_v from_o the_o several_a circumstance_n i_o shall_v relate_v to_o convey_v unperceived_o into_o the_o mind_n of_o those_o young_a person_n of_o quality_n for_o who_o i_o write_v sentiment_n of_o true_a piety_n and_o virtue_n and_o these_o i_o think_v will_v not_o so_o happy_o gain_v admittance_n and_o entertainment_n if_o they_o be_v present_v in_o a_o scholar_n like-discourse_n or_o aprofessed_a book_n of_o devotion_n as_o when_o they_o be_v take_v not_o from_o common_a place_n but_o from_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n and_o person_n introduce_v and_o without_o formality_n instill_a by_o the_o occasional_a discourse_n of_o a_o young_a gentleman_n and_o fair_a lady_n for_o who_o the_o beauty_n and_o the_o merit_n ascribe_v to_o the_o speaker_n have_v give_v the_o hearer_n as_o great_a esteem_n and_o kindness_n and_o i_o shall_v not_o scruple_n to_o own_o that_o i_o who_o who_o value_n time_n above_o most_o other_o thing_n do_v not_o think_v it_o worth_a the_o expense_n of_o i_o to_o give_v myself_o the_o trouble_n of_o write_v a_o book_n only_o to_o give_v other_o a_o divertisement_n in_o read_v it_o and_o whilst_o i_o be_v converse_v with_o such_o excellent_a company_n as_o our_o noble_a martyr_n and_o meditate_v on_o such_o serious_a subject_n as_o be_v death_n and_o the_o worth_a of_o that_o heavenly_a religion_n for_o
the_o martyrdom_n of_o theodora_n and_o of_o didymus_n by_o a_o person_n of_o honour_n london_n print_v by_o h._n clark_n for_o john_n tailor_n at_o the_o ship_n and_o christopher_n skegnes_fw-la at_o the_o golden_a ball_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1687._o such_o a_o account_n of_o the_o follow_a book_n send_v with_o it_o to_o a_o friend_n as_o may_v serve_v instead_o of_o a_o preface_n to_o convince_v you_o sir_n how_o much_o more_o i_o be_o concern_v to_o have_v you_o think_v i_o can_v obey_v well_o than_o write_v well_o i_o venture_v to_o send_v you_o the_o account_n as_o imperfect_a and_o unpolished_a as_o it_o be_v that_o you_o be_v please_v to_o command_v of_o the_o last_o hour_n of_o theodora_n but_o i_o must_v beg_v your_o leave_n to_o accompany_v it_o with_o another_o account_n though_o but_o a_o short_a one_o how_o i_o come_v to_o meddle_v with_o this_o subject_a and_o why_o what_o i_o present_v you_o about_o it_o be_v so_o much_o maim_a and_o have_v no_o more_o uniformity_n have_v have_v occasion_n many_o year_n ago_o to_o turn_v over_o a_o martyrology_n and_o some_o other_o book_n that_o relate_v to_o the_o suffering_n of_o the_o primitive_a christian_n i_o chance_v to_o light_v on_o those_o of_o a_o virgin_n who_o though_o to_o my_o wonder_n she_o be_v leave_v unname_v by_o the_o other_o writer_n that_o mention_v she_o seem_v plain_o to_o be_v the_o same_o that_o be_v by_o one_o of_o they_o express_o call_v theodora_n i_o own_o i_o be_v not_o a_o little_a affect_v at_o the_o read_n of_o such_o move_a and_o uncommon_a adventure_n as_o she_o and_o find_v her_o story_n to_o be_v relate_v by_o the_o author_n that_o name_v both_o she_o and_o her_o lover_n not_o only_o very_o succinct_o and_o imperfect_o but_o very_o dull_o too_o i_o find_v myself_o tempt_v so_o to_o enlarge_v this_o story_n as_o that_o it_o may_v be_v contrive_v into_o a_o somewhat_o voluminous_a romance_n but_o upon_o second_o thought_n it_o appear_v incongruous_a to_o turn_v a_o martyr_n into_o a_o nymph_n or_o a_o amazon_n and_o i_o consider_v too_o that_o to_o omit_v what_o else_o may_v be_v object_v against_o that_o sort_n of_o composure_n as_o true_a pearl_n be_v cordial_n and_o antidote_n which_o counterfeit_a one_o how_o fine_a soever_o they_o may_v appear_v be_v not_o so_o true_a example_n do_v arm_n and_o fortify_v the_o mind_n far_o more_o efficacious_o than_o imaginary_a or_o fictious_a one_o can_v do_v and_o the_o fabulous_a labour_n of_o hercules_n and_o exploit_n of_o arthur_n of_o britain_n will_v never_o make_v man_n aspire_v to_o heroic_a virtue_n half_o so_o powerful_o as_o the_o real_a example_n of_o courage_n and_o gallantry_n afford_v by_o jonathan_n caesar_n or_o the_o black_a prince_n but_o yet_o think_v it_o great_a pity_n that_o so_o shine_v a_o virtue_n as_o theodora_n shall_v prove_v exemplary_a but_o to_o her_o own_o time_n and_o to_o one_o city_n and_o remember_v that_o soon_o after_o the_o age_n which_o she_o ennoble_v it_o be_v count_v among_o the_o primitive_a christian_n a_o act_n of_o piety_n to_o build_v fair_a monument_n upon_o the_o former_o abject_a grave_n of_o the_o martyr_n to_o repay_v by_o honour_n do_v to_o their_o memory_n the_o indignity_n and_o disgrace_n they_o have_v suffer_v in_o their_o person_n i_o think_v fit_a to_o try_v if_o i_o can_v rescue_v from_o more_o unskilful_a hand_n than_o even_o i_o a_o story_n that_o abundant_o deserve_v to_o be_v well_o tell_v but_o upon_o further_a thought_n i_o soon_o foresee_v that_o this_o task_n be_v not_o more_o worthy_a to_o be_v undertake_v than_o it_o will_v prove_v difficult_a to_o be_v well_o perform_v for_o the_o martyrologist_n have_v allow_v scarce_o one_o whole_a page_n to_o a_o relation_n that_o perhaps_o merit_v a_o volume_n have_v leave_v so_o many_o chasm_n and_o so_o many_o necessary_a thing_n unmentioned_a that_o i_o plain_o perceive_v i_o want_v a_o far_o great_a number_n of_o circumstance_n than_o that_o he_o have_v supply_v i_o with_o to_o make_v up_o so_o maim_v a_o story_n tolerable_o complete_a and_o as_o the_o relation_n deny_v i_o matter_n enough_o to_o work_v upon_o so_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o subject_n refuse_v most_o of_o those_o embellishment_n which_o in_o other_o theme_n where_o young_a gallant_n and_o fair_a lady_n be_v the_o chief_a actor_n be_v wont_a to_o supply_v the_o deficience_n of_o the_o matter_n beside_o my_o task_n be_v not_o near_o so_o easy_a as_o it_o will_v have_v be_v if_o i_o have_v be_v only_o to_o recite_v the_o intrigue_n of_o a_o amour_n with_o the_o liberty_n to_o feig_o surprise_v adventure_n to_o adorn_v the_o historical_a part_n of_o the_o account_n and_o to_o make_v a_o lover_n speak_v as_o passionate_o as_o i_o can_v and_o his_o mistress_n as_o kind_o as_o the_o indulgent_a law_n of_o decency_n will_v permit_v but_o i_o be_v to_o introduce_v a_o christian_a and_o pious_a lover_n who_o be_v to_o contain_v the_o expression_n of_o his_o flame_n within_o the_o narrow_a bound_n of_o his_o religion_n and_o a_o virgin_n who_o be_v as_o modest_a and_o discreet_a as_o handsome_a and_o as_o devout_a as_o either_o be_v to_o own_o a_o high_a esteem_n for_o a_o excellent_a lover_n and_o a_o uncommon_a gratitude_n to_o a_o transcendent_a benefactor_n without_o entrench_v either_o upon_o her_o virtue_n or_o her_o reservedness_n and_o i_o perceive_v the_o difficulty_n of_o my_o task_n will_v be_v increase_v by_o that_o of_o reconcile_a theodora_n scrupulousness_n to_o the_o humour_n of_o some_o young_a person_n of_o quality_n of_o either_o sex_n who_o be_v earnest_a to_o engage_v my_o pen_n on_o this_o occasion_n and_o will_v expect_v that_o i_o shall_v make_v theodora_n more_o kind_a than_o i_o think_v her_o great_a piety_n and_o strict_a modesty_n will_v permit_v but_o for_o all_o this_o the_o esteem_n i_o have_v for_o the_o fair_a martyr_n excellency_n and_o the_o compliance_n i_o have_v for_o those_o that_o desire_v to_o receive_v a_o account_n of_o so_o rare_a a_o person_n action_n and_o suffering_n make_v i_o resolve_v to_o try_v what_o i_o can_v do_v which_o i_o adventure_v upon_o with_o the_o less_o reluctancy_n because_o though_o i_o esteem_v it_o a_o kind_n of_o profaneness_n to_o transform_v a_o piece_n of_o martyrology_n into_o a_o romance_n yet_o i_o think_v it_o allowable_a enough_o where_o a_o narrative_a be_v write_v so_o concise_o and_o leave_v so_o unperfect_a as_o that_o i_o have_v to_o descant_v upon_o to_o make_v such_o supplement_n of_o circumstance_n as_o be_v not_o improbable_a in_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n and_o be_v little_o less_o than_o necessary_a to_o the_o clearness_n and_o entireness_n of_o the_o story_n and_o the_o decent_a connection_n of_o the_o part_n it_o shall_v consist_v of_o i_o suppose_v too_o that_o i_o need_v not_o scruple_n to_o lend_v speech_n to_o the_o person_n i_o bring_v upon_o the_o stage_n provide_v they_o be_v suitable_a to_o the_o speaker_n and_o occasion_n since_o i_o be_v warrant_v by_o the_o example_n of_o livy_n plutarch_n and_o other_o grave_a and_o judicious_a historian_n who_o make_v no_o scruple_n to_o give_v we_o set_v oration_n of_o their_o own_o frame_n and_o sometime_o put_v they_o into_o the_o mouth_n of_o general_n at_o the_o head_n of_o their_o army_n just_o go_v to_o give_v battle_n though_o at_o such_o time_n the_o hurry_n and_o distraction_n that_o both_o they_o and_o their_o auditor_n must_v be_v in_o must_v make_v it_o very_o unlikely_a either_o that_o they_o shall_v make_v elaborate_a speech_n or_o their_o hearer_n mind_n and_o remember_v they_o well_o enough_o to_o repeat_v they_o to_o the_o historian_n encourage_v by_o these_o liberty_n which_o i_o think_v i_o may_v just_o allow_v myself_o i_o draw_v up_o as_o well_o as_o i_o can_v what_o you_o have_v be_v tell_v i_o write_v about_o theodora_n this_o i_o think_v fit_a to_o divide_v into_o two_o part_n in_o the_o first_o whereof_o which_o be_v less_o remote_a from_o be_v romantic_a i_o give_v somewhat_o at_o large_a the_o character_n of_o they_o both_o i_o mention_v the_o rise_n and_o progress_n of_o didymus_n love_n the_o degeneracy_n of_o the_o than_o christian_n which_o provoke_v divine_a providence_n to_o expose_v they_o to_o a_o very_a bloody_a persecution_n i_o declare_v how_o theodora_n be_v involve_v in_o it_o be_v bring_v before_o the_o precedent_n of_o antioch_n how_o she_o resolute_o own_a her_o religion_n before_o he_o answer_v his_o argument_n and_o resist_v both_o his_o promise_n and_o his_o menace_n how_o thereupon_o the_o judge_n doom_v she_o either_o to_o sacrifice_n or_o to_o be_v prostitute_v in_o the_o the_o public_a stew_n how_o she_o after_o a_o eager_a debate_n in_o she_o own_o mind_n refuse_v to_o offer_v sacrifice_n be_v notwithstanding_o her_o silence_n lead_v away_o to_o the_o