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and fraud, and the blessed Mary, the Virgin of Antioch, has her place accordingly in the Acta Sanctorum, on the 29th of May. But as the legend evidently was not written when Antioch was a Christian city, and moreover, as the legend itself contains nothing whatever by which its age could be determined, Papebroche presents it as eo habendam esse loco, quo multa in Vitis Sanctorum Patrum, utilem quidem instructionem continentia ad formandos mores, sed ad historicam certitudinem parum aut nihil. Igitur istam quoque ut talem hic damus; liberum lectori relinquentes, ut eam quo volet gradu credibilitatis collocet.

In this legend one of the chief persons in Antioch, Anthemius by name, failing to win the affections of Maria, who was the daughter of a poor widow, and had resolved to lead a life of celibacy, applies to a Magician to assist him. The Magician sends two Demons to influence mother and daughter in their sleep, so as to bring Maria to Anthemius's bedchamber; but the temptations of worldly wealth, which are offered, have only the effect of alarming them; they rise in the middle of the night, and go toward the Church, there to pray for protection and deliverance: and on the way thither one Demon takes upon him Maria's form, while the other personates the mother, and thus decoys Maria into the apartment where Anthemius is expecting her. She is however allowed to depart uninjured, upon a promise to return at the end of fifteen days, and live with him as a servant, provided he will offer her no violence... Nothing can be more unlike the story of Proterius's daughter. Having extorted an oath from her that she would return according to this promise, Anthemius remains, wondering at the great power of the Magician. "Certes," thought he, "one who can do what he hath done in this matter is greater than all men; why, then, should I not offer him all I am worth if he will make me equal to himself?" And, being inflamed with this desire, he said within himself, "If I were such as he is, whatever I might wish for would be within my reach." This thought came into his mind as if it were by Divine Providence, to the

end that he might willingly let the Virgin depart, and that she might not be bound by the nefarious oath which she had taken, and that the Devil, who was the instigator of his evil desires, might be confounded in his designs both upon the Virgin herself, and upon him who was at this time the Virgin's enemy.

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"As soon, therefore, as it was day, Anthemius went out to seek for the Sorcerer, and to give him thanks. Having found him and saluted him, he delivered to him, with many thanks, the gold which he had promised; and then, falling at his feet, earnestly intreated that he might be made such as the Sorcerer himself was, promising that, if this could be effected through his means, he would requite him with whatever sum he might demand. But the Sorcerer replied, that it was not possible for him to be made a sorcerer also, because he was a Christian, having been made such by his baptism.' But Anthemius answered, then I renounce my baptism and Christian name, I may be made a sorcerer.' Still the Sorcerer replied, thou canst not be made a sorcerer, neither canst thou keep the laws of the sorcerers, the which, if thou wert not to keep, thou wouldest then fall from a place which could never again be recovered.' But Anthemius, again embracing his feet, promised that he would perform whatever should be enjoined him then the Sorcerer, seeing his perseverance, asked for paper, and having written therein what he thought good, gave it to Anthemius, and said, 'take this writing; and in the dead of the night go out of the city, supperless, and stand upon yonder little bridge. A huge multitude will pass over it about midnight, with a mighty uproar, and with their Prince seated in a chariot: yet fear not thou, for thou wilt not be hurt, having with thee this my writing; but hold up the writing, so that it may be perceived; and if thou shouldest be asked what thou doest there at that hour, or who thou art, say the Great Master sent me to my Lord the Prince, with this letter, that I might deliver it unto him.' But take heed neither to sign thyself as a Christian, nor to call upon Christ, for in either case thy desire would then be frustrated.'

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"Anthemius therefore, having received the letter, went his way, and when night came he went out of the city, and took his stand upon the little bridge, holding up the writing in his hand. About midnight a great multitude came there, and horsemen in great numbers, and the Prince himself sitting in a chariot; and they who went first surrounded him, saying, who is this that standeth here?' To whom Anthemius made answer, 'the Great Master hath sent me to my Lord the Prince with this letter.' And they took the letter from him, and delivered it to the Prince who sate in the chariot, and he, having received and read the same, wrote something in the same paper, and gave it to Anthemius, that he should carry it to the Sorcerer. So in the morning Anthemius, having returned, delivered it to the Sorcerer, who, having perused it, said, 'wouldest thou know what he hath written to us? even just as I before said to thee, to wit, knowest thou not that this man is a Christian? such a one I can in no wise admit, unless, according to our manner, he performeth all things, and renounceth and abhorreth his faith.' When Anthemius heard this, he replied, Master, now as elsewhile I abjure the name of Christian, and the faith, and the baptism.' Then the Sorcerer wrote again; and giving the writing to Anthemius, said, 'go again, and take thy stand at night at the same place, and when he shall come, give him this, and attend to what he shall say.' Accordingly he went his way, and took his stand at the time and place appointed. Behold at the same hour the same company appeared again, and they said unto him, wherefore hast thou returned hither?' Anthemius answered and said, Lord, the Great Master hath sent me back with this writing.' The Prince then received it, and read, and again wrote in it, and gave it again to be returned to the Sorcerer. To whom Anthemius went again in the morning, and he, having read the writing, said unto him, 'knowest thou what he hath written unto me in reply? I wrote to him, saying, all these things, Lord, he hath abjured before me; admit him, therefore, if it pleaseth thee.' But he hath written back, unless he abjureth all this in

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writing, and in his own hand, I will not admit him.' Say now then what wilt thou that I should do for thee?'

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"The wretched Anthemius answered and said, Master, I am ready to do this also.' And with that he seated himself, and wrote thus: -I, Anthemius, abjure Christ and his faith. I abjure also his baptism, and the cross, and the Christian name, and I promise that I will never again use them, or invoke them. But, while he was thus writing, a copious sweat ran from him, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, so that his whole inner garment was wet therewith, as he himself afterwards with continual tears confessed. He never

theless went on writing, and, when it was finished, he gave the writing to the Sorcerer to read, who, when he had perused it, said, this is well; go thy way again, and he will now certainly receive thee. And when he shall have admitted thee, say to him reverently, I beseech thee, Lord, assign to me those who may be at my bidding; and he will assign unto thee as many as thou wilt have. But this I advise thee, not to take more than one or two familiars, inasmuch as more would perplex thee, and would be perpetually disturbing thee night and day, that thou mightest give them what to do.' Then Anthemius returned to the same place as before, and awaited there, and the same company came there again at midnight, and the leader of them, having incontinently recognised Anthemius, began to cry out, Lord, the Great Master hath again sent hither this man with his commands:' and the Prince bade him draw nigh. And Anthemius, drawing nigh, gave unto him his profession of abjuration, full of calamity and woe. He, having received and read it, raised it on high in his hand, and began to exclaim, Christ, behold Anthemius, who heretofore was thine, hath by this writing abjured and execrated thee! I am not the author of this his deed; but he, offering himself to my service with many intreaties, hath of his own accord written this his profession of abjuration, and delivered it to me. Have thou then therefore no care of him from this time forth!" And he repeated these words a second time, and again a third.

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"But when Anthemius heard that dreadful voice, he trembled from head to foot, and began at the same time to cry aloud, and to say, give me back the writing! I am a Christian! I beseech thee, I adjure thee! I will be a Christian! give me back the profession which I have wickedly written!' But when the miserable man was proceeding thus to exclaim, the Prince said unto him, never again mayest thou have this thy profession, which I shall produce in the terrible day of judgement. From this moment thou art mine, and I have thee in my power at will, unless an outrage be done to justice.' With these words he departed, leaving Anthemius. But Anthemius lay prostrate on his face upon the bridge till it was dawn, weeping and lamenting his condition. As soon as it was daylight he rose and returned to his own house, where he remained weeping and lamenting, not knowing what he should do. Now there was another city, some eighteen miles off, where there was said to be a Bishop, who was a man of God. To him, therefore, he resolved to repair, that he might obtain his intercession, and having confessed the whole matter even as it had taken place, to be again by him baptized for in his own city he was ashamed to confess what he had done. Having then cut off his hair, and clad himself in sackcloth, he departed, and came unto the Bishop, and having made himself known, was admitted to him, and threw himself at his feet, saying, I beseech thee, baptize me!' But the Bishop replied, can I believe that thou hast not yet been baptized?' Then he, taking the Bishop apart, told him the whole matter, saying, I have indeed received baptism when I was a child, but having now renounced it in writing, behold I am unbaptized!' To which the Bishop replied, how camest thou persuaded that thou hast been unbaptized of the baptism which thou hast received?' Anthemius answered, in that unhappy hour when I wrote the abjuration of my Lord and Saviour, and of his baptism, incontinently a profuse sweat burst out, even from the top of my head to the soles of my feet, so that my inner garments were wet therewith; and from that time I have believed of a truth, that even as I then

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