Baring-Gould’s sources: By the Greeks on June 8th; Roman Martyrology on June 17th. Authority: — The ancient Acts, which are perfectly trustworthy; they exist both in Latin and Greek.] (AINTS NICANDER and Marcian were two soldiers living at Atina, who were arrested in the third persecution, and brought before the governor, Maximus, who had endeavoured to persuade them to sacrifice to the idols. Daria, the wife of Nicander, was present, and fearing lest her husband should yield, cried out to him, li My lord, do not sacrifice to the dumb idols. Look up into heaven, and think what is laid up for thee there !”
232 Lives 0/ the Saints. rjune *7. “ Blockhead (O malum caput)!” exclaimed the prefect, “ why dost thou desire the death of thy husband ?” “ That he may live to God,” was her prompt reply. “No, no,” said the magistrate; “I know the real reason is that you are on the look-out for a second husband.”
“If that be thy notion,” answered Daria, “slay me instead of my husband.” “ That would not be just,” said Maximus; “ however, I will have thee kept in durance.”
When Daria was led away, the prefect said, “ Pay no heed to the idle talk of that woman. Take three days to think the matter over, and be not so mad as to force me to sentence thee to death.”
“ The time is past. I have had three days to consider before I was brought before thee, and I am resolved on my safety.” “The gods be praised !” exclaimed Maximus, with a sigh of relief.
“ Stay,” said Nicander, “lam misunderstood. I seek salvation by my God, not of thy idols,” Leuco, the assessor of the prefect, said, “ It seems to me that thou hast chosen death.”
Nicander replied, “Nay, I have chosen eternal life. Do with my body what pleaseth thee; I tell thee for once and all, I am a Christian.”
Then the governor turned to the brother of Nicander, and said, “ What sayest thou, Marcian ?” “ I say the same as my brother Nicander.” “Then let both be taken to prison,” said the governor. And when twenty days had elapsed, the brave Christians were brought forth, and led before the magistrate. The prefect said, “ Now you have had time to consider; obey the emperor, or I must condemn you to death.” ft * J June x7.] SS. Nicander and Martian. 233 Marcian answered, “ By the safety of the emperor ! We fear not thy torments, but press towards the prize which God has prepared for them that love Him. Despatch us speedily, that our eyes may look upon the Crucified whom thou blasphemest.”
“It is not I who persecute you,” said the prefect; “you do not oppose me, but the emperor, and I am forced to execute his mandates.”
Then he sorrowfully gave the sentence that they should be executed, saying, “ Go with joy whither ye desire, and may all your hopes be fulfilled.” Then the martyrs raised their voices and said, “ Peace be to thee, kind prefect I” and they were led away, praising God.
But the wife of Marcian followed with his little son in her arms, crying after him, “ Why didst thou bid me have no fears for thy future, when I came to thee in prison ?”
Marcian, steeling himself against his emotion, answered her, “ Do not come near me.” But she ran, distracted with grief, dragged him back by the cloak, and cried, as she laid the little boy at his feet, “ Husband ! if you have no pity for me, look on that poor child, that little darling ! Do not make me a widow and him an orphan by your obstinacy.” Marcian implored the bystanders to remove her, “I pray you,” said he, “ separate us, that my martyrdom may be accomplished.”
A Christian named Zoticus took his hand, and said, “ Good sir, be courageous, and fight the good fight out, and win thy crown.”
Marcian answered, “ Let go my hand, and take that of my wife, and hold her back, and comfort her, or pick up the babe at my feet, and put it in her arms,. tfc — and keep her away till all is over. She must not see me die.”
Then the martyr took his little child in his arms, and looking up to heaven, blessed it, saying, 11 Lord God Almighty, take this child into thy special care.” With great difficulty the poor woman was removed. This was a keener trial to Marcian, doubtless, than the final pang of deati Daria, on the other hand, followed Nicander, to encourage him. And when they had reached the place of execution, the executioner blind-folded the martyrs and with his sword smote off their heads. And at night the Christians of Venafrum took the body of S. Nicander, and embalmed it, and buried it near their city, and the Christians of Atina did likewise with the body of S. Marcian; and their bodies repose in these two cities to this day.