15. O most accursed tyrant, and enemy of heavenly justice, and cruel-hearted, I am no murderer, nor sacrilegious man, whom you thus ill-usest; but a defender of the Divine law.
16. And when the spearmen said, Consent to eat, that you may be released from your tortures,—
17. he answered, Not so powerful, O accursed ministers, is your wheel, as to stifle my reasoning; cut my limbs, and burn my flesh, and twist my joints.
18. For through all my torments I will convince you that the children of the Hebrews are alone unconquered in behalf of virtue.
19. While he was saying this, they heaped up fuel, and setting fire to it, strained him upon the wheel still more.