Victor said:
'I do not know the origin of the dissension. I am one of the Christian people. However, when I lived at Carthage and the Bishop Secundus had at length arrived there, they are said to have discovered that Caecilian had been wrongfully made a Bishop, by whom I know not; and they set up another in opposition. From that time forward the dissension at Carthage began, but I cannot know its origin fully, for our city always has one church, and if dissension there was, we know nothing about it.' |351
Zenophilus said:
'Are you in communion with Silvanus?'
Victor answered:
'I am.'
Zenophilus said:
'Why then have you passed over that man whose innocence has been cleared ?' And added: 'Besides, it is stated that you know something else with the fullest certainty----that Silvanus is a Betrayer. Own to this.'
Victor replied:
'This I know not.'
Zenophilus said to Nundinarius the Deacon:
'Victor says that he does not know that Silvanus is a Betrayer.' |352
Nundinarius the deacon said:
'He knows quite well, for he himself gave up the codices.'
Victor answered:
'I had fled from that storm----and if I lie, let me perish. When we suffered the inrush of sudden persecution, we fled to Mount Bellona. I remained there with Mars the deacon. Victor the priest was there also. When this Mars was ordered to give up all the books, he said that he had not got them. Then Victor gave up the names of all the lectors. They came to my house in my absence. The magistrates went in and carried off my codices. When I got back, I found that the codices had been taken away.'
Nundinarius the deacon said:
'But at the public investigation you answered that you gave up the codices. Why deny things that can be proved?'
Zenophilus said to Victor:
'Acknowledge frankly, that you may not be questioned with greater severity.'
Nundinarius the deacon said:
'Let the Acts be read.'
Zenophilus said:
'Let them be read.'
Nundinarius then gave them, and the notary read aloud: