The Legend Of The "Quatuor Coronati."

Dioclitiano philosophi , ut videret opera artificum . Et jussit omnia in campo afferri . Et dum allata fuissent , Asclepius non est presentatus secundum preceptnm Dioclitiani Augusti . Et dum nimio amore rpsum requireret

, suggestionem dederunt philosophi Dioclitiano Augusto dicentes : Piissime Cesar et semper Augnste , qui omnes homines diligis , et es pacis amicus , sciat mansuetudo tua quia hos quos diligis Christian ! suntet omne

, quicquid imperatum fnerit , in nomine Christi faciunt . Respondit Dioclitianus Augustus et dixit : Si omnia opera eorum in nomine Christi magnifica esse nosciintnr , non est crudelo seel magis gloriosum . Responderunt

philosophi dicentes : Ignoras piissime , quia precepto pietatis tue , non obecliunt , conscientia crudeli , et ideo nolnerunt artis munificentian in eclificationem simulacrum clei Asclepii ostendere imaginem . Dioclitianus Augustus dixit : Deducantnr ad me isti viri .

Et cum vocati fuissent Claudius , Simphorianus , Castorius , Nicostratus et Simplicins , dixit ad eos Dioclitianus Augustus : Scitis quo affectu et gratia diligeret vos mansuetudo nostra , et pio amore vos foverim P Quare non

obedistis preceptis nostris nt sculperetis cle rnetallo porphiritico cleum Asclepiuin ? Respondit Claudius : Pie semper Auguste , obedivimus p . ietati vestre , et servivimus claritati tue , imaginem vero hominis miserrimi

nunquam faciemus , quia sic scriptum est : Similes illis fiant qui f aeiunt eo , et omnes qui confidunt in eis .

Tunc exarserunt philosophi adversus eos , dicentes ad Dioclitianum : Piissime semper Auguste , vides perfidiam quomodo pietati vestre , superbo sermone loquiintur . Dioclitianus Augustus dixit : Non execrentur periti artifices , sed magis colantur . Philosophi autem dixerunt : Ergo

tns that he should see the work of the workmen . And he ordered everything to be brought into a public place ; and when they had been brought the image of iBsculapius , which Diocletian Augustus hacl orderedwas

, not displayed , ancl when he , in his excessive desire , demanded it , the philosophers made a suggestion to Diocletian Augustus , saying : Most glorious and august Ca . sar , who lovest all menand art a friend of

, peace , let your clemency know that these men whom you love are Christians , ancl perform whatever is commanded them in the name of Christ . Diocletian Augustus replied , and said : If all their works are known to be

magnificent b y the name of Christ , it is not a matter for reproof but ' rather of admiration . The philosophers answered , ancl said : Knowest thou not , most upright emperor , that they are not obedient to vour kind

commands , through a reprehensible knowledge , ancl therefore would not display the magnificence of their art in the building of an image of the god iEsculapius . Diocletian Augustus said : Let those men be brought to me .

And when Claudius , Simphorian , Castorius , Nicostratus , ancl Simplicins had been summoned , Diocletian Augustus said to them : Know ye with what affection ancl favour our grace has loved you , ancl how I

encouraged you with a loving consideration ? Wh y do ye not obey our commands that you should carve an image of the God iEsculapius out of the porphyry ? Claudius replied : Most generous Augustus , we have

obeyed your grace , ancl have been subservient to your mightiness , but an image of that most wretched man will we never make , for it is written , " They that make them are like unto them , ancl so are all those who put their trust in them . "

Then the philosophers were enraged against them , saying to Diocletian : Most revered Augustus , you see their perfidy , how they answer your grace with haughty words . Diocletian Augustus said : Skilled philosophers should not be hated , but rather honoured . But the philoso-