The Legend Of The "Quatuor Coronati."

serviant precepto pietatis vestre , ant nos invenimus qui faciant secundum voluntatem clementie vestre . Dioclitianus Augustus dixit : Inveniantur doctiores hujus artis ? Philosophi dixerunt : Nos procuravimus viros , religiono suffultos . Dioclitianus

Augustus ait : Si de hoc metallo proeuraveritis ut deum Asclepium faciant , et hos sacrilegii pena constringit , et illi magni erunt apud nostram mansuetndinem .

Tunc ceperunt philosophi cum Claudio , Simphoriano , Nicostrato , Castorio et Simplieio , habere altercationem dicentes : Qnare in arte vestro preceptis clomini piissirn , ! Augusti non obeditis et facitis ejus voluntatem ?

Respondit Claudius et dixit : Nos non blasphemamus creatorem nostrum , et nos ipsos confundimus , nereiinveniamur in conspeotu ejus . Philosophi dixerunt : Claruit quia Christian ! estis . Dixit Castorius : Vere

Christian ! sumus . Tune philosophi elegerunt alios artifices quadratarios , et fecerunt sculpentes Asclepium ante conspectum suum . Et cum vidissent simulacrum ex metallo preconisso et protulissent ante philosophos , post dies triginta unum philosophi nuntiaverunt Dioclitiano Auo-usto Asclepium per fee turn .

Et jussit Dioclitianus deferri simulacrum . Et miratus est , et dixit : Hoc artis ingenium ipsorum est , qui nobis in artis sculptnra placuerunt . Philosophi dixerunt : Sacratissime princeps semper Auguste , hos quos declarat serenitas vestra in arte quad

rataria peritissimos esse ; id est Claudium , Simphorianum , Nicostratum , Castorium et Simplicium , innotescat mansuetndihi vestre , eos sacrileges Christianos esse , et per incantationum carmina omne genus humanum

sibi huniiliari . Dioclitianus dixit : Si preceptis jnstitie non obedierint , vera est locutio suggestionis vestre , ferant sententiam sacrilegii . Et jussit cuidam tribnno Lampadio

nomine , sub moderatione verborum cum philosophis audire dicens : Justa examinatione eos proba . Et in quos

phers said : Therefore let them obey your command or we find others to do according to your wishes . Diocletian Augustus said : Can there be found men more skilled in this art ? The philosophers said : We have procured men supported by love of the Gods !

Diocletian Augustus says : If you have obtained men to make the image of the god iEsculapius from this metal ( ancl he constrains them by the , punishment of sacrilege ) they , too , shall be great through our generosity .

Then the philosophers began to dispute with Claudius , Simphorian , Nicostratus , Castorius , ancl Simplicins . saying : Why do ye not obey the commands of our most revered master , and do his will ? Claudius replied

, and said : We do not blaspheme our Creator , and confound ourselves , lest we be found guilty in his sight . The philosophers said : It is evident you are Christians ? Castorius said : Truly we are Christians .

Then the philosophers chose other workmen in masonry , and they carved iEsculapius before their eyes . And when they saw the image from the [ preconisso ] square metal , and had brought it to the hilosophersafter

p , thirty-one days the philosophers announced to Diocletian Augustus that the image of iEsculapius was finished . And Diocletian ordered the image to be brought to him . And he marvelled , and said : This is the genius

of those men who have pleased us with their art of scul pture . The philosophers said : Most sacred and ever august prince , let it be known to

your clemency that these men whom your grace declares to be the most skilful in the masonic art , namely Claudius , Simphorian , Nicostratus , Castorius , and Simplicins , are heretic Christians , and , by the charms of incantations , the whole human race is

humbled to them . Diocletian said : If they obey not the commands of justice , and the word of your accusation is true , let them bear the judgment of the heretic . Ancl he ordered a certain tribune , Lampadins by name , to listen to them , together with the philosophers , with temperate words , saying : Try them