PREFACE, XXI
and then poured vinegar and brine upon his wounds: and having nailed him to a bed they cast him into prison, vthere during the night Christ came and healed him -cptirely. On the following day when Dadianus found “that he was healed he had him tied to four posts and beaten with eight hundred stripes, and vinegar and brine )poured over him. That night Christ visited him agam in prison and healed him. The next day Dadianus made “4 proclamation in which he invited any magician who “was able to overcome George to come to his presence, /jgromising to reward him well if he could defeat and kill him. In answer to this proclamation a man called Atha- fasius appeared and told the governor that he was able to do anything. When Dadianus asked for a proof of his assertion, Athanasius asked that an ox might be brought to him; and when it was brought he whispered in its car, and it split asunder into two parts which, when weighed, jwere found to be of equal weight. ‘The governor was satisfied at his proof of power, and ordered that etther he should overcome George, or that George should overcome ‘him. Athanasius then filled a cup with drugs, and having uttered the mighty names of demons over it gave it to | ‘George to drink; George drank it, but the poison had no ‘effect upon him. Athanasius begged for one more trial of his skill, and having mixed a more potent draught of poison, and having pronounced the names of more power- ful demons than the first. over it, he gave it to George to drink; and he drank it without any evil consequence following. Athanasius the sorcerer, seeing that his magic
