"Galerius Maximus": "Are you Thascius Cyprianus?" <br>"Cyprian": "I am." <br>"Galerius": "The most sacred Emperors have commanded you to conform to the Roman rites." <BR>"Cyprian": "I refuse." <br>"Galerius": "Take heed for yourself." <br>"Cyprian": "Do as you are bid; in so clear a case I may not take heed." <br>"Galerius", after briefly conferring with his judicial council, with much reluctance pronounced the following sentence: "You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn together a number of men bound by an unlawful association, and professed yourself an open enemy to the gods and the religion of Rome; and the pious, most sacred and august Emperors ... have endeavoured in vain to bring you back to conformity with their religious observances; whereas therefore you have been apprehended as principal and ringleader in these infamous crimes, you shall be made an example to those whom you have wickedly associated with you; the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood." He then read the sentence of the court from a written tablet: "It is the sentence of this court that Thascius Cyprianus be executed with the sword."<br> "Cyprian": "Thanks be to God.”