The sober discretion of the present age will more readily censure than admire, but can more easily admire than imitate, the fervor of the first Christians, who, according to the lively expression of Sulpicius Severus, desired martyrdom with more eagerness than his own contemporaries solicited a bishopric. The epistles which Ignatius composed as he was carried in chains through the cities of Asia breathe sentiments the most repugnant to the ordinary feelings of human nature. He earnestly beseeches the Romans that, when he should be exposed in the amphitheater, they would not, by their kind but unreasonable intercession, deprive him of the crown of glory. And he declares his resolution to provoke and irritate the wild beasts that might be employed as the instruments of his death. Some stories are related of the courage of martyrs who actually performed what Ignatius had intended, who exasperated the fury of the lions, pressed the executioner to hasten his office, cheerfully leaped into the fires which were kindled to consume them, and discovered a sensation of joy and pleasure in the midst of the most exquisite tortures.

From Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London: Wordsworth, 1998 (first published from 1776 to 1788), pp. 327-328.

Addendum (August 22, 2016)

This bloody quote is outright soothing at this day and age. The courage of martyrs is back, albeit not among the Christians. Even the most ardent fundamentalists in their ranks have turned rather tame in the fullness of time. This time around, it is the Muslims’ turn. And they are following Gibbon’s account almost to the letter. Were Americans and Europeans as fierce as their Roman ancestors, today’s martyrs would be that much more eager, and perhaps even happier. Ever a farce, history repeats itself over and over again. In short, martyrdom is part and parcel of the human psyche, and any religion would do to foment it. Any other reading of Gibbon’s account of the first Christians and their shenanigans is for the birds.