Take away the contests of the martyrs, and you have taken away their crowns.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness.
But let us not too hastily triumph in the shame of Sparta, lest we aggravate our own condemnation.
Remember the sufferings of Christ, the storms that were weathered... the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith... All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown.
Therefore I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power and a splendor that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don't settle for them.
Give way to your opponent; thus will you gain the crown of victory.
Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me.
In honour I gained them, and in honour I will die with them.
When the Christians, upon these occasions, received martyrdom, they were ornamented, and crowned with garlands of flowers; for which they, in heaven, received eternal crowns of glory.