Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Vol. LIV: Augustini Epistulae Pars I

the throat, so that he who could not cut, might at least be buried in the body by the pressing hand: — O event unheard of in all ages! — the sword is turned back toward the hilt and, looking upon its master as if conquered, it confessed that it could not strike.

9. Hither, hither bring me the examples of the three youths referring to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, who amid the cold globes of flames uttered hymns instead of tears, around whose sarabara loose trousers or undergarments and holy hair the fire played harmlessly. Hither let the history of blessed Daniel be recalled, near whom, with their tails fawning, the mouths of the lions feared their prey. Now let Susanna, noble in faith, come to the minds of all, she who, condemned by an iniquitous judgment, was saved by the Holy Spirit filling the youth referring to Daniel. Behold, the mercy of the Lord is not different in either case: the one Susanna was liberated by the judge so that she would not go to the sword; the other the woman previously described, condemned by the judge, was absolved by the sword.

10. Therefore, the people are finally armed to vindicate the woman. Every age, every sex puts the executioner to flight, and as the crowd gathers into a circle, hardly anyone believes what they have seen. The nearby city is disturbed by such news, and a whole band of lictors is gathered. From among them, the one to whom the care of the condemned belonged, bursting forth and tossing his unclean gray hair with sprinkled dust...