The pyre is prepared and Polycarp refuses to be nailed
The crowd has just demanded that Polycarp be burned alive, and now the pyre is being prepared while Polycarp readies himself.
All this happened with such speed, faster than words could tell. The crowds gathered wood and kindling at once from the workshops and the baths, and the Jews were especially eager to help, as is their custom.
When the pyre was ready, Polycarp took off all his clothes and loosened his belt. He tried to remove his shoes as well, though he had not done this before, because every one of the faithful was always eager to be the first to touch his skin. For even before his martyrdom he had been adorned with every good thing on account of his excellent way of life.
Immediately the instruments fitted for the pyre were placed around him. When they were about to nail him to it as well, he said, "Leave me as I am. The one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me strength to remain on the pyre without flinching, even without the security of your nails."
Greek
Ταῦτα οὖν μετὰ τοσούτου τάχους ἐγένετο, θάττον ἢ ἐλέγετο, τῶν ὄχλων παραχρῆμα συναγόντων ἔκ τε τῶν ἐργαστηρίων καὶ βαλανείων ξύλα καὶ φρύγανα, μάλιστα Ἰουδαίων προθύμως, ὡς ἔθος αὐτοῖς, εἰς ταῦτα ὑπουργούντων.
ὅτε δὲ ἡ πυρκαϊὰ ἡτοιμάσθη, ἀποθέμενος ἑαυτῷ πάντα τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ λύσας τὴν ζώνην ἐπειρᾶτο καὶ ὑπολύειν ἑαυτόν, μὴ πρότερον τοῦτο ποιῶν διὰ τὸ ἀεὶ ἕκαστον τῶν πιστῶν σπουδάζειν, ὅστις τάχιον τοῦ χρωτὸς αὐτοῦ ἅψηται: παντὶ γὰρ καλῷ ἀγαθῆς ἕνεκεν πολιτείας καὶ πρὸ τῆς μαρτυρίας ἐκεκόσμητο.
εὐθέως οὖν αὐτῷ περιετίθετο τὰ πρὸς τὴν πυρὰν ἡρμοσμένα ὄργανα. μελλόντων δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ προσηλοῦν, εἶπεν: Ἄφετέ με οὕτως: ὁ γὰρ δοὺς ὑπομεῖναι τὸ πῦρ δώσει χωρὶς τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐκ τῶν ἥλων ἀσφαλείας ἄσκυλτον ἐπιμεῖναι τῇ πυρᾷ.