Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
How typical of Eulalia (both of them)oh she had a high old time making impudent and provocative remarks,
winding up her torturers - that's why I love her!
The name Eulalia means "well spoken" - again how typical!Impudent, provocative remarks from you Eul? Surely not!!!
I would say that this taps into one of the pleasures of the progression of torture.
For a victim of Eulalia's temperament, its a once in a lifetime opportunity to show her bravery and defiance of the male power structure (yes, a cliche, but close to the point, I suspect, for many of the females of our forum).
For the torturer, that very defiance gives a target for his hatred of a virginal girl denying him sex, and his desire to dominate. The very exciting tension as the torture proceeds is how long will her will to resist continue until the inevitable triumph of incredible bodily pain forces her to plead for the mercy which they both know will never come.
Let's not drag Diocletian into this. He was responsible for the persecutions, but , no matter what anyone says, he was not present of her martyrdom.
I love the sketch. The girl is so dwarfed by the men, and the cross is so big and heavy (French Crucifixion Wood?) for such a little victim!