150 The Imperial Government
toflogging,thecross,orexposuretothebeasts.Tertullianwasthuswholly
justifiedinplacingsomuchrhetoricalemphasisonthevariousformsoflac-
eration applied to the bodies of condemned Christians. Condemnation to
custodial penalties involving hard labourexposed thevictims to similar if
moreprolongedformsofviolencetothebodyandwasprecededasamatter
ofcoursebywhipping.Theeconomicfunctionsofsuchcustodialpenalties
werenotwithoutsignificance,notleastintheirverydistinctdirectionsand
limits;buttheyshouldnonethelessbeseenassecondary.Itwasonlyanex-
tensionofageneralprinciplewhentheearlyfourth-centuryChristianswent
tothemineswithoneeyegougedoutandatendonsevered:‘‘notsomuch
forserviceasforthesakeofill-treatmentandhardship.’’