CRISPIN TIDE. 299 



OCT. 25. SS. Chrysanthus and Daria, martyrs 

 in the 3d cent. 

 SS. Crispin and Crispinian, martyrs, 308. 

 St. Gaudentius, bishop and confessor. 

 St. Boniface I. pope and confessor. 



Vertumnalia. — Julian Cal. 



Obs. St. Chrysanthus, after haviiiir e-pouspil Daria, persuaded her to prefer 

 a state of perpetual virginity to tliat of inarria;^e, iliat they might more easily 

 with perfect purity of heart trample the world under their feet, and accompli'sh 

 the solemn consecration they had made of themselves to Christ in baptism. 

 The jeal n-ith which they professed the faith of Christ distinsuished them in 

 the eyes of tlie idolators; they were accused, and, after sutfering many tor- 

 ments, finished tlieir course by a glorious martijrdom in 237. 



St. Crispin's Day is still recorded as a holiday in the Englisli Calendars. 

 The glorious martyrs Crispinus and Crispinianus were brothers, and were born 

 at Rome, whence they travelled to Soissons in France about the year 304, to 

 propagate the Christian religion. Being desirous of rendering themselves in- 

 dependent, they gained a sul)^istence by shoemaking. It having been disco- 

 vered that they privately embraced the Christian faith, tlie governor of the town 

 ordered them to be beheaded, about the year 308. The shoemakers have chosen 

 them for their tutelar saints. The shoemakers from the highest to the lowest 

 keep tills as a day of feasting and jollity. It is also, we believe, observed as a 

 festival with the corporate body of (lordwainers or Shoemakers of London, but 

 without any sort of procession on the occasion, except the proceeding to a ta- 

 vern to partake of a dinner, and drink to the pious memory of SS. Crispin and 

 Cnspinian. 



Shakspeare has peri^eluated the memory of this festival by the speech which 

 he has given to Henry V. before the battle of .Agiucourt : 



This day is called the feast of Crispian : 



He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, 



Will stand a tiptoe when this day is named, 



And rouse him at the name of Crispian : 



He that shall live this day, and see old age. 



Will yearly, on the vigil, ic'a»t his neighbours. 



And say, 1 oraorrow is St. Crispian. 



Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scars : 



Old men forget; yet shall not all forget. 



But they'll ruuieinber, with advantages, 



What feats they did that day. Tin ii shall our names, 



Familiar in their mouth as iiousehold words, 



Harry the Kin"^, Bt-dford^ and Exeter, 



Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Glo'ster, 



Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. 



This story shall the good man teach his sou ; 



And Crispin Chrispian shall ne'iT go by, 



from this day to the ending of Die world. 



But we in it shall be remembered ; 



We few, we happy few, we banLi of brothers ; 



For he today that sheds his blood with me, 



Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile. 



This day shall gentle his condition. 



And gentlemen in Kngland, now abed. 



Shall tliink themselves accursed they were not here; 



And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks 



That fought with us upon St. Crispian's day. 



Fleabane Starwort Aster conizoides full fl. 

 Meagre Starwort Aster miser full fl. 

 GdirdenGoid^ower Chrysanthemum coronarium stiWfi. 



Nearly all the Starworts are now beginning to decline, and many are oat of 

 flower. 



