THE PALM 139 



saints who have not suffered a violent death, 

 but have been conspicuous for their victory 

 over pain and temptation; for instance. Saint 

 Francis, Saint Catharine of Siena and Saint 

 Clare. 



Even in the Catacombs two palms are some- 

 times placed crossways, not on the tombs of 

 martyrs only, but on other Christian tombs, 

 to signify the victory of the cross. For life as 

 a declared Christian in the early days of the 

 faith was sufficiently difficult and perilous, even 

 if it did not end in death at the hands of the 

 executioner. In the same way the pilgrim 

 who had overcome difficulties and encountered 

 possible death on a journey of piety to the holy 

 sepulchre was permitted to take the name of 

 palmer when he * brings home his staff en- 

 wreathed with palm.' ^ 



Meanwhile palms never fell into disuse as a 

 secular symbol. When they appear on the seals 

 and coins of emperors and kings they indicate 

 entirely worldly power and authority, and it is 

 not in recognition of sainthood that the winged 

 genius presents Henri IV with palm and wreath 



* Dante. ^ 



