138 WILD FLOWEKS. 



tinguish him from the enemy ; to whom they had 

 pre-determined to grant no quarter. This battle 

 is variously stated to have occurred under the 

 leadership of St. David at the close of the fifth, or 

 the commencement of the sixth century ; or under 

 that of Cadwalladr, in the year 633, when he de- 

 feated the Saxons near Hethfield, or Hatfield, in 

 Yorkshire. It is needless to say that the idea is 

 imaginary, and wholly insufficient to explain what 

 we require. In fact, a single consideration of the 

 numerous tribes into which the Cymry were, at the 

 respective dates, divided, nullifies the supposition 

 that such an occurrence could lead to the adoption 

 of a national emblem. 



The ancient poets make frequent and exaggerated 

 allusion to the degree of sanctity with which the 

 onion tribe was invested by the Egyptians ; for the 

 onion was neither sacred, nor a god ; it was eaten 

 by the workmen at the pyramids, as by other Egyp- 

 tians, and if it was forbidden to the priests, still ifc 

 was brought to private tables, as well as to the 

 altars of the gods. 



Juvenal says : 



" Tis dangerous here 

 To violate an onion, or to stain 

 The sanctity of leeks with tooth profane ; 

 Oh, Holy nation ! sacro-sancte abodes ! 

 Where every garden propagates its gods."* 



And Prudentius declares they "raise sacred altars 

 to the leek, and worship the sharp onion, and the 

 biting garlic/' f 



* Sat., 25. f Hymn, x., s. 258. 



