LEGEND OF ST. TROPE2. 



169 



Here, by this blue bay, once stood Heraclea Cacabaria. 

 it is said that a temple of Hercules gave its name to the 

 town. The district was inhabited by the CamatulHci. 

 According to legend the bod}- of St. Tropez was 

 stranded at this town in 66 A. D. Under Nero the 

 Saint had occupied high positions. His cousin, Salvius 

 Otho, was proclaimed Emperor in ()6 A. D. Fie himself 

 laid aside all his dignities after the apostle Paul had 

 converted him to Cliristianit\', and returned to Pisa. 

 Here one da}- Nero decreed that Diana and Apollo were 

 to be worshipped with great theatrical pomp under 

 a brazen canopy. St. Tropez refused to do so. lie 

 was seized, and at Nero's command tortured and be- 

 headed. His body was cast adrift in an unsea\\orth\' 

 boat. A dog and a cock were placed in the boat in 

 order to feed on the corpse. But neither the dog nor 

 the coclv touched the Saint's bod\- : instead the-\- guarded 

 it. An angel alighted on the helm, and steered tlie 

 vessel safe through the waters to Pleraclea. There the 



Christians, called together h\ the 

 cro\\-ing of the cock, assembled 



uid 



;d the 



bod}' of the Saint with great 

 honoiu'. — In the 

 ^ ninth centurv old 

 Heraclea was des- 

 troyed b\' the Saracens 

 and onh' ancient walls 

 and tombs still show 

 where it stood. The 



