dedicated to Saints 



77 



ginian Dragon's head. Dracocephalus Virgi- 

 nianum, 



* * And poppies a sanguine mantle spread, 

 For the blood of the dragon S. Margaret shed." 



The legend of S. Margaret is probably one of 

 the oldest, as it was one of the most popular, of the 

 Middle Ages. She was born at Antioch, and was 

 the daughter of a heathen priest. Olybrius, presi- 

 dent of the East under the Romans, had an inclina- 

 tion to marry her ; but, finding she was a Christian, 

 he deferred doing so until he could persuade her to 

 renounce her religion; but she persisting, he first 

 tortured her, and then cut off her head, a.d. 278. 

 July 22. — St. Mary Magdalen. African Lily. Agapan- 



thus umbellatus, 

 July 25. — S. James, Apostle. S. James' Cross : Ama- 

 ryllis formosissima. S. James' Wort : Senecio 

 Jacobcea. 



This saint was called the Great, either because 

 he was much older than the other James, or because 



