uarding
treasures. A dragon guarded at Colchis the golden fleece that Jason
conquered from him. A dragon watched over the golden apples in the
garden of the Hesperides. He was killed by Hercules and transformed into
a star by Juno. This fact is related in some books, and if it be true,
it was done by magic, for the gods of the pagans are in reality demons.
A dragon prevented barbarous and ignorant men from drinking at the
fountain of Castalia. We must also remember the dragon of Andromeda,
which was slain by Perseus. But let us turn from these pagan fables, in
which error is always mixed with truth. We meet dragons in the histories
of the glorious archangel Michael, of St. George, St. Philip, St. James
the Great, St. Patrick, St. Martha, and St. Margaret. And it is in such
writings, since they are worthy of full credence, that we ought to look
for comfort and counsel.

"The story of the dragon of Silena affords us particularly precious
examples. You must know, my son, that on the banks of a vast pool close
to that town there dwelt a dragon who sometimes approached the walls
and poisoned with his breath all who dwelt in the suburbs. And that
they might not be devoured by the monster, the inhabitants of Silena
delivered up to him one of their number expressed his thought every
morning. The victim was chosen by lot, and after a hundred others, the
lot fell upon the king's daughter.

"Now St. George, who was a military tribune, as he passed through the
town of Silena, learned that the king's daughter had just been given to
the fierce beast. He immediately mounted his horse, and, armed with
his lance, rushed to encounter the dragon, whom he reached just as the
monster was about to devour the royal virgin. And when St. George had
overthrown the dragon, the king's daughter fastened her girdle round the
beast's neck and he followed her like a dog led on a leash.

"That is an example for us of the power of virgins over dragons. The
history of St. Martha furnishes us with a still more certain proof. Do
you know the story, Samuel, my son?"

"Yes, father," answered Samuel.

And the blessed Mael went on:

"There was in a forest on the banks of the Rhone, between Arles and
Avignon, a dragon half quadruped and half fish, larger than an ox, with
sharp teeth like horns and huge-wings at his shoulders. He sank the
boats and devoured their passengers. Now St. Martha, at the entreaty of
the people, approached this dragon, whom she f