"Hilarius cubat hac, pictavus episcopus, urna; Defensor nostræ mirificus fidei. Illius aspectum serpentes ferre nequibant, Nescis quæ in vultu spicula sanctus habet." Might this be, asks Father Cahier, a way of expressing the fact that the saint had banished Arianism from amongst his people? It is elsewhere shown that the dragons of many legions may be interpreted by the overthrow and expulsion of Paganism, that is, the end of Satan's reign over hearts. The serpent seems to have had something of this symbolism in ecclesiastical monuments, except that sometimes, here or there, it probably denotes heresy instead of idolatry. (Cf. Manni, _Osservazioni istoriche sopra i sigilli antichi dei secoli bassi_, t. V, sigill. 15.) SAINT PIRMIN, (_Pirminus_ or _Pirminius_) travelling bishop in Germany (and a Benedictine, it is said); 3d November, 758. He is described as a bishop of Meaux, who left his see in order to go and preach the Gospel along the banks of the Rhine; and he is usually painted as putting a multitude of serpents to flight. (_Calendar._ Benedict., 3d of Nov.--Rader, _Bavaria Sancta_.) A sequence of Saint Gall (ap. Mone, _Hymni ... media ævi_, t. III., p. 482, sq.) thus describes the marvel: "Hic Augiensem insulam Dei nutu intraverat, Quam multitudo pessima Destinebat serpentium. Intrante illo ... Statim squammosus Hestinanter exercitus Aufugit, ampli lacus Natatu tergus Tegens per triduum." Amongst other abbeys of his foundation, he established that of Reichenau in the island of Constance, vanishing from the island the vipers or adders which had enormously multiplied in it. The legend even goes on to say that, for three days, the surrounding water was covered with these reptiles which forsook their old abode. Was this story the legend or the consequence of an invocation of Saint Pirmin against unwholesome drinks? Besides people recommended themselves to this saint against the plague and the consequences of dangerous food. Furthermore, his dalmatic and his cincture were considered powerful to assuage the sufferings of pregnant women. An ancient seal of Saint Pirmin is found with these two verses used in certain provinces of Germany: "Sanctificet nostram sanctus Pirminius escam, Dextera Pirmini benedicat pocula nostra." SAINT SAMSON, Bishop of Dol, in Brittany; 28th of July, about 564. Some say he slew a dragon, and Father Cahier says this may be symbolic of the many victories he gained over the enemy of men. According to several, it was a serpent which he drove from a grotto on the banks of the Seine (Cf. Longueval, _Histoire de l'Eglise gallicane_, livre IX.) SAINT MELLON (Mélon, _Mellonus_, _Mallonus_, _Mello_, _Melanius_?) first Bishop of Rouen; 22d of October, about 214. A serpent of which his legend speaks may be only the dragon of the saints who preached the Gospel to idolatrous nations. An old office of his says: