“It shall devour all things round about.”
Hundreds of years ago, there used to be a city called Silena, in Libya, in N. Africa. This city was built in the midst of a sandy desert, and not far from the gates there was a lake, in which lived a monstrous dragon.
Every day, this dragon used to come up out of the water in search of prey, and woe betide any hapless creature whom it found.
In order to prevent the monster from attacking the city, the people gave it each day a sheep from their flocks, or a heifer from their herds. But at last they had no flocks nor herds, for the dragon had devoured them all. Then they cast lots among themselves, and every household upon which the lot fell had to surrender some member of the family as an offering to the beast.
One day, the lot fell upon the royal house. Now, the King had one daughter only, a beautiful girl, whom he fondly loved. He offered great rewards if any man would surrender his own child instead. But the citizens would not allow the exchange. They said that they had been obliged to make the sacrifice, and so must the King.
Then he asked for eight days’ delay, during which he might prepare his daughter for her death, and bid her the last farewells. This was granted him, and during those days the hungry monster’s rage increased to so great an extent, that it came up against the walls of the city, and breathed its poisonous breath until the sentinels were overcome and fell down senseless.
On the eighth morning, the beautiful girl bade farewell to her friends and to her father, and, with one last embrace, the King parted from her at the gates, and she went forth alone upon the plain. Many of the people gathered on the walls to watch how she met her fate.
Now, it happened that St. George came riding that day across the plain, in search of someone whom he could help. He saw the maiden, and enquired of her why she was alone, and why she looked so sad, and what was the meaning of all those people on the walls?
The maiden entreated him to fly while there was yet time.
But St. George said, “Nay, I will not go till I have some answer to my questions.”
Then the princess told him her story, and again entreated him to seek safety in flight ere the dragon appeared. But St. George laid his hand upon his sword, and swore that, in the name of Christ, he would stay with her and fight the dragon.
At that moment the waters of the lake parted, and the enraged monster, catching sight of its victim, rushed towards her. Then St. George lowered his lance, and spurred his horse, and galloped at full speed, and his lance went right into the dragon’s open jaws with such tremendous force, that the beast was overturned, and lay senseless on the plain.
The Knight then bade the maiden loosen her girdle, and, as he uttered holy words over the prostrate body, to bind it round the dragon’s neck. This she did, with the result that when the creature’s life returned, she led it quietly to the gates of the city, where the frightened people were assembled, full of wonder and amazement at the unexpected issue of the fight. She led the dragon through the gates and into the streets of the city, but the people showed so much fear of their old enemy that, at last, St. George drew his sword and severed the dragon’s head from its body. Then they manifested their delight by gathering round the hero, embracing him, and shouting loud his praise.
Whereupon, St. George mounted his horse, and preached to them about Christ, whose power had enabled him to deliver them from their enemy. The people listened, and believed, and the whole city was baptized.
And St. George caused a noble Church to be built, where Christ’s name might be honored, and His truth be taught. And from beneath the altar of that church there sprang a stream, which flowed right through the doors and down the steps, and out into the city, and thence into the world. And that stream is running still.
And, the next time, that you have a golden sovereign in your hand, if you will look, you will see the picture of this fight between St. George and the dragon graven upon it.
The meaning of the story is that the maiden is the Soul, whose life is endangered by the presence of a dragon. That dragon is the Devil.
It may be Cruelty, or it may be Laziness, or it may be Selfishness that threatens the life of the Soul, but it is always Something desperately ugly and always Something devilishly strong. Every one of us may be like St. George, but only if we kill our dragon.
When they made a knight in olden times, these were the words they said to him, “Be gentle, be brave, be fortunate.” Good words indeed, for without them no one will ever become like St. George, and slay the dragon.
The late Dr. Arnold, the great headmaster of Rugby School, used to say, “I am tired of boys who love God; I want boys who love God and hate the Devil.”
If we don’t hate the dragon, we shall never kill him.