“The bodies seven, eek, lo hem heer anoon;Seven Champions of Christendom is by Richard Johnson, who lived in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.
Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe;
Mars yren, Mercurie quyksilver we clepe;
Saturnus leed, and Jubitur is tyn;
And Venus coper, by my fader kyn.”
Chaucer: Prol. of the Chanounes Yemanes Tale.
- St. George of England was seven years imprisoned by the Almidor, the black King of Morocco.
- St. Denys of France lived seven years in the form of a hart.
- St. James of Spain was seven years dumb out of love to a fair Jewess.
- St. Anthony of Italy, with the other champions, was enchanted into a deep sleep in the Black Castle, and was released by St. George's three sons, who quenched the seven lamps by water from the enchanted fountain.
- St. Andrew of Scotland, who delivered six ladies who had lived seven years under the form of white swans.
- St. Patrick of Ireland was immured in a cell where he scratched his grave with his own nails.
- St. David of Wales slept seven years in the enchanted garden of Ormandine, but was redeemed by St. George.
- Ephesos, founded by St. Paul, 57, in a ruinous state in the time of Justinian.
- Smyrna, still an important seaport. Polycarp was its first bishop.
- Pergamos, renowned for its library.
- Thyatira, now called Ak-hissar (the White Castle).
- Sardis, now a small village called Sart.
- Philadelphia, now called Allah Shehr (City of God), a miserable town.
- Laodice'a, now a deserted place called Eski-hissar (the Old Castle).
Seven Deadly Sins (The). Pride, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, and Sloth.
Seven Dials (London). A column with seven dials formerly stood in St. Giles, facing the seven streets
which radiated therefrom.
“Where famed St Giles's ancient limits spreadSeven Joys of the Virgin (See Mary .)
An in-railed column rears its lofty head.
Here to seven streets seven dials count the day.
And from each other catch the circling ray.”
Gay: Trivia, i.
Seven Sages of Greece
- Solon of Athens, whose motto was, “Know thyself.”
- Chilo of Sparta - “Consider the end.”
- Thales of Miletos - “Who hateth suretyship is sure.”
- Bias of Priene - “Most men are bad.”
- Cleobulos of Lindos - “The golden mean,” or “Avoid extremes.”
- Pittacos of Mitylene - “Seize Time by the forelock.”
- Periander of Corinth - “Nothing is impossible to industry.”
First, Solon, who made the Athenian laws,
While Chilo, in Sparta, was famed for his saws:
In Miletos did Thales astronomy teach;
Bios used in Priene his morals to preach;
Cleobulos, of Lindos, was handsome