MARTYR. 121 MARX. mcnt. The martyrs were specially venerated by their fetluw-Clnistiaiis. As it was held that their superabundant merit might, in the eyes of the Church, compensate for the weakness of less perfect brethren, a practice arose by which niar- tyrs awaiting deatli gave to those sinners who were undergoing pulilic penance letters of com- mendation to their l)ishop in order that their course of penance might be sliortened. (See In- dulgence.) The death of a martyr was reported to the bishop of the place, who decided whether lie was entitled to the name; this early form of canonization made him a martyr viiidicatu~s. By the beginning of the twelfth century, the decision was becoming more generally, and since Urban VIII. ( Ki.'SG) lias been absolutely, reserved to the Pope. The martyrs, who were the earliest .saints to be honored by a special anniversary commem- oration, have in later times received a spe- cial precedence in liturgical rank — their names in the litany of the saints, for example, coming im- mediately after those of the Apostles. In the old Roman calendar there was a common feast of all the martyrs, of which Gregory III., when in 731 he transferred it to November 1st, wid- ened the reference to include all saints. The number of the martyrs of the early ages was undoubtedly great, although Gibbon and others have attempted to minimize it. Ruinart among older scholars and Cardinal Wiseman in modern times have given strong evidence in confirmation of the large numbers. The Roman martyrology alone contains 14.000 names. MARTYR^ Peter. A writer on early Ameri- can history. Sec Peter Martyr. MAR'TYROL'OGY (ML. mnriyrologium, MGk. fi.apTvpoyiov, from Gk. fidprvp. martyr, martyr + -'/.oyia, -logia, account, from Tih/eiv, legein, to say). A calendar of martyrs (q.v.), and sometimes of other saints, arranged in the order of months and days. It early became usual to write on diptychs or folding tablets the names of Christians, living or dead, who were to be especially commemorated in the celebration of the Eucharist. Thus were inscribed particularly the names of martyrs whose anniversaries were honored. These, which were at first only lists of names, were gradually expanded, and by com- bining the records of various churches complete martyrologies were made. The oldest extant martyrology is probably a Syrian one of the year 412 (sec below), though the so-called Mar- lyrologium Hirronymianum may be almost con- temporary with it, at least in part. This has been ascribed to Saint Jerome, possibly because he translated .and commented upon the work of Eusebius, De Marti/rihnx Palwstinec. .'
old Ro-
man martyrology was known to Bede and to a contemporary French monk, Usnard. whose work forms the basis of the later Western martyrolo- gies, as ofllcially published in Rome by Bnronius in 15S4, and in revised editions by direction of various popes (by Pius IX. in 187.3). Consult: Wright. .4?? Ancient ffyrinn Martyrology (Lon- don. 18fi.5) ; Lammer. Dn Mnrfyrologin Ifomano, Piirirgnii Hixtorico-criticum (Regensburg. 1878). MARTYRS, milr'ter', Les. A prose work by Chateaubriand (1800). It is the .story of two Christian lovers at the end of the third century, during Diocletian's persecutions. After long separation and many adventures they meet in the Roman arena, where they are devoured by wild beasts. The work is artificial in style, but con- tains vivid reconstructions of the ancient world and passages of great beauty. MARULIC, ma-roo'lich, Marko (1450-1524). A Croatian poet and scholar, born at Spalato. lie studied at Padua and entered a monastery in Spalato. His works in Latin deal with politics, theology, and history; the liest known was De Instilutione Bene Vivendi (1511), which passed through many editions. Much more ini])ortant are his poems in the vernacular, which, although didactic, mark him as the first Croatian author, and one of the greatest names of the literature if Ragusa. They were republished at Agram (ISOO), with a biographical sketch of Marulid. MARUTS, ma-roots' (Skt., probably the shin- ing ones). In Hindu mythology, the gods of the storm and the wind. They play a prominent part in the Rig- Veda, especially as allies or associates of Indra ( q.v. ) . The hymns addressed to them, as they crash through the forests, make the mountains quake, or sweep the plain, accom- panied by lightning, dust, and rain, are among the most spirited in the Veda. They have been translated by Max Miiller, Sacred Boohs of the East, vol. xxxii. (Oxford, 1891). In post-Vedic times Marut is used in the singular, meaning wind or the god of the wind. Consult: Mac- donell. Vedic Mythology ( Strassburg, 1897); Wilkins, Hindu Mythology (London, 1900). MARVEL, Ik. The psendonvm of Donald G. Mitchell. MAR'VELL, Andrew (1621-78). An English poet and politician, born March 31. 1G21. at Winestead, Yorkshire; attended the grammar school at Hull, of which his father became mas- ter; graduated B.A. at Trinitv College, Cam- bridge (1638) ; traveled on the Continent (1642- 46) ; returned to England about 1650; W'as em- ployed by Oliver Cromwell as tutor to his ward, William Dutton ; became assistant secretary to Milton (1657); and was elected to Parliament from Hull (1660). Without fortune or influence, possessing no commanding talent as a speaker, he maintained a character for integrity so gen- uine and high that his constituency felt itself honored by his conduct, and allowed him to the end of his life 'a handsome pension.' Charles II. made many but fruitless efforts to win him over to the Court party.- Marvell died August 18, 1678. His satires in verse and in prose relate mostly to matters of temporary' interest in Church and State. Of another class, however, are several choice pieces of verse, as. The Garden, Horatian in tone; .1 Drop of Den in which is anticipated the Neo-Platonisni of Wordsworth; the Bermudas; a group of short lyrics, as The Mower to the Glow-Worms, and the Moicer's Song; and the splendid patriotic ode on Crom- ipcll's Return from Ireland. C!onsult Complete Works, ed. by Grossart (London, 1872-75) ; and Poems, and Satires, ed. by Aitken (London, 1892). MARVEIi OF PERTT, pe-roo'. A garden plant. See .Tai.ap. MARVELOUS BOY, The. A title given to Thomas Chatterton. MARWAR, miir'wer. A native State of India. See .JoniiPCR. MARX, marks, Anor-r Beknhard (1795-1866). A German writer on musical subjects, born at
