OF SERPENTS. 71 



It forms a beautiful Profpedl, being an AggregiUe of moil: 

 charming Colours, (therefore call'd the Painted Ssrpent by Man^ 

 tHa?ius.) It may be viev/'d without Danger, becaufe ilo\v in its 

 Motion. 'Tie an Error in lAican to attribute its Slownefs to a 

 Defign of enticing Spediators, if it be not P(7^//V^ Lice?2tia. 



When releafed from its Winter-Confinement, the firli thino; 

 fhe does, fays the Hiftorian, is to refrefli her languid Body with 

 Fennel-Leaves ; but does not tell us what is done, in cafe that Plerb 

 can't be readily found. It mufl indeed be allowed, that wild 

 Fennel is a common Herb of the Field, and well known and of 

 Ufe in Phyfick *. The Poet cbferves, that no Snake cafis her 

 Coat in Winter, but the Scytale -f-. 



This Serpent being adorned with beautiful Colours, excufe a 

 fhort Digrelfion upon the Dodrine of Colours in Natural Bodies, 

 Know then, Colours are the Children of Fire and Light. 



I. IVhere there is LJgU, there is Fire-, and Fire (hews itfelf to 

 be prefent by Light. The Senfation of Light is produced when 

 the Particles of Fire, diredled by the Adion of the Sun, reach the 

 Eye in right Lines. Now, Fire thus, entering the Eye, gives a 

 Motion to the optick Fibres at the Bottom of the Eye, and thus 

 excites the Idea of Light. 



II. FIRE difcovers itfelf by Colour -^ for all Colours depend 

 upon Light, and Light depends upon Fire; and different Colours 

 appear in Natural Bodies, as their Surfaces are difpofed to refled: 

 this or that fort of coloured Rays more than others. Colour is- 

 a Property inherent in Light. 



Colours therefore are not connate with Natural Bodies, 

 which are all of the fame Hue in the dark. To this the Poet 

 alludes, when he makes Darknefs the Definition of Colours \. — ' 

 Colours are only in the Rays of the Sun: In Natural Bodies is 

 a equality or Power to refle(5t the Light falling upon them, which 

 frriking the Eye, produces in the Spectator the Senfation of Co- 

 lour. 



Clou d& 



* jEUan^ GylUt Accejno, 



f Et Scytale fparfis ei'icm nunc fch pruinis 



Exuvias pojitura fnas. Lucan's Pharf. 



% Rebus nox abJhUt aira cohm.- Vir^iU 



