OF S E R P E N T S, iii 



LV. MAN IMA, another Water-Snake, of the fame Pro- 

 portion with the former, if not more bulky : The fight is terri- 

 ble 5 the Monftrofity of Dimenfions is fufficient to render it fo ; 

 but we are told, the Terror vanifhes in fome Degree upon a view 

 of the Skin, which is exquifitely painted, and the 5r^2;///^«-y not 

 only love to fee fo fpruce an Animal, but reckon it an Omen of 

 a long Life. 



I F you afk. What a long Life is ? I anfwer, 'Tis nothing but 

 a lingering, flow Confumption : Life itfclf, what is it, but a meer 

 practical Tautology, a Repetition of the fame things over and 

 over, and looks more like a Penance impofed upon Mankind than 

 Pleafure. 



LVL The Terpomongo is another Serpent, which in the Bra-* 

 ziliafiDhhdiy fignifies to fiick clofe, fo clofe to whatever it touches, 

 that it is not to be parted. It is about the bignefs of a Cable- 

 Rope, which being faflen'd to the Anchor, holds the Ship fail 

 when it rides. 



This Property in the Serpent, may be an Hieroglyphick, or 

 Symbol of true Friendlhip, which is a facred Mixture : My Friend 

 and I are as two Rivers joined in one, not to be feparated ; we 

 flick clofe and fafl:, traverfing the Wildernefs hand-in-hand : He 

 who flrikes one, wounds the other — NoSchifmin trueFriendfhipo 



LVIL y ACQ R E Lizard -, fome of thefe Serpents are as big 

 as Dogs, and refemble them in the Nofe -, their Teeth large and 

 long, and their Skin impenetrable. They do no harm to their 

 Neighbours, and therefore are generally allow'd to live. They 

 make a loud Noife, by which their Haunts are difcovered, and 

 their Liberty hazarded. 



They lay Eggs as large as thofe of a Goofe, of an elaftick 

 Nature, fo hard, that when one is ftruck againft another, they 

 ring like Iron : they frequent both Land and Water. 



It's obfervable here, that this Animal is obfl re porous, and by 

 its Noife invites Danger ; whereas Silence would be his Security : 

 yea, its Eggs are as fo many roaring Bells. This may fcrve for 

 a Document to the unruly Member : TherfiteSy in Homer, was 

 counted a Fool for babbling. A talkative Tongue is the Spring, 

 Ringleader, and Head of Faction in all places, 



6 T H E 



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