O F S E R P E N T S. 157 



Body, It was the common Cuftom of the Pythagoreans to foften 

 their Minds with Mufick before they went to fleep ; and alfo in 

 the Morning, to excite themfelves to the Bufinefs of the Day *. 



This Cure of Diftempers by Mufick founds odd, but was a 

 celebrated Medicine among the Antients. We have already con- 

 lidered, how thofe wounded by the tarantula were healed by 

 P*4^ufick ; the Evidence of which Is too ftrong to be overturned : 

 That which now lies before me, is, to prove this to be the Prac- 

 tice of Antiquity, which will appear by the following Inftances. 



I Shall begin with Democritus (a Philofopher of the iirfl 

 Rank, and a moft diligent Inquirer into the Myfteries of Nature) 

 who taught in his Works, that Mufick of Pipes was a Medicine 



for moft Diftempers Hhales of Crete^ being fent for by the 



Lacedemonians to remove the Plague, came, and by the Help of 

 Mufick he did fo ; and he is faid to do it by the Command of 

 Apollo^ as appears from the Great Chceronean Moralijl -f*. If any 

 Credit be given to Terpander^ it appears he fuppreft an Infurredtion 

 in their Town by the Ufe of Mufick. Ibid, 



We read of a young Man among others of Tautomeniuniy whofe 

 Paffions being inflamed by Mufick in the Phrygian Mood, was 

 going to force open a Matron's Houfe, but his Rage was foon 

 calmed, when the Piper (by Pythagorass Advice) changed his 

 Air into the Spondaic Moody and he went home quietly, which 

 the Philofopher could not make him do by Perfuafives. This 

 hiftorical PafTage is confirmed by AmmoniuSy and Cicero, and is 

 thus related, 'viz. 



When as fome young Men, being drunk, and irritated by 

 the Mufick of Flutes, would have broke into an honeft Woman's 

 Houfe, but upon hearing one playing a Spo7idaic Air, their out- 

 ragious Heat was allay'd by the Slownefs of the Mood, and So- 

 lemnefs of the Tune 



S T. Bafil gives another Inftance to the fame purpofe, viz. That 

 Pythagoras meeting with fome that came with Mufick from a 

 Feaft, drunk, requefted the Mufician to change his Tune ; which 

 he did, and playing a Doric Air, they were fo brought to them- 

 ielves, that they threw away their Garlands, and walked home, 

 afhamed of their Folly. 



* Tlutarch de Ofir. & If, f Vlntarch'^ Morals on Muftck, 



