OF SERPENTS. 221 



culapius . . . '. while they were admiring a huge Shiine, a great 

 Serpent Aiding of a fiidden from the Adytum (which was a Place 

 of Retirement in the Pagan Temples, where Oracles were given, 

 into which none but Priefts were admitted) upon fight of it the 

 Priefts, in a devout Pofture, faid to the Company, that the Deity 

 jhrouded itjclf in that Form, and when it appear'd in this Fajhion^ 

 'twas look'd upon as a happy Omen. 



The Serpent was feen for two Days in the Temple, and af- 

 terwards difappeared, but on the third Day it paft thro' the Croud 

 (which gazed on and worfhip'd) and went dired:ly to the Port 

 where the Roman Galley flood ; and having enter 'd into it, laid 

 itfelf down in the Cabin of ^. Ogulnius, the chief AmbalTador. 

 They fet fail from thence .... and foon arrived at Rome. The 



whole City came out to fee this wonderful Thing Altars were 



built, Incenfe burnt, and Sacrifices ofFer'd. The Serpent fwam 

 over to the IJle of Tyber^ (which afterwards was called Mjcula- 

 plus's IJle) and fince was never feen. 



The Senate concluding this ffland to be the Place chofen 

 by the God, decreed that a Temple fhould be built iox /Efculapius 

 there whereupon the Plague ceafed. The Temple grew fa- 

 mous for rich Offerings, in Confideration of their Deliverance 

 from the Plague by that Deity *. 



VALERIUS MAXIMUS fays, that the Priefls looking 

 into the Sibyls Books, obferved there was no other way to reftore 

 the City to its former Health, but by bringing the Image o{ Mf- 

 culapius from Epidaurus . . . upon which Ambaffadors werefentf. 



The Poets and Mythologies, in order to fhew there was no 

 Diflemper but Mfculapius could cure, faid, he raifed the Dead. 

 Thus at the Requefl of Dianaj he reftor'd Hippolytus to Life, 

 who had been torn to pieces by his Horfes. We can't doubt of 

 the Credulity of the People in thinking him rank'd among the 

 Gods, after fo many Temples, Infcriptions, and Medals dedicated 

 to his Memory. 



The moft famous Temples confecrated to Mfculapius^ were 

 that of Epidaurus J, that in the lUe of Co, that of Cyrene, that 

 of Pergamos, that in the Ifle of Tyber [|. 



As 



* Livy. lib. xi. ^^re, Whether the Hiftorian's Faith kept pace with his Pen? 



+ Val. Maxim, lib. i. cap. 8. See Ovid. Metamcrph. lib. 25. 



X Vliny Nat. Hiji. lib. 4. C <?. 



(I For thefe, {qq Straho, VaL Maxims^ Here dot » Livy. 



