370 LEAVES FROM THE 



the box, which was placed ready for him. The French gentleman 

 vouched for the truth of this story, and from the accounts I have 

 often received of the docility of those creatui-es, I see no reason to 

 doubt its veracity. 



Southey has taken advantage of this docility, when he 

 brings before us the diabolical arch-priest, and his mon- 

 strous god : — 



The general grave 

 Was delved within a deep and shady dell. 

 Fronting a cavern in the rock, . . . the scene 

 Of many a bloody rite, ere Madoc came . . . 

 A temple as they deemed by Nature made^ 

 Where the snake-idol stood. 



Suddenly Neolin 

 Sprung up aloft, and shrieked, as one who treads 

 Upon a viper in his heedless path. 

 The God ! the very God ! he cried, and howled 

 One long, shrill, piercing modulated cry. 

 Whereat from that dark temple issued forth 

 A serpent huge and hideous. On he came 

 Straight to the sound, and curl'd around the priest 

 His mighty folds innocuous, overtopping 

 His human height, and arching down his head. 

 Sought in the hands of Neolin for food ; 

 Then questing, rear'd and stretch'd and waved his neck. 

 And glanced his forky tongue. Who then had seen 

 The man, with what triumphant fearlessness. 

 Arms, thighs, and neck, and body wreathed and ring'd 

 In those tremendous folds, he stood secure, 

 Play'd with the reptile's jaws, and call'd for food. 

 Food for the present God ! . . who then had seen 

 The fiendish joy, which fired his countenance. 

 Might well have ween'd that he had summoned up 

 The dreadful monster from its native Hell 

 By devilish power, himself a fiend inflesh'd. 



Making every allowance for the exaggerations of the 

 Spaniards, idolatry in general and snake-worship in par- 

 ticular must have been manifested in the country of 

 Neolin in all its hideousness. 



Bernal Diaz * declares that 



Bernard Diaz del Castillo. 



