TJie Dragon. 613 



on the front wall of Syori House, at Brentford, the seat 

 of his Grace the Duke of Northumberland. 



This chimerical figure is generally represented as sit- 

 ting and at rest ; a graceful attitude adopted by Egyptian 

 sculptors, and imitated by the Greeks and Eomaris. 



THE DEAGON. 



THIS fabulous animal, which figures largely in ancient 

 romances, was supposed to be the tutelary genius of 

 fresh-water springs in the bosom of dark forests and 

 enchanted rocks. Dragons were harnessed to the car of 

 Ceres ; they were the guardians of the golden apples of 

 the Hesperides, and of the golden fleece of Colchis ; and 

 in several parts of the world set as protectors to the car- 

 buncles and other precious stones hidden at the bottom 

 of wells and fountains. They are represented as scaly 

 serpents, with webbed feet, and with wings similar to 

 those of a bat ; having been, it seems, originally a hiero- 

 glyphic emblem of the dangerous influence of an undue 

 combination of air and water. Thus the serpent Python 

 was the allegory of a pestilence, originating from a union 

 of mephitic air and moisture. They have been long 

 supporters to the arms of the city of London, as if the 

 guardians of the wealth which commerce brings hither 

 from all the parts of the world. Four of them are placed 

 in fanciful attitudes, and beautifully carved, on the pe- 

 destal of the monument of London. 



