86 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



of Marius followed luguriha, they saw one of these 

 Gorgons, and, supposing it was some sheepe, bending 

 the head continually to the earth, and moving slowly, 

 they set upon him with their swords, whereat the Beast, 

 disdaining, suddenly discovered his eies, setting his 

 haire upright, at the sight whereof the Souldiers fel 

 downe dead. 



" Marius, hearing thereof, sent other souldiers to kill 

 the beaste, but they likewise died, as the former. At 

 last the inhabitantes of the countrey, tolde the Captaine 

 the poyson of this beast's nature, and that if he were 

 not killed upon a Sodayne, with onely the sight of his 

 eies he sent death into his hunters : then did the 

 Captaine lay an ambush of souldiers for him, who slew 

 him sodainely with their speares, and brought him to 

 the Emperour, whereupon Marius sent his skinne to 

 Rome, which was hung up in the Temple of Hercules, 

 wherein the people were feasted after the triumphes ; by 

 which it is apparent that they kill with their eies, and 

 not with their breath. . . . 



" But to omit these fables, it is certaine that sharp 

 poisoned sightes are called Gorgon Blepen, and therefore 

 we will followe the Authoritie of Pliny and Athenceus. 

 It is a beast set all over with scales like a Dragon, 

 having no haire except on his head, great teeth like 

 Swine, having wings to flie, and hands to handle, in 

 stature betwixt a Bull and a Calfe. 



" There be Ilandes called Gorgonies, wherein these 

 monster-Gorgons were bredde, and unto the daies of 

 Pliny, the people of that countrey retained some part of 

 their prodigious nature. It is reported by Xenofihon, 

 that Hanno, King of Carthage, ranged with his armie in 

 that region, and founde there, certaine women of in- 



