280 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



to heare such things told, than bolde to attempt the 

 trial], told him that he was not willing to see any such 

 experiment. 



" And by this it appeareth, that all the Negroes are 

 addicted to Incantations, which never have anie ap- 

 probation from God, except against Serpents, which I 

 cannot very easilie be brought to beleeve." 



Of the affection of some serpents for the human-kind 

 he gives some examples : " We reade also in Plutarch 

 of certain Serpents, lovers of young virgins, and by 

 name there was one that was in love with one JEtolta, 

 a Virgin, who did accustome to come unto her in the 

 night time, slyding gentlie all over her bodie, never 

 harming her, but as one glad of such acquaintance, 

 tarried with her in that dalliance till the morning, and 

 them would depart away of his owne accorde : the 

 which thing beeing made manifest unto the Guardians 

 and Tutours of the Virgin, they removed her unto 

 another Towne. The Serpent missing his Love, sought 

 her uppe and downe three or four dayes, and at last 

 mette her by chance, and then hee saluted her not as he 

 was wont, with fawning, and gentle slyding, but fiercely 

 assaulted her with grimme and austere countenance, 

 flying to her hands, and binding them with the spire 

 of his bodie, fast to her sides, did softly with his tayle 

 beat her upon her backer parts. Whereby was collected, 

 some token of his chastisement unto her, who had 

 wronged such a Lover, with her wilfull absence and 

 disappointment. 



"It is also reported by JElianus that Egetnon in his 

 verses, writeth of one Alcna, a Thcssalian who, feeding 

 his Oxen in Thessaly, neere the Fountaine Hcemonius, 

 there fell in love with him a Serpent of exceeding big- 



