VIPER. | NATURAL HISTORY. 33! 
[Onions and Violets were conserved or pickled together in 
alternate layers (Dawson, ‘“‘Good Huswife’s Jewel,” 1596).] 
Viover is for faithfulness 
Which in me shall abide; 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it slide. 
“A Handful of Pleasant Delights” (1584), quoted by Malone, 
Viper. 
I am no viper, yet I feed 
On mother’s flesh which did me breed. 
Pericues, i. 1, 64. 
VipeR is a manner kind of serpents that is full veno- 
mous, and hath that name for he bringeth forth brood 
by strength; for when her womb draweth to the time of 
whelping, the whelps abideth not convenable time nor kind 
passing, but gnaweth and fretteth the sides of their mother, 
and they come so into this world with strength and with 
the death of the mother. The male doth his mouth into 
the mouth of the female, and she waxeth wode in liking, 
and biteth off the head of the male, and so both father 
and mother are slain. Of this serpent be made pasties 
[lozenges], of the which is made treacle, that is remedy 
against venom. And this adder Viper sustaineth and may 
bear hunger long time in a strong winter ; and cometh to 
the den under earth, and casteth first away his venom, and: 
doth sleep there until springing-time come again. And 
when the pores of the earth open, then by heat of the 
sun this serpent Viper awaketh and cometh out of his den, 
and for his sight is appaired [impaired] by the long — 
abiding under the earth, he seeketh the root of fennel or 
the herb of it, and washeth his dim eyes with the juice 
thereof to recover his sight which he hath lost. And 
Tyrus is a manner serpent that hight Viper also, and 
great serpents flee this serpent Tyrus, though he be little ; 
and all his body is rough, and when he biteth any thing, 
all that is about the thing rotteth anon. And among all 
serpents the kind of Viper is worst, and when he would 
ender, he wooeth a manner lamprey, and cometh to the 
brink of the water, that he troweth that lamprey is in, 
