OF SERPENTS. 157 



Body. It was the common Cuftom of the Pythagoreans to foften 

 their Minds with Mufick before they went to fleep ; and alfo in 

 the Morning, to excite themfelves to the Baunefs of the Day *. 



This Cure of Diftempers by Mufick founds odd, but was a 

 celebrated Medicine among the Antients. We have already con- 

 fidered, how thofe wounded by the 'Tarantula were healed by, 

 Mufick ; the Evidence of which is too flrong to be overturned : 

 That which now lies before me, is, to prove this to be the Prac- 

 tice of Antiquity, which will appear by the following Inftances. 



I Sh ALL begin with Democritus (a Philofopher of the firfl 

 Rank, and a moft diligent Inquirer into the Myfteries of Nature) 

 who taught in his Works, that Mufick of Pipes was a Medicine' 



for moft Diftempers Thales of Crete^ being fent for by the 



Lacedemonians to remove the Plague, came, and by the Help of 

 Mufick he did fo ; and he is faid to do it by the Command of 

 Apollo^ as appears from the Great Chceronean Moralijl •\. If any 

 Credit be given to Terpander, it appears he fuppreft an Infurreftion 

 in their Town by the Ufe of Mufick. Ibid. 



W E read of a young Man among others of Tautomenium, whofe 

 Paffions being inflamed by Mufick in the Phrygian Mood, was 

 going to force open a Matron's Houfe,, but his Rage was foon 

 calmed, when the Piper (by Pythagoras^ Advice) changed his 

 Air into the Spondaic Mood; and he went home quietly, which 

 the Philofopher could not make him do by Perfuafives. This 

 hiftorical PafTage is confirmed by Animonius^ and Cicero, . and is 

 thus related, viz. 



When as fome young Men, being drunk, and irritated by 

 the Mufick of Flutes, would have broke into an honeft Woman's - 

 Houfe, but upon hearing one playing a Spondaic Air, their out- 

 ragious Heat was allay'd by the Slownefs of the Mood, and So- 

 lemnefs of the Tune 



St. Bafil gives another Inftance to the fame purpofe, viz. That 

 Pythagoras meeting with fome that came with Mufick from a 

 Feaft, drunk, requefted the Mufician to change his Tune; which 

 Ke did, and playing a Doric u4ir, they were fo brought to them- 

 felves, that they threw away their Garlands, and walked home, 

 afhamed of their Folly. 



THEa.~ 



* F/utarch de Ofr. & J/. f Plutarch's Morals on Mnf^ck, 



