OF SERPENTS. 221 



culapius .... while they were admiring a huge Shrine, a great 

 Serpent Aiding of a fudden from the Adytum (which was a Place 

 of Retirement in the Pagan Temples, where Oracles were given, 

 into which none but Priefls were admitted) upon fight of it the 

 Priefts, in a devout Pofture, faid to the Company, that the Deity 

 fhrouded itfelf in that Form, and when it appear'd in this Fajhion^ 

 'twas look'd upon as a happy Omen. 



The Serpent was feen for two Days in the Temple, and af- 

 terwards difappeared, but on the third Day it paft thro' the Croud 

 (which gazed on and worfhip'd) and went diredly to the Port 

 where the Roman Galley ftood ; and having enter'd into it, laid 

 itfelf down in the Cabin of ^. Ogulnius, the chief AmbalTador. 

 They fet fail from thence .... and foon arrived at RoTue. The 



whole City came out to fee this wonderful Thing 'Altars were 



built, Incenfe burnt, and Sacrifices ofi^er'd. The Serpent fwam 

 over to the IJle of lyber^ (which afterwards was called Mfcula- 

 plus's IJle) and fince was never feen. 



The Senate concluding this Ifland to be the Place choien 

 by the God, decreed that a Temple fhould be built iox Mfciilapius 

 there whereupon the Plague ceafed. The Temple grew fa- 

 mous for rich Offerings, in Confideration of their Deliverance 

 from the Plague by that Deity *, 



VALERIUS MAXIMUS fays, that the Priefts looking 

 into the Sibyls Books, obferved there was no other way to reftore 

 the City to its former Health, but by bringing the Image o^ Mf- 

 culapius (torn Epidaurus . . . upon which Ambafiadors werefentf. 



The Poets and Mythologifts, in order to fhew there was no 

 Difiiemper but Mfculapius could cure, faid, he raifed the Dead. 

 Thus at the Requeft of Diana, he reftor'd Hippolytus to Life, 

 who had been torn to pieces by his Horfes. We can't doubt of 

 the Credulity of the People in thinking him rank'd among the 

 Gods, after fo many Temples, Infcriptions, and Medals dedicated 

 to his Memory. 



The moft famous Temples confecrated to MJcidapius, were 

 that of Epidaurus J, that in the Ifle of Co, that of Cyrene, that 

 oiFergamos, that in the Ifle of 'Tyber |j. 



As 



* 'Livy. lib. xi. fluare. Whether the Hiftorian's Faith kept pace with his Pen? 



+ Val. Maxivi. lib. i. cap. 8. ScQ Ovid. Met amcrph. lib. 25. 



X Pliny Nat.Hifi. lib. 4. C^. 



li For thele, fee Strabo, Val. Maxinus, Hercdof. Livy. 



