Class III. VIPER SERPENT. 41 



wife, who was a most beautiful woman, with 

 capons fattened with the flesh of vipers. 



The antient Britons had a strange supersti- 

 tion in respect to these animals, and of which 

 there still remains in Wales a strong tradition. 

 The account Pliny gives of it is as follows : we 

 shall not attempt a translation, it being already 

 done to our hands in a spirited manner by the 

 ingenious Mr. Mason, which we shall take the 

 liberty of borrowing. 



Prceterea est ovorum genus in magna Gallia- 

 rum Jama, omissum Grsecis. Angues innumeri 

 cestate convoluti, salivis Jaucium corporumque 

 spumis artifici complexu glomerantur ; angui- 

 num appellatur. Druidae sibilis id dicunt in 

 sublime j act ari, sagoque oportere intercipi, ne 

 tellurem attingat : prqfugere raptorem equo : 

 serpentes enim insequi, donee arceantur amnis 

 alicujus interventu* 



But tell me yet 

 From the grot of charms and spells, 

 Where our matron sister dwells, 

 Brennus, has thy holy hand 

 Safely brought the Druid wand, 

 And the potent Adder-stone, 

 Gender'd 'fore the autumnal moon? 



* Lib. XXIX. c. 3. 



