190 
lavater’s 
Serpents have a very fmal], but mofl expreffive 
face, ftamped vi^ith all the traits of malice and im- 
pofture. Their wiles are beyond conception, not- 
withdanding their evident want of judgment, re- 
flection, and memory. 
Their variegated fpots and colours imprefs us 
with a fufficient idea of deceit to put every man on 
his guard ; and were we to rove through all the 
wilds of America, not one ferpent would be found 
capable of infpiring with his looks either affeCtion 
or confidence. Let us fuppofe fuch features as his 
in a human countenance ; — we fliould turn from it 
with horror. 
Sly people, indeed, have their eyes funk deep in 
the focketsj but the ferpent has his fight on a level 
with the head, as a mark of malicious defigns : he 
refembles only that defpicable defcription of men 
whofe low cunning is a fubftitute for wifdom. 
Without any of that fprightlinefs which diflin- 
guiflies other brutes in their enjoyments, ferpents 
difcover no marks of love and harmony, nor any 
turn for innocent recreation among themfelves j but. 
the machine at Marly, for conveying the water of the Seine acrofs 
a hilly ground to Verfailles. Although that was once the wonder 
of a Iplendid age, yet fo great are the improvements fince made in 
this art, particularly in England, that were the iron-work in it de- 
livered to Bolton and Watt, of Soho, they would probably under- 
take to make a better mill for the fame purpofe, without requiring 
^ny other compenfation for their trouble. 
in 
