470 The Animal-Lore of Shakspeare s Time . 
lias not ceased to be a mystery, even in onr own time. 
Various accounts of the Sea-serpent are given by writers ; 
and, according to the imagination of the narrator, this 
monster varied in length from one to six hundred feet. 
One of the most detailed accounts is given by Olaus 
Magnus, who also draws an augury from its appearance:— 
“ They who in works of navigation, on the coast of Norway, 
employ themselves in fishing or merchandise, do all agree in this 
strange story, that there is a serpent there which is of a vast magni¬ 
tude, namely 200 foot long, and moreover 20 foot thick; and is wont 
to live in rocks and caves toward the sea-coast about Berge : which 
will go alone from his holes in a clear night, in summer, and devour 
calves, lambs, and hogs, or else he goes into the sea to feed on 
polypus, locusts, and all sorts of sea-crabs. He hath commonly hair 
hanging from his neck a cubit long, and sharp scales, and is black, 
and he hath flaming shining eyes. This snake disquiets the shippers, 
and he puts up his head on high like a pillar, and catcheth away men, 
and he devours them; and this hapneth not, but it signifies some 
wonderful change of the kingdom near at hand ; namely, that the 
princes shall die, or be banished; or some tumultuous wars shall 
presently follow. There is also another serpent of an incredible 
magnitude in a town, called Moos, of the diocess of Hammer; which, 
as a comet portends a change in all the world, so that portends a 
change in the kingdom of Norway, as it was seen, anno 1522; this 
serpent was thought to be fifty cubits long by conjecture, by sight 
afar off: there followed this the banishment of King Christiernus, and 
a great persecution of the bishops; and it shew’d also the destruction 
of the countrey.” (Page 235.) 
“ Experience, 0, thou disprovest report! 
The imperious seas breed monsters.” 
( Cymbeline , iv. 2, 34.) 
