The Power of Music / In which is shown, by a variety of pleasing and instructive anecdotes, the effects it has on man and animals.

by Anonymous

EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON SNAKES AND SERPENTS.

In the month of July, 1791, (says an eminent historian,) we were travelling in Upper Canada, with several families of savages, belonging to the nation of the Onontagues. One day, when we had halted in a spacious plain on the bank of the river Genesse, a rattlesnake entered our encampment.— Among us was a Canadian who could play on the flute, and who, to divert us, advanced against the serpent with his new species of weapon. On the approach of his enemy, the haughty reptile curls himself into a spiral line, flattens his head, inflates his cheeks, contracts his lips, displays his envenomed fangs, and his bloody throat: his double tongue glows like two flames of fire; his eyes are burning coals: his body, swollen with rage, rises and falls like the bellows of a forge: his dilated skin assumes a dull and scaly appearance: and his tail, whence proceeds the death-denouncing sound, vibrates with such rapidity as to resemble a light vapour.

The Canadian now begins to play upon his flute; the serpent starts with surprise, and draws back his head. In proportion as he is struck with the magic effect, his eyes lose their fierceness, the oscillations of his tail become slower, and the sound which it emits grows weaker, and gradually dies away. Less perpendicular upon their spiral line, the rings of the charmed serpent are, by degrees, expanded, and sink, one after another, upon the ground in concentric circles. The shades of azure, green, white, and gold, recover their brilliancy on his quivering skin; and slightly turning his head, he remains motionless, in the attitude of attention and pleasure.

At this moment, the Canadian advanced a few steps, producing, with his flute, sweet and simple notes. The reptile, inclining his variegated neck, opens a passage with his head, through the high grass, and begins to creep after the musician; stopping when he stops, and beginning to follow him again as soon as he moves forward. In this manner he was led out of our camp, attended by a great number of spectators, both savages and Europeans, who could scarcely believe their eyes when they witnessed this wonderful effect of harmony. The assembly unanimously decreed, that the serpent which had so highly entertained them, should be permitted to escape.

M. de Chateaubriand.