They have indeed a ready Help against its venemous Wounds, which is made of the Filings of Copper, tempered with Vinegar and Honey, which proves a speedy Cure; but if neglected, the Patient is in danger of his Life. This, says the Historian, I presume, has been first found out by the antipathetick Quality, which seems to be between Scorpions and Copper; for not far from the City is the Copper-Mine, where, as before, if one of these Animals be brought, it dies immediately. Q. Whether this be not Herbert’s Parthian?
Yea, to render a future State terrible to Mortals, the Heathens, speaking of departed Souls, feigned, that at their Descent from Charon’s Boat (who was the Ferryman of Hell) they met Cerberus, a monstrous Dog, with three Heads, who was covered all over with Serpents, instead of Hair. There was the Monster Chimæra that vomited Fire, her Head like a Lion, Middle like a Goat, and her Tail like a furious Dragon; so sings the Poet:
——Cerberus, who soon began to rear
His crested Snakes—he gapes with three enormous Mouths.
Dryden’s Virgil.
So another:
For as the Pope that keeps the Gate
Of Heaven, wears three Crowns of State;
So he, that keeps the Gates of Hell,
Proud Cerberus, wears three Heads as well.