We read of a famous Charmer at Saltsburgh in the Circle of Bavaria; that, when (in sight of the People) he had charm’d a great Number of Serpents into a Ditch, where he kill’d them; there came a Serpent of great Bulk, supposed to be the Devil, that leapt upon the Charmer, and immediately slew him[[125]].
[125]. Doctor More’s Antidote.
Answer me, says Paracelsus, (the celebrated Swiss Physician, who did wonderful Cures by Liquids extracted from Vegetables) from whence is it, that a Serpent of Helvetia, Algovia, or Suevia, does understand the Greek Idiom, Osy, Osya, Osy; that they should, at the first Sound of these Words, stop their Ears, remain immoveable, and do us no hurt with their Poison? From whence he infers, there was a Power in Words to operate upon the Ear, without Superstition. The Antients seem to have entertain’d some favourable Thoughts of the Power of Spells upon Serpents: Their Poets speak often of these Charms and Incantations.
Frigidus in pratis cantando rumpitur anguis. Virgil.
Vipereas rumpo verbis, & carmine fauces. Ovid.
Ingue pruinoso coluber distenditur arvo
Viperes coëunt abrupto corpore nodi
Humanoque cadit serpens afflata veneno. Lucan.
PHILOSTRATUS describes particularly how the Indians charm Serpents—they take a Scarlet-Coat embroider’d with golden Letters, and spread it before the Serpent’s Hole; and these golden Letters have a fascinating Power over it, and therewith its Eyes are overcome and laid asleep[[126]].
[126]. His Life of Apollonius Tyanæus, writ at the Desire of the Empress Julia, lib. 3. cap 2.