[137]. Atlas, Asia.
DEMOSTHENES, who slew his Soldier, when he was asleep, was a merciful Executioner; a kind of Punishment the Mildness of no Law has yet invented. It is strange that Lucan and Seneca made no discovery of it.
Sleep is a kind of Death, by which we may literally be said to die daily; and in this Sense, Adam may be said to die before his final Exit.
VIII. I now proceed to the Serpent Scytale; the Name is borrowed from the Greek Word σκυταλη, a Staff, or any thing like a Cylinder, of a long smooth round Form; the Body of this Serpent being in shape equally round, like a Rolling-Stone, with very little Variation in the Extremities of it.
Plate 2d.
It forms a beautiful Prospect, being an Aggregate of most charming Colours, (therefore call’d the Painted Serpent by Mantuanus.) It may be view’d without danger, because slow in its Motion. ’Tis an Error in Lucan to attribute its Slowness to a Design of enticing Spectators, if it be not Poetica Licentia.
When released from its Winter-Confinement, the first thing she does, says the Historian, is to refresh her languid Body with Fennel-Leaves; but does not tell us what is done, in case that Herb can’t be readily found. It must indeed be allowed, that wild Fennel is a common Herb of the Field, and well known and of Use in Physick[[138]]. The Poet observes, that no Snake casts her Coat in Winter, but the Scytale[[139]].
[138]. Ælian, Gyllii Accessio.
[139]. Et Scytale sparsis etiam nunc sola pruinis Exuvias positura suas.—Lucan’s Phars.