The first Rudiments in Pythagoras’s School, was Quinquennian, Silence. The Scholars were not allow’d to talk for five Years, that is, till they had learned the Art of Silence. Harpocrates was the God of Silence, therefore painted with his Finger on his Lip, and was worshipped in Egypt with Isis and Serapis.
ANGERONA was the Goddess of Silence at Rome, and painted with a Cloth about her Mouth. Nor is it less venerable at Venice, where after they come out of the Senate-house, they are as silent about what was said and done, as if they had power to forget all that was said and done.
To the above-mention’d Serpents, the learned Mr. Ray adds, by way of Supplement, a Catalogue of fifteen East-Indian Serpents, which he had from the Learned Dr. Tancred Robinson, whose Descriptions he had from the College at Leyden, which I shall annex to the foregoing[[235]].
[235]. Ray’s Synopsis Animalium, p. 330.
LVIII. SERPENS Indicus Coronatus, an Indian Serpent, that makes its Appearance with a crowned Head, which it holds up on high, as if proud of the Honour. This is an Emblem of Pride, that Dropsy of the Mind; to yield to its Thirst, is to swallow the Bait, that turned the Seraph into a Devil.
The Remedy used by the Indians for its Wounds, is what they call the Serpent-Stone, which, according to Thevenot and others, is an artificial Composition, and not taken out of this Serpent’s Head.
LIX. VIPERA Indica tricolor major, a Serpent remarkable for a Body decorated with three fine Colours, the Liveries of Summer’s Pride, but living much under ground, the Glories of its Attire are buried in the Earth, the World’s material Mould.
LX. VIPERA Zelanica minor maculis eleganter variegata, a Serpent elegantly garnished with a Variety of charming Colours: It is an Inhabitant of Ceylon, an Island in the East-Indies, called by the Inhabitants Tenarisain, that is the Land of Delights, and not without reason is this Island so called, since it is the most fruitful place in India, producing Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, plenty of Rice, Ananas, Cocoas, best Oranges, Lemons, Figs, Pomegranates, Ginger, Grapes, Pepper, Cardamum, Tobacco, Nutmegs, Sugar; Mulberry, which yield much Silk; Palm-trees, which afford a Liquor for their constant Drink, &c. But in midst of these pleasing Varieties, they are haunted with various sorts of venemous Serpents; an Emblem of our present State, which is a Compound of Pleasure and Pain.
The Gods will frown, wherever they do smile;
The Crocodile infests the fertile Nile.