The brazen Serpent was a Figure of the flying Serpent, Saraph, which Moses fixed upon an erected Pole: That there were such, is most evident. Herodotus who had seen of those Serpents, says they very much resembled those which the Greeks and Latins called Hydræ: He went on purpose to the City of Brutus to see those flying Animals, that had been devour’d by the Ibidian Birds.
In Asiatic-Georgia, between the Caspian and Euxine Sea, are found winged Dragons, with anserine Feet and venemous Claws; and some of them are fortified with more terrible Pedestals than others: their Wings are generally composed of strong nervous Membranes, which when they walk, are scarcely visible, because of their close Adherence to their lateral Parts[[358]].
[358]. Paulus Jovius de Piscibus, cap 23. p. 140.
In the Atlantic Caves, and Mountains of Africa, is an infinite Number of these winged Dragons, whose Poison is so strong, that the Flesh of such as are wounded by them, immediately grows soft, languid, and incurable[[359]]. We read of flying Serpents transported from some Parts of Arabia into Egypt[[360]][[361]].
[359]. P. Belon in Johnstonus.
[360]. Teste Brodæo.
[361]. J. Leo’s Hist. of Africa, lib. 6, & 9.
These also have been seen in Florida in America, where their Wings are more flaccid, and so weak, that they cannot soar on high. Scaliger describes a certain flying Serpent that was four Foot long, and as thick as a Man’s Arm, whose Wings were cartilaginous, or gristly, ibid. History accounts for one of these flying Dragons that was killed in old Aquitania in France, a Present of which was made to King Francis, as a great Rarity of the Kind.
JEROM CARDAN informs us of some winged Dragons he had seen at Paris, so nicely preserved, that they very much resembled the Living; they were described with two Feet, weak Wings, a serpentine Head, and of the Bigness of a Rabbit.
Why was the Deliverance of Israel by a Machine made in the Form of a Serpent? Perhaps, these serpentine Strokes might be intended as Emblems, or Memento’s of the fatal Wound in Paradise, where Man’s Nature was first poisoned by the Devil, who made use of a real Serpent to seduce our first Parents.