"APOLLONIUS, by some probable conjectures, found her out to be a serpent, a Lamia; and that all her furniture was, like Tantalus's gold described by HOMER, no substance, but mere illusion."—Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy.]
A LAMIA, this? Nay, obvious coil, and hiss most unequivocal, betray the Snake;
As fell ophidian as in fierce meridian of Afric ever lurked in swamp or brake;
And yet Corinthian LYCIUS never doted on the white-throated charmer of his soul
With blinder passion than our fools of Fashion
Feel for this gruesome ghoul.
Poor LYCIUS had excuse. Who might refuse worship to Lamia, "now a lady bright"?
But foul-fanged here, fierce-eyed, a shape of fear, the serpent stands,
revealed to general sight,
A loathly thing, close knotted ring on ring, of guise unlovely, and infectious breath;