3) says,--
"'I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns
To thy own lips again.'"
Bonifacius, Historia Ludicra, has collected all the instances known to
classical antiquity of women who had serpent lovers. The kings of the
early races of Central America laid great stress on the fact that they
were descendants of serpents. One could fill a volume with all the
Arab, Hindoo, and other Oriental tales belonging to the beloved of
"ophitic monsters."
I am indebted for this very curious and ancient tale to Governor Tomah
Josephs, of Peter Dana's Point, Maine.
_The Mother of Serpents._
(Passamaquoddy.)
There was once a couple well advanced in years. They were powerful and
rich in the Indian fashion, but they were unhappy because they had no
children. This was near the river St. John's, on the shore of a small
lake.
After the woman had gone in vain to all the medicine men and
_m'teoulin_, she heard of an old doctress, or witch, who lived not
very far off. And though hope was almost dead, the witch was consulted.
She gave the wife some herbs, and bade her steep them in a pot
out-of-doors, and then let them boil. When the vessel should dance
over the flame, the propitious moment would be at hand.
Everything succeeded according to the witch's prediction. A few days
after she appeared in the town. The mother, who was a very proud woman,
had in advance hung up an Indian cradle with very fine ornaments.
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