LIX.—THE CHARMED SERPENT.CHATEAUBRIAND.
CHATEAUBRIAND.
1. One day, while we were encamped in a spacious[430]plain on the bank of the Genesee river, we saw a rattlesnake. There was a Canadian in our party who could play on the flute, and to divert us he advanced toward the serpent with his new species of weapon. On the approach of his enemy, the haughty[431]reptile curls himself into a spiral[432]line, flattens his head, inflates[433]his cheeks, contracts his lips, displays his envenomed fangs and his bloody throat. His double tongue glows like two flames of fire; his eyes are burning coals; his body, swollen with rage, rises and falls like the bellows of a forge; his dilated[434]skin assumes a dull and scaly appearance; and his tail, which sends forth an ominous sound, vibrates[435]with such rapidity as to resemble a light vapor.
2. The Canadian now begins to play on his flute. The serpent starts with surprise and draws back his head. In proportion as he is struck with the magic sound, his eyes lose their fierceness, the oscillations[436]of his tail diminish, and the noise which it emits grows weaker, and gradually dies away. The spiral folds of the charmed serpent, diverging from the perpendicular,[437]expand,[438]and one after the other sink to the ground in concentric[439]circles. The tints of azure, green, white, and gold, recover their brilliancy on his quivering skin, and, slightly turning his head, he remains motionless in the attitude of attention and pleasure.
3. At this moment the Canadian advances a few steps, producing with his flute sweet and simple notes. The reptile immediately lowers his variegated[440]neck, opens a passage with his head through the slender grass, and begins to creep after the musician, halting when he halts, and again following him when he resumes his march. In this way he was led beyond the limits of our camp, attended by a great number of spectators, both savages and Europeans, who could scarcely believe their eyes. After witnessing this wonderful effect of melody, the assembly unanimously decided that the marvelous[441]serpent should be permitted to escape.
[430]Spaˊ-cious, wide; roomy; extensive.[431]Haughˊ-ty, proud; disdainful.[432]Spiˊ-ral, winding like a screw.[433]In-flatesˊ, to swell or distend.[434]Di-lat-ed, expanded.[435]Vi-brate, to swing; to quiver; to move to and fro.[436]Os-cil-laˊ-tion, vibration; a movement backward and forward.[437]Per-pen-dicˊ-u-lar, a line is said to be perpendicular to another, on which it falls, or from which it extends at right angles.[438]Ex-pandˊ, to dilate; to open.[439]Con-cenˊ-tric, having a common center.[440]Vaˊ-ri-e-gated, diversified in colors.[441]Marˊ-vel-ous, wonderful.
[430]Spaˊ-cious, wide; roomy; extensive.
[430]Spaˊ-cious, wide; roomy; extensive.
[431]Haughˊ-ty, proud; disdainful.
[431]Haughˊ-ty, proud; disdainful.
[432]Spiˊ-ral, winding like a screw.
[432]Spiˊ-ral, winding like a screw.
[433]In-flatesˊ, to swell or distend.
[433]In-flatesˊ, to swell or distend.
[434]Di-lat-ed, expanded.
[434]Di-lat-ed, expanded.
[435]Vi-brate, to swing; to quiver; to move to and fro.
[435]Vi-brate, to swing; to quiver; to move to and fro.
[436]Os-cil-laˊ-tion, vibration; a movement backward and forward.
[436]Os-cil-laˊ-tion, vibration; a movement backward and forward.
[437]Per-pen-dicˊ-u-lar, a line is said to be perpendicular to another, on which it falls, or from which it extends at right angles.
[437]Per-pen-dicˊ-u-lar, a line is said to be perpendicular to another, on which it falls, or from which it extends at right angles.
[438]Ex-pandˊ, to dilate; to open.
[438]Ex-pandˊ, to dilate; to open.
[439]Con-cenˊ-tric, having a common center.
[439]Con-cenˊ-tric, having a common center.
[440]Vaˊ-ri-e-gated, diversified in colors.
[440]Vaˊ-ri-e-gated, diversified in colors.
[441]Marˊ-vel-ous, wonderful.
[441]Marˊ-vel-ous, wonderful.