73 customed, in return for which he would receive wealth of various kinds. The son, according to his father's orders, very respectfully supplied the serpent with his usual food, and the serpent bestowed some money on him. On seeing this he became infatuated with the love of wealth, and reflected that if he were to destroy the serpent, he might obtain possession of all the riches concealed in its retreat. Having rashly determined on this proceeding, he struck the serpent a blow on the head; but life does not become extinct till the appointed hour arrives; the serpent, therefore, survived its broken head, but according to the dictates of its own nature, darted its poisonous teeth into the youth and sent him to the abodes of death. Soon after the garland seller returning home, and seeing his lifeless son, became himself half-dead, and thus addressed the serpent, “Tho’I have always nourished, and served thee, O thou wicked serpent, thou hast through the venom of thy nature destroyed my son ; now I know, that natural disposition cannot be overcome.’ The serpent replied, ‘judge not thus; of that which is evident what proof is required 1 O garland seller, if you look at your son, look also upon my broken head, which is the cause of his death; the continu J
