Such are the virtues of the Mountain-stone, As
sure relief to wounded heroes shown, Makes too the barren woman to
conceive : The gods for mortals all things can achieve. Such rules the
wise Abarbareia taught (My mother she), with healing science fraught.—
Euphorbus sings the Serpentine is good, Not merely 'gainst the
serpent's scaly brood, But hence the darkling eye new light obtains,
And from the head it drives the heavy pains. Aided by this he healed
the deafened ear,
460 And gave it power the lightest sound to hear.
The
unhappy youth on whom hath Venus frowned, All impotent for love's sweet
pleasures found, Strengthened by this renews his former fires. And
feels his veins inflamed with fresh desires. Its fumes in burning
reptiles chase away, Though hid in holes they shun the light of day.
Such flee, when Jet in rising clouds consumes, The nose provoking with its pungent fumes. Black as a coal, but yet of lustrous shine,
470 It biases up like torch of driest pine ;
But
strange its influence on the human brain, Nor can the wretch disguise
his hidden pain, From whom the dire disease we seek to purge, Sent down
from heaven the human race to scourge. Soon as his nostrils feel the
potent smoke, Headlong he falls as from the lightning's stroke, Covered
with foam, in fierce convulsions bound, He rolls and writhes and
struggles on the ground ; Malignant Luna, tyrant of his brain, Surveys
his torture and enjoys his pain. But if a woman o'er its vapours bend
And catch the healing fumes as they ascend,
480 Long pent within by circulation slow,
At last dissolved the noxious humours flow ;
She marks the flux, and conscious of release,
Departs exulting, 'scaped the fell disease.
Yet other virtues to the stone are lent,
But with its power o'er snakes thou'lt be content.-—
Named from the scorpion dire, the virtuous stone
To huge Orion was, I ween, unknown,
