Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

NECTANEBUS THE SERPENT. 25
Olympias. Then did Nectanebus change his form
and appearance and become a huge snake, much
greater than he was before, and as he gUded along Nectanebus,
the ground all those who were in the royal palace a'^^serpent^
^°^
were struck with terror and amazement, and they marp'j^f
veiled when they saw him, and they fled from be-
fore him and his hissings. Then Olympias, knowing
that the serpent was her lov.er, stretched out her
right hand to him, and the serpent rested the hair
of his beard upon her knees, and he kissed her
mouth;' this the serpent did openly, and shewed
himself to all beholders. And Philip was terrified
and was sore afraid.'' Then Nectanebus, that is
to say the serpent, changed himself straightway
into an eagle, and he flew away and no man knew
whither he went. When Philip came to himself
from his terror, he said, "I have seen a sign from
"this serpent [of his love for thee] and my heart
"and mind are [not] doubtful concerning what he
"said, Ammon shall help thee, O woman. But
^ "A serpent was also seen lying by Olympias as she
slept^ which is said to have cooled Philip's affections for
her more than anything, insomuch that he seldom repaired
to her bed afterwards: whether it was that he feared some
enchantment from her, or abstained from her embraces be-
cause he thought them taken up by some superior being."
Plutarch, op. cit.
^ It is said that Philip lost one of his eyes, which was that
which he applied to the chink of the door, when he saw the
god in his wife's embraces in the form of a serpent. Plutarch,
op. cit.