erasmus considered , and gave it as his opinion that they were not , `` for surely the bible would mention it , if any had eaten of the fruit besides adam and eve ; and though resembling the serpent in some particulars , the lord said unto the serpent that upon its belly it should go , whereas dragons are as creatures of the air , and can not be considered under the same interdiction , '' he added convincingly , so it was with a heart lightened that laurence could return to the deck that evening , to once again try and persuade temeraire to take a little more to eat .