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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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OF THE DRUIDS. 117monument <strong>of</strong> a native prince so caird, I sliall no<strong>the</strong>re decide. The fact itself is tohl ns by Mr.Brand*, in his description <strong>of</strong> Orkney and Zetland.1 wish he had also told us, <strong>of</strong> what kind those antientcharacters are, or that he had exactly copy'd<strong>the</strong>m: and if tliere be a man's portraiture on <strong>the</strong>stone, as Dr. Martin affirms f, <strong>the</strong> dress and posturewill go a great way towards clearing <strong>the</strong>matter.IV. But to make no longer digression, May-dayis likewise calFd La Sealteine by <strong>the</strong> Highlanders<strong>of</strong> Scotland, who are no contemtible part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Celtic <strong>of</strong>fspring.So it is in <strong>the</strong> He <strong>of</strong> Man; andin Armoric a priest is still call'd JBelec^ or <strong>the</strong> servant<strong>of</strong> Bel, and priesthood Belegietk, Two suchfires, as we have mentioned, were kindFd by oneano<strong>the</strong>r on May-eve in every village <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation(as well thro'out all Gaule, as in Britain, Ireland,and <strong>the</strong> adjoining lesser Hands), between Avhichfires <strong>the</strong> men and <strong>the</strong> beasts to be sacrific'd wereto pass; from whence came <strong>the</strong> proverb, hetiveenBeFs twoJires\, meaning one in a great strait, notknowing how to extricate himself. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>fires was on <strong>the</strong> earn, ano<strong>the</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> ground.<strong>the</strong> eve <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first day <strong>of</strong> November §,On<strong>the</strong>re werealso such fires kindFd, accompany'd (as <strong>the</strong>y constantlywere) with sacrifices and feasting. TheseNovember fires were in Ireland calFd Tine tlaclCd-'^Page 1 4. i Page 358. % lUir dha thcine Elici! . § Sainhbhmi,

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