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

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

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OF THE DRUIDS. 171Now that Hercules, or speech^ shou'd draw menafter liiiii ty'd by tlieir ears to his tongue, will beno cause <strong>of</strong> admiration to yon, when yon consider<strong>the</strong> near affinity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tongue with <strong>the</strong> ears. Noris his tongue contumeliously bor'd : for I remember,said he, to have learnt certain iambics out <strong>of</strong>your own comedians, one <strong>of</strong> which says.The tips <strong>of</strong> all prater's tongues are bor'd.And finally, as for us, we are <strong>of</strong> ophiion, thatHercules accomplish'd all his atchievments byspeech; and, that having been a wise man, he conquer'dmostly by persuasion : we think his arrowswere keen reasons, easily shot, quick, and penetrating<strong>the</strong> souls <strong>of</strong> men; whence you have, amongyou, <strong>the</strong> expression <strong>of</strong> wing'd words. Hi<strong>the</strong>rtospoke <strong>the</strong> GauL ' From this ingenious pictureLucian draws to himself an argument <strong>of</strong> consolation:that <strong>the</strong> study and pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>of</strong> eloquencewas not unbecoming him in his old age, being ra<strong>the</strong>rmore fit than ever to teach <strong>the</strong> Belles Lettres;when his stock <strong>of</strong> knowledge was most complete,as his speech was more copious, polish'd, andmature, than formerly.II. As my first instance is furnished by a man,who, for his eloquence and love <strong>of</strong> liberty (qualitiesno less conspicuous in your lordship) deservedto have his memory consecrated to immortality,which was allthat <strong>the</strong> wisest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancients understoodby making any one a God^ so my secondX2

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