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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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•With:188 THE HISTORYyour patience tohear <strong>the</strong> following story, especiallysince we are upon tlie subject <strong>of</strong> ravens.When I vras in Dublin in tlie year 1097, 1 walkVlout one day to <strong>the</strong> village <strong>of</strong> Finglass, and overtookupon <strong>the</strong> way two gentlemen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old Irislistock, w ith whom I had contracted some acquaintanceat <strong>the</strong> c<strong>of</strong>tee-house. They told me <strong>the</strong>ywere going a good way fur<strong>the</strong>r, about a business<strong>of</strong> some importance ;and not many minutes afterone <strong>of</strong> 'em cry'd out w ith joy to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, see cousin,by heaven matters will go well: pointing at<strong>the</strong> same instant to a raven feeding and hoppinghard by, which had a white fea<strong>the</strong>r or two in <strong>the</strong>wing that was towards us. The o<strong>the</strong>r appear'dno less transported, nor w^ould <strong>the</strong>y stir till <strong>the</strong>ysaw what way <strong>the</strong> raven flew ; which being to <strong>the</strong>south <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, and w ith a great noise, <strong>the</strong>y werefully coufirm'd about <strong>the</strong> success <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir business.This brought to my remembrance that oblativeaugury in Virgil *Scarce had he said, -when full before his sightTwo doves, descending from <strong>the</strong>ir airy flight,Secure upon <strong>the</strong> grassy plain alightwatchful sightObserving still <strong>the</strong> motions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir flight,Geniinaecum forte ColumbaeIpsa sub ora viri coelo venere volantes,Et viridi sodere solovestigia pressit,Observans q[uae sign* ferant, quo tendf re pergant.Acvcicl, lib, G. ver, 190.

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