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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,±\lPerpetual spring our happy climate sees,Twice breed <strong>the</strong> cattle, and twice bear <strong>the</strong> trees;And summer suns recede by slow degrees.Dryden^s Translation.But wlio is ignorant, that this is not literally true?and as to tlie plenty meant by it in genera!, 'tiscertainthat no country abounds more with <strong>the</strong>necessaries <strong>of</strong> life, and at less labor or charge, than<strong>the</strong> Hebrides. I shall dwell so much <strong>the</strong> longeron thishead, as my history may possibly reachfur<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> Celtic nations. Wherefore, in<strong>the</strong> iirst place, <strong>the</strong>re is known to be in those ilandsa prodigious plenty <strong>of</strong> flesh and fish. Theircattle <strong>of</strong> all sorts (as cow^s, sheep, goats, andhogs) are exceeding numerous and prolific : smallindeed <strong>of</strong> size, as are likewise <strong>the</strong>ir horses, but <strong>of</strong>a sweet and delicious taste. So are <strong>the</strong>ir deer,which freely range in herds on <strong>the</strong> mountains.INo place can compare with this for tame andw ild fowl, <strong>the</strong>re being <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter no where in <strong>the</strong>world a greater diversity, many sorts <strong>of</strong> 'em extremelybeautiful or rarC;, and utterly unknownelsewhere. The like may be said <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir variousamphibious animals. Numberless are <strong>the</strong>ir fountainsand springs, rivulets, rivers, and lakes, verywholesom in <strong>the</strong>ir waters, and every where superaboundingwith fish, especially <strong>the</strong> most delicate,as trout and salmon: nor is it by herrings alonethat all Europe knows no seas to be better stor'd,nor with more kinds, from <strong>the</strong> shrimp to <strong>the</strong>E.e2

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