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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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:which isOF THE DRUID5, 221<strong>the</strong> reason, that bodily imperfections <strong>of</strong>an}' sort are very rare among <strong>the</strong>m.IN ei<strong>the</strong>r tloesany over-<strong>of</strong>ficionsly preventive physic in <strong>the</strong>ir infancy,spoil <strong>the</strong>ir original constitution; whence<strong>the</strong>y have so strong a habit <strong>of</strong> body, that one <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>m requires treble <strong>the</strong> dose, as will purge anyman in <strong>the</strong> south <strong>of</strong> Scotland. But what contributesabove all things to <strong>the</strong>ir health and longevity,is constant temperance and exercise. As<strong>the</strong>y prefer conveniency to ornament both in <strong>the</strong>irhouses and <strong>the</strong>ir a])parel (which last 1 think notdisagreeable) so, in <strong>the</strong>ir way <strong>of</strong> eating and drinking,<strong>the</strong>y ra<strong>the</strong>r satisfy than oppress nature.Theirfood is commonly fresh, and <strong>the</strong>ir meals two a day,water being <strong>the</strong> ordinary drink <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vulgar.They are strangers to many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> distempers, as<strong>the</strong>y are to most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> vices <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r nations, forsome <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong>y have not so much as a nameand it may no less truely be observed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se than<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancient Scythians, that* <strong>the</strong> ignorance <strong>of</strong>vices has had a better effect upon <strong>the</strong>m, than <strong>the</strong>knowlege <strong>of</strong> philosophy upon politer nations.They owe every thing to nature. They cure aildisorders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body by simples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir owngrowth, and by proper diet or labor. Hence <strong>the</strong>yare stout and active, dextrous in all <strong>the</strong>ir exercises;as <strong>the</strong>y are withall remarkably sagacious,choleric but easily appeaz'd, sociable, good natur'd^* Tanto plus in illis pr<strong>of</strong>icii vitlorum ignoratio, quara ia his[^Grcecis Nmirum~\ cognitio virtutis. Justin, Hint, lib, 2. cap 2,Ff

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