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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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——NOTES. 263tiiat <strong>the</strong>re is no pro<strong>of</strong> whatever <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druids ever having beenin North Britain. Dreiix^ <strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir general annualassembly in France, literally signifies <strong>the</strong> Druids. Stephanusgives us three o<strong>the</strong>r places <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same name, viz. Drys a cl{y <strong>of</strong>Thrace, Drys a city <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> CEnotri, and Drys a village <strong>of</strong> Lycia,near <strong>the</strong> river Arus. Vide Stephanum in verho Drys*Note XIV.—Page 71.Gealcossa^ ^c,—Tolacd reckons GeaIcossa,i. e. white legged,a Druidess. He also reckons Lambdearg, (page b^y i. c,Bloody-hand, a Druid. Both belong to Ireland. The curiousreader will see <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> Lamhdearg and Gealcossa^ at considerablelength in Gssian's Poems; Fingal, book 6, page 97Johnston's <strong>edition</strong>, 1806. Fingal having lost his son, Ryno,in his exp<strong>edition</strong> to Ireland, was anxious to bury him in honourableground ; and seeing a tomb near, thus addresses his bardUllin:— *^ Whose fame is in that dark green tomb ;" &;c. UlHnreplies— '' Here said <strong>the</strong> mouth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sorg, here rests <strong>the</strong> first<strong>of</strong> heroes. Silent is I ambderg in this tomb, and UUiii^ king <strong>of</strong>swords. And who, s<strong>of</strong>t smiling from her cloud, shews me herface <strong>of</strong> love? V/hy, daughter, why so pale, art thou first <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>maids <strong>of</strong> Cromla? Dost thou sleep with <strong>the</strong> foes in battle, CeLchossa^ white bosomed daughter <strong>of</strong> Tuathal? Thou hast been thalove <strong>of</strong> thousands, but Lamhdcrg was thy love. He came toSelma's mossy towers, and, striking his dark buckler, said—Where is Gclchossa, my love, <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> noble Tuaihal?''*&c. Such a coincidence betwixt Toland and M'Fherson^ is astrong pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> au<strong>the</strong>nticity <strong>of</strong> Ossian's Poems.Toland de,rived his information from <strong>the</strong> Irish manuscripts and traditionsM'Pherson bis from those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Highlands <strong>of</strong> Scotland.Now ifboth concur that Ireland was ihQ country <strong>of</strong> Lamderg and GeU^hossa^ <strong>the</strong> point may be considered determined that <strong>the</strong>y werereal, not imaginary characters ; and it will naturally follow, that<strong>the</strong> poems <strong>of</strong> Ossian are genuine and au<strong>the</strong>ntic. Toland, whowrote 50 years before M'Pherson, surely cannot be accused <strong>of</strong>juventing thiis story to support <strong>the</strong> au<strong>the</strong>nticity <strong>of</strong> Ossia7i''s Poems,l12

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