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

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NOTES. 293Morib, Gernu cap. 15. gives a particular description <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>seFenni or Finni, Nor is this mode <strong>of</strong> reasoning, if kopt withinreasonable bounds, ei<strong>the</strong>r fanciful or hypo<strong>the</strong>tical. We knowfor certain that British colonists have carried British names toerery quarter <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> globe, particularly to America and <strong>the</strong>West Indies. Were all au<strong>the</strong>ntic history lost, still <strong>the</strong> identity<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se names, with names still remaining in Britain, wouldclearly establish <strong>the</strong>ir origin.Mankind in all ages have evinced<strong>the</strong> strongest attachment to <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir progenitors, benefactors,deities, and native soil, and <strong>the</strong>se <strong>the</strong>y have generallycarried along with <strong>the</strong>m, and preserved under every dilHculf/and danger.Note XLV.—Page 129.O patron <strong>of</strong>Soracte^shigk abodes, Sfc, —Within <strong>the</strong> country <strong>of</strong>antient Umhria stood <strong>the</strong> celebrated hill <strong>of</strong> Soracie, Of thisword I have been able to find no satisfactory analysis. In <strong>the</strong>;Gaelic language we find Sorach or Sotch an eminence, and <strong>the</strong>adjective Sorachta acervated, perhaps in allusion to t)iQ Acervusor Cam <strong>of</strong> Apollo, which stood on this hill.That <strong>the</strong> Greeksand lloraans might render i'aQ Gaelic Sorachta in <strong>the</strong>ir languageSoracte is by no means improbable. What will add weight tothis conjecture is that <strong>the</strong> Greek verb Soreuo and <strong>the</strong> Gaelicverb Soracham are synonim„ous, both signifying to acervate.On this hill <strong>the</strong> Hirpins (see Toland^s qtiotation from Pliny)performed <strong>the</strong>ir yearly sacrifice to Apollo. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> featspractised on <strong>the</strong>se occasions by <strong>the</strong>m was dancing over <strong>the</strong> firebarefooted, for which <strong>the</strong>y enjoyedmany important immunitiesIby a decree <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Roman senate. These Hirpins used to beimear<strong>the</strong>ir feet with a certain ointment {see TolamVs quotationfrom Varro) which rendered <strong>the</strong>m invulnerable to <strong>the</strong> fire.That such an ointment was known to <strong>the</strong> antients is beyond alldoubt. Odd, lib, 2. Fab. 1. clearly alludes to it in <strong>the</strong> followingAvords;Turn pater ora sui sacro medicanune natiContigit, «Sc rapidse fecit patientia flaniniie.

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