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

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308 NOTES.secuti, ant altiores inter undas adnantes equis transmisere. Sttubat pro littore dioersa acies dcnsa armis^ virisque intercursantihus/(Bminis, in modum furiarum^ vesle feraliy crinibus dejectisfacespro'ferebant. Djuidceque circum^ preces diras suhlatis ad cceliimmanibus fundentes^ novitate aspectus perculere militem uty quasihcpreniibus memhris^ immobile corpus vulneribus prceberent,Dein cohortationibus ducis, et se ipsi stimulantes^ ne muliebre etfanaiicum agmen pavescerent^ inferunt signa, sternunt que obvi»OS, et igni sua involvunt, Prcesidium posthac impositwn victis^excisique luci scevis superstitionibus sacri. Nam cruore captivocdolere aras, et hominum Jibris consulere Deos fas habebani.-—Annal. lib. 14. cap. 5. i. e. " Therefore he prepares to attack<strong>the</strong> island Mona (Aoglesy), powerful in inhabitants, and a receptacle<strong>of</strong> deserters. He builds flat.bottomed ships, suited to<strong>the</strong> shallow and uncertain channel. The infantry following <strong>the</strong>cavalry, passed ovtr that part which was fordable, but where <strong>the</strong>water was too deep, laid hold <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> horses, and by <strong>the</strong>ir aidiwam over. A motley army stood on <strong>the</strong> shore, thick witharms, and women running up and down among <strong>the</strong> men, withmournful garments, and loose hair, in <strong>the</strong> manner <strong>of</strong> furies, carriedtorches before <strong>the</strong>m. The Druids also, with <strong>the</strong>ir handslifted up towards heaven, and pouring out <strong>the</strong>ir direful prayers,so terrified <strong>the</strong> soldiers with <strong>the</strong> novelty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sight, that, as if<strong>the</strong>y had been deprived <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir limbs, <strong>the</strong>y suffered<strong>the</strong>mselves to be wounded without resistance. But being exhortedby <strong>the</strong>ir general, and mutually encouraging each o<strong>the</strong>rnot to be terrified by a womanish and fanatic rabble, <strong>the</strong>y ad^fance <strong>the</strong> standards, defeat <strong>the</strong>ir opponents, and involve i<strong>the</strong>min <strong>the</strong>ir own fires, A guard was placed on <strong>the</strong> conquered, and<strong>the</strong> groves, sacred to cruel superstitions, were cut down; for<strong>the</strong>y held it lawful to sacrifice captives on <strong>the</strong>ir altars, and toconsult <strong>the</strong> gods by human entrails."Tacitus does not here mention <strong>the</strong> temples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druids, bu<strong>the</strong> particularly mentions <strong>the</strong> groves, altars, and human sacrifices^The truth is, some authors mention one appendage, and o<strong>the</strong>rsaiiolhefj <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Druidlc worship. Cwsarj lib, Q* cap. 17, takes

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