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

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—342 NOTtS.Note LXVII.—Page 183.The Gf'gonian Stone.—Of this word f have ])een nble to findno satisfactory analysis ; but, from <strong>the</strong> descriptiorij it is uiujueslionablya rocking stone.Note LXVIII.—Page 187.Augury was formerly one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most universal superstUions^&c.—Mr. Toland has enlarged so far on this head, that it is unnecessaryfor me to add any thing on <strong>the</strong> subject. I shall, <strong>the</strong>re,fore, content myself with stating a very singular custom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Britons, mentioned by Caesar (lib. 5. cap. 12.) Leporem etGalUnam et Anserem^ gustarefas non putaiit ; hcEc tamen ahuit^animi, voluptaiisque causa— i. e. '' They hold it unlawful toeat <strong>the</strong> hare, <strong>the</strong> hen, or <strong>the</strong> goose ;yet <strong>the</strong>y rear <strong>the</strong>m for pleasureand amusement." Dr. Smith difft^rs from Caesar, and supposesthat <strong>the</strong> Britons did eat <strong>the</strong>m, but without adducing <strong>the</strong>sijf^htest authority.With his usual inaccuracy, he mentions <strong>the</strong>hen and <strong>the</strong> goose, but omits <strong>the</strong> hare altoge<strong>the</strong>r. See Hist.Druid, p. ^Q. CiEsar had good access to know <strong>the</strong> fact, andc'U'^ht not to be contradicted, unless on good authority. To <strong>the</strong>p^oose^ <strong>the</strong> Romans <strong>the</strong>mselves paid a superstitious respect, becausethf-y once saved <strong>the</strong> capitol. The hare and <strong>the</strong> cock are,among ourselves, even at <strong>the</strong> present day, ominous. Pliny (lib.10. cap. 21 ) says, <strong>the</strong> premature crowing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cock in <strong>the</strong>evening ^B portentous. The very same opinion prevails amongourselves to <strong>the</strong> present hour. The sam*^ author {ibidem) says<strong>the</strong>v crowed a whole night, when <strong>the</strong>y foittold <strong>the</strong> nobl»:« victory<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Beotians over <strong>the</strong> Lacedemonians, One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> symbols<strong>of</strong> Pythagoras is, Feci <strong>the</strong> cock^ hut sacrij^ie him not^ bccanse heis sacred to <strong>the</strong> sun and to <strong>the</strong> moon,—See Daccier's Life <strong>of</strong> Py.ihagoras^ p. 107. As to <strong>the</strong> hare, it is only ne

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