13.07.2015 Views

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

48 LIFE OF TOLAND.resisted <strong>the</strong>m to tlie utmost <strong>of</strong> liis power. To<strong>the</strong> Revolution, in 1(389, he was a warm and steadyfriend.—Real and unatFected piety, and <strong>the</strong> church<strong>of</strong> Scothind, which he thouj^ht bore <strong>the</strong> greatestre.sem])lance to <strong>the</strong> primitive simphcity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>apostolic times, always found, in him, an able andinflexible advocate.—Though his pen was his estate,yet he never prostituted it to serve <strong>the</strong> interest<strong>of</strong> his party at <strong>the</strong> expence <strong>of</strong> truth.—ThereAvas interwoven, with his whole frame, a high degree<strong>of</strong> stubborn and inexorable integrity, whichtotally unfitted him for <strong>the</strong> tool <strong>of</strong> a party; and,like })oor Yorick, he invariably called things by<strong>the</strong>ir right names, regardless <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> consequences.—There was not, in his whole composition, onesingle grain <strong>of</strong> that useful quality which Swift callsmodern discretion. Like an impregnable rock in<strong>the</strong> midst <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tempestuous ocean, he stood im~ino\ cable against all his assailants; and his calmdignitied answers, in reply to <strong>the</strong>ir most virulentand unmerited calunmies, equally characterize <strong>the</strong>hero, <strong>the</strong> philosopher, and <strong>the</strong> christian.—To liistranscendant literary abilities even <strong>the</strong> most inveterate<strong>of</strong> his enemies have paid <strong>the</strong> most ampletribute <strong>of</strong> respect. liis Latin compositions, inpoint <strong>of</strong> classical purity, have not been excelled,even by Cicero himself. To him <strong>the</strong> Celtic tribesarc liighly indebted for that unequalled productioii,tliC Ilhioif/ <strong>of</strong> tlie Druids.— Pinkerton, asolK^n as his Goihic 'mania led him to controvert

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!