Celtic Mythology and Religion

24 CELTIC MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION.
source as the Sanscrit pramanthas, the " fin
machine." Transplanted to Greek soil, the word
lost its original signification with the loss of the
thing signified, and became a mythological name
for which a new etymology had to be coined. Now,
" promethes," in Greek, means " provident," and
so Prometheus, the fire-bringer, was transformed
into the wise representative of forethought, who
stole the fire from heaven for suffering humanity;
and a brother was supplied him in the foolish
Epimetheus or " afterthought." And thereby hangs
one of the most famous and noble myths of antiquity.
Gaelic, in its modern shape even, presents some
very startling personifications of natural objects.
The regular expression for " The sun is setting
is " Tha a' ghrian 'dol a laidhe " — " going to bed."
Mr. Campbell, in his very literal and picturesque
translation of the West Highland tales, does not
hesitate to follow the Gaelic even in its most personal
metaphors. " Beul na h-oidhche," " nightfall,"
is given literally as " the mouth of night." Gaelic
poetry, too, is
as a rule much more instinct with life
and feeling in dealing with natural objects than
English poetry. Ossian's address to the setting
sun may be quoted to show what a mine of metaphor,
and consequent mythology, exists in our poetic
and elevated language
" An d' fhag thu gorm astar nan speur,
A mhic gun bheud, a's 6r-bhuidh' ciabh ?
Tha dorsan na h-oidhche dhuit r£idh,
Agus pailliim do chlos 'san iar.