Galic Antiquities

Chap. II. T H E D R U I D S. 25
gion; and the priefts, wliofe particular province it was, only fludied
how to make their gain of it. To compafs this end, and to
pleafe the fuperftitious vulgar, they made it confift, for the moft
part, of a long train of farcical and unmeaning ceremonies, which
always eat up the vitals of religion wherever they prevail. With
them, the nature of a future ftate in particular, that part of religion
which has mod influence on mens conducfb, was entirely a-
bandoned to the wanton fancy of their poets. Thefe foon involved
it in fable, and interlarded it with fidion. By this means,
they not only rtiined its credit with the vulgar, but made even
philofophers themfelves ftagger, and almoft call the truth of it in
queftion. The fables of Elyfium and Tartarus, on which e-
very poet tried his invention, became very amufnig flories,
but had little
or no infltience on the heart and behaviour.
The Druids, on the other hand, were the moft zealous guardians
of every part of their religion. No poet, nor any other perfon,
was allowed to meddle or interfere with any part of it, nor
fo nuich as to mention any article of it, but with the greateft caution,
and with the utmoft reverence and refpedl. By this means
religion, among them, always maintained its credit. Every body
beheld it, at an awful diftance, with that veneration which its own
fimplicity and importance, as well as the authority of its guardians,
demanded to be paid it. This, together with the civil authority
with which the Druids were inverted, and fome other caufes
which will fall more properly under our obfervation in another
place, concurred to make the religion of the Celts a rule of life and
pra6lice. Among them, to have any comfort or credit here, or
any hope of happinefs
hereafter, a man muft have guided his life
D
by