Their groves were cut down, their altars were over thrown, and, after fierce and desperate fighting, they themselves, in great numbers, were burned in the huge Golden Hook Branch of Mistletoe. fires, which the historian Tacitus says that they had prepared for the expected Roman prisoners. 15. From this time the power of the Druids was broken. Much of Druidism, however, long survived. In the remoter refuges of Ireland and Scotland it remained for a time little disturbed, and in country places throughout the land its superstitions lingered for ages. Nearly a thousand years later, after Saxons had succeeded Romans, and Danes had overwhelmed Saxons, there was so much of the old Druid superstition still surviving that King Canute had to pass laws against worship ping "the sun, moon, fire, rivers, fountains, hills, or trees and wood of any kind;" and centuries later yet, the old stone circles and cromlechs were still regarded with awe and fear by the common people. 16. Here and there those rude monuments still remain. Most wonderful of all these is Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain, but smaller circles of stones are found in many places through out these islands, and, indeed, similar circles have been found in France and Spain, and even as far as Palestine, Sinai, and India. In some places also, mounds and circles of earth, too large to have been huts, too small to have been forts, are met with, which are thought to have been at one time covered with the sacred groves of the Druids—perhaps to have served as their places of worship or courts of justice. More curious traces, however, may stil! be found. Probably our May-day sports originated in the May-day festival of the Druids. The bonfires of Midsummer-eve, and Hallow-een or AllSaints' Day, which are still kept up in different parts of England and Scotland, are relics of the old Bel-tein, or Bel-fires, which the country people used to light before the Romans came to Britain. And every spray of mistletoe that is hung up at Christmas is really an unconscious memorial of that oldest religion of our land.Brooke Herford. ADDRESS TO THE INDOLENT. 1. Is not the field, with lively culture green, The same in all holds true, but chief in human race. 2. It was not by vile loitering in ease That Greece obtain'd the brighter palm of art, 3. Had unambitious mortals minded nought Had they alone the lap of Dalliance sought, With brother-brutes the human race had graz'd; 4. But should to fame your hearts unfeeling be, O leaden-hearted men, to be in love with death! 5. Ah! what avail the largest gifts of heaven, While he whom toil has braced, or manly play, As light as air each limb, each thought as clear as day. 6. O who can speak the vigorous joys of health! 7. There are, I see, who listen to my lay, Here to mankind indulged; control Desire; Let godlike Reason, from her sovereign throne, Speak the commanding word-I will, and it is done. -Thomson (1700—1748). LORD CHESTERFIELD' AND LORD CHATHAM.2 Chesterfield. It is true, my lord, we have not always been of the same opinion, or, to use a better, truer, and more significant expression, of the same side in politics; yet I never heard a sentence from your lordship which I did not listen to with deep attention. I understand that you have written some pieces of admonition and advice to a young relative: they are mentioned as being truly excellent. I wish I could have profited by them when I was composing mine on a similar occasion. Chatham. My lord, you certainly would not have done it, even supposing they contained, which I am far from believing, any topics that could have escaped your 1 Born 1694; died 1773. He was considered one of the most effective debaters of his time. 2 William Pitt, a celebrated statesman (created Earl of Chatham 1766), born 1694; died 1773. penetrating view of manners and morals; for your lordship and I set out diversely from the very threshold. Let us then rather hope that what we have written, with an equally good intention, may produce its due effect; which indeed, I am afraid, may be somewhat doubtful, if we consider how ineffectual were the cares and exhortations, and even the daily example and high renown, of the most zealous and prudent men, on the life and conduct of their children and disciples. Let us, however, hope the best rather than fear the worst, and believe that there never was a right thing done or a wise one spoken in vain, although the fruit of them may not spring up in the place designated or at the time expected. Chesterfield.--Pray, if I am not taking too great a freedom, give me the outline of your plan. Chatham.-Willingly, my lord: but since a greater man than either of us has laid down a more comprehensive one, containing all I could bring forward, would it not be preferable to consult it? I differ in nothing from Locke, unless it be that I would recommend the lighter as well as the graver part of the ancient classics, and the constant practice of imitating them in early youth. This is no change in the system, and no larger an addition than a woodbine to a sacred grove. Chesterfield. I do not admire Mr. Locke.1 Chatham.-Nor I: he is too simply grand for admiration; I contemplate and revere him. Equally deep and clear, he is both philosophically and grammatically the most elegant of English writers. Chesterfield. If I expressed by any motion of limb or feature my surprise at this remark, your lordship, I hope, will pardon me a slight and involuntary transgression of my own precept. I must entreat you, before we move a step further in our inquiry, to inform me whether I am really to consider him, in style, the most elegant of our prose authors. Chatham. Your lordship is capable of forming an opinion on this point, certainly no less correct than mine. 1 See page 82. |