Pobl pwyllad enwir: eu tir ni wys PACIFICATION OF LLUDD-Little song. In the name of the God Trinity,* exhibit thy charity! Repeat their invasion of Britain, chief of isles:† With design are they called in, ¶ with their short spears,' those foes The Bard addresses himself to a Christian. + The subject of the poem is Cæsar's second invasion. The particle dy, in composition, conveys the sense of iteration. The district of Troy, whence the Romans deduced their origin. Dardanidæ duri, quæ vos a stirpe parentum Virg. Æn. II. V. 93. We are informed, that they knew not where to find this parent region, and consequently wandered through various seas in search of it. To this tale the Bard evidently alludes. The Roman toga, or gown. ¶ We learn from Cæsar, as well as from the British Triads and chronicles, that the Romans were invited into this island by the princes of the Trino bantes, who were at war with Cassivellaunus. ** Such was the formidable pilum, as appears from a variety of Roman coins and sculptures. Of the Europeans, the Aramites, and Armenians.* The King is not ensnared, as inexpert: he directs with his speech (Having seen all the foreigners that were to be seen), That the quadrangular swamp should be set in order, by wayfaring torches, Against the arrogant leader, in whose presence there was a spreading flame.T The son of Graid,** with his voice, directs the retaliation. The Cymry burst into a flame-there is war upon the slaves.++ With deliberate thought will I declare the stroke that made them decamp. It was the great exaltation of British energy.‡‡ The Romans had carried their arms, not only over the best part of Europe, but also into Aram, or Syria and Armenia, before they invaded Britain. + These reputed brothers of Cassivellaunus, were the princes of the Trinobantes, who deserted the general cause of their country, and sent ambassadors to Julius Cæsar. The reader will see hereafter, that the ancient Bards conferred this title upon the solar divinity, and his chief minister. § That is Cassivellaumus, whose abilities and prudence are acknowledged by the Roman commander. The fortress or town of Cassivellaunus, Silvis paludibusque munitum. De Bell. Gall. L. V. c. 21. ¶ Relinquebatur ut neque longius ab agmine legionum discedi Cæsar pateretur, et tantum in agris vastandis, incendiisque faciendis, hostibus noceretur. Ib. c. 19. ** Grad, or Graid, the sun.-Cassivellaunus is called the son of Beli, which is another name of that deified luminary. ++ Those British tribes who voluntarily submitted to the Romans (see Cæsar, Ib. c. 20, 21), and on whom Cassivellaunus retaliated, after Cæsar's departure. The Bard, in a strain of venial patriotism, ascribes the departure of Cæsar and the Romans to the prowess of his countrymen. Other Bards have dropped pretty strong hints to the same purpose. Lucan says→ Territa quæsitis ostendit terga Britannis, And Pope, with less asperity Ask why, from Britain Cæsar would retreat? By this time, I trust, I have made a convert of the critic. He will agree with me in thinking, that this little poem relates only to the invasion of Britain by Julius Cæsar; and that it contains not the most distant hint of its first colonists. The strong contrast has changed its position: but I abstain from farther remarks. Criticism may be useful to the author who undergoes its chastisement, as well as to the Public. To the censor whose representation is just, whose reproof is liberal, who so far respects himself, as to preserve the character of a scholar and a gentleman, I shall attend with due regard. But if any professed judge of books can descend so low, as wilfully to pervert my words and meaning, to twist them into absurdity, and extract silly witticisms from his own. conceits, I must be allowed to consider his strictures as foreign to myself and my work, and as little calculated to influence those readers whom I wish to engage. THE THE PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE WRITTEN MO- NUMENTS OF THE EARLY BRITONS-THEIR AUTHEN- THE DESIGN OF THE CIRCULAR TEMPLES AND CROM- LECHS OF THE DRUIDS-ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS RE- |