[1] Ben Jonson.
[2] The existence of these _giants_ was long historical, and their
real origin was in the fourth verse of the fifth chapter of Genesis,
which no commentator shall ever explain. AYLET SAMMES in his
"Britannia Antiqua Illustrata, or the Antiquities of Ancient Britain
derived from the Phoenicians," has particularly noticed "two teeth of
a certain giant, of such a huge bigness, that two hundred such teeth
as men now-a-days have might be cut out of them." Becanus and Camden
had however observed, that "_the bones of sea-fish_ had been taken
for _giants' bones_;--but can it be rationally supposed that men ever
entombed fishes?" triumphant in his arguments, exclaims Aylet Sammes.
The revelations of geology had not yet been surmised, even by those
who had discovered that giants were but sea-fish. So progressive is
all human knowledge.
[3] The miraculous event was perpetuated by the whole Teutonic
people, "while it was fresh in their memories," as our honest Saxon
asserts; hence to this day we in our Saxon _English_, and our
Teutonic kinsmen and neighbours in their idiom, describe a confusion
of idle talk by the term of _Babel_, now written from our harsh love
of supernumerary consonants _Babble_; and any such workmen of Babel
are still indicated as _Babblers_.--"A Restitution of Decayed
Intelligence," 138, 4to. Antwerp, 1605.
The erudite Menage offers a memorable evidence of the precarious
condition of etymology when it connects things which have no other
affinity than that which depends on _sounds_. See his "Dictionnaire
Etymologique, ou Origines de la Langue Francoise," ad verbum BABIL.
Not satisfied with the usual authorities deduced from _Babel_, this
verbal sage appeals to us English to demonstrate the natural
connexion between _Babbling and Childishness_; for thus he has
shrewdly opined "The English in this manner have _Babble_ and
_Baby_!"
After all the convulsion of lips at Babel, and confusion among the
etymologists, the word is Hebrew, which with a few more such are
found in many languages.
[4] Julia, the empress of Severus, once in raillery remonstrated with
a British female against this singular custom, which annulled every
connubial tie. The British woman, whose observation had evidently
been enlarged during her visit to Rome, retorted by her disdain of
the more polished corruption of the greater nation. "We British women
greatly differ from the Roman ladies, for we follow in public the men
whom we esteem the most worthy, while the Roman women yield
themselves secretly to the vilest of men."
Such was the noble sentiment which broke forth from a lady of savage
education--it was, however, but a savage's view of social life. This
female Briton had not felt how much remained of life which she had
not taken into her view; when the attractions of her sex had ceased,
and the season of flowers had passed, she was left without her
connubial lord amid a progeny who had no father.
[5] This practice of savage races may have originated in a natural
circumstance. The naked body by this slight covering is protected
from the atmosphere, from insects, and other inconveniences to which
the unclothed are exposed. But though it may not have been considered
merely as personal finery, which seems sometimes to have been the
case, it became a refinement of barbarism when they painted their
bodies frightfully to look terrible to the enemy.
[6] See Mr. Tate's twelve questions about the Druids, with Mr.
Jones's answers; a learned Welsh scholar who commented on the ancient
laws of his nation.--Toland's "History of the Druids."
A later Welsh scholar affirms, "beyond all doubt there has been an
era when science diffused a light among the Cymry--in a very early
period of the world."--Owen's "Heroic Elegies of Llywarc Hen."
Preface, xxi.
This style is traditional and still kept up among Welsh and Irish
scholars, who seem familiar with an antiquity beyond record.
[7] Toland's "History of the Druids" in his Miscellaneous Works, ii.
163.
[8] "The Celtic Druids, or an Attempt to show that the Druids were
the Priests of Oriental Colonies, who emigrated from India." By
Godfrey Higgins, Esq. London, 1829.
This is a quarto volume abounding with recondite researches and many
fancies. It is more repulsive, by the absurd abuse of "the Christian
priests who destroyed their (the Druids') influence, and unnerved the
arms of their gallant followers." There are philosophical fanatics!
[9] Caesar was a keen observer of the Britons. He characterizes the
Kentish men, _Ex his omnibus longe sunt humanissimi_,--"Of all this
people the Kentish are far the most humane." Caesar describes the
British boats to have the keel and masts of the lightest wood, and
their bodies of wicker covered with leather; and the hero and sage
was taught a lesson by the barbarians, for Caesar made use of these in
Spain to transport his soldiers,--a circumstance which Lucan has
recorded. In the size and magnitude of Britain, confiding to the
exaggerated accounts of the captives, he was mistaken; but he
acknowledges, that many things he heard of, he had not himself
observed.
[10] Toland's "Hist. of the Druids," 56.
[11] The origin of Stonehenge is as unknown as that of the Pyramids.
As it is evident that those huge masses could not have been raised
and fixed without the machinery of art, Mr. Owen, the Welsh
antiquary, infers, that this building, if such it may be called,
could not have been erected till that later period when the Druidical
genius declined and submitted to Christianity, and the Druids were
taught more skilful masonry in stone, though without mortar. It has
been, however, considered, that those masses which have been ascribed
to the necromancer Merlin, or the more ancient giants, might have
been the work of the Britons themselves, who, without our knowledge
of the mechanical powers in transporting or raising ponderous bodies,
it is alleged, were men of mighty force and stature, whose
co-operation might have done what would be difficult even to our
mechanical science. The lances, helmets, and swords of these Britons
show the vast size and strength of those who wore them. The native
Americans, as those in Peru, unaided by the engines we apply to those
purposes, have raised up such vast stones in building their temples
as the architect of the present time would not perhaps hazard the
attempt to remove. "Essays by a Society at Exeter," 114.