1 " joy full abundance and " plenty of every thing "that was good." Herod. L. 4. § 95. "the northern Celtes, "the ancestors of the "Gauls, borrowed their "doctrines either from "the Perfians or their "neighbours, and that "the Druids were form "ed upon the model of "the Magi." (Mythol. expl. Tom. II. 4to. p. 628.) We are, it is true, but very moderately acquainted with what the Gauls, the Britons or the Germans thought on this head; but as the little we know of their opinions, coincides very exactly with the EDDA, we may safely suppose the same conformity in the other particulars of which we are ignorant. Let those who doubt this, caft their eyes over the following passages. 4 "If we may believe "you," (fays Lucan to the Druids) "the fouls " of men do not descend "into the abode of dark"ness and filence, nor 66 yet into the gloomy " empire of Pluto: you 66 say that the same spirit "animates the body in " another world, and "that death is the paf"fage to a long life." Luc. Lib. 1. v. 454. "The Gauls" (fays Cæfar) " are particularly " affiduous to prove that " souls perish not." Cæf. Lib. 6. c. 14. Valerius Maximus, in a passage quoted above in my REMARKSon the 16th Fable*, comes still nearer to the doctrine of the EDDA; for he tells us that the Celtes looked upon a quiet peaceable death as most wretched and dishonourable, and that they leaped for joy at the approach of a battle, which would afford them oppor "Zamolxis" (a celebrated Druid of the Getæ and Scythians) " taught " his contemporaries, "that neither he nor "they, nor the men who "should be born hereaf"ter, were to perish; but " were on the contrary :"to repair, after quitting "this life, to a place " where they should en *Pag. 88. tunities * I cannot help adding to the authorities of our Author, what Quintus Curtius relates of the Sogdians: a nation, who inhabited to the eastward of the Cafpian Sea; not far from the country of ODIN and his companions. When some of that people were condemned to death by Alexander, on account of their revolt, Carmen, Latantium more, canere, tripudiisque & " lafciviori corporis motu, gaudium quoddam animi oftentare cœperunt." When the king enquired the reason of their thus rejoicing, they answered" A tanto Rege, victore omnium gentium, MAJORIBUS SUIS "REDDITOS, boneftam mortem, quam fortes viri Voto quoque expeterent. "Carminibus fui moris Lætitiaque celebrare." Curt. Lib. 7. cap. 8. Edit. Varior. т. THE END OF THE FIRST PART OF THE EDDA. N3 E A AN IDEA OF THE SECOND PART LL the most important points of the • northern *' Mythology have been laid open in the preceding Dialogue, which forms the First Part of the EDDA. In the Second Part, the Author changing his stile, confines himself to the relation of several adventures which had happened to these Deities whom he hath been describing to us. The ancient SCALDS or Poets, are the guides he follows; and his chief aim is to explain the epithets and synonymous expreffions, which have been in a manner confecrated in their language. The same taste and mode of compofition prevails every where through this Second Part as in the former: We have constantly Allegories, and * Celtique, Fr. N 4 Com 1 Combats; Giants contending with the Gods; Loke perpetually deceiving them; THOR interpofing in their defence, &c. This is nearly the whole of the Second Part. It would tire our Reader's patience to infert it here intire, although it is threefourths less than the former. I shall perhaps stand in need of his indulgence, while I barely aim at giving him a succinct idea of it. "ÆGER, a Danish nobleman, was defirous, in imitation of GYLFE, of going to ASGARD, to visit the Gods. The Deities expecting his coming, immediately mounted on their lofty feats, that they might receive him with the greater dignity: and the Goddeffes, who yielded to them in nothing, took their places along with them. ÆGER was splendidly entertained. ODIN had ranged all along the hall where they feasted, swords of such an amazing brilliancy, and polish, that no other illuminations were wanted. All the walls were covered with glittering shields. They continued drinking for a long time large draughts of the most excellent mead. BRAGE, the God of Eloquence, fat next to Æger, and the Gods had committed their guest to his care. conversation that passed between Æger and this Deity, is the subject of this Second The Part of the EDDA. Brage begins with re |