110 RAGGED JACK'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

my personal appearance having his pocket picked. I hope, sir, you'll forgive poor Jack-it was just the smell of the brandy that did it."

The antiquary, instead of giving an answer, turned short round to me and said, "If you will now come up stairs, I will give you the story of The Stone-cased Well,' with a few notes of my own, which I trust you will not find unworthy of your notice. The story is as follows."

111

THE STORY OF

THE STONE-CASED WELL:

OR

A TALE OF THE DRUIDS.

Macb. What is't you do?

All. A deed without a name.

Macbeth.

THE Isle of Wight was first peopled by the Cimri: after these came the men of Galedin in naked ships (boats without sails) into the land of Guitt,* when their country was

* Guitt, or Guict, is the ancient British name for the Isle of Wight; it signifies separation : alluding to the fact of its having been before joined to the mainland. In the time of the Romans it was only an island at high water; when the tide was low, men passed over dry-footed.-See Whittaker's History of Manchester.

drowned,* and had lands assigned them by the race of Cimri.

These two nations came in peace, and lived together in friendship. They tilled their land in security, and warred only against the wolf and the boar. Their venerable Druids governed them by their wisdom and eloquence. These knew the history of dark antiquity. They contemplated the stars of the heavens, and they could foretell what should come to pass in future times. But they wrapped up their mighty knowledge in dark sayings and in symbols, lest the vulgar should profane their traditions. They taught the people to worship the gods; to do no evil; and to exercise fortitude. Or, as the original British runs -"Tri chynnorion doethineb: ufuddhâd i ddeddfau Duw; ymgais a llês dyn; a dioddef yn lew pob digwydd bywyd."+ The third race

* Strabo, lvii., speaks of the removal and of the dispersion of the Cimbri in consequence of an inundation. This tradition was preserved by the Cimbri of the Chersonese. But the event must have happened when they dwelt in a low country.

In case the above translation should not make the subject sufficiently clear to the reader, I have subjoined a copy

of men that came to the land of Guitt were the Coranied who came from the land of Pools.* These men were giants in stature, and they despised other men, and delighted in war and blood. They came not in peace, but they seized their lands by the strong arm. They chose for themselves the fertile meadows on the eastern side of the island; there they fed their herds.

The Cimri and the men of Galedin beheld them with fear, and humbled themselves before their power.

Thus the Coranied ruled over the island; but their college of Druids ruled over them. And Coll, the son of Cyllin, the son of Caradawc, was the Arch-druid, and presided over the sacred groves. He was seven cubits in height, (for the Coranied despised men of

of the triad, that has happily been preserved in the Greek language.-Editor.

Σεβειν θεους,

Και μηδεν κακον δραν,

Και ανδρειαν ασκειν.-Diog. Laertius.

* Probably Holland, where the Celtic tribes were numerous before they were driven out by the Goths.

I

small stature,) and around his neck he wore, hung to a golden chain, the sacred serpent's egg, the wonderful talisman of the Druids. His ancestor, Brân,*the father of Caradawc, in the sultry plains of Asia heard the hissing of a multitude of serpents; he rode up to them, for he was mounted upon a swift steed. He knew his danger. As he approached, he saw them twisted and knotted together in a huge living mass with the breath of their hissings they threw up a small body into the air, and when it fell they raised it again.

The learned Brân knew it to be the wondrous serpent's egg,-so rarely to be found -so perilous to him who seeks it; yet was it of inestimable value, conferring wisdom, and power, and dignity. He dismounted from his horse, and caught it in the skirt of his white robe, for in a white sheet alone can it be taken. The serpents pursued with fury, and with the venomous tooth. He leaped upon his horse. Surefooted is thy steed before the spur. Thou with the head of Olgen,† * The interpretation of Brân is omen or token.

Olgen, Olqwen, or Olwen, is the Venus of the Britons.