the fictions of the Arabians and Scalds are totally different 1.”~ Much misunderstanding would doubtless be avoided by accurate references and if Mr. Dunlop be correct in what he asserts, it would be a pleasant thing to know the edition and page to which he alludes. In contradiction to the insinuation here thrown out, Warton says, "But as the resemblance which the pagan Scandinavians bore to the eastern nations in manners, monuments; opinions, and practices, IS SO VERY PERCEPTIBLE AND APPARENT, an inference arises, that their migration from the east, must have happened at a period by many ages more recent, and therefore, most probably about the time specified by historians"." And again, "These practices and opinions co-operated with kindred superstitions of dragons, dwarfs, fairies, giants, and enchanters, which the tradi

1 Page 163.

2 Dissertation I. p. xxviii.

tions of the gothic Scalders had already planted; and produced that extraordinary species of composition which has been called RoMANCE'." In another place, indeed, he admits that there were "but few" of these monsters in the poetry of the most ancient Scalds; but that few is quite sufficient for the argument.

So that, one would think, Warton supplies no testimony in support of a doctrine, which I cannot help fancying may be proved altogether groundless. Allowing the early Scaldic odes to be genuine," says Mr. Dunlop, "we find in them no dragons, giants, magic rings, or enchanted castles. These are only to be met with in the compositions of the bards who flourished after the native vein. of Runic fabling had been enriched by the tales of the Arabians." This is an extremely 2 Vol. I p. 164.

1 Hist. of Eng. Poetry, Vol. I. p. 110.

cautious method of writing; for while we contend that the easterns furnished the groundwork, and fix the date, Mr. Dunlop may tell us, be it when it may, that it was subsequent to the period in which the Runic fable flourished in its native purity. Let us examine, however, how far his bold assertion may be maintained, respecting the poetical machinery adopted by the ancient Scalds. Let us revert to the EDDA', a monument “ tout-àfait unique en son espece," as Monsieur Mallet assures us, and try whether there be not, in fact, almost the whole of what he has rejected.

1 "The Edda was compiled, undoubtedly with many additions and interpolations, from fictions and traditions in the old Runic poems, by Soemund Sigfusson, surnamed the Learned, about the year 1057."WARTON. But Warton has not proved his undoubtedly; and though I do not deny the probability of interpolations, I shall not relinquish the Giants, &c. without further proof.

2 "Monumens de la Mythol. et de la Poesie des Celtes," &c. p. 13. Pref.

Gylfe was king of Sweden, and a celebrated magician. When a colony of Asiatics arrived in his country (a tradition which adds strength to my hypothsis) he assumed the form of an old man, and journeyed to the city of Asgard. "Sed Asæ erant perspicaciores, (imo ut) præviderent iter ejus, eumque fascinatione oculorum exciperent. Tunc cernebat ille altum palatium: Tecta ejus erant tecta aureis clypeis, ut tectum novum. Ita loquitur Diodolfius: Tectum ex auro micante, Parietes ex lapide, Fundamina aulæ ex montibus fecere Asæ sagaciores'.''

Here, beyond dispute, is an enchanted castle. And not only so, but the common oriental

1 "But the Asiatics were more quick-sighted; nay, they foresaw his journey, and deceived him with their enchantments. Then he beheld a lofty palace; its roofs were covered with golden shields, like a new roof. Thus Diodolfius speaks of it. The Asiatics, more skilful, made the roof of shining gold, and its walls of stone; the foundations of the hall were mountains.'"-Goranson's Lat. Tr. of

practice of putting a number of questions as the test of a person's wisdom, occurs in this

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very fable. Qui est le plus ancien ou le premier des Dieux ?" is first asked, and other interrogatories follow, of a similar character. Then for the GIANTS-in the Runic mythology nothing is more common. Speaking of the formation of man, the Edda observes, (I follow the French translation of M. Mallet.) "Cet homme fut appellé Yme; les Géans le nomment Oergelmer, et c'est de lui que toutes leurs familles descendent, comme cela est dit dans la Voluspa. Toutes les Prophétesses viennent de Vittolfe; les sages de Vilmôde, LES GEANS de Yme,' et dans un autre endroit Des fleuves Elivages ont coulé des

:

goutes de venim, et il souffla un vent d'où un Géant fut formé. De lui viennent toutes les races Gigantesques"." In this place we have

1 Mythologie Celtique. p. 11.