Blair Collection > Celtic researches, on the origin, traditions & language, of the ancient Britons

84
This rigbtcons man^ Chap. xxx. delineates the condhion of
the Fathers of a race of men who were his contemporaries.
He alludes to some great and well known event in early-
history. All the circumstances of the description can surely
apply
Babel.
Iv to nothino; else than the Exiles and iVanderers from
" Now they that are younger than I have me in
derision — whose Fathers I would have disclaimed to set
with the dogs of my flock. Yea whereunto might the
Strength of their Hands [Gigantic force] profit me,
in whom Old age [the wisdom of the ancients] was
PERISHED ! For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing
into the wilderness, in former time desolate and waste. Who
cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their
meat. They zccre driven forth from among men (they cried
after them as after a thief) to dicell in Cliffs o/7/íeV allies,
in Caves of the earth and in the Rocks. Among the bushes
they Brayed, under the nettles they were gathered together.
Theif icere children of Fools [impious sinners] yea, children
of base men; they were viler than the earth." [Unworthy of
the land.]
Here we have a complete pidure of savage life, and the
true history of its origin, amongst the children of fools, who
rwere driven out from men, to dzccll in the luilderness,^ in cliffs,
'in caves and amongst the rocks — zcho, instead of speaking like
human bei/igs, only brayed like asses, and could boast of no
desirable quality, but superior strength of hand. They are not
described sis comprehending the whole, but a contemptible
part of die human race. Their language had been debased in
a manner which the language of other men had not : i'or in
comparison with tliis, their worde resembled only the vucifc"
ratio?ts of a brute. Though the leathers, or first exiles liad