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

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ficd to the wilderness, or hid themselves in caves, and amoiigst
the rocks and woods, yet their posterity, in the time of Job,
had begun to assume some confidence, and to associate with
mankind ; but they were still regarded as objeéb of scorn and
detestation.
Tiiese Fathers were undoubtedly the rebellious and van-^
quished giants, whose features arc exact'}' recognized in tlie
poetry of the Greeks and Romans, and in the tales and
traditions of all primitive nations, amongst zchom they were
scattered abroad, as universal monuments of the punishment
of pride and disobedience. To such hordes of savages, whether
they continued to wander in the desarts, or Avere gathered
together in little bands, and spotted the face of the earth with
their cities and their kingdoms, we cannot surely ascribe the
primitive traditions, the learning and the knowledge of the
nations. Had the tale been told by thenmkes, they could not
have told it, in every country, so much to their own disad-
vantage. They were not then the depositories nor tlie
recorders of useful knowledge.
Even the gentile systems of religion and morality, corrupt
and deformed as they were, in the late ages of history, still
retained traces of something too pure and primitive to have
been taught by the Titans. The heathen world in general
had indeed grown vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened ; but it Avas darkened by degrees. They
had changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an
image made like to corruptible iiian, and had became so gross
in their ideas, as to worship and serve the creature more than
the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Yet, in some measure,
they knew God, in some measure, they glorified him, though
not worthily, or as God. There were few so profane as to
say to the Almight}-, with the giants before and after
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