348 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



the cottage opened, and a numerous company of 

 Priefts entered, with Tor-Tir at their head, always 

 bearing in his hand a branch of miftletoe from the 

 oak. Immediately, the young barbarians who fur- 

 rounded me awoke, and began their funereal fongs 

 and dances. Tor-Tir approached me ; he placed 

 upon my head a crown of the yew-tree, and a 

 handful of the meal of beans ; afterwards, he put 

 a gag in my mouth, and having untied me from 

 my ftake, he faftened my hands behind my back. 

 Then, all his retinue began to march to the found 

 of their doleful inftruments, and two Druids, fup- 

 porting me by the arms, conduced me to the 

 place of facrifice. 



Here, Tyrteits, perceiving that the fpindie felt 

 from the hands of C>'<3«r^, and that fhe turned pale, 

 faid to her : " My daughter, it is time for you to 

 " go to reft. Remember that you muft rife to- 

 ** morrow before the dawn, to go to Mount Ly- 

 ** ceum, where you have to prefent, with your 

 " companions, the fhepherd's offering on the al- 

 *' tar of Jupiter.'''' Cyanea^ trembling all over, 

 replied : " My father, every thing is ready againft 

 '* the feftival of to-morrow. The wreaths of 

 ** flovv^ers, the wheaten cakes, the veffels of milk, 

 *' are all prepared. But it is not late : the moon, 

 " as yet, has not illuminated the bottom of the 

 ♦' valley, nor have the cocks yet crowed ; it is nor 



" midnight. 



