128 Stonehenge and its Barrows. 



Sir Walter Scott, in his edition of Dry den's works (1818), com- 

 menting upon Dr. Charleton's work, in which, the erection of Stone- 

 henge was attributed to the Danes, and which work had been com- 

 mended by Dryden, says : " The Doctor's opinion is hypothetical 

 and infconsistent with evidence,for Stonehenge is expressly mentioned 

 by Nennius, who wrote two hundred years before the arrival of the 

 Danes in Britain. If it be true, which is alleged by some writers, 

 that it was anciently called Stanhengist, or indeed, whether that be 

 true or no, the monument seems likely to have been a Saxon creation, 

 during their days of paganism ; for it is neither mentioned by Caesar 

 nor Tacitus, who were both likely to have noticed a structure of so 

 remarkable an appearance." 



Of Dryden's address to the Doctor the following lines may be 



given : — 



" Such is the healing virtue of your pen, 

 To perfect cures in books as well as men : 

 Nor is this work the least : you well may give 

 To men new vigour, who make stones to live. 

 Through you the Danes (their short dominion lost) 

 A longer conquest than the Saxons boast. 

 Stoneheng, once thought a Temple, you have found 

 A throne, where Kings our earthly Gods were erown'd. 

 Where by their wond'ring subjects they were seen, 

 Joyed with their stature and their princely mien. 

 Our Sovereign here above the rest might stand, 

 Aud here be chose again to rule the Land. 

 These ruins sheltered once His sacred head 

 When he from Wor'sters fatal battle fled ; 

 Watch'd by the Genius of his royal place, 

 And mighty visions of the Danish race. 

 His Mbjuge then was for a Temple shown : 

 But, He restor'd, 'tis now become a Throne." 



The late Rev. Edward Duke considered Stonehenge " as forming 

 part of a planetarium, in connection with Abury, in the more northern 

 part of the country, and with a series of remains to be traced on the 

 face of the intervening country, the gigantic proportions of which 

 were such that its meridian line was extended no less than two-and- 

 thirty miles." See this explained at length in " Druidical Temples 

 o£ Wilts" (184.8), and in Mr. Duke's letter relative to Stonehenge, 

 in the Salisbury volume of the Archaeological Institute. 



