293 



His ivory studs and rings of jet, 

 His amber drops, and, costlier yet, 

 His knives of Punic brass. 



These gifts on Abury's seers bestowed, 

 Expressed the gratitude he owed 



For counsels well received. 

 Then till his death their blessings gave, 

 Then laid the chieftain in his grave, 



The barrow heaped — and grieved. 

 • • • * • 



I see the slowly moving train 

 In trunk of oak the corpse sustain 



Down Silbury's arduous height ; 

 For there the funeral rites begun. 

 Assembled there, the rising sun 



They watched through mists of night. 



And, as it dawned, with sprigs of yew ' 



They sprinkled his pale corpse with dew, 



Prefiguring the hour 

 When like the splendid sun will rise 

 His soul immortal to the skies. 



Pure as the dewy shower. 



And now the foremost ranks proceed, 

 In sUenc.e reach the serpent's head 



"Where sarsons mark the ground, 

 Then hand in hand each Druid joins. 

 Filling the mystic circle's lines. 



While thousands halt around." 



Then the hierarch publicly addresses the deity. His address is 

 hopeful aud almost Christian, and ends : 



" From earth ascend to heaven above. 

 ***** 

 For this our brother lift your prayer. 

 And joy in hope to meet him there," 

 And here I would ask whoever may read this poem at length to 

 view it not only as a reflection of Mr, Skinner's knowledge and 

 taste in antiquities, but to watch his poetic and religious sentiment. 

 I have no doubt he entered with personal feelings of reverence even 

 into the Druidic rites. Our ancestors' superstitions lost their 

 grossness in his spiritual mind, he could fix his thoughts on their 



