DRUIDICAL CIRCLES. 139 



ready for their temple. After a time, a fever laid 

 waste the lower settlement; and the oracle de- 

 manded a sacrifice to appease the divine wrath. 

 The lot fell on a young girl who was betrothed ; 

 and, on an appointed day, she was conveyed, with 

 all the ceremonies, to the temple. A small hut of 

 wicker-work, like a large bee-hive, was found set 

 up on the western side of the temple. The girl 

 was led into the circle, and placed in the midst, 

 while the dedication proceeded. We are even told 

 that she was adorned with an oak garland, and 

 held mistletoe in her hand. The whole popula- 

 tion was looking on from a distance : but it must 

 have been within reasonable reach, as every one 

 was required to contribute a stick to the fire. 

 The wretched lover saw all from afar; and he 

 daringly resolved, — let the god be as wrathful as 

 he pleased, — not to contribute so much as a twig 

 to the burning of his beloved. She was seen to 

 enter the door, which was next the circle ; and then 

 the priest closed it up, and heaped dry leaves and 

 sticks that were brought all round the hut. The 

 arch-druid meantime was procuring fire from two 

 pieces of wood. He succeeded, and set the pile 

 in a blaze. In this moment of desperation, the 

 the lover saw every mountain round give forth a 

 great cataract ; and all the floods gushed to the 

 temple as to a centre, and made an island of the 

 little hut, — returning when they had extinguished 

 the fire. The victim came forth, with not a hair 

 singed, and not a leaf of her garland withered. 

 The arch-druid, skilled to interpret thunder, seems 

 to have understood in this case the voice of waters ; 

 for he announced that, henceforth, the god would 

 have no more human sacrifices. 



