DEUIDICAL 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 divane wrath. 

 The lot fell on a J^oung 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 g-irl 

 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 g-arland, 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. 



