as the equivalent for the
Irish word which signifies druid. See the _Vitae S. Columbae_, p. 73; see
also Reeves' note to this word.

[148] _Worship_.--In the Chronicle of Richard of Cirencester, ch. 4,
certain Roman deities are mentioned as worshipped by the British druids;
but it is probable the account is merely borrowed from Caesar's
description of the Gauls.

[149] _Ceremonies_.--Bohn's edition, p. 431.

[150] _Wren_.--In Scotland the wren is an object of reverence: hence the
rhyme--

"Malisons, malisons, more than ten, That harry the Ladye of Heaven's
hen."

But it is probable the idea and the verse were originally imported from
France, where the bird is treated with special respect. There is a very
interesting paper in the _Ulster Archaeological Journal_, vol. vii. p.
334, on the remarkable correspondence of Irish, Greek, and Oriental
legends, where the tale of Labhradh Loinseach is compared with that of
Midas. Both had asses' ears, and both were victims to the loquacious
propensities of their barbers.

[151] _Etruscans_.--See _Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria_, vol i p.
295, where the bas-reliefs are described which represent the _praeficae_,
or hired mourners, wailing over the corpse.

[152] _Laid down_.--Law, Saxon, _lagu, lah_; from _lecgan_==Goth.
_lagjan_, to lay, to place; Gael. _lagh_, a law; _leag_, to lie down;
Latin, _lex_, from Gr. _lego_, to lay.

[153] _It_.--Four Masters, vol. i p. 133. The Seanchus Mor was sometimes
called _Cain Phadruig_, or Patrick's Law.

[154] _Seanchus_.--From the old Celtic root _sen_, old, which has direct
cognates, not merely in the Indo-European, but also in the Semitic;
Arabic, _sen_, old, ancient--_sunnah_, institution, regulation; Persian,
_san_, law, right; _sanna_, Phoenicibus idem fuit quod Arabibus _summa_,
lex, doctrina jux canonicum.--Bochart, _Geo. Sae_. 1. ii. c. 17. See
Petrie's _Tara_, p. 79.

[155] _Day_.--O'Curry, page 201.

[156] _Works_.--He appears to have been the author of the original Book
of Rights, and "commenced and composed the Psalter of Caiseal, in which
are described the acts, _laws,"_ &c.--See Preface to Seanchus Mor, p.
17.

[157] _Arrears_.--Elphinstone's _India_, vol. i. p. 372.

[158] _Forbidden_.--"You shall not take money of him that is guilty of
blood, but he shall die forthwith."--Numbers, xxxv. 31.

[159] _Proved_.--See Pictet's _Origines Indo-Europeennes_. He mentions
his surprise at finding a genuine Sanscrit word