ADVERTISEMENT.

The Author once had thoughts (in concert with a Friend) of giving the Hiftory of English Poetry: In the Introduction to it he meant to have produced some specimens of the Style that reigned in ancient times among the neighbouring nations, or those who had fubdued the greater part of this Island, and were our Progenitors: the following three Imitations made a part of them. He has long fince drop'd his defign, especially after he had heard, that it was already in the hands of a Perfon well qualified to do it justice, both by his taste, and his researches into antiquity.

PREFACE.

N the Eleventh Century Sigurd, Earl of the

I a and a

Orkney-Islands, went with a fleet of ships and a

confiderable body of troops into Ireland, to the affistance of Siaryg with the filken beard, who was then making war on his father-in-law Brian, King of Dublin: the Earl and all his forces were cut to pieces, and Sitryg was in danger of a total defeat ; but the enemy had a greater lofs by the death of Brian, their King, who fell in the action. On Christmas-day, (the day of the battle,) a Native of Caithness in Scotland saw at a distance a number of persons on horseback riding full speed towards a hill,

and

and feeming to enter into it. Curiofity led him to follow them, till looking through an opening in the rocks he saw twelve gigantic figures resembling women: they were all employed about a loom; and as they wove, they fung the following dreadful Song; which when they had finished, they tore the web into twelve pieces, and (each taking her portion) galloped Six to the North and as many to the South.

THE