“I thought at first,” Lucian adds, “that the Celts had invented this odd figure in order to laugh at {098}the gods of Greece; but this so-called Hercules, who is of very great antiquity, drags after him a multitude of men, whom he leads by golden chains which he holds in his mouth, while they are fastened to the ears of his victims.” [Illustration: 118] This _Ogmius_ was evidently a typical representation of Druidism itself; _Ogma_, in Celtic languages, means both science and eloquence. What has Hercules to do with all this? Nevertheless the Romans insisted upon calling him by that name. Nor did they stop here. {099}When they found all the nations they had conquered were continually speaking of a certain _Teutates_, they at once declared that they recognized in this popular person their own god Mercury. It was he and no other! It was Mercury, the son of Jupiter and the nymph Ma’ia. There was a striking resemblance, an unmistakable analogy! No one could misapprehend the thing for an instant! [Illustration: 119] Oh, my good Romans, I don’t mean to blame you now for all the trouble you gave me when I was at college! I will forget all that--But what could make you conceive this stupid idea, of naturalizing among us your Mercury, the god of eloquence, if {100}you choose, but above all the ever ready pimp of Jupiter, the god of trade and of thieves, and of naturalizing him in a land where trade, love, and thieves are so little known! In subservience to this Roman notion, some of our modern writers have been clever enough to prove that there were really many points of resemblance between Mercury and Teutates--but I, I openly deny it! Once more, philology shall come to my assistance, to overturn their doctrine. It was only this morning, while shaving, that I made a philologie discovery of the very highest importance, in which the public will take the most lively interest, and, I doubt not, the French Acadamy also. The word _Teut_, as the reader no doubt knows perfectly well, means _God; Tat_ in ancient Celtic and in modern Breton may be accurately rendered as _father_--so an old Breton woman assures me, who brought me up when I was a child. Add to _Tat_ the termination _Es_, the diminutive form of _Esus_, the _Lord_, connect the three monosyllables, and you have _Teut-Tat-Es_, God, Father, and Lord!