It is more than probable, that many of these pithy sentences and proverbial sayings, these aphorisms of wisdom and axioms of prudence, were the productions of the venerable Druids; and they exhibit, in the present imperfect form, in which they have been delivered to us, no despicable specimens of those verses mentioned by Cæsar, in the seemingly enigmatical mysteries of which their pupils were initiated, and spent many years in acquiring and committing them to memory. And he farther informs us, that, notwithstanding these learned sages made use of Greek characters in transacting both their public and private affairs, yet their disciples were not permitted to _write_ these verses, principally, (as it appeared to him,) for two reasons; in the first place, because, if they were allowed to do so, the mysteries of their profession would soon be divulged: and, secondly, if these aphorisms were committed to writing, the noviciates, confiding in such artificial aids, would no longer be at the pains of sufficiently exercising their memories. Many of these poetical proverbs are composed in that peculiar kind of metre, which is distinguished by the name of _Englyn Milwr_, and these verses are possessed of such strong internal marks of antiquity, that I may with safety pronounce them to be the genuine productions of the Druids. And, as they are by no means unworthy of being considered as the real effusions of those learned sages and philosophers, it will not, I hope, be deemed a digression, or by any means irrelevant to the object of this introduction, to gratify the reader with a specimen of one of these oracular compositions, together with a close literal Latin version. The first two lines of these poetical triplets seem to contain some of the privileges of the Druids, and the third generally exhibits some maxim of wisdom or axiom of prudence. The following were transcribed from the Red Book of Hergest, in the library of Jesus College, Oxford:— 1. 1. Marchwiail bedw briglas, Virgulta betulæ viridis A dyn fy nhroed o wanas; Meum pedem e compede solvent; Nac addef dy rin i wàs. Secretum tuum juveni ne reveles. 2. 2. Marchwiail derw mewn llwyn, Virgulta quercûs de luco A dyn fy nhroed o gadwyn: Solvent pedem meum e catenâ: Nac addef dy rin i forwyn. Ne reveles secretum tuum virgini. 3. 3. Marchwiail derw deiliar, Virgulta quercûs frondosæ A dyn fy nhroed o garchar: Pedem meum e carcere Nac addef dy rin i lafar. liberabunt: Ne reveles secretum tuum homini loquaci.