ADVERTISEMENT. The author once had thoughts (in concert with a friend) of giving A 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 ifland, and were our progenitors: the following three imitations made a part of them. He afterwards dropped his defign; especially after he had heard, that it was already in the hands of a person well qualified to do it justice, both by his taste, and his researches into antiquity. PREFACE. IN the eleventh century, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkney iflands, went with a fleet of fhips, and a confiderable body of troops, into Ireland, to the affistance of Sigtryg with the filken beard, who was then making war on his fatherin-law Brian, King of Dublin. The Earl and all his forces were cut to pieces, and Sigtryg 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 faw, at a diftance, a number of perfons on horseback, riding full speed towards a hill, and seeming to enter into it. Curiofity led him to follow them; till looking through an opening in the rocks, he saw twelve gigantic figures refembling women: they were all employed about a loom, and as they wove, they fung the following dreadful fong; which when they had finished, they tore the web into twelve pieces, and, each taking her portion, galloped fix to the north, and as many to the south. THE |