the wealth of their adorers, introduce new laws, a new religion, a new government, infult the Bráhmens, and difregard the facred ordinances of Bribmá. After a folemn debate, it is agreed to exert all their powers, and to begin with obftructing the paffage of the Phænician fleet into the Atlantic, by hurling a vast mountain into the straits; they proceed immediately to a variety of hoftile machinations.

BOOK III.

The narrative of Britan continued, with a defcription of the Grecian iflands, of the Italian and Gallic fhores, and clofed with an account of the tempeft that compelled him to land on the coaft of Iberia. The king of Lufitania, forefeeing the future greatness of the prince, fecretly envies him, but promises friendly aid in private, affigning reafons for his inability to give open fuccour. Britan departs, and proceeds toward Gaul, in order to view the channel and beautiful ifle, that were deftined to perpetuate his name.

BOOK IV.

The hero, ftill disguised, and attended by his tutelary genius, travels to the coaft of Gaul; learns that the king of that country, GALLUS, invited by an embaffy from Iberia, and inftigated by the HINDU god of battles, had refolved to concur in extirpating the Phoenicians; and is apprised, that the Tarteffians had actually affailed the works which his army had raised. On this, he returns with incredible celerity; while the benignant genii, or fpirits, permitted to attend on favoured mortals, hold a fplendid convention in the Empyrean.

BOOK V.

War is begun in form, and various actions of heroes are related; the Indian gods intermix in fight, and are opposed by the guardian fpirits. Tarteffus taken by storm: in a council of Tyrian chiefs, it is propofed by Lelex, to leave the coaft victorious, and fail inftantly to Albion; but the impractica

bility of that plan is evinced by a meffenger, who announces the fudden obftruction of the fhips. Britan then propofes, as a measure distressful but neceffary, to pursue their course with vigour through Iberia and Gaul; that, if conquered, they might perish gloriously; if conquerors, might feize the hoftile galleys, and in them pass the channel. The propofal is received with bursts of applause, and the Phenician troops are drawn out in complete array.

BOOK VI.

Various exploits and events in battle. The actions of Indra, god of air, with his seven evil genii; of Rama, Belabadra, Nared, and Cartic. The Tyrians, in deep distress, apply to Lusus, who affifts them coldly. The Celts are every-where fuccefsful; and the Gallic fleet covers the bay.

BOOK VII.

The guardian fpirit prepares the nymph Albione for profperous events; encourages Britan, but announces imminent perils; then

leaves him on pretence of affifting at certain Druidical rites. A terrible combat in the

air, and at the ftraits, between the oppofing gods and the tutelary angels; the mountain is rent from the mouth of the ftraits, and becomes a floating ifland, which, being fixed, has the name of Madera, and is given to LUSUS. The Phenician fleet having been with difficulty preserved from the Agnyaftra, or fiery darts of Mahéfa, fails triumphantly into the Atlantic, after a furprising retreat of the army under the conduct of Britan.

BOOK VIII.

The Druid returns with a relation of oracular answers in the Celtic temples, concerning the destiny of Albion, and the Atlantides, or New World: the future American war and the defence of Gibraltar by different names, are obfcurely fhadowed in the prediction. An obftinate naval fight; in which, BRITAN is wounded by an arrow of fire, but protected and carried from the fleet by his attendant angel.

BOOK IX.

The genius tranfports Britan to the isle of Albion; which is described by its mountains, vales, and rivers; then uninhabited, except by nymphs and beings of a superior order. The palace and gardens of Albione; who completes the cure of her lover, and acquiesces in his return to the army; having first, at his request, told her own adventures, and related the feparation of her island from the coast of Gaul.

BOOK X.

The Gallic army arrayed: the actions of their chiefs. A variety of distress involves the Tyrians by fea and land; they are driven to their works, and enclosed on both fides; until their prince appearing fuddenly among them, rouses their courage, and performs the most heroic achievements, by which the scale of fuccefs is completely turned. This book contains a number of events and episodes; among them is the death and funeral of MELCART, the Tyrian Hercules.