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 fome fpecimens of the ftyle 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; efpecially after he had heard, that it was al ready in the hands of a perfon well qualified to do it. juftic, both by his tafte, and his researches into antiquity. N the eleventh century Sigurd, Earl of the Ork ney islands, went with a fleet of ships, and a confi སྐ derable body of troops, into Ireland, to the affift ance of Sigtryg with the filken beard, who was then mak ⚫ing war on his father-in-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, M distance, a number of perfons, on horfeback, 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 faw 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 fouth. THE Note The Valkyriur were female divinities, fervants of Odin (or Woden) in the Gothic mythology. Their name fignifies Chufers of the flain. They were mounted on fwift horfes, with drawn fwords in their hands; and in the throng of battle selected fuch as were deftined to flaughter, and conducted them to Valhalla, (the hall of Odin, or paradife of the brave), where they attended the ban quet, and ferved the departed heroes with horns of mead and ale, * How quick they wheel'd, and, flying, behind them shot Sharp fleet of arrowy shower- Milton's Paradife Regained |