f To the same purpose, Strabo, in the following passage : — 4>ijjiti yaf xoira tijv t«v ap^anov
'EXXi}yflov 8ofav, aoa-irtp ra wpog Boppav fiepv^ ra yvoopifAa kvi ovofMcn Sxwdaj txaXot/v, 19 No/w.a8aj, w;
'QfAf^pos' wrrtpov 8« xai roov wpog 'EffWipav yvwdtyrcov, KsAroi, xai l6i|pf^, xem <rw/iiftixT»^ KtXriSijpff,
xai KfXTOO-xudai ff'poo'iiyopeuoyro, w^' «y ovoyi^ rnv xaiiiuurrei f Jv»v rarrOfJLtvoav ha, ti|v ayvotav. —
Strabo, ed. Amstel. p. 33.
THE CELTIC LANGUAGE. 67

people from one another, according to their customs, origin, and
language ; but, notwithstanding, they too often, either through ignorance
or indifference, preserved the erroneous general names, and thus in-
cluded the Iberians, Germans, and Thracians among the Celts. Most
unpardonable it is that modern philologists and historians, who
»have so incalculably better means of information, should adopt their
opinions ; particularly when it is so very improbable that so great a
part of the world should have been occupied by one people and one
language."*

But, if ancient writers afford not any information respecting the
early history of the Celts, it must necessarily follow that all the theories
on this subject rest on no other foundation than mere conjecture.
