But as it was taken by general counsel and consent, we must believe that the necessity of such a step was felt, though the event was dubious.

The event, indeed, might be dubious: in a state radically weak, every measure vigorous enough for its protection must endanger its existence.
There is an unquestioned tradition among the Northern nations of Europe, importing that all that part of the world had suffered a great and general revolution by a migration from Asiatic Tartary of a people whom they call Asers.

These everywhere expelled or subdued the ancient inhabitants of the Celtic and Cimbric original.

The leader of this Asiatic army was called Odin or Wodin: first their general, afterwards their tutelar deity.

The time of this great change is lost in the imperfection of traditionary history, and the attempts to supply it by fable.