when in desperate circumstances, we surpassed them. It were disgraceful to you ingloriously to lose those things now which you have recently obtained by your valour; for often, truly, when less in number than at present, both you yourselves and your fathers have vanquished adversaries far more numerous. Be not alarmed, therefore, at their multitudes nor at their desire of revolt; for they are daring only in consequence of their unarmed and inconsiderate rashness; nor at their having burnt certain of our cities, which they have not taken by force or by battle, for one they gained through treachery, and the other was abandoned but for such acts now wreak on them becoming vengeance, that they may learn in very deed, who, when compared with themselves, are the men they have injured.' Having thus said to some, he passed on to others, and adressed them: 'Now, fellow soldiers, is the season for exertion and for valour. This day only be courageous, and you will retrieve your losses: for if you conquer these, no others will resist you by this single battle you will secure your present advantages, ani bring into subjection what remains to be subdued; because all other soldiers, wherever they may be, will emulate your conduct, and your foes will be daunted: so that it being in your hands, either, fearless of all men, to retain whatever your fathers have left or yourselves have acquired, to be deprived of it altogether; make your choice to be free, to rule, to be rich, and to be happy, rather than, through your want of exertion, to endure the contrary.' Having thus addressed these, he advanced to the third body, and harangued them also, after this manner: 'You have heard what these accursed people have done to us, or rather, indeed, you have seen some of their actions; choose, therefore, whether you will endure the like, and, moreover, retreat wholly from Britain, or, vanquishing them, whether you will both avenge the departed, and afford to all other men an example of gracious indulgence to obedience, and of necessary severity to revolt. Firmly, indeed, do I hope that we shall conquer; first by the assistance of the gods, who for the most part succour the injured; then by our native courage, inasmuch as we are Romans, and have long excelled all men by our valour: again by our experience, for these very persons who now oppose us we have already vanquished; lastly by our dignity, for we shall not contend with rivals, but with slaves whom we have suffered to be free and uncontrolled. However should any thing contrary to our hopes arise, for this I will not hesitate to advert to, it is better to die fighting like men than to be captured and impaled, to see our own entrails torn out and transfixed on burning stakes, to be wasted away in boiling water, as if we had fallen among certain savage, lawless, unfeeling beasts. Either, then, let us subdue them, or let us die on the spot; we shall have Britain as a conspicuous monument, even if all other Romans are driven from it; for with our bodies we shall wholly embrace it for ever.' : Having uttered these and similar words, he raised the signal for battle and immediately they advanced towards each other, the barbarians with loud clamour and songs of defiance; but the Romans with silence and order, until they came within a javelin's cast; when the enemy now proceeding slowly onward, they gave the signal altogether, according to previous arrangement, and rushed violently upon them, and in the shock easily broke through their array; then being hemmed in by the multitude, they fought desperately at the same time on all sides. Their conflict was various, for it was thus: here light-armed opposed light-armed: there heavy-armed contended with heavy-armed: horse encountered horse and the Roman archers fought against the chariots of the barbarians, falling on the Romans, overthrew them with the rushing of their chariots; and these, as their men were fighting without breastplates, were driven back by the flights of arrows; horseman discomfited footman, and footman overthrew horseman; some, in compact bodies, dashed against the chariots, others dispersed by them; some, advancing in troops against the archers, put them to flight; others saved themselves by keeping aloof: and this occurred not in one, but in three several places at once. For a long while each contended with equal spirit and boldness. Finally, though late, the Romans conquered; they killed numbers in the fight, and near the waggons, and in a wood; they also took many alive. Great numbers, too, escaped and made ready again as If for battle. But about this time Bunduica dying by disease, they bewailed her sorely, and buried her with great funeral splendour: and as if they were now really discomfited, they became completely dispersed. 5.-SCENE FROM BONDUCA, A TRAGEDY. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER, Enter Bonduca, Daughters, Hengo, Nennius, and Soldiers. Bonduca. The hardy Romans? Oh, ye gods of Britain, Enter Caratach. That with the sun measure the end of nature, Dare they send these to seek us, These Roman girls? is Britain grown so wanton ? Made themes for songs to shame 'em: And a woman, Car. So it seems; A man would shame to talk so. Bond. Who's that? Car. I. Bond. Cousin, d'you grieve my fortunes? If I grieve, 'tis the bearing of your fortunes; That Rome has fled before us twice, and routed; Bond. My valiant cousin, is it foul to say And what the gods allow us? Car. No, Bonduca ; So what we say exceed not what we do. You call the Romans 'fearful, fleeing Romans And Roman girls, the lees of tainted pleasures :' Bond. They are no more. Car. Where is your conquest then? Why are your altars crown'd with wreaths of flowers ? Of everlasting life to victory? Why are these triumphs, lady? for a May-game? Let's home and sleep; for such great overthrows, A candle burns too bright a sacrifice, A glow-worm's tail too full of flame. Oh, Nennius, And how to speak him, how to give him weight Bond. By the gods, I think You dote upon these Romans, Caratach! Car. Witness these wounds, I do; they were fairly giv'n : I love an enemy; I was born a soldier; And he that in the head on's troop defies me, Than I am married to that man that wounds me: Ever advanc'd as forward as the Britons, And, follow'd, will be impudence, Bonduca, And grow to no belief, to taint these Romans. Bond. What? Car. Dishearten'd, Run, run, Bonduca! not the quick rack swifter; Not half so fearful; not a flight drawn home, E'er made that haste that they have. By the gods, Bond. Oh, ye powers, Car. Yes, Bonduca, I've seen thee run too; and thee Nennius But not so fast; your jewel had been lost then, Seeing me steer thro' all these storms of danger, And here I am to honour him. Bond. Oh, cousin, I took his offer, From what a flight of honour hast thou check'd me What wouldst thou make me, Caratach? Car. See, lady, The noble use of others in our losses. Does this afflict you? Had the Romans cried this, Made marks as far as th' earth was ours, to shew us Or beating of the Britons were more business, Bond. Let me think we conquer’d. Car. Do; but so think, as we may be conquer'd; They file to after-ages. Our registers The Romans are, for noble deeds of honour; And shall we brand their mentions with upbraidings? Bond. No more; I see myself. Thou hast made me, cousin, And giv'n me health again; nay more, discretion. Nen. Is not peace the end of arms? Car. Not where the cause implies a general conquest: Had we a diff'rence with some petty isle, Or with our neighbours, lady, for our landmarks, The taking in of some rebellious lord, Or making head against commotions, After a day of blood, peace might be argued ; The gods we worship, and next those, our honours, |