4. During these military enterprises he neglected not the arts of peace. He introduced laws and civility among the Britons, taught them to desire and raise all the conveniences of life, reconciled them to the Roman language and manners, instructed them in letters and science, and employed every 'expedient to render those chains which he had forged both easy and agreeable to them. The inhabitants, having experienced how unequal their own force was to resist that of the Romans, acquiesced in their rule, and were gradually incorporated as a part of that mighty empire. 5. This was the last durable conquest made by the Romans; and Britain, once subdued, gave no further inquietude to the victor. Caledonia alone, defended by its barren mountains, and by the contempt which the Romans. entertained for it, sometimes 'infested the more cultivated parts of the island by the incursions of its inhabitants. The better to secure the frontiers of the empire, Adrian (or Hadrian), who visited this island, built a 121 rampart between the river Tyne and the frith of Solway; Lollius Urbicus, under Antoninus Pius, 139 erected one in the place where Agricola had formerly established his garrisons; Severus, who made an ex- 208 pedition into Britain and carried his arms to the most northern extremity of it, added new fortifications to the wall of Adrian; and during the reigns of all the Roman emperors, such a profound tranquillity prevailed in Britain, that little mention is made of the affairs of that island by any historian. A.D. 6. Britain, by its situation, was removed from the fury of the barbarous incursions (which affected the heart of the empire); and being also a remote province, not much valued by the Romans, the legions which defended it were carried over to the protection of Italy and 410 Gaul. But that province, though secured by the A.D. ROMAN WALL BETWEEN THE TYNE AND THE SOLWAY. sea against the inroads of the greater tribes of barbarians, found enemies on its frontiers who took advantage of its present defenceless situation. The Picts and Scots who dwelt in the northern parts, beyond the wall of Antoninus, made incursions upon their peaceable and 'effeminate neighbours; and, besides the temporary 'depredations which they committed, these combined nations threatened the whole province with subjection, or, what the inhabitants more dreaded, with plunder and devastation. 7. These tribes, finding their more 'opulent neighbours exposed to invasion, soon broke over the Roman wall, no longer defended by the Roman arms; and, though a contemptible enemy in themselves, met with no resistance from the unwarlike inhabitants. The Britons, accustomed to have recourse to the emperors for defence as well as government, made 'supplications to Rome; and one legion was sent over for their protection. This force was an over-match for the barbarians, repelled their invasion, routed them in every engagement, and having chased them into their ancient limits, returned in triumph to the defence of the southern provinces of the empire. 8. Their retreat brought on a new invasion of the enemy. The Britons made again an application to Rome, and again obtained the assistance of a legion, which proved effectual for their relief: but the Romans, reduced to 'extremities at home, and fatigued with those distant expeditions, informed the Britons that they must no longer look to them for succour, 'exhorted them to arm in their own defence, and urged, that as they were now their own masters, it became them to protect by their valour that independence which their ancient lords had conferred upon them. That they might leave the island with the better grace, the Romans assisted them in erecting anew the wall of Severus, which was built entirely of stone, and which the Britons had not at that time artificers skilful enough to repair. And having done this last good 446 office to the inhabitants, they bid a final adieu to A.D. Britain about the year 446, after having been masters of the more considerable part of it during the course of near four centuries. DAVID HUME: History of England. ac-qui-si-tion, thing gained; con- | ex-pe-di-ent, means; scheme. ex-hort-ed, advised. ex-trem-i-ties, great need. in-fest-ed, disturbed; harassed. in en-ter-pris-es, undertakings; labours. sup-pli-ca-tions, entreaties; prayers. tran-quil-li-ty, quietness; peace. 1 Deal, on the east coast of Kent, | described by his son-in-law Tacitus, the opposite the Downs. 2 Trinoban'tes, the people occupying the country north of the lower Thames-now Middlesex and Essex. 3 Agricola. His operations were Roman historian. 4 Vespa'sian, &c.-Vespasian reigned from 69 to 79 A.D. In his reign Jerusalem was taken and destroyed by his son Titus (70 A.D.). Titus reigned two years (79-81 A.D.). In Domitian's | Britain. The Scots were colonists from reign (81-96 A.D.) there was a great per- Ireland, who settled on the western secution of Christians in Rome and in isles and on the mainland in the sixth Syria and the East. century. It was long and keenly debated whether the Picts were Celts or Teutons; but it is now generally agreed that they were Celts, as the Scots certainly were. 5 Caledonia, North Britain, now Scotland. 6 Picts and Scots.-The Picts were the earliest known inhabitants of North 2.-BOADICEA. [Boadicea, queen of the Iceni, a tribe of British Celts, was publicly scourged by the Romans, though her husband, at his death, had left them half his wealth. She raised an army to avenge her wrongs. London was reduced to ashes, and seventy thousand Romans were massacred. Suetonius Paulinus avenged this cruelty in a great battle, in which eighty thousand Britons were killed (61 A.D.). Boadicea is said to have poisoned herself, rather than fall into the hands of the Romans. According to another account, she was slain in battle.] 5."Rome, for empire far renowned, 6."Other Romans shall arise, 'Heedless of a soldier's name; Sounds, not arms, shall win the prize, 7." Then the progeny that springs 8."Regions Cæsar never knew 6 Thy posterity shall sway; 9. Such the bard's prophetic words, 10. She, with all a monarch's pride, 11."Ruffians, pitiless as proud, Heaven awards the vengeance due; Empire is on us bestowed, Shame and ruin wait for you." |