81504

OR,

THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN.

A ROMANCE OF THE DAYS OF NERO.

BY

MALACHI MOULDY, F.S.A.

Nathless a British record (long conceal'd
In old Armorica, whose secret springs
No Gothic conqueror ever drank,) revealed
The marvellous current of forgotten things.
WORDSWORth.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.

BOOK THE THIRD.

The city, which thou seest, no other deem
Than great and glorious Rome, queen of the earth,
So far renowned, and with the spoils enrich'd
Of nations; there the Capitol thou seest
Above the rest lifting his stately head
On the Tarpeian rock, her citadel
Impregnable; and there Mount Palatine,
The imperial palace, compass huge, and high
The structure, skill of noblest architects,
With gilded battlements, conspicuous far,
Turrets and terraces, and glittering spires.
Many a fair edifice besides, more like
Houses of God; so well have I disposed
My aery microscope, thou may'st behold
Outside and inside both, pillars and roofs,
Carv'd work, the hand of famed artificers
In cedar, marble, ivory or gold.

PARADISE REGAINED.

VOL. II.

B

STONEHENGE;

OR,

THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN.

CHAPTER I.

Rome's azure sky,

Flowers, ruins, statues, music-words are weak,
The glory they transfuse with fitting truth to speak.

SHELLEY'S ADONAIS.

ALTHOUGH the recall of Suetonius from Britain, as detailed in the close of the last book,, was peremptory, his departure was not immediate; for the consulship of his successor Petronius Turpilianus did not expire until the last day of the year. The British Channel, at all times formidable to the Romans, was considered innavigable during the winter months; and the equinoctial gales were no favourites with the Romans, as Cæsar's Commentaries testify so that, in consequence of the delay

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