The history and antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and other parts adjacent ... Continued to the present time / by Thomas Wright.

  • Thomas Allen
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history and antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and other parts adjacent ... Continued to the present time / by Thomas Wright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Doadicea, in a warlike car, with her two daughters before her, drove through the ranks; she harangued the different tribes in their turn: ‘ This/ said she, ‘ is not the first time that the Bri- tons have been led to battle by a woman. But now she did not come to boast the pride of a long line of ancestry, nor even to recover her kingdom, and the plundered wealth of her family. She took the field like the meanest among them, to assert the cause of public liberty, and to seek revenge for her body seamed with ignominious stripes, and her two daughters infamously ra vished. From the pride and arrogance of the Romans, nothing is sacred; all are subject to violation ; the old endure the scourge and the virgins are detlowered. But the vindictive gods are novi at hand. A Roman legion dared to face the warlike Britons; with their lives they paid for their rashness; those who survived the carnage of that day, lie poorly hid behind their entrench ments, meditating nothing but how to save themselves by an ig- nominious flight. From the din of preparation, and the shouts of the British army, the Romans, even now, shrink back with ter- ror. What will be their case when the assault begins? Look round, and view your numbers. Behold the proud display of warlike spirits, and consider the motives for which we draw the aveng'ing sword. On this spot we must either conquer or die with glory. There is no alternative. Though a woman, mv resolution is fixed; the men, if they please, may survive with infamy, and live in bondage.’ Suetonius, in a moment of such importance, did not remain silent. He expected every thing' from the valour of his men, and yet urged every topic that could inspire and animate them to the attack. ‘ Despise,’ said he, ‘ the savag-e uproar, the yells and sliouts undisciplined barbarians. In that mixed multitude, the women outnumbered the men. Void of spirit, unprovided with arms, they are not soldiers who come to offer battle; they are dastards, runaways, the refuse of your swords, who have often lied before you, and will again betake themselves to flight, when they see the conqueror flaming in the ranks of w ar. In all en- gagements, it is the valour of a few that turns the fortune of the day. It will be your immortal glory, that with a scauty number, you can equal the exploits of a g'reat and powerful army. Keep your ranks; discharge your javelins; rush forward to a close attack; bear down all with your bucklers, and hew a passage with your swords. Pursue the vanquished, and never think of Jpoii and plunder. Conquer, and all is yours.’ This speech was received with warlike acclamations. The soldiers burned with inipatience for the onset, the veterans brandished their javelins, and the ranks displayed such an intrepid countenance, that Suetonius, anticipating- the victory, gave the signal for the charge “ The engagement began. The Roman legion presented a
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