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RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE
And North Sea war-boats, painted and gay,Flashed like dragon-flies Erith way;And Norseman and Negro and Gaul and GreekDrank with the Britons in Barking Creek,And life was gay, and the world was new,And I was a mile across at Kew!But the Roman came with a heavy hand,And bridged and roaded and ruled the land,And the Roman left and the Danes blew in—And that's where your history-books begin!"
THE ROMAN CENTURION'S SONG
(Roman Occupation of Britain, A.D. 300)
Legate, I had the news last night—my cohort ordered homeBy ship to Portus Itius and thence by road to Rome. I've marched the companies aboard, the arms are stowed below: Now let another take my sword. Command me not to go!
I've served in Britain forty years, from Vectis to the WallI have none other home than this, nor any life at all.Last night I did not understand, but, now the hour draws near That calls me to my native land, I feel that land is here.
Here where men say my name was made, here where my work was done,Here where my dearest dead are laid—my wife—my wife and son;Here where time, custom, grief and toil, age, memory, service, love,Have rooted me in British soil. Ah, how can I remove?
