The Dawn in Britain :: :: University of Virginia Library

Returns, the third day, that stern duke Vespasian,
With whom rides Aulus, midst the pia legion,
In battle ray, being winged with Gaulish horse.
Hark! stretching stern hands forth, those Flavian soldiers,

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Clamour, them lead, gainst the revolted legions.
Sith, they alone, embarking, would win Britain.

Without their tents, stand the three legions' soldiers;
Tents, seen, confusedly pitcht, longs the sea-shore.
And lay all blame, their orators, come to Aulus,
Unto that forepast cruelty of their centurions.

Vespasian and the legate, found the castra,
With corses, strewed; that were they cleansed, commanded,
From civil blood! Restored, then, to the legions,
Their prefects, Aulus mounted, with stern countenance,
To his tribunal. He ordains, before him,
Then, pass centurions: he, in that, enquires
Of each, his stipends, deeds of hardihood;
And whence obtained he martial ornaments.
And whom, with loud cry, soldiers of his cohort
Approve, confirms the duke: but when, unto any,
They all, impute immanity, in his service,
Or avarice; he his sergeants, beat, with rods,
Bids, (laid on such arrest;) and they deface,
Deposed from all authority, his helm's crest.

Descended Aulus, soldiers take their ranks.
With trumpet-sound, march the new-ordered cohorts,
To the sea-brinks; and they, their impure hands,
There wash: then lifting, at new clarions' voice,

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To heaven; all those, (which they did violate,)
To the emperor, loud! renew their sacrament.
Aulus, that all might hear, with a great voice,
Draw out! commands the Prefect of his fleet;
And ride, at anchor; to embark the legions!