Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (4 of 8): The Fovrth Booke Of The Historie Of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Roman period, 55 B.C.-449 A.D.
"Here commeth to mind how pleasant and easefull the good lucke of
those princes in gouerning the common wealth with praise was, which
sitting still in Rome had triumphs and surnames appointed them of
[Sidenote: Fronto counted Ciceros match.]such nations as their
capteins did vanquish. Fronto therefore, not the second, but match
with the first honor of the Romane eloquence, when he yeelded vnto
the emperor Antoninus the renowme of the warre brought the citie,
had committed the conduct and successe of that warre ouer vnto the
same Fronto, it was confessed by him, that the emperour sitting as
it were at the helme of the ship, deserued the praise, by giuing of
perfect order to the full accomplishing of the enterprise. But you
(most inuincible emperour) haue bene not onlie the appointer foorth
how all this voiage by sea, and prosecuting the warre by land should
bee demeaned, as apperteined to you by vertue of your imperiall rule
and dignitie, but also you haue beene an exhorter and setter forward
in the things themselues, and through example of your assured
constancie, the victorie was atchiued. For you taking the sea at
Sluice, did put an irreuocable desire into their hearts that were
readie to take ship at the same time in the mouth of the riuer of
Saine, insomuch that when the capteins of that armie did linger out
the time, by reason the seas and aire was troubled, they cried to haue
the sailes hoised vp, and signe giuen to lanch foorth, that they
might passe forward on their iournie, despising certeine tokens
which threatened their wrecke, and so set forward on a rainie and
tempestuous day, sailing with a crosse wind, for no forewind might
serue their turne.
"But what was he that durst not commit himselfe vnto the sea, were
the same neuer so vnquiet, when you were once vnder saile, and set
forward? One voice and exhortation was among them all (as report hath
gone thereof) when they heard that you were once got forth vpon the
water, What doo we dout? what mean we to staie? He is now loosed from
land, he is forward on his waie, and peraduenture is alreadie got
ouer: Let vs put all things in proofe, let vs venter through anie
dangers of sea whatsoeuer. What is there that we may stand in feare
of? we follow the emperour. Neither did the opinion of your good hap
deceiue them: for as by report of them selues we doo vnderstand, at
that selfe time there fell such a mist and thicke fog vpon the seas,
that the enimies nauie laid at the Ile of wight watching for their
aduersaries, and lurking as it were in await, these your ships passed
by, and were not once perceiued, neither did the enimie then staie
although he could not resist.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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