58 This is the translation of a passage from the first book of an unfinished poem by Claudian, entitled _De Raptu Proserpinæ_, “The Carrying off Proserpine.” It is an amplification of the legend that Pluto, god of the region of the dead, carried off Proserpine, daughter of Ceres, to be his wife and queen, while she was gathering flowers in the fields of Enna in Sicily. The passage translated occurs in the first book, and describes the tapestry with which Proserpine is busy, as a gift to her absent mother. The poem breaks off in the third book, while relating the search which the mother makes for her lost daughter. 59 This was actually done about this time, and with the result foreshadowed in the conversation given above. 60 Carausius had held, towards the end of the third century, the same command as that of the Count of the Saxon Shore, had rebelled against the Emperor, made himself master of Britain and all the Western Seas, and had then proclaimed himself Augustus. The Emperor Diocletian made several attempts to reduce him, but, finding that this could not be done, acknowledged him as a partner in the Empire. Six years later Carausius was murdered by one of his lieutenants, Allectus, who doubtless hoped thus to bring himself into favour at Rome. 61 Mantelet: a shield of wood, metal, or rope, for the protection of sappers, &c. 62 A skeleton has been found in the well of the Brading Villa. 63 The battle of Badon Hill, fought in 451, seems to be a well authenticated historical fact. King Arthur defeated the Saxons after a fierce conflict which lasted for two days. Badon Hill is near Bath. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Variations in hyphenation (“countryside”, “country-side”; “headquarters”, “head-quarters”) have not been changed. Other changes, which have been made to the text: page 19, “tomount” changed to “to mount” page 23, quote mark added after “mishap.” page 33, “Lasetrygones” changed to “Laestrygones” page 76, “asid” changed to “said” page 79, quote mark added after “letter-carriers.” page 87, single quote mark changed to double quote mark after “long.” page 111, “oga” changed to “toga” page 115, quote mark added after “free.” page 139, quote mark added after “wanted.” page 156, “eemed” changed to “seemed” page 157, “greal” changed to “great” page 178, period added after “Sorbiodunum”, comma changed to period after “them” page 233, quote mark added after “man.” page 255, “Or” changed to “On” page 288, “inot” changed to “into” page 297, quote mark added after “man,”