Or see how on the stage the shifting scenes In order pass, and pictured Britons rise Out of the earth, and raise the purple curtain. [Sidenote: PROSPECTIVE FATE OF BRITAIN.] In that island, where, in Roman days, the painted savage shared the forest with the beast of prey—a lady sits upon her throne of state, wielding a sceptre more potent than Julius or Hadrian ever grasped! Her empire is threefold that of Rome in the hour of its prime. But power is not her brightest diadem. The holiness of the domestic circle irradiates her. Literature, and all the arts of peace, flourish under her sway. Her people bless her. Will Britain always thus occupy so prominent a position in the scene of this world’s history? ... Valet ima summis Mutare, et insignem attenuat Deus Obscura promens. The power that did create, can change the scene Of things; make mean of great, and great of mean. [Sidenote: LESSON INCULCATED.] Is the fate of Persia, Macedon, and Rome, never to be hers? ‘O Thou, that didst build up this Britannic empire to a glorious and enviable height, with all her daughter islands about her; stay us in this felicity!’ What would Britain at this moment be without the Bible? Let the seven-hilled city say! If Britain herself obey the inspired word, and give it to the nations, then she needs not fear the shock of empires. If not, at a future day the native of a distant isle, or obscure nation, then newly risen into greatness, moralizing over the reedy docks and grass-grown streets of London, may exclaim—How true the words of their own Milton! 'But if ... as you have been valiant in war, you should grow debauched in peace, you that have had such visible demonstrations of the goodness of God to yourselves, and his wrath against your enemies ... you will find that God’s displeasure against you, will be greater than it has been against your adversaries, greater than his grace and favour has been to yourselves, which you have had larger experience of than any other nation under heaven.' [Illustration: Base of Column at BORCOVICUS.] ----- Footnote 2: This coin is in the possession of Mr. Bell, of the Nook, Irthington, to whose cabinet of coins, chiefly procured from the line of the wall, the author has kindly been allowed free access. Footnote 3: This interesting coin is thus described by Akerman:—_OBVERSE_—HADRIANUS · AVG_ustus_, CO_nsul_ III. [tertium] P_ater_ P_atriæ_. Laureated bust of Hadrian, with the chlamys buckled over his right shoulder. _REVERSE_—ADVENTVS AVG_usti_ BRITANNIAE. In the exergue—S_enatus_ C_onsulto_. An altar, with the fire kindled, placed between the emperor in his toga, who holds a patera, and a female figure, a victim lying at her feet. Footnote 4: