And this memorial, lately
unearthed, and known as the Colchester Sphinx, perpetuates the
lion-like qualities of a girl in her teens, who dared withstand
the power of Imperial Rome.
And still no help came from her cousin, the admiral. But one day
a galley speeding up the Colne brought this unsigned message to
King Coel:
"To Coel, Camalodunum, Greeting:
"Save thyself. Constantius the sallow-faced, prefect of the
Western praetorians, is even now on his way from Spain to crush
thy revolt. Save thyself. I wait. justice will come."
"Thou seest, O daughter," said King Coel as Helena read the
craven missive, "the end cometh as I knew it would. Well, man can
but die." And with this philosophic reflection the "jolly old
soul" only dipped his red nose still deeper into his big bowl,
and bade his musicians play their loudest and merriest.
But Helena, "not deficient in statecraft," thought for both. She
would save her father, her country, and herself, and shame her
disloyal cousin. Discretion is the better part of valor. Let us
see how discreet a little lady was this fair young Princess
Helena.
The legions came to Camalodunum.
Pages:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54