Page:Essays ethnological and linguistic.djvu/62

50 Thus encouraged to arms no wonder the youth of Britain were constantly engaged in war. The promise of civilization was blighted amidst intestine dissensions, and when the Romans again invaded Britain about 100 years after Cæsar, they found the people retrograded and falling comparatively easy victims. Yet Tacitus acknowledges that "the wars were for a long time carried on with alternate successes. Just before Agricola took the command in Britain, Tacitus says, a more active campaign had never been known, nor was Britain at any time so fiercely disputed. Our veteran forces were put to the sword; our colonies smoked on the ground and the legions were intercepted on the march. The struggle was then for life; we fought afterwards for fame and victory."

Such were the ancient Britons in war. In peace we can judge little of them except by such minor traits as are scattered through ancient writings. I have already referred to one report which Cæsar has given of 10 or 12 families living in common under circumstances which I cannot but think that great writer as well as commander would have done well to have imitated the caution of Strabo, and treated with distrust. We know, (one of the best evidences of true civilization) that the estimation in which the ancient Britons held their females was of the most chivalrous character. Tacitus mentions it as something worthy of remark that there was no law or rule to prevent females from holding the highest offices and commands among them, and thus we find Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes, and Boadicea or Bonduca Queen of the Iceni, at the head of their armies and councils with undisputed authority. This has ever since been a peculiarity of British institutions, nor has the country ever had any reason to doubt its wisdom since the reigns of its female sovereigns have been at least as glorious as any in our annals.

But we have reason to believe that the ancient Britons carried this feeling still further. They had females in high authority among the Priests, and the Druidesses are often spoken of in terms importing high veneration. This veneration was extended to the sex generally, if we may understand what Tacitus says of the manners of the Northern nations to the Britons also. I have no hesitation in so doing. Mason and others of our earlier writers have done so, and Dr. Richards in the Poem I have already quoted.

He made no rubied lip nor sparkling eye The shrine and god of his idolatry, But proudly bending to a just control