登陆注册
5271600000007

第7章 CHAPTER III--DIANA'S GROVE(2)

"The old name translated means 'Diana's Grove.' Then the next one higher than it, but just beyond it, is called 'MERCY'--in all probability a corruption or familiarisation of the word MERCIA, with a Roman pun included. We learn from early manus that the place was called VILULA MISERICORDIAE. It was originally a nunnery, founded by Queen Bertha, but done away with by King Penda, the reactionary to Paganism after St. Augustine. Then comes your uncle's place--Lesser Hill. Though it is so close to the Castle, it is not connected with it. It is a freehold, and, so far as we know, of equal age. It has always belonged to your family.""Then there only remains the Castle!"

"That is all; but its history contains the histories of all the others--in fact, the whole history of early England." Sir Nathaniel, seeing the expectant look on Adam's face, went on:

"The history of the Castle has no beginning so far as we know. The furthest records or surmises or inferences simply accept it as existing. Some of these--guesses, let us call them--seem to show that there was some sort of structure there when the Romans came, therefore it must have been a place of importance in Druid times--if indeed that was the beginning. Naturally the Romans accepted it, as they did everything of the kind that was, or might be, useful. The change is shown or inferred in the name Castra. It was the highest protected ground, and so naturally became the most important of their camps. A study of the map will show you that it must have been a most important centre. It both protected the advances already made to the north, and helped to dominate the sea coast. It sheltered the western marches, beyond which lay savage Wales--and danger. It provided a means of getting to the Severn, round which lay the great Roman roads then coming into existence, and made possible the great waterway to the heart of England--through the Severn and its tributaries. It brought the east and the west together by the swiftest and easiest ways known to those times.

And, finally, it provided means of descent on London and all the expanse of country watered by the Thames.

"With such a centre, already known and organised, we can easily see that each fresh wave of invasion--the Angles, the Saxons, the Danes, and the Normans--found it a desirable possession and so ensured its upholding. In the earlier centuries it was merely a vantage ground.

But when the victorious Romans brought with them the heavy solid fortifications impregnable to the weapons of the time, its commanding position alone ensured its adequate building and equipment. Then it was that the fortified camp of the Caesars developed into the castle of the king. As we are as yet ignorant of the names of the first kings of Mercia, no historian has been able to guess which of them made it his ultimate defence; and I suppose we shall never know now. In process of time, as the arts of war developed, it increased in size and strength, and although recorded details are lacking, the history is written not merely in the stone of its building, but is inferred in the changes of structure. Then the sweeping changes which followed the Norman Conquest wiped out all lesser records than its own. To-day we must accept it as one of the earliest castles of the Conquest, probably not later than the time of Henry I. Roman and Norman were both wise in their retention of places of approved strength or utility. So it was that these surrounding heights, already established and to a certain extent proved, were retained. Indeed, such characteristics as already pertained to them were preserved, and to-day afford to us lessons regarding things which have themselves long since passed away.

"So much for the fortified heights; but the hollows too have their own story. But how the time passes! We must hurry home, or your uncle will wonder what has become of us."He started with long steps towards Lesser Hill, and Adam was soon furtively running in order to keep up with him.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 语言艺术全书(4册)

    语言艺术全书(4册)

    语言是一门艺术,亦是通于人情世故大门的关键;换言之人情世故,大半蕴藏于语言中。然良好的口才并不是天生而是可以通过学习和训练塑造出来的。再者人不是孤立存在于世,都是在与他人的交往中生存,而语言则是我们用来交往的基本手段。故本书通过大量贴近生活的事例和精炼的要点,使读者认识到表达的重要性,以及如何才能让自己更会说话,能迅速练就“三寸不烂之舌”。
  • 一念成尊,痴傻娘亲不要怕

    一念成尊,痴傻娘亲不要怕

    作为一个天才少女,要上能安邦定国,下能宫斗宅斗。敢不拜皇上,冷落太子,蔑视八皇子。扶的起没势的小皇子,帮一字并肩王抵抗敌人联军,所以,痴傻的娘亲不要怕,女儿有神通,助你笑傲寰宇,威震苍穹!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 山本五十六传

    山本五十六传

    《山本五十六传》由明华锋著,作为一本二战将军山本五十六的传记,分章节介绍了山本五十六的童年时代、海军军校学习经历、他所指挥的重大战役,以及他航空兵战术思想形成等众多读者感兴趣的内容。其中不乏许多鲜为人知的精彩故事和细腻入微的心理描写,也涵盖了山本五十六的家庭生活和意外身死,以及对太平洋战场局势起到转折作用的偷袭珍珠港和中途岛海战。作者以鲜活的笔触,为读者介绍二战中的知名将领,点评名将的是非成败,功过得失,历史性与趣味性并存,《山本五十六传》是一部不可多得的经典著作。
  • 重生,废后庶女要翻身

    重生,废后庶女要翻身

    她柳落雪十六岁嫁于安莫翎,整整四年,她上刀山下油锅,为他出谋划策为了他,她周/旋于太子和其他王子中间,阴谋诡计,行次暗杀,只要有危险,她都毫不犹豫的替他挡在前面,只为保他平安。四年后,她终于帮他夺得帝位,他曾经许她一生一世一双人的承诺谁曾想,他不过是利用她,他心里一直爱的是她的姐姐柳如雪。她姐姐断她手脚筋,从此东宫变冷宫,十年里她过着蝼蚁般的生活,好不容易等来他,等来的却是他凌迟处死的圣旨。她眼睁睁的看着利刃刺入自己的肉里,一刀刀剜下自己的肌肤,每刀落下,森白的骨头便多暴露一分。再度重生,她发誓,一定改头换面,绝不心慈手软,她要让他们xue债xue偿,她一定将所有的屈辱一点点全部向他们讨回来!属于她的东西,她要全部夺回来!
  • 勇于品尝苦涩人生

    勇于品尝苦涩人生

    本书告诉我们只有勇于品尝苦涩人生的人才能真正领悟人生的真谛。
  • 伙牛

    伙牛

    时间到了1980年的时候,我们生产队要分单干了,就是分田到户。我们这个村子分为杜南与杜北两个生产队,在我们队分开之前,杜北队早在几年前就分开了。我们队的队长去大寨参观过,并经历过互助组、合作社和批判刘少奇的“三自一包”运动等等,思想觉悟高些,没有马上把队里分了,他想观望一下,这样一观望就过去了两年。虽然生产队没有分田到户,但队长也能感受到平静下面的暗涛汹涌,有些人留念生产队,有些人早厌烦了,想往分田到户的自由,好在队长的威信压住了这些人。这几年,周围又有许多村分了队。队长见大势已定,便决定分队。
  • 千百寻

    千百寻

    魔界之王的心脏、九幽深渊的血瞳!三界混乱,至亲被捉,且看这个从天而降的神秘山村少年是如何踏上这条寻天之路!灵器、灵药、功法!灵力、魂力、秘宝!奇遇、传说、爱恨!妖!魔!鬼!怪!一个都不会少!寻人、寻宝、寻天!这是一条艰险之路!
  • 优雅是女人最漂亮的外衣

    优雅是女人最漂亮的外衣

    一本书让女人完美蜕变,增强自信,由内而外释放最强魅力!新时代品位气质女神养成圣经,成熟女性必读的魅力修炼手册。优雅是得体而精致的外表,优雅是丰富而强大的内心;优雅是女人一生的金资本,优雅是女人最美丽的姿态。优雅是女人的专属权利,女人不仅要有追求优雅的梦想,更要有展示优雅的能力和智慧。懂得用精致的气质呈现自身魅力的女人才不辜负上天赐予的美。
  • 支诺皋上

    支诺皋上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 惹上豪门冷少

    惹上豪门冷少

    夜幕将临,城市的喧嚣不但没有沉寂,反而让车水马龙的街道显得愈加拥挤,霓红灯下的夜色绚烂,昭示着一天的精彩才刚刚开始。J市寸土寸金的地段,装饰华丽的高大建筑在闪烁的灯光下映得五颜六色。闪着金光的“夜色”两字嵌在楼身,就如一个王者般冷冷地俯瞰着周边的低层建筑。是的,夜色是J市最大的娱乐场所,一个可以令有钱人挥金如土的地方,也很好的诠释了所谓的纸醉金迷。“你们几个过来……