27 Knowing this, and elated by
their glory, our army exclaimed that nothing could resist their valour—that
they must penetrate the recesses of Caledonia, and at length after an unbroken
succession of battles, discover the furthest limits of Britain. Those
who but now were cautious and prudent, became after the event eager and
boastful. It is the singularly unfair peculiarity of war that the credit of
success is claimed by all, while a disaster is attributed to one alone. But the
Britons thinking themselves baffled, not so much by our valour as by our
general’s skilful use of an opportunity, abated nothing of their arrogant
demeanour, arming their youth, removing their wives and children to a place of
safety, and assembling together to ratify, with sacred rites, a confederacy of
all their states. Thus, with angry feelings on both sides, the combatants
parted.
|