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much fairer onegathered a hasty following； won over to his
cause the British…filled legion in his palace…town； and；
descending upon the nearest Roman camps and stations； surprised；
captured； scattered； or brought over their soldiers； and
proclaimed himself free from the yoke of Rome and supreme prince
of Britain。
Ambition is always selfish。 Even when striving for the general
good there lies； too often； beneath this noble motive the still
deeper one of selfishness。 Carausius the admiral； though
determined upon kingly power； had no desire for a divided
supremacy。 He was determined to be sole emperor； or none。 Crafty
and unscrupulous； although brave and high…spirited； he deemed it
wisest to delay his part of the compact until he should see how
it fared with his uncle； the king； and then； upon his defeat； to
climb to certain victory。
He therefore sent to his uncle promises instead of men； and when
summoned by the Roman governor to assist in putting down the
revolt； he returned loyal answers； but sent his aid to neither
party。
King Coel after his first successes knew that； unaided； he could
not hope to withstand the Roman force that must finally be
brought against him。 Though urged to constant action by his wise
young daughter； he preferred to do nothing； and； satisfied with
the acknowledgment of his power in and about his little kingdom
on the Colne； he spent his time in his palace with the musicians
that he loved so well； and the big bowl of liquor that he loved；
it is to be feared； quite as dearly。
The musiciansthe pipers and the harperssang his praises； and
told of his mighty deeds； and； no doubt； their refrain was very
much the same as the one that has been preserved for us in the
jingle of Mother Goose：
〃O； none so rare as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three。〃
But if the pleasure…loving old king was listless； young Helena
was not。 The misty records speak of her determined efforts； and
though it is hard to understand how a girl of fifteen can do any
thing toward successful generalship； much can be granted to a
young lady who； if the records speak truth； was； even while a
girl； 〃a Minerva in wisdom； and not deficient in statecraft。〃
So； while she advised with her father's boldest captains and
strengthened so wisely the walls of ancient Colchester； or
Camalodunum； that traces of her work still remain as proof of her
untiring zeal； she still cherished the hope of British freedom
and release from Rome。 And the loving old king； deep in his
pleasures； still recognized the will and wisdom of his valiant
daughter； and bade his artists make in her honor a memorial that
should ever speak of her valor。 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。 Across Gaul and over the choppy
channel they came； borne by the very galleys that were to have
succored the British king。 Up through the mouth of Thames they
sailed； and landing at Londinium； marched in close array along
the broad Roman road that led straight up to the gates of
Camalodunum。 Before the walls of Camalodunum was pitched the
Roman camp； and the British king was besieged in his own
palace…town。
The Roman trumpets sounded before the gate of the beleaguered
city； and the herald of the prefect； standing out from his circle
of guards； cried the summons to surrender：
Coel of Britain； traitor to the Roman people and to thy lord the
Emperor； hear thou！ I n the name of the Senate and People of
Rome； I； Constantius the prefect； charge thee to deliver up to
them ere this day's sun shall set； this； their City of
Camalodunum； and thine own rebel body as well。 Which done they
will in mercy pardon the crime of treason to the city； and will
work their will and punishment only upon theethe chief rebel。
And if this be not done within the appointed time； then will the
walls of this their town of Camalodunum be overthrown； and thou
and all thy people be given the certain death of traitors。〃
King Coel heard the summons； and some spark of that very
patriotism that had inspired and incited his valiant little
daughter flamed in his heart。 He would have returned an answer of
defiance。 〃I can at least die with my people；〃 he said； but young
Helena interposed。
〃Leave this to me； my father；〃 she said。 〃As I have been the
cause； so let me be the end of trouble。 Say to the prefect that
in three hours' time the British envoy will come to his camp with
the king's answer to his summons。〃
The old king would have replied otherwise； but his daughter's
entreaties and the counsels of his captains who knew the
hopelessness of resistance； forced him to assent； and his herald
made answer accordingly。
Constantius the prefecta manly； pleasant。 looking young
commander； called Chlorus or 〃the sallow；〃 from his pale
face；sat in his tent within the Roman camp。 The three hours'
grace allowed had scarcely expired when his sentry announced the
arrival of the envoy of Coel of Britain。
〃Bid him enter；〃 said the prefect。 Then； as the curtains of his
tent were drawn aside； the prefect started in surprise； for there
before him stood； not the rugged form of a British fighting man；
but a fair young girl； who bent her graceful head in reverent
obeisance to the youthful representative of the Imperial Caesars。
〃What would'st thou with me； maiden？〃 asked the prefect。
〃I am the daughter of Coel of Britain；〃 said the girl； 〃and I am
come to sue for pardon and for peace。〃
〃The Roman people have no quarrel with the girls of Britain；〃
said the prefect。 〃Hath then King Coel fallen so low in state
that a maiden must plead for him？〃
〃He hath not fallen at all； O Prefect；〃 replied the girl proudly；
〃the king； my father； would withstand thy force but that I； his
daughter； know the cause of this unequal strife； and s