136 BRITAIN IN THE ROMAN POETS 



concerned, speak of the " intactus Britannus," *° and 

 so Tibullus even later of the " inuictus Eomano Marte 

 Britannus." *^ 



No doubt Augustus saw, no less clearly than Julius 

 Csesar, the danger that threatened Gaul from an 

 unconquered Britain. He may have really intended to 

 undertake the expedition on more than one occasion. *2 

 He may have encouraged rumours which would unite the 

 citizens by the thought of a common danger. Yergil and 

 Horace prayed for his safe return. Augustus stayed at 

 home. 



Vergil, in 30 B.C., wonders whether 



tibi seruiat ultima Thule.*' 

 (Is Thule, on the edge of tlie world, to come under thy sway ?) 



Aboitt five years later Horace calls on Fortune for her 



protection : — - 



Serues iturum Caesarem in ultimos 

 Orbis Britannos.'" 



(Keep Caesar safe, who is about to go to Britain at the limit of 

 the world.) 



And again : — 



Praesens diuos habebitur 

 Augustus adiectis Britannis 



Imperio grauibusque Persis.*' 



(Augustus will be held a god here on earth to bless us, when he 

 has added the Britons to the Empire and the formidable Parthians.) 



About ten years later Horace breaks into a psean of 

 praise : — 



40. Hor, Epod, 7, 3. 



41. Tib. iv., 1, 149. 



42. Dio Cassius 22, 25. 



43. Verg, Georg I., 30. 



44. Hor. Odes I., 35, 29. 



45. Hor. Odes III., S. 2. 



