Cheddar Cliffs. 131 



And scorned to fly, nor deigned to yield, 

 While, ere he fled the hopeless field, 

 Flashed their stout leader's pike. 



Behind the low hills above the gorge, by the village 

 of Charterhouse, lie the faint vestiges of a vanished 

 town. A Roman settlement was planted there among 

 the Kangic lead-mines. The refuse which their im- 

 perfect appliances forced them to leave has been 

 smelted and resmelted since then, and only a few 

 years back the works were still in operation. Few 

 signs are left of either conquerors or conquered. 

 Foundations of buildings have been traced. Fine 

 Samian ware and rude British pottery, coins and 

 ornaments, tools and weapons, have been discovered 

 in ' The Town Field.' 



A broken tablet records that the Armenian legion 

 was posted here. Huge blocks of lead still exist 

 bearing the names of Vespasian and Antonine. Little 

 else remains. But, in all the country side 



Some trace of Imperial tenure now, 



Clashes at times on the peasant's plough ; 

 Fragments of graceful vases 



With gods and heroes traced ; 

 Records of Roman triumph 



In letters half effaced ; 

 A tarnished ring, whose fiery gems, 



Still on its circle set, 

 From the far sands of Indus brought, 

 Gleam through their setting, rudely wrought, 

 As if the sky their hues have caught 



Flamed in their glory yet. 



