336 ROMAN ROAD. 



AMICUS. What a width of purple brightness 

 is given by that great copper-coloured beech 

 expanding its young leaves in the grounds of 

 Croft Lodge ! I never before felt disposed to 

 admire this variety of tree. Whilst at a certain 

 distance, I saw distinctly the outlines of the en- 

 campment, which you say was Koman, now I 

 am near they have disappeared. It seems 

 strange, considering the nature of this country, 

 that the Eomans should have penetrated into 

 it. What could have attracted them ? 



PISCATOR. That they were well acquainted 

 with the district is certain there are so many 

 vestiges of them, in forts, encampments and 

 roads ; of the latter, the most remarkable 

 being along the summits of one of the higher 

 mountain ranges, still known by the name of 

 " High Street." What the attractions were 

 must be matter of conjecture : if mere love of 

 enterprise, extension of territory, and the lust 

 of conquest and possession, were not sufficient, 

 under the impulse of which they overran and 

 subdued so large a portion of the ancient world, 

 rest assured, it was not the beauty of the 

 scenery, of mountain, lake and forest that drew 

 them here. The taste for these, the cultivated 

 taste, is modern. 



