m tK atfe. 183 



twenty two feet, that of the towers forty feet, and the 

 space of ground enclosed within the circumference of both 

 walls, was computed at three hundred and eighty acres. 



Thus stood Londinium. Patricians and military offi- 

 cers, merchants and artificers, resorted thither from all 

 parts, and there Constantine held his court, with the 

 splendour of Imperial Rome. A few more years, and the 

 power of the Romans began to wane, and with it waned 

 also, the prosperity of the sea-girt isle. Stranger barks 

 came from the shores of Saxony, and in them armed 

 men of fierce countenances, who knew little of the 

 arts of civilized life. What they saw, they conquered, 

 and the noble city with its palaces and forums, its schools, 

 of eloquence, and temples for Pagan worship, fell into 

 their hands. Then might be seen from the old trees the 

 red glare of the burning city ; but it was again rebuilt, and 

 though, in after years, the Danes sorely oppressed its 

 inhabitants, it resumed its high standing as the metro- 

 polis of Britain ; the seat of arts and commerce ; kings 

 reigned within its walls, and merchants came from all 

 parts of the known world, bringing with them the pro- 

 ductions of other countries, and exciting a spirit of 

 enquiry and enterprise, throughout all classes of society. 



The old trees remained as they were, and London, for 

 so the city was called at length, increased in might and 

 power; the swarming population could no longer be 

 contained within its walls, and the walls were broken 

 down in consequence. Villages were built in places 



