Decline and Fall

New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 887, 3 August 1956, Page 9

Decline and Fall

"TRAVELLERS in Britain," says Ivor Brown in an introductory talk to R. C. Sherriff’s play The Long Sunset (YCs next week, see page 24), "are often shown Roman remains: sometimes they are part of a city wall; sometimes the relics of a-temple or a theatre; sometimes the beautifully-decorated floor of a country house. What became of their builders and their owners? Were they overwhelmed by the new invaders from Europe or did they get out safely . . .?" R. C. Sherriff’s play-written for the theatre but first performed on the airconcerns the fate of Julian (Brewster Mason), a Roman living in Britain, and his family. The scene is Roman Kent

and the date 410 A.D. By that time the Goths had taken Rome and all Europe was the victim of their savage invasion, but news travels slowly and Roman gentlemen in Britain could be carrying on with their peaceful lives of farming and trading ignorant of disaster. This is the case with Julian and his family and the play is concerned with their reaction to the news when it did come. Jack Lindsay, the social historian and historical novelist, comments in his recent book The Romans Were

Here*, "The Roman period in our history was not a mere passing phase which ended in fire and sword, and had no lasting effect on our nation. Rather, it was the first phase in the building of our recognisable nation, a phase from which stem _ traditions and elements that have carried on to our own today." .It must be remembered that the English conquest of Britain

had no resemblance to the wellorganised fieldwork of the Roman legends. Despite the existence of the Woman roads, the English advance was slow and precarious. For about 150 years after the ending of Roman control British occupation of the plain beneath the Chilterns was unbroken, except perhaps in the Luton area. In Britain alone, as distinct from the rest of Europe, the provincials fought back

as a whole, nobles and peasants; fought as Romans. Then, the Romans left behind them the concept of a single rule which, in the end, the Anglo-Saxons acopted from the British kings. In many respects the culturally-superior : British, trained in Roman ways, conquered their conquerors. In art, trade, ship-building and domestic life the Roman influence remained with the Britons. They even built extensive earthworks against the invaders, inspired by the large-scale Roman constructions. In 441 or 442, according to a 6th century writer, the provinces of Britain, "long torn by various disasters, are now subject to the Saxons." In 446, or soon after, the Britons’ pro-Roman leaders sent a message to the great Gallic general Aetius asking him to bring them help, but he could not. In Britain itself there must have been conflicting claims to domination which weakened the Britons’ powers of defence, although between 410-443 there was considerable prosperity still in parts of the country, notably the south-east, with a revival of crafts. However, to meet attacks from the northern Picts, the northern king Vortigern called in Saxons as mercenaries. Soon they turned on their employers and a new invasion began, The long sunset had ended.

*The Romans Were Here, by Jack Lindsay; Oswald-Seely, price 25/-,