Igitur rursum miserae mittentes epistolas reliquiae ad Agitium Romanae potestatis virum, hoc modo loquentes: 'Agitio ter consuli gemitus Britannorum'; et post pauca querentes: 'repellunt barbari ad mare, repellit mare ad barbaros; inter haec duo genera funerum aut iugulamur aut mergimur'.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A lament about sending letters to Roman authority, describing British cries and the struggle between barbarians and the sea.
- In plain terms
- Britons appeal to Rome while facing barbarian and maritime threats.
- What can you take from it?
- Seek help when overwhelmed by external dangers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do small states navigate great powers?
- What does ‘sea vs barbarian’ symbolize?
Another view
The archaic phrasing obscures precise meaning.
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