human
What is your name, young lady? asked the captain politely.
gpt
This is excellent wine, by the way.
human
Thank you, Captain, she said.
gpt
We have had a cask taken to your men. I made it myself, three years ago. My name is Boadicea.
human
No, no, Captain! the headman said hurriedly.
gpt
She's joking--her name is Flavia; the other is the name she takes for herself. I apologize for her.
human
It is not a joke, she said.
gpt
Boadicea is my heroine and I have taken her name. I don't like the name Flavia--it's Roman. Do I look like a Roman to you, Captain?
human
You look very beautiful, the captain said, laughing,
gpt
He drained his wine cup.
human
A long, long time ago.
gpt
But we have not forgotten her, Captain,
human
You insult our honored guest, girl! her grandfather said.
gpt
Go to bed!
human
No, I beg you--please don't send her to bed, said the captain.
gpt
I'm not in the least insulted. After all, it's ancient history now. I don't think people think of us as conquerors any more. We are protectors. While we are here, the Picts stay where they belong, and the Scots, too.
human
The Picts say they used to live hereabouts,
gpt
The Picts say, the Picts say! What do you know of what they say?
human
The cook's mother is a Pict,
gpt
Well, she'd better not come _here_! said the headman.
human
We want no Celts!
gpt
But, Grandfather, we _are_ Celts!
human
No, girl, we are Romans,
gpt
That is true. All members of the Empire are Romans. Not citizens, perhaps, but Romans just the same, and all live by Caesar's law.
human
But suppose people don't want to live by his law?
gpt
That would be most foolish and uncivilized of them. Don't you think it's better for the whole world to live as members of one community and cease all this useless warfare?
human
It seems to me, the girl said,
gpt
The taxes, Captain, he said,
human
And on mine,
gpt
And I hope I may say that this time we will have them ready for you,
human
I hope so, too,
gpt
But there are other levies that have not been made, which we had rather expected to be made....
human
Other levies?
gpt
I refer to troops, Captain, the headman said.
human
You levy no troops from us up here.
gpt
You put me in rather an embarrassing position, the captain said.
human
You must realize that while I make no comparison to yourself, there are some people living at the outer boundaries of the Empire, people not yet wholly reconciled to Caesar's dominion, people who--to give another example--think of themselves as, say, Helvetiae first and Romans second. It is the Imperial policy in such cases not to levy troops because--
gpt
In other words, the girl interrupted,
human
But, my dear young lady, you are not slaves! You are given the civilizing benefits of Roman rule, and you are taxed very much less than people living in Rome itself, I can assure you of that. He felt terribly sleepy--the wine was stronger than he had thought and he found it difficult to think of the right words. He was beginning to sound to himself like a senator, a race of men he secretly despised.
gpt
Let me put it this way, he went on.
human
A child does not _offer_ loyalty to his parents--it comes by nature.
gpt
Perhaps grown people do not like to be treated as children, she said.
human
You behave like one, Granddaughter! the headman said.
gpt
Go to your room!
human
Good night, Captain,