ABSTRACT
Perhaps we should move quickly to the second location, where we can hope to encounter something rather more challenging. It is, after all, both ancient and British. Having just fought and won an exhausting battle against invading Roman legions, attacking precisely because of his refusal to pay tribute to the Empire they represent, a British king suddenly executes a surprising volte-face, inexplicably agrees to the payment he has so recently refused and abruptly proposes, as the play ends, a hastily cobbled-together alliance of dubious purpose and uncertain future:
. . . Let A Roman and a British ensign wave Friendly together: so through Lud’s town march, And in the temple of great Jupiter Our peace we’ll ratify, seal it with feasts. Set on there. Never was a war did cease, Ere bloody hands were washed, with such a peace.
