Go back further still . '' ... He went back to the time of Diocletian ; and to listen to him you would have thought Eternal Rome herself was on the edge of destruction , just because a few people had become a little large-minded . ' I knew nothing about it . Aglaia never taught us the history of our own country . She was so full of her ancient Greeks . ' `` There is no hope for Rome , '' said the Pater , at last . `` She has forsaken her Gods , but if the Gods forgive us here , we may save Britain . To do that , we must keep the Painted People back . Therefore , I tell you , Parnesius , as a Father , that if your heart is set on service , your place is among men on the Wall -- and not with women among the cities . '' ' ` What Wall ? ' asked Dan and Una at once . ` Father meant the one we call Hadrian 's Wall . I 'll tell you about it later . It was built long ago , across North Britain , to keep out the Painted People -- Picts , you call them . Father had fought in the great Pict War that lasted more than twenty years , and he knew what fighting meant . Theodosius , one of our great Generals , had chased the little beasts back far into the North before I was born . Down at Vectis , of course , we never troubled our heads about them . But when my Father spoke as he did , I kissed his hand , and waited for orders . We British-born Romans know what is due to our parents . ' ` If I kissed my Father 's hand , he 'd laugh , ' said Dan .
` Customs change ; but if you do not obey your XXXXX , the Gods remember it .
Aglaia Dan Diocletian Father Hadrian Picts Rome Una Vectis years