Three days' warning was all they gave us that the Eagles must all fly south
My job it was then to pass the order though it were ashes within my mouth
To leave Britannia to face the darkness when we had built so fine a place
I made no word of rebellion at all but the General wisely read my face: he said
"Limnas light, and Dubris light and Rutupiae will all go dark
And Rome will come here no more my friend though, Mithras knows, we've left our mark -
And all along, all along the coast road as our ships sail out of Britain's sight
Oh they will curse, how they will curse us for the dimming of the flame at Rutupiae Light"
So like the rest, I made my farewells settled bills and packed my kit
I saw our ships - they were loaded up and ready; I saw our beacons remain unlit
My friends, oh, then, then I left the Eagles, blindly ran through the darkened town
I knew full well that the tide was turning, there'd be no time for them to hunt me down
For Limnas light and Dubris light at Rutupiae I climbed the stairs
I was deserter and betrayer both, to whomever gods listened, I made my prayers
And I lit the fire that had been laid that the beacon should burn one more night
Should have broken my sword, but I reckoned I'd need it. Mithras remember Rutupiae light.
Once more 'Salvete' to you, my General, and my brother-soldiers every one
Now even Rome shall fall away to mem'ry though something may last of the work we've done
I was once part of a vasty empire and we builded something here so bright
Limnas lies dark, Dubris lies darker, one last flame burned at Rutupiae Light
Words by & © Talis Kimberley 28.12.2005 & 1.4.2006
Music: 'Lord Bateman', trad, after Chris Wood, with additional material by Talis Kimberley