history of the britons-第5章

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period　of　their　first　arrival　in　Britain；　to　the　first　year　of
the　reign　of　king　Edmund；　five　hundred　and　forty…two　years；　and
to　that　in　which　we　now　write；　which　is　the　fifth　of　his　reign；
five　hundred　and　forty…seven　years。
＇1＇　V。R。　not　the　God　of　gods；　the　Amen；　the　Lord　of　Hosts；　but　one
of　their　idols　which　they　worshipped。
＇2＇　Sometimes　called　Ruoichin；　Ruith…in；　or　〃river　island；〃　separated
from　the　rest　of　Kent　and　the　mainland　of　Britain　by　the　estuary
of　the　Wantsum；　which；　though　now　a　small　brook；　was　formerly
navigable　for　large　vessels；　and　in　Bede's　time　was　three　stadia
broad；　and　fordable　only　at　two　places。
＇3＇　The　rest　of　this　sentence　is　omitted　in　some　of　the　MSS。

32。　At　that　time　St。　Germanus；　distinguished　for　his　numerous
virtues；　came　to　preach　in　Britain：　by　his　ministry　many　were　saved；
but　many　likewise　died　unconverted。　　Of　the　various　miracles　which
God　enabled　him　to　perform；　I　shall　here　mention　only　a　few：　I
shall　first　advert　to　that　concerning　an　iniquitous　and　tyrannical
king；　named　Benlli。*　The　holy　man；　informed　of　his　wicked　conduct；
hastened　to　visit　him；　for　the　purpose　of　remonstrating　him。　　When
the　man　of　God；　with　his　attendants；　arrived　at　the　gate　of　the
city；　they　were　respectfully　received　by　the　keeper　of　it；　who
came　out　and　saluted　them。　　Him　they　commissioned　to　communicate
their　intention　to　the　king；　who　returned　a　harsh　answer；　declaring；
with　an　oath；　that　although　they　remained　there　a　year；　they　should
not　enter　the　city。　　While　waiting　for　an　answer；　the　evening　came
on；　and　they　knew　not　where　to　go。　　At　length；　came　one　of　the
king's　servants；　who　bowing　himself　before　the　man　of　God；　announced
the　words　of　the　tyrant；　inviting　them；　at　the　same　time；　to　his
own　house；　to　which　they　went；　and　were　kindly　received。　　It
happened；　however；　that　he　had　no　cattle；　except　one　cow　and　a
calf；　the　latter　of　which；　urged　by　generous　hospitality　to　his
guests；　he　killed；　dressed　and　set　before　them。　　But　holy　St。
Germanus　ordered　his　companions　not　to　break　a　bone　of　the　calf；
and；　the　next　morning；　it　was　found　alive　uninjured；　and　standing
by　its　mother。
*　King　of　Powys。　　V。R。　Benli　in　the　district　of　Ial　（in　Derbyshire）；
in　the　district　of　Dalrieta；　Belinus；　Beluni；　and　Benty。

33。　Early　the　same　day；　they　again　went　to　the　gate　of　the　city；
to　solicit　audience　of　the　wicked　king；　and；　whilst　engaged　in
fervent　prayer　they　were　waiting　for　admission；　a　man；　covered
with　sweat；　came　out；　and　prostrated　himself　before　them。　　Then
St。　Germanus；　addressing　him；　said　〃Dost　thou　believe　in　the　Holy
Trinity？〃　　To　which　the　man　having　replied；　〃I　do　believe；〃　he
baptized；　and　kissed　him；　saying；　〃Go　in　peace；　within　this　hour
thou　shalt　die：　the　angels　of　God　are　waiting　for　thee　in　the　air；
with　them　thou　shalt　ascent　to　that　God　in　whom　thou　has　believed。：
He；　overjoyed；　entered　the　city；　and　being　met　by　the　prefect；　was
seized；　bound；　and　conducted　before　the　tyrant；　who　having　passed
sentence　upon　him；　he　was　immediately　put　to　death；　for　it　was　a
law　of　this　wicked　king；　that　whoever　was　not　at　his　labour　before
sun…rising　should　be　beheaded　in　the　citadel。　　In　the　meantime；
St。　Germanus；　with　his　attendants；　waited　the　whole　day　before
the　gate；　without　obtaining　admission　to　the　tyrant。

34。　The　man　above…mentioned；　however；　remained　with　them。　　〃Take
care；〃　said　St。　Germanus　to　him；　〃that　none　of　your　friends　remain
this　night　within　these　walls。　　Upon　this　he　hastily　entered　the
city；　brought　out　his　nine　sons；　and　with　them　retired　to　the　house
where　he　had　exercised　such　generous　hospitality。　　Here　St。　Germanus
ordered　them　to　continue；　fasting；　and　when　the　gates　were　shut；
〃Watch；〃　said　he；　〃and　whatever　shall　happen　in　the　citadel；　turn
not　thither　your　eyes；　but　pray　without　ceasing；　and　invoke　the
protection　of　the　true　God。〃　　And；　behold；　early　in　the　night；
fire　fell　from　heaven；　and　burned　the　city；　together　with　all　those
who　were　with　the　tyrant；　so　that　not　one　escaped；　and　that　citadel
has　never　been　rebuilt　even　to　this　day。

35。　The　following　day；　the　hospitable　man　who　had　been　converted
by　the　preaching　of　St。　Germanus；　was　baptized；　with　his　sons；　and
all　the　inhabitants　of　that　part　of　the　country；　and　St。　Germanus
blessed　him；　saying；　〃a　king　shall　not　be　wanting　of　thy　seed　for
ever。〃　　The　name　of　this　person　is　Catel　Drunlue：*　〃from　hence…
forward　thou　shalt　be　a　king　all　the　days　of　thy　life。〃　　Thus　was
fulfilled　the　prophecy　of　the　Psalmist：　〃He　raiseth　up　the　poor
out　of　the　dust；　and　lifteth　up　the　needy　out　of　the　dunghill。〃
And　agreeably　to　the　prediction　of　St。　Germanus；　from　a　servant
he　became　a　king：　all　his　sons　were　kings；　and　from　their　offspring
the　whole　country　of　Powys　has　been　governed　to　this　day。
*　Or　Cadell　Deyrnllug；　prince　of　the　Vale　Royal　and　the　upper
part　of　Powys。

36。　After　the　Saxons　had　continued　some　time　in　the　island　of
Thanet；　Vortigern　promised　to　supply　them　with　clothing　and
provision；　on　condition　they　would　engage　to　fight　against　the
enemies　of　his　country。　　But　the　barbarians　having　greatly　increased
in　number；　the　Britons　became　incapable　of　fulfilling　their
engagement；　and　when　the　Saxons；　according　to　the　promise　they
had　received；　claimed　a　supply　of　provisions　and　clothing；　the
Britons　replied；　〃Your　number　is　increased；　your　assistance　is
now　unneccessary；　you　may；　therefore；　return　home；　for　we　can　no
longer　support　you；〃　and　hereupon　they　began　to　devise　means　of
breaking　the　peace　between　them。

37。　But　Hengist；　in　whom　united　craft　and　penetration；　perceiving
he　had　to　act　with　an　ignorant　king；　and　a　fluctuating　people；
incapable　of　opposing　much　resistance；　replied　to　Vortigern；　〃We
are；　indeed；　few　in　number；　but；　if　you　will　give　us　leave；　we
will　send　to　our　country　for　an　additional　number　of　forces；　with
whom　we　will　fight　for　you　and　your　subjects。〃　　Vortigern　assenting
to　this　proposal；　messengers　were　despatched　to　Scythia；　where
selecting　a　number　of　warlike　troops；　they　returned　with　sixteen
vessels；　bringing　with　them　the　beautiful　daughter　of　Hengist。
And　now　the　Saxon　chief　prepared　an　entertainment；　to　which　he
invited　the　king；　his　officers；　and　Ceretic；　his　interpreter；
having　previously　enjoined　his　daughter　to　serve　them　so　profusely
with　wine　and　ale；　that　they　might　soon　become　intoxicated。　　This
plan　succeeded；　and　Vortigern；　at　the　instigation　of　the　devil；
and　enamoured　with　the　beauty　of　the　damsel；　demanded　her；　through
the　medium　of　his　interpreter；　of　the　father；　promising　to　give
for　her　whatever　he　should　ask。　　Then　Hengist；　who　had　already
consulted　with　the　elders　who　attended　him　of　the　Oghgul＇1＇　race；
demanded　for　his　daughter　the　province；　called　in　English；　Centland；
in　British；　Ceint；　（Kent。）　　This　cession　was　made　without　the
knowledge　of　the　king；　Guoyrancgonus；＇2＇　who　then　reigned　in　Kent；
and　who　experienced　no　inconsiderable　share　of　grief；　from　seeing
his　kingdom　thus　clandestinely；　fraudulently；　and　imprudently
resigned　to　foreigners。　　Thus　the　maid　was　delivered　up　to　the
king；　who　slept　with　her；　and　loved　her　exceedingly。
＇1＇　V。R。　Who　had　come　with　him　from　the　island　of　Oghgul；　Oehgul
（or　Tingle）；　Angul。　　According　to　Gunn；　a　small　island　in　the
duchy　of　Sleswick　in　Denmark；　now　called　Angel；　of　which　Flensburg
is　the　metropolis。　　Hence　the　origin　of　the　Angles。
＇2＇　V。R。　Gnoiram　cono；　Goiranegono；　Guiracgono。　　Malmesbury；
Gorongi；　Camden；　Guorong；　supposed　to　mean　governor；　or　viceroy。

38。　Hengist；　after　this；　said　to　Vortigern；　〃I　will　be　to　you
both　a　father　and　an　adviser；　despise　not　my　counsels；　and　you
shall　have　no　reason　to　fear　being　conquered　by　any　man　or　any
nation　whatever；　for　the　people　of　my　country　are　strong；　warlike；
and　robust：　if　you　approve；　I　will　send　for　my　son　and　his　brother；
both　valiant　men；　who　at　my　invitation　will　fight　against　the
Scots；　and　you　can　give　them　the　countries　in　the　north；　near　the
wall　called　Gual。〃＇1＇　The　incautious　sovereign　having　assented
to　this；　Octa　and　Ebusa　arrived　with　forty　ships。　　In　these　they
sailed　round　the　country　of　the　Picts；　laid　waste　the　Orkneys；　and