history of the britons(布利顿史)-第4节
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＇London＇； forty…seven years before the birth of Christ； and five thousand
two hundred and twelve years from the creation。
Julius was the first exercising supreme power over the Romans who
invaded Britain： in honour of him the Romans decreed the fifth month to
be called after his name。 He was assassinated in the Curia； in the ides of
March； and Octavius Augustus succeeded to the empire of the world。 He
was the only emperor who received tribute from the Britons； according to
the following verse of Virgil： 〃Purpurea intexti tollunt aulaea Britanni。〃
21。 The second after him； who came into Britain； was the emperor
Claudius； who reigned forty…seven years after the birth of Christ。 He
carried with him war and devastation； and； though not without loss of men；
he at length conquered Britain。 He next sailed to the Orkneys； which he
likewise conquered； and afterwards rendered tributary。 No tribute was in
his time received from the Britons； but it was paid to British emperors。 He
reigned thirteen years and eight months。 His monument is to be seen at
Moguntia （among the Lombards）； where he died in his way to Rome。
22。 After the birth of Christ； one hundred and sixty…seven years； king
Lucius； with all the chiefs of the British people； received baptism； in
consequence of a legation sent by the Roman emperors and pope
Evaristus。* * V。R。 Eucharistus。 A marginal note in the Arundel MS。 adds；
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History Of The Britons
〃He is wrong； because the first year of Evaristus was A。D。 79； whereas the
first year of Eleutherius； whom he ought to have named； was A。D。 161。〃
Usher says； that in one MS。 of Nennius he found the name of Eleutherius。
23。 Severus was the third emperor who passed the sea to Britain；
where； to protect the provinces recovered from barbaric incursions； he
ordered a wall and a rampart to be made between the Britons； the Scots；
and the Picts； extending across the island from sea to sea； in length one
hundred and thirty…three miles： and it is called in the British language
Gwal。* Moreover； he ordered it to be made between the Britons； and the
Picts and Scots； for the Scots from the west； and the Picts from the north；
unanimously made war against the Britons； but were at peace among
themselves。 Not long after Severus dies in Britain。 *Or； the Wall。 One MS。
here adds； 〃The above…mentioned Severus constructed it of rude
workmanship in length 132 miles； i。e。 from Penguaul； which village is
called in Scottish Cenail； in English Peneltun； to the mouth of the river
Cluth and Cairpentaloch； where this wall terminates； but it was of no avail。
The emperor Carausius afterwards rebuilt it； and fortified it with seven
castles between the two mouths： he built also a round house of polished
stones on the banks of the river Carun ＇Carron＇： he likewise erected a
triumphal arch； on which he inscribed his own name in memory of his
victory。
24。 The fourth was the emperor and tyrant； Carausius； who； incensed
at the murder of Severus； passed into Britain； and attended by the leaders
of the Roman people； severely avenged upon the chiefs and rulers of the
Britons； the cause of Severus。* * This passage is corrupt； the meaning is
briefly given in the translation。
25。 The fifth was Constantius the father of Constantine the Great。 He
died in Britain； his sepulchre； as it appears by the inscription on his tomb；
is still seen near the city named Cair segont （near Carnarvon）。 Upon the
pavement of the above…mentioned city he sowed three seeds of gold； silver
and brass； that no poor person might ever be found in it。 It is also called
Minmanton。* * V。R。 Mirmantum； Mirmantun； Minmanto； Minimantone。
The Segontium of Antoninus； situated on a small river named Seiont； near
Carnarvon。
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History Of The Britons
26。 Maximianus＇1＇ was the sixth emperor that ruled in Britain。 It was
in his time that consuls＇2＇ began； and that the appellation of Caesar was
discontinued： at this period also； St。 Martin became celebrated for his
virtues and miracles； and held a conversation with him。 ＇1＇ This is an
inaccuracy of Nennius； Maximus and Maximianus were one and the same
person； or rather no such person as Maximianus ever reigned in Britain。 ＇2＇
Geoffrey of Monmouth gives the title of consul to several British generals
who lived after this time。 It is not unlikely that the town； name； and
dignity； still lingered in the provinces after the Romans were gone；
particularly as the cities of Britain maintained for a time a species of
independence。
27。 The seventh emperor was Maximus。 He withdrew from Britain
with all his military force； slew Gratian； the king of the Romans； and
obtained the sovereignty of all Europe。 Unwilling to send back his warlike
companions to their wives； children； and possessions in Britain； he
conferred upon them numerous districts from the lake on the summit of
Mons Jovis； to the city called Cant Guic； and to the western Tumulus； that
is； to Cruc Occident。* These are the Armoric Britons； and they remain
there to the present day。 In consequence of their absence； Britain being
overcome by foreign nations； the lawful heirs were cast out； till God
interposed with his assistance。 We are informed by the tradition of our
ancestors that seven emperors went into Britain； though the Romans
affirm there were nine。 * This district； in modern language； extended from
the great St。 Bernard in Piedmont to Cantavic in Picardy； and from Picardy
to the western coast of France。
28。 Thus； aggreeably to the account given by the Britons； the Romans
governed them four hundred and nine years。
After this； the Britons despised the authority of the Romans； equally
refusing to pay them tribute； or to receive their kings； nor durst the
Romans any longer attempt the government of a country； the natives of
which massacred their deputies。
29。 We must now return to the tyrant Maximus。 Gratian； with his
brother Valentinian； reigned seven years。 Ambrose； bishop of Milan； was
then eminent for his skill in the dogmata of the Catholics。 Valentinianus
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and Theodosius reigned eight years。 At that time a synod was held at
Constantinople； attended by three hundred and fifty of the fathers； and in
which all heresies were condemned。 Jerome； the presbyter of Bethlehem；
was then universally celebrated。 Whilst Gratian exercised supreme
dominion over the world； Maximus； in a sedition of the soldiers； was
saluted emperor in Britain； and soon after crossed the sea to Gaul。 At Paris；
by the treachery of Mellobaudes； his master of the horse； Gratian was
defeated and fleeing to Lyons； was taken and put to death； Maximus
afterwards associated his son victor in the government。
Martin； distinguished for his great virtues； was at this period bishop of
Tours。 After a considerable space of time； Maximus was divested of royal
power by the consuls Valentinianus and Theodosius； and sentenced to be
beheaded at the third mile…stone from Aquileia： in the same year also his
son Victor was killed in Gaul by Arbogastes； five thousand six hundred
and ninety years from the creation of the world。
30。 Thrice were the Roman deputies put to death by the Britons； and
yet these； when harassed by the incursions of the barbarous nations； viz。
Of the Scots and Picts； earnestly solicited the aid of the Romans。 To give
effect to their entreaties； ambassadors were sent； who made their entrance
with impressions of deep sorrow； having their heads covered with dust；
and carrying rich presents； to expiate the murder of the deputies。 They
were favourably received by the
