history of the britons(布利顿史)-第5节
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were favourably received by the consuls； and swore submission to the
Roman yoke； with whatever severity it might be imposed。
The Romans； therefore； came with a powerful army to the assistance
of the Britons； and having appointed over them a ruler； and settled the
government； returned to Rome： and this took place alternately during the
space of three hundred and forty…eight years。 The Britons； however； from
the oppression of the empire； again massacred The Roman deputies； and
again petitioned for succour。 Once more the Romans undertook the
government of the Britons； and assisted them in repelling their neighbours；
and； after having exhausted the country of its gold； silver； brass； honey；
and costly vestments； and having besides received rich gifts； they returned
in great triumph to Rome。
31。 After the above…said war between the Britons and Romans； the
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History Of The Britons
assassination of their rulers； and the victory of Maximus； who slew
Gratian； and the termination of the Roman power in Britain； they were in
alarm forty years。
Vortigern then reigned in Britain。 In his time； the natives had cause of
dread； not only from the inroads of the Scots and Picts； but also from the
Romans； and their apprehensions of Ambrosius。* * These words relate
evidently to some cause of dispute between the Romans； Ambrosius； and
Vortigern。 Vortigern is said to have been sovereign of the Dimetae； and
Ambrosius son to the king of the Damnonii。 The latter was half a Roman
by descent； and naturally supported the Roman interest： the former was
entirely a Briton； and as naturally seconded by the original Britons。
In the meantime； three vessels； exiled from Germany； arrived in
Britain。 They were commanded by Horsa and Hengist； brothers； and sons
of Wihtgils。 Wihtgils was the son of Witta； Witta of Wecta； Wecta of
Woden； Woden of Frithowald； Frithowald of Frithuwulf； Frithuwulf of
Finn； Finn of Godwulf； Godwulf of Geat； who； as they say； was the son of
a god； not＇1＇ of the omnipotent God and our Lord Jesus Christ （who
before the beginning of the world； was with the Father and the Holy Spirit；
co…eternal and of the same substance； and who； in compassion to human
nature； disdained not to assume the form of a servant）； but the offspring of
one of their idols； and whom； blinded by some demon； they worshipped
according to the custom of the heathen。 Vortigern received them as friends；
and delivered up to them the island which is in their language called
Thanet； and； by the Britons； Ruym。＇2＇ Gratianus Aequantius at that time
reigned in Rome。 The Saxons were received by Vortigern； four hundred
and forty…seven years after the passion of Christ； and；＇3＇ according to the
tradition of our ancestors； from the 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
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History Of The Britons
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
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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； fr
