history of the britons(布利顿史)-第6节
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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
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History Of The Britons
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
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History Of The Britons
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 took possession of many
regions； even to the Pictish confines。＇2＇ ＇1＇ Antoninus's wall。 ＇2＇ Some
MSS。 add； 〃beyond the Frenesic； Fresicum （or Fresic） sea；〃 i。e。 which is
between us and the Scotch。 The sea between Scotland and Ireland。
Camden translates it 〃beyond the Frith；〃 Langhorne says； 〃Solway Frith。〃
But Hengist continued； by degrees； sending for ships from his own
country； so that some islands whence they came were left without
inhabitants； and whilst his people were increasing in power and number；
they came to the above…named province of Kent。 39。 In the meantime；
Vortigern； as if desirous of adding to the evils he had already occasioned；
married his own daughter； by whom he had a son。 When this was made
known to St。 Germanus； he came； with all the British clergy； to reprove
him： and whilst a numerous assembly of the ecclesiastics and laity were in
consultation； the weak king ordered his daughter to appear before them；
and in the presence of all to present her son to St。 Germanus； and declare
that he was the father of the child。 The immodest* woman obeyed； and St。
Germanus； taking the child； said； 〃I will be a father to you； my son； nor
will I dismiss you till a razor； scissors； and comb； are given to me； and it is
allowed you to give them to your carnal father。〃 The child obeyed St。
Germanus； and going to his father Vortigern； said to him； 〃Thou art my
father； shave and cut the hair of my head。〃 The king blushed； and was
silent； and； without replying to the child； arose in great anger； and fled
from the presence of St。 Germanus； execrated and condemned by the
whole synod。 ＇1＇ V。R。 〃Immodest〃 is omitted in some MSS。
40。 But soon after； calling together his twelve wise men； to consult
what was to be done； they said to him； 〃Retire to the remote boundaries of
your kingdom； there build and fortify a city＇1＇ to defend yourself； for the
people you have received are treacherous； they are seeking to subdue you
by stratagem； and； even during your life； to seize upon all the countries
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History Of The Britons
subject to your power； how much more will they attempt； after your
death！〃 The king； pleased with this advice； departed with his wise men；
and travelled through many parts of his territories； in search of a place
convenient for the purpose of building a citadel。 Having； to no purpose；
travelled far and wide； they came at length to a province called Guenet；＇2＇
and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus；＇3＇ they discovered； on
the summit of one of them； a situation； adapted to the consturction of a
citadel。 Upon this； the wise men said to the king； 〃Build here a city： for； in
this place； it will ever be secure against the barbarians。〃 Then the king sent
for artificers； carpenters； stone…masons； and collected all the materials
requisite to building； but the whole of these disappeared in one night； so
that nothing remained of what had been provided for the constructing of
the citadel。 Materials were； therefore； from all parts； procured a second
and third time； and again vanished as before； leaving and rendering every
effort ineffectual。 Vortigern inquired of his wise men the cause of this
opposition to his undertaking； and of so much useless expense of labour？
They replied； 〃You must find a child born without a father； put him to
death； and sprinkle with his blood the ground on which the citadel is to be
built； or you will never accomplish your purpose。〃 ＇1＇ V。R。 You shall find
a fortified city in which you may defend yourself。 ＇2＇ V。R。 Guined；
Guoienet； Guenez； North Wales。 ＇3＇ V。R。 Heremi； Heriri； or Eryri；
signifying eagle rocks； the mountains of Snowdon； in Carnarvonshire。 The
spot alluded to is supposed to be Dinas Emrys； or the fortress of
Ambrosius。
41。 In consequence of this reply； the k
