history of the britons(布利顿史)-第8节
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where he had ap… pointed。* * Rapin says he was buried at Lincoln；
Geoffrey； at London。
45。 After this the barbarians became firmly incorporated； and were
assisted by foreign pagans； for Vortigern was their friend； on account of
the daughter* of Hengist； whom he so much loved； that no one durst fight
against him…in the meantime they soothed the imprudent king； and whilst
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practising every appearance of fondness； were plotting with his enemies。
And let him that reads understand； that the Saxons were victorious； and
ruled Britain； not from their superior prowess； but on account of the great
sins of the Britons： God so permitting it。
For what wise man will resist the wholesome counsel of God？ The
Almighty is the King of kings； and the Lord of lords； ruling and judging
every one； according to his own pleasure。
After the death of Vortimer； Hengist being strengthened by new
accessions； collected his ships； and calling his leaders together； consulted
by what stratagem they might overcome Vortigern and his army； with
insidious intention they sent messengers to the king； with offers of peace
and perpetual friendship； unsuspicious of treachery； the monarch； after
advising with his elders； accepted the proposals。 * V。R。 Of his wife； and no
one was able manfully to drive them off because they had occupied Britain
not from their own valour； but by God's permission。
46。 Hengist； under pretence of ratifying the treaty； prepared an
entertainment； to which he invited the king； the nobles； and military
officers； in number about three hundred； speciously concealing his wicked
intention； he ordered three hundred Saxons to conceal each a knife under
his feet； and to mix with the Britons； 〃and when；〃 said he； 〃they are
sufficiently inebriated； &c。 cry out； 'Nimed eure Saxes；' then let each draw
his knife； and kill his man； but spare the king； on account of his marriage
with my daughter； for it is better that he should be ransomed than killed。〃*
* The VV。 RR。 Of this section are too numerous to be inserted。
The king with his company； appeared at the feast； and mixing with the
Saxons； who； whilst they spoke peace with their tongues； cherished
treachery in their hearts； each man was placed next to his enemy。
After they had eaten and drunk； and were much intoxicated； Hengist
suddenly vociferated； 〃Nimed eure Saxes！〃 and instantly his adherents
drew their knives； and rushing upon the Britons； each slew him that sat
next to him； and there was slain three hundred of the nobles of Vortigern。
The king being a captive； purchased his redemption； by delivering up the
three provinces of East； South； and Middle Sex； besides other districts at
the option of his betrayers。
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47。 St。 Germanus admonished Vortigern to turn to the true God； and
abstain from all unlawful intercourse with his daughter； but the unhappy
wretch fled for refuge to the province Guorthegirnaim；* so called from his
own name； where he concealed himself with his wives： but St。 Germanus
followed him with all the British clergy； and upon a rock prayed for his
sins during forty days and forty nights。 * A district of Radnorshire；
forming the present hundred of Rhaiadr。
The Blessed man was unanimously chosen commander against the
Saxons。 And then； not by the clang of trumpets； but by praying； singing
hallelujah； and by the cries of the army to God； the enemies were routed；
and driven even to the sea。* *V。R。 This paragraph is omitted in the MSS。
Again Vortigern ignominiously flew from St。 Germanus to the
kingdom of the Dimetae； where； on the river Towy；* he built a castle；
which he named Cair Guothergirn。 The saint； as usual； followed him there；
and with his clergy fasted and prayed to the Lord three days； and as many
nights。 On the third night； at the third hour； fire fell suddenly from heaven；
and totally burned the castle。 Vortigern； the daughter of Hengist； his other
wives； and all the inhabitants； both men and women； miserably perished：
such was the end of this unhappy king； as we find written in the life of St。
Germanus。 *The Tobias of Ptolemy
47。 Others assure us； that being hated by all the people of Britain； for
having received the Saxons； and being publicly charged by St。 Germanus
and the clergy in the sight of God； he betook himself to flight； and； that
deserted and a wanderer； he sought a place of refuge； till broken hearted；
he made an ignominious end。
Some accounts state； that the earth opened and swallowed him up； on
the night his castle was burned； as no remains were discovered the
following morning； either of him； or of those who were burned with him。
He had three sons： the eldest was Vortimer； who； as we have seen；
fought four times against the Saxons； and put them to flight； the second
Categirn； who was slain in the same battle with Horsa； the third was
Pascent； who reigned in the two provinces Builth and Guorthegirnaim；＇1＇
after the death of his father。 These were granted him by Ambrosius； who
was the great king among the kings of Britain。 The fourth was Faustus；
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born of an incestuous marriage with his daughter； who was brought up and
educated by St。 Germanus。 He built a large monastery on the banks of the
river Renis； called after his name； and which remains to the present
period。＇2＇ ＇1＇ In the northern part of the present counties of Radnor and
Brecknock。 ＇2＇ V。R。 The MSS。 add； 'and he had one daughter； who was the
mother of St。 Faustus。'
49。 This is the genealogy of Vortigern； which goes back to Fernvail；＇1＇
who reigned in the kingdom of Guorthegirnaim；＇2＇ and was the son of
Teudor； Teudor was the son of Pascent； Pascent of Guoidcant； Guoidcant
of Moriud； Moriud of Eltat； Eltat of Eldoc； Eldoc of Paul； Paul of Meuprit；
Meuprit of Braciat； Braciat of Pascent； Pascent of Guorthegirn；
Guorthegirn of Guortheneu； Guortheneu of Guitaul； Guitaul of Guitolion；
Guitolion of Gloui。 Bonus； Paul； Mauron； Guotelin； were four brothers；
who built Gloiuda； a great city upon the banks of the river Severn； and in
Birtish is called Cair Gloui； in Saxon； Gloucester。 Enough has been said of
Vortigern。 ＇1＇ Fernvail； or Farinmail； appears to have been king of Gwent
or Monmouth。 ＇2＇ V。R。 'Two provinces； Builth and Guorthegirnaim。'
50。 St。 Germanus； after his death； returned into his own country。 *At
that time； the Saxons greatly increased in Britain； both in strength and
numbers。 And Octa； after the death of his father Hengist； came from the
sinistral part of the island to the kingdom of Kent； and from him have
proceeded all the kings of that province； to the present period。 * V。R。 All
this to the word 'Amen；' in other MSS。 is placed after the legend of St。
Patrick。
Then it was； that the magnanimous Arthur； with all the kings and
military force of Britain； fought against the Saxons。 And though there
were many more noble than himself； yet he was twelve times chosen their
commander； and was as often conqueror。 The first battle in which he was
engaged； was at the mouth of the river Gleni。＇1＇ The second； third； fourth；
and fifth； were on another river； by the Britons called Duglas；＇2＇ in the
region Linuis。 The sixth； on the river Bassas。＇3＇ The seventh in the wood
Celidon； which the Britons call Cat Coit Celidon。＇4＇ The eighth was near
Gurnion castle；＇5＇ where Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin；＇6＇
mother of God； upon his shoulders； and through the power of our Lord
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Jesus Christ； and the holy Mary； put the Saxons to flight； and pursued
them the whole day with great slaughter。＇7＇ The ninth was at the Ci
