history of the britons(布利顿史)-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
them the whole day with great slaughter。＇7＇ The ninth was at the City of
Legion；＇8＇ which is called Cair Lion。 The tenth was on the banks of the
river Trat Treuroit。＇9＇ The eleventh was on the mountain Breguoin； which
we call Cat Bregion。＇10＇ The twelfth was a most severe contest； when
Arthur penetrated to the hill of Badon。＇11＇ In this engagement； nine
hundred and forty fell by his hand alone； no one but the Lord affording
him assistance。 In all these engagements the Britons were successful。 For
no strength can avail against the will of the Almighty。 ＇1＇ Supposed by
some to be the Glem； in Lincolnshire； but most probably the Glen； in the
northern part of Northumberland。 ＇2＇ Or Dubglas。 The little river Dunglas；
which formed the southern boundary of Lothian。 Whitaker says； the river
Duglas； in Lancashire； near Wigan。 ＇3＇ Not a river； but an isolated rock in
the Frith of Forth； near the town of North Berwick； called 〃The Bass。〃
Some think it is the river Lusas； in Hampshire。 ＇4＇ The Caledonian forest；
or the forest of Englewood； extending from Penrith to Carlisle。 ＇5＇
Variously supposed to be in Cornwall； or Binchester in Durham； but most
probably the Roman station of Garionenum； near Yarmouth； in Norfolk。 ＇6＇
V。R。 The image of the cross of Christ； and of the perpetual virgin St。 Mary。
＇7＇ V。R。 For Arthur proceeded to Jerusalem； and there made a cross to the
size of the Saviour's cross； and there it was consecrated； and for three
successive days he fasted； watched； and prayed； before the Lord's cross；
that the Lord would give him the victory； by this sign； over the heathen；
which also took place； and he took with him the image of St。 Mary； the
fragments of which are still preserved in great veneration at Wedale； in
English Wodale； in Latin Vallis…doloris。 Wodale is a village in the province
of Lodonesia； but now of the jurisdiction of the bishop of St。 Andrew's； of
Scotland； six miles on the west of that heretofore noble and eminent
monastery of Meilros。 ＇8＇ Exeter。 ＇9＇ Or Ribroit； the Brue； in
Somersetshire； or the Ribble； in Lancashire。 ＇10＇ Or Agned Cathregonion；
Cadbury； in Somersetshire； or Edinburgh ＇11＇ Bath。
The more the Saxons were vanquished； the more they sought for new
supplies of Saxons from Germany； so that kings； commanders； and
military bands were invited over from almost every province。 And this
28
… Page 29…
History Of The Britons
practice they continued till the reign of Ida； who was the son of Eoppa； he；
of the Saxon race； was the first king in Bernicia； and in Cair Ebrauc
（York）。
When Gratian Aequantius was consul at rome； because then the whole
world was governed by the Roman consuls； the Saxons were received by
Vortigern in the year of our Lord four hundred and forty…seven； and to the
year in which we now write； five hundred and forty…seven。 And whosoever
shall read herein may receive instruction； the Lord Jesus Christ affording
assistance； who； co…eternal with the Father and the Holy Ghost； lives and
reigns for ever and ever。 Amen。
In those days Saint Patrick was captive among the Scots。 His master's
name was Milcho； to whom he was a swineherd for seven years。 When he
had attained the age of seventeen he gave him his liberty。 By the divine
impulse； he applied himself to reading of the Scriptures； and afterwards
went to Rome； where； replenished with the Holy Spirit； he continued a
great while； studying the sacred mysteries of those writings。 During his
continuance there； Palladius； the first bishop； was sent by pope Celestine
to convert the Scots ＇the Irish＇。 But tempests and signs from God
prevented his landing； for no one can arrive in any country； except it be
allowed from above； altering therefore his course from Ireland； he came to
Britain and died in the land of the Picts。* * At Fordun； in the district of
Mearns； in Scotland…Usher。 51。 The death of Palladius being known； the
Roman patricians； Theodosius and Valentinian； then reigning； pope
Celestine sent Patrick to convert the Scots to the faith of the Holy Trinity；
Victor； the angel of God； accompanying； admonishing； and assisting him；
and also the bishop Germanus。
Germanus then sent the ancient Segerus with him as a venerable and
praiseworthy bishop； to king Amatheus；＇1＇ who lived near； and who had
prescience of what was to happen； he was consecrated bishop in the reign
of that king by the holy pontiff；＇2＇ assuming the name of Patrick； having
hitherto been known by that of Maun； Auxilius； Isserninus； and other
brothers were ordained with him to inferior degrees。 ＇1＇ V。R。 Germanus
〃sent the elder Segerus with him to a wonderful man； the holy bishop
Amathearex。〃 Another MS。 〃Sent the elder Segerus； a bishop； with him to
29
… Page 30…
History Of The Britons
Amatheorex。〃 ＇2＇ V。R。 〃Received the episcopal degree from the holy
bishop Amatheorex。〃 Another MS。 〃Received the episcopal degree from
Matheorex and the holy bishop。〃
52。 Having distributed benedictions； and perfected all in the name of
the Holy Trinity； he embarked on the sea which is between the Gauls and
the Britons； and after a quick passage arrived in Britain； where he
preached for some time。 Every necessary preparation being made； and the
angel giving him warning； he came to the Irish Sea。 And having filled the
ship with foreign gifts and spiritual treasures； by the permission of God he
arrived in Ireland； where he baptized and preached。
53。 From the beginning of the world； to the fifth year of king Logiore；
when the Irish were baptized； and faith in the unity of the individual
Trinity was published to them； are five thousand three hundred and thirty
years。
54。 Saint Patrick taught the gospel in foreign nations for the space of
forty years。 Endued with apostolical powers； he gave sight to the blind；
cleansed the lepers； gave hearing to the deaf； cast out devils； raised nine
from the dead； redeemed many captives of both sexes at his own charge；
and set them free in the name of the Holy Trinity。 He taught the servants of
God； and he wrote three hundred and sixty…five canonical and other books
relating to the catholic faith。 He founded as many churches； and
consecrated the same number of bishops； strengthening them with the
Holy Ghost。 He ordained three thousand presbyters； and converted and
baptized twelve thousand persons in the province of Connaught。 And； in
one day baptized seven kings； who were the seven sons of Amalgaid。＇1＇
He continued fasting forty days and nights； on the summit of the mountain
Eli； that is Cruachan…Aichle；＇2＇ and preferred three petitions to God for
the Irish； that had embraced the faith。 The Scots say； the first was； that he
would receive every repenting sinner； even at the latest extremity of life；
the second； that they should never be exterminated by barbarians； and the
third； that as Ireland＇3＇ will be overflowed with water； seven years before
the coming of our Lord to judge the quick and the dead； the crimes of the
people might be washed away through his intercession； and their souls
purified at the last day。 He gave the people his benediction from the upper
30
… Page 31…
History Of The Britons
part of the mountain； and going up higher； that he might pray for them；
and that if it pleased God； he might see the effects of his labours； there
appeared to him an innumerable flock of birds of many coulours；
signifying the number of holy persons of both sexes of the Irish nation；
who should come to him as their apostle at the day of judgment； to be
presented before the tribunal of Christ。 After a life spent in the active
exertion of good to mankind； St。 Patrick； in a healthy old age； passed from
this world to the Lord； and changing this life for a better； with the saints
and elect of God
