第 4 节
作者:当当当当      更新:2021-02-20 17:03      字数:9322
  '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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  〃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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  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