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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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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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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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