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