第 9 节
作者:当当当当      更新:2021-02-20 17:03      字数:9321
  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
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  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
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  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
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  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