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On The Ruin of Britain （De Excidio Britanniae）
by Gildas
Translation by J。A。 Giles
The Works of Gildas surnamed 〃Sapiens〃； or The Wise。
I。 The Preface
1。 Whatever in this my epistle I may write in my humble but well
meaning manner； rather by way of lamentation than for display；
let no one suppose that it springs from contempt of others or that
I foolishly esteem myself as better than they； …for alas！ the subject
of my complaint is the general destruction of every thing that is
good； and the general growth of evil throughout the land；but
that I rejoice to see her revive therefrom： for it is my present
purpose to relate the deeds of an indolent and slothful race； rather
than the exploits of those who have been valiant in the field*。
I have kept silence； I confess； with much mental anguish； compunction
of feeling and contrition of heart； whilst I revolved all these
things within myself； and； as God the searcher of the reins is
witness； for the space of even ten years or more； ＇my inexperience；
as at present also； and my unworthiness preventing me from taking
upon myself the character of a censor。 But I read how the
illustrious lawgiver； for one word's doubting； was not allowed
to enter the desired land； that the sons of the high…priest； for
placing strange fire upon God's altar； were cut off by a speedy
death； that God's people； for breaking the law of God； save two
only； were slain by wild beasts； by fire and sword in the deserts
of Arabia； though God had so loved them that he had made a way
for them through the Red Sea； had fed them with bread from heaven；
and water from the rock； and by the lifting up of a hand merely
had made their armies invincible； and then； when they had crossed
the Jordan and entered the unknown land； and the walls of the
city had fallen down flat at the sound only of a trumpet； the
taking of a cloak and a little gold from the accursed things caused
the deaths of many： and again the breach of their treaty with the
Gibeonites； though that treaty had been obtained by fraud； brought
destruction upon many； and I took warning from the sins of the
people which called down upon them the reprehensions of the prophets
and also of Jeremiah； with his fourfold Lamentations written in
alphabetical order。 I saw moreover in my own time； as that prophet
also had complained； that the city had sat down lone and widowed；
which before was full of people； that the queen of nations and
the princess of provinces （i。e。 the church）； had been made
tributary； that the gold was obscured； and the most excellent
colour （which is the brightness of God's word） changed； that the
sons of Sion （i。e。 of holy mother church）； once famous and clothed
in the finest gold； grovelled in dung； and what added intolerably
to the weight of grief of that illustrious man； and to mine；
though but an abject； whilst he had thus mourned them in their
happy and prosperous condition； 〃Her Nazarites were fairer than
snow； more ruddy than old ivory； more beautiful than the saphire。〃
These and many other passages in the ancient Scriptures I regarded
as a kind of mirror of human life； and I turned also to the New；
wherein I read more clearly what perhaps to me before was dark；
for the darkness fled； and truth shed her steady light…I read
therein that the Lord had said； 〃I came not but to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel；〃 and on the other hand； 〃But the children
of this kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness； there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth：〃 and again； 〃It is not
good to take the children's meat and to give it to dogs：〃 also；
〃Woe to you； scribes and pharisees； hypocrites！〃 I heard how
〃many shall come from the east and the west and shall sit down
with Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven：〃 and on
the contrary； 〃I will then say to them 'Depart from me； ye workers
of iniquity！'〃 I read； 〃Blessed are the barren and the teats
which have not given suck；〃 and on the contrary； 〃Those； who were
ready； entered with him to the wedding； afterwards came the other
virgins also； saying 'Lord； Lord； open to us：' to whom it was
answered； 'I do not know you。'〃 I heard； forsooth； 〃Whoever shall
believe and be baptized； shall be saved； but whoever shall not
believe shall be damned。〃 I read in the words of the apostle that
the branch of the wild olive was grafted upon the good olive； but
should nevertheless be cut off from the communion of the root of
its fatness； if it did not hold itself in fear； but entertained
lofty thoughts。 I knew the mercy of the Lord； but I also feared
his judgment： I praised his grace； but I feared the rendering to
every man according to his works： perceiving the sheep of the
same fold to be different； I deservedly commended Peter for his
entire confession of Christ； but called Judas most wretched； for
his love of covetousness： I thought Stephen most glorious on
account of the palm of martyrdom； but Nicholas wretched for his
mark of unclean heresy： I read assuredly； 〃They had all things
common：〃 but likewise also； as it is written； 〃Why have ye
conspired to tempt the Spirit of God？〃 I saw； on the other hand；
how much security had grown upon the men of our time； as if there
were nothing to cause them fear。 These things； therefore； and
many more which for brevity's sake we have determined to omit；
I revolved again and again in my amazed mind with compunction
in my heart； and I thought to myself； 〃If God's peculiar people；
chosen from all the people of the world； the royal seed； and holy
nation； to whom he had said； 'My first begotten Israel；' its
priests； prophets； and kings； throughout so many ages； his
servant and apostle； and the members of his primitive church； were
not spared when the deviated from the right path； what will he do
to the darkness of this our age； in which； besides all the huge
and heinous sins； which it has common with all the wicked of the
world committed； is found an innate； indelible； and irremediable
load of folly and inconstancy？〃 〃What； wretched man （I say to
myself） is it given to you； as if you were an illustrious and
learned teacher； to oppose the force of so violent a torrent；
and keep the charge committed to you against such a series of
inveterate crimes which has spread far and wide； without inter…
ruption； for so many years？ Hold thy peace： to do otherwise； is
to tell the foot to see； and the hand to speak。 Britain has
rulers； and she has watchmen： why dost thou incline thyself thus
uselessly to prate？〃 She has such； I say； not too many； perhaps；
but surely not too few： but； because they are bent down and pressed
beneath so heavy a burden； they have not time allowed them to take
breath。 My senses； therefore； as if feeling a portion of my debt
and obligation； preoccupied themselves with such objections； and
with others yet more strong。 They struggled； as I said； no short
time； in fearful strait； whilst I read； 〃There is a time for
speaking； and a time for keeping silence。〃 At length； the creditor's
side prevailed and bore off the victory： if （said he） thou art not
bold enough to be marked with the comely mark of golden liberty
among