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death； however； painful as it was； saved them from seeing the
miserable sufferings of their brothers and children。 But why
should I say more？ They left their cities； abandoned the protection
of the wall； and dispersed themselves in flight more desperately
than before。 The enemy； on the other hand； pursued them with
more unrelenting cruelty than before； and butchered our countrymen
like sheep； so that their habitations were like those of savage
beasts； for they turned their arms upon each other； and for the
sake of a little sustenance； imbrued their hands in the blood of
their fellow countrymen。 Thus foreign calamities were augmented
by domestic feuds； so that the whole country was entirely destitute
of provisions； save such as could be procured in the chase。
* The meaning of this expression is not known。 O'Connor thinks
it is the Irish Sea。
20。 Again； therefore； the wretched remnant； sending to Aetius；
a powerful Roman citizen； address him as follow：〃To Aetius；*
now consul for the third time： the groans of the Britons。〃 And
again a little further； thus：〃The barbarians drive us to the
sea； the sea throws us back on the barbarians： thus two modes of
death await us； we are either slain or drowned。〃 The Romans；
however； could not assist them； and in the meantime the discomfited
people； wandering in the woods； began to feel the effects of a
severe famine； which compelled many of them without delay to yield
themselves up to their cruel persecutors； to obtain subsistence：
others of them； however； lying hid in mountains； caves and woods；
continually sallied out from thence to renew the war。 And then
it was； for the first time； that they overthrew their enemies； who
had for so many years been living in their country； for their
trust was not in man； but in God； according to the maxim of Philo；
〃We must have divine assistance； when that of man fails。〃 The
boldness of the enemy was for a while checked； but not the
wickedness of our countrymen； the enemy left our people； but the
people did not leave their sins。
* Or Agitius； according to another reading。
21。 For it has always been a custom with our nation； as it is
at present； to be impotent in repelling foreign foes； but bold
and invincible in raising civil war； and bearing the burdens of
their offences： they are impotent； I say； in following the standard
of peace and truth； but bold in wickedness and falsehood。 The
audacious invaders therefore return to their winter quarters；
determined before long again to return and plunder。 And then；
too； the Picts for the first time seated themselves at the extremity
of the island； where they afterwards continued； occasionally
plundering and wasting the country。 During these truces； the
wounds of the distressed people are healed； but another sore；
still more venomous； broke out。 No sooner were the ravages of
the enemy checked； than the island was deluged with a most
extraordinary plenty of all things； greater than was before known；
and with it grew up every kind of luxury and licentiousness。 It
grew with so firm a root； that one might truly say of it； 〃Such
fornication is heard of among you； as never was known the like
among the Gentiles。〃 But besides this vice； there arose also
every other； to which human nature is liable and in particular
that hatred of truth； together with her supporters； which still
at present destroys every thing good in the island； the love of
falsehood； together with its inventors； the reception of crime
in the place of virtue； the respect shown to wickedness rather
than goodness； the love of darkness instead of the sun； the
admission of Satan as an angel of light。 Kings were anointed；
not according to god's ordinance； but such as showed themselves
more cruel than the rest； and soon after； they were put to death
by those who had elected them； without any inquiry into their
merits； but because others still more cruel were chosen to succeed
them。 If any one of these was of a milder nature than the rest；
or in any way more regardful of the truth； he was looked upon
as the ruiner of the country； every body cast a dart at him； and
they valued things alike whether pleasing or displeasing to God；
unless it so happened that what displeased him was pleasing to
themselves。 So that the words of the prophet； addressed to the
people of old； might well be applied to our own countrymen：
〃Children without a law； have ye left God and provoked to anger
the holy one of Israel？* Why will ye still inquire； adding
iniquity？ Every head is languid and every heart is sad； from the
sole of the foot to the crown； there is no health in him。〃 And
thus they did all things contrary to their salvation； as if no
remedy could be applied to the world by the true Physician of all
men。 And not only the laity did so； but our Lord's own flock and
its shepherds； who ought to have been an example to the people；
slumbered away their time in drunkenness； as if they had been
dipped in wine； whilst the swellings of pride； the jar of strife；
the griping talons of envy； and the confused estimate of right
and wrong； got such entire possession of the； that there seemed
to be poured out （and the same still continueth） contempt upon
princes； and to be made by their vanities to wander astray and
not in the way。
* Isa。 I。 4；5。 In most of these quotations there is great verbal
variation from the authorised version： the author probably quoted
from memory； if not from the Latin version。
22。 Meanwhile； God being willing to purify his family who were
infected by so deep a stain of woe； and at the hearing only of
their calamities to amend them； a vague rumour suddenly as if on
wings reaches the ears of all； that their inveterate foes were
rapidly approaching to destroy the whole country； and to take
possession of it； as of old； from one end to the other。 But yet
they derived no advantage from this intelligence； for； like frantic
beasts； taking the bit of reason between their teeth； they
abandoned the safe and narrow road； and rushed forward upon the
broad downward path of vice； which leads to death。 Whilst；
therefore； as Solomon says； the stubborn servant is not cured
by words； the fool is scourged and feels it not： a pestilential
disease morally affected the foolish people； which； without the
sword； cut off so large a number of persons； that the living
were not able to bury them。 But even this was no warning to them；
that in them also might be fulfilled the words of Isaiah the
prophet； 〃And God hath called his people to lamentation； to baldness；
and to the girdle of sackcloth； behold they begin to kill calves；
and to slay rams； to eat； to drink； and to say； 'We will eat and
drink； for to…morrow we shall die。'〃 For the time was approaching；
when all their iniquities； as formerly those of the Amorrhaeans；
should be fulfilled。 For a council was called to settle what was
best and most expedient to be done； in order to repel such frequent
and fatal irruptions and plunderings of the above…named nations。
23。 Then all the councillors； together with that proud tyrant
Gurthrigern ＇Vortigern＇； the British king； were so blinded； that；
as a prot