按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
23。 Then all the councillors； together with that proud tyrant
Gurthrigern ＇Vortigern＇； the British king； were so blinded； that；
as a protection to their country； they sealed its doom by inviting
in among them like wolves into the sheep…fold）； the fierce and
impious Saxons； a race hateful both to God and men； to repel the
invasions of the northern nations。 Nothing was ever so pernicious
to our country； nothing was ever so unlucky。 What palpable
darkness must have enveloped their minds…darkness desperate and
cruel！ Those very people whom； when absent； they dreaded more
than death itself； were invited to reside； as one may say； under
the selfsame roof。 Foolish are the princes； as it is said； of
Thafneos； giving counsel to unwise Pharaoh。 A multitude of whelps
came forth from the lair of this barbaric lioness； in three cyuls；
as they call them； that is； in there ships of war； with their
sails wafted by the wind and with omens and prophecies favourable；
for it was foretold by a certain soothsayer among them； that they
should occupy the country to which they were sailing three hundred
years； and half of that time； a hundred and fifty years； should
plunder and despoil the same。 They first landed on the eastern
side of the island； by the invitation of the unlucky king； and
there fixed their sharp talons； apparently to fight in favour of
the island； but alas！ more truly against it。 Their mother…land；
finding her first brood thus successful； sends forth a larger
company of her wolfish offspring； which sailing over； join
themselves to their bastard…born comrades。 From that time the
germ of iniquity and the root of contention planted their poison
amongst us； as we deserved； and shot forth into leaves and branches。
the barbarians being thus introduced as soldiers into the island；
to encounter； as they falsely said； any dangers in defence of
their hospitable entertainers； obtain an allowance of provisions；
which； for some time being plentifully bestowed； stopped their
doggish mouths。 Yet they complain that their monthly supplies
are not furnished in sufficient abundance； and they industriously
aggravate each occasion of quarrel； saying that unless more
liberality is shown them； they will break the treaty and plunder
the whole island。 In a short time； they follow up their threats
with deeds。
24。 For the fire of vengeance； justly kindled by former crimes；
spread from sea to sea； fed by the hands of our foes in the east；
and did not cease； until； destroying the neighbouring towns and
lands； it reached the other side of the island； and dipped its
red and savage tongue in the western ocean。 In these assaults；
therefore； not unlike that of the Assyrian upon Judea； was fulfilled
in our case what the prophet describes in words of lamentation；
〃They have burned with fire the sanctuary； they have polluted on
earth the tabernacle of thy name。〃 And again； 〃O God； the gentiles
have come into thine inheritance； thy holy temple have they
defiled；〃 &c。 So that all the columns were levelled with the
ground by the frequent strokes of the battering…ram； all the
husbandmen routed； together with their bishops； priests； and
people； whilst the sword gleamed； and the flames crackled around
them on every side。 Lamentable to behold； in the midst of the
streets lay the tops of lofty towers； tumbled to the ground； stones
of high walls； holy altars； fragments of human bodies； covered
with livid clots of coagulated blood； looking as if they had
been squeezed together in a press；* and with no chance of being
buried； save in the ruins of the houses； or in the ravening
bellies of wild beasts and birds； with reverence be it spoken
for their blessed souls； if； indeed； there were many found who
were carried； at that time； into the high heaven by the holy
angels。 So entirely had the vintage； once so fine； degenerated
and become bitter； that； in the words of the prophet； there was
hardly a grape or ear of corn to be seen where the husbandman
had turned his back。
25。 Some therefore； of the miserable remnant； being taken in
the mountains； were murdered in great numbers； others； constrained
by famine； came and yielded themselves to be slaves for ever to
their foes； running the risk of being instantly slain； which truly
was the greatest favour that could be offered them： some others
passed beyond the seas with loud lamentations instead of the voice
of exhortation。 〃Thou hast given us as sheep to be slaughtered；
and among the Gentiles hast thou dispersed us。〃 Others； committing
the safeguard of their lives； which were in continual jeopardy；
to the mountains； precipices； thickly wooded forests； and to the
rocks of the seas （albeit with trembling hearts）； remained still
in their country。 But in the meanwhile； an opportunity happening；
when these most cruel robbers were returned home； the poor remnants
of our nation （to whom flocked from divers places round about our
miserable countrymen as fast as bees to their hives； for fear of
an ensuing storm）； being strengthened by God； calling upon him
with all their hearts； as the poet says；〃With their unnumbered
vows they burden heaven；〃 that they might not be brought to utter
destruction； took arms under the conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus；
a modest man； who of all the Roman nation was then alone in the
confusion of this troubled period by chance left alive。 His
parents； who for their merit were adorned with the purple； had
been slain in these same broils； and now his progeny in these
our days； although shamefully degenerated from the worthiness
of their ancestors； provoke to battle their cruel conquerors；
and by the goodness of our Lord obtain the victory。
26。 After this； sometimes our countrymen； sometimes the enemy；
won the field； to the end that our Lord might in this land try
after his accustomed manner these his Israelites； whether they
loved him or not； until the year of the siege of Bath…hill； when
took place also the last almost； though not the least slaughter
of our cruel foes； which was （as I am sure） forty…four years and
one month after the landing of the Saxons； and also the time of
my own nativity。 And yet neither to this day are the cities of
our country inhabited as before； but being forsaken and overthrown；
still lie desolate； our foreign wars having ceased； but our civil
troubles still remaining。 For as well the remembrance of such
terrible desolation of the island； as also of the unexpected
recovery of the same； remained in the minds of those who were
eyewitnesses of the wonderful events of both； and in regard
thereof； kings； public magistrates； and private persons； with
priests and clergymen； did all and every one of them live orderly
according to their several vocations。 But when these had departed
out of this world； and a new race succeeded； who were ignorant
of this troublesome time； and had only experience of the present
prosperity； all the laws of truth and justice were so shaken and
subverted； that not so much as a vestige or remembrance of these
virtues remained among the above…named orders of men； except among
a very few who； compared with the great multitude which were
daily ru