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made Britain the mistress of thirty kingdoms, I congratulate you upon
your late noble exploit which to me is a proof that your valour is so far
from being impaired, that it is rather increased. Though you have been
five years without exercise, wherein the softening pleasures of an easy
life had a greater share of your time than the use of arms; yet all this has
not made you degenerate from your natural bravery, which you have
shown in forcing the Romans to flee. The pride of their leaders has
animated them to attempt the invasion of your liberties. They have tried
you in battle, with numbers superior to yours, and have not been able to
stand before you; but have basely withdrawn themselves into that city,
from which they are now ready to march out, and to pass through this
valley in their way to Augustodunum; so that you may have an
opportunity of falling upon them unawares like a flock of sheep.
Certainly they expected to find in you the cowardice of the Eastern
nations, when they thought to make your country tributary, and you
their slaves. What, have they never heard of your wars, with the
Dacians, Norwegians, and princes of the Gauls, whom you reduced
under my power, and freed from their shameful yoke? We, then, that
have had success in a greater war, need not doubt of it in a less, if we do
but endeavour with the same spirit to vanquish these poltroons. You
shall want no rewards of honour, if as faithful soldiers you do but
strictly obey my commands. For as soon as we have routed them, we will
march straight to Rome, and take it; and then all the gold, silver, palaces,
towers, towns, cities, and other riches of the vanquished shall be yours.Ó
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Geoffrey of Monmouth
He had hardly done speaking before they all with one voice declared,
that they were ready to suffer death, rather than quit the field while he
had life.
Chapter 8. Lucius Tiberius, discovering ArthurÕs design,
in a speech animates his followers to fight.
But Lucius Tiberius, discovering the designs that were formed against
him, would not flee, as he had at first intended, but taking new courage,
resolved to march to the same valley against them; and calling together
his principal commanders, spoke to them in these words:ÑÓVenerable
fathers, to whose empire both the Eastern and Western kingdoms owe
obedience, remember the virtues of your ancestors, who were not afraid
to shed their blood, when the vanquishing of the enemies of the
commonwealth required it; but to leave an example of their courage and
military virtues to their posterity, behaved themselves in all battles with
that contempt of death, as if God had given them some security against
it. By this conduct they often triumphed, and by triumphing escaped
death. Such was the reward of their virtue from Divine Providence,
which overrules all events. The increase of the commonwealth, and of
their own valour was owing to this; and all those virtues that usually
adorn the great, as integrity, honour, and munificence, flourishing a long
time in them, raised them and their posterity to the empire of the whole
world. Let their noble examples animate you: rouse up the spirit of the
ancient Romans, and be not afraid to march out against our enemies that
are lying in ambush before us in the valley, but boldly with your swords
demand of them your just rights. Do not think that I retired into this city
for fear of engaging with them; but I thought that, as their pursuit of us
was rash and foolish, so we might hence on a sudden intercept them in it,
and by dividing their main body make a great slaughter of them. But
now, since they have altered the measures which we supposed they had
taken, let us also alter ours. Let us go in quest of them and bravely fall
upon them; or if they shall happen to have the advantage in the
beginning of the battle, let us only stand our ground during the fury of
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Geoffrey of Monmouth
their first assault, and the victory will undoubtedly be ours; for in many
battles this manner of conduct has been attended with victory.Ó As soon
as he had made an end of speaking these and other things, they all
declared their assent, promised with an oath to stand by him, and
hastened to arm themselves. Which when they had done, they marched
out of Lengriae to the valley where Arthur had drawn out his forces in
order of battle. Then they also began to marshal their army, which they
divided into twelve companies, and according to the Roman manner of
battle, drew out each company into the form of a wedge, consisting of six
thousand six hundred and sixty-six men. Each company also had its
respective leaders, who were to give direction when to advance, or when
to be upon the defensive. One of them was headed by Lucius Catellus the
senator, and Alifantinam, king of Spain; another by Hirtacius, king of the
Parthians, and Marius Lepidus, a senator; a third by Boccus, king of the
Medes, and Caius Metellus, a senator; a fourth by Sertorius, king of
Libya, and Quintus Milvius, a senator. These four companies were placed
in the front of the army. In the rear of these were four others, whereof
one was commanded by Serses, king of the Itureans; another by
Pandrasus, king of Egypt; a third by Polytetes, duke of Bithynia; a fourth
by Teucer, duke of Phrygia. And again behind all these four others,
whereof the commanders were Quintus Carucius, a senator, Laelius
Ostiensis, Sulpitius Subuculus, and Mauricius Sylvanus. As for the general
himself, he was sometimes in one place, sometimes another, to encourage
and direct as there should be occasion. For a standard he ordered a
golden eagle to be firmly set up in the centre, for his men to repair to
whenever they should happen to be separated from their company.
Chapter 9. A battle between Arthur and Lucius Tiberius.
And now the Britons and Romans stood presenting their arms at one
another; when forthwith at the sound of the trumpets, the company that
was headed by the king of Spain and Lucius Catellus, boldly rushed
forward against that which the king of Scotland and duke of Cornwall
led, but were not able to make the least breach in their firm ranks. So
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Geoffrey of Monmouth
that while these stood their ground, up came Guerinus and Boso with a
body of horse upon their full speed, broke through the party that began
the assault, and met with another which the king of the Parthians was [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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