[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

back safe to Germany. And while a conference upon this subject was
being held, they in the meantime went on board their long galleys, and,
leaving their wives and children behind them, returned back to
Germany.
104
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Chapter 14. VortimerÕs kindness to his soldiers at his death.
Vortimer, after this great success, began to restore his subjects to
their possessions which had been taken from them, and to show them all
marks of his affection and esteem, and at the instance of St. Germanus to
rebuild their churches. But his goodness quickly stirred up the enmity of
the devil against him, who entering into the heart of his stepmother
Rowen, excited her to contrive his death. For this purpose she consulted
with the poisoners, and procured one who was intimate with him, whom
she corrupted with large and numerous presents, to give him a poisonous
draught; so that this brave soldier, as soon as he had taken it, was seized
with a sudden illness, that deprived him of all hopes of life. Hereupon he
forthwith ordered all his men to come to him, and having shown them
how near he was to his end, distributed among them all the treasure his
predecessors had heaped up, and endeavoured to comfort them in their
sorrow and lamentation for him, telling them, he was only going the way
of all flesh. But he exhorted those brave and warlike young men, who
had attended him in all his victories, to persist courageously in the
defence of their country against all hostile invasion; and with wonderful
greatness of mind, commanded a brazen pyramid to be placed in the port
where the Saxons used to land, and his body when dead to be buried on
the top of it, that the sight of his tomb might frighten back the barbarians
to Germany. For he said none of them would dare approach the country,
that should but get a sight of his tomb. Such was the admirable bravery
of this great man, who, as he had been a terror to them while living,
endeavoured to be no less so when dead. Notwithstanding which, he
was no sooner dead, than the Britons had no regard to his orders, but
buried him at London.
105
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Chapter 15. Hengist, having wickedly murdered the princes of Britain,
keeps Vortigern prisoner.
Vortigern, after the death of his son, was again restored to the
kingdom, and at the request of his wife sent messengers into Germany to
Hengist, with an invitation to return into Britain, but privately, and with
a small retinue, to prevent a quarrel between the barbarians and his
subjects. But Hengist, hearing that Vortimer was dead, raised an army of
no less than three hundred thousand men, and fitting out a fleet returned
with them to Britain. When Vortigern and the nobility heard of the
arrival of so vast a multitude, they were immoderately incensed, and,
after consultation together, resolved to fight them, and drive them from
their coasts. Hengist, being informed of their design by messengers sent
from his daughter, immediately entered into deliberation what. course to
pursue against them. After several stratagems had been considered, he
judged it most feasible, to impose upon the nation by making show of
peace. With this view he sent ambassadors to the king, to declare to him,
that he had not brought so great a number of men for the purpose either
of staying with him, or offering any violence to the country. But the
reason why he brought them, was because he thought Vortimer was yet
living, and that he should have occasion for them against him, in case of
an assault. But now since he no longer doubted of his being dead, he
submitted himself and his people to the disposal of Vortigern; so that he
might retain as many of them as he should think fit, and whomsoever he
rejected Hengist would allow to return back without delay to Germany.
And if these terms pleased Vortigern, he desired him to appoint a time
and place for their meeting, and adjusting matters according to his
pleasure. When these things were represented to the king, he was
mightily pleased, as being very unwilling to part with Hengist; and at
last ordered his subjects and the Saxons to meet upon the kalends of
May, which were now very near, at the monastery of Ambrius, for the
settling of the matters above mentioned. The appointment being agreed
to on both sides, Hengist, with a new design of villainy in his head,
ordered his soldiers to carry every one of them a long dagger under
106
Geoffrey of Monmouth
their garments; and while the conference should be held with the
Britons, who would have no suspicion of them, he would give them this
word of command, ÒNemet oure Saxas;Ó at which moment they were all
to be ready to seize boldly every one his next man, and with his drawn
dagger stab him. Accordingly they all met at the time and place
appointed, and began to treat of peace; and when a fit opportunity
offered for executing his villainy, Hengist cried out, ÒNemet oure Saxas,Ó
and the same instant seized Vortigern, and held him by his cloak. The
Saxons, upon the signal given, drew their daggers, and falling upon the
princes, who little suspected any such design, assassinated- them to the
number of four hundred and sixty barons and consuls; to whose bodies
St. Eldad afterwards gave Christian burial, not far from Kaercaradauc,
now Salisbury, in a burying-place near the monastery of Ambrius, the
abbot, who was the founder of it. For they all came without arms, having
no thoughts of anything but treating of peace; which gave the others a
fairer opportunity of exercising their villainous design against them. But
the pagans did not escape unpunished while they acted this wickedness;
a great number of them being killed during this massacre of their
enemies. For the Britons, taking up clubs and stones from the ground,
resolutely defended themselves, and did good execution upon the
traitors.
Chapter 16. EldolÕs valiant exploit. Hengist forces Vortigern to yield up
the strongest fortifications in Britain, in consideration of his release.
There was present one Eldol, consul of Gloucester, who, at the sight
of this treachery, took up a stake which he happened to find, and with
that made his defence. Every, blow he gave carried death along with it;
and by breaking either the head, arms, shoulders, or legs of a great
many, he struck no small terror into the traitors, nor did he move from
the spot before he had killed with that weapon seventy men. But being
no longer able to stand his ground against such numbers, he made his
escape from them, and retired to his own city. Many fell on both sides
but the Saxons got the victory; because the Britons, having no suspicion
107
Geoffrey of Monmouth
of treachery, came unarmed, and therefore made a weaker defence.
After the commission of this detestable villainy, the Saxons would not
kill Vortigern; but having threatened him with death and bound him,
demanded his cities and fortified places in consideration of their granting
him his life. He, to secure himself, denied them nothing; and when they
had made him confirm his grants with an oath, they released him from
his chains, and then marched first to London, which they took, as they [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • alwayshope.keep.pl

    •