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inferior clergy, met together, and bearing the reliques of the saints and
other consecrated things of the church before them, barefooted, came to
implore the kingÕs mercy for their people. As soon as they were admitted
into his presence, they fell down upon their knees, and humbly besought
him to have pity on their distressed country, since the sufferings which
he had already made it undergo, were sufficient; nor was there any
necessity to cut off the small remainder to a man; and that he would
155
Geoffrey of Monmouth
allow them the enjoyment of a small part of the country, since they were
willing to bear the yoke which he should impose upon them. The king
was moved at the manner of their delivering this petition, and could not
forbear expressing his clemency to them with tears; and at the request of
those holy men, granted them pardon.
Chapter 7. Arthur relates the wonderful nature of some ponds.
This affair being concluded, Hoel had the curiosity to view the
situation of the late, and wondered to find the number of the rivers,
islands, rocks, and eaglesÕ nests, so exactly correspond: and while he was
reflecting upon it as something that appeared miraculous, Arthur came to
him, and told him of another pond in the same province, which was yet
more wonderful. For not far from thence was one whose length and
breadth were each twenty feet, and depth five feet. But whether its
square figure was natural or artificial, the wonder of it was, there were
four different sorts of fishes in the four several corners of it, none of
which were ever found in any other part of the pond but their own. He
told him likewise of another pond in Wales, near the Severn, called by
the country people Linligwan, into which when the sea flows, it receives
it in the manner of a gulf, but so as to swallow up the tide, and never be
filled, or have its banks covered by it. But at the ebbing of the sea, it
throws out the waters which it had swallowed, as high as a mountain,
and at last dashes and covers the banks with them. In the meantime, if all
the people of that country should stand near with their faces towards it,
and happened to have their clothes sprinkled with the dashing of the
waves, they would hardly, if at all, escape being swallowed up by the
pond. But with their backs towards it, they need not fear being dashed,
though they stood upon the very banks.
156
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Chapter 8. Arthur restores York to its ancient beauty,
especially as to its churches.
The king, after his general pardon granted to the Scots, went to York
to celebrate the feast of ChristÕs nativity, which was now at hand. On
entering the city, he beheld with grief the desolation of the churches; for
upon the expulsion of the holy Archbishop Sanxo, and of all the clergy
there, the temples which were half burned down, had no longer divine
service performed in them: so much had the impious rage of the pagans
prevailed. After this, in an assembly of the clergy and people, he
appointed Pyramus his chaplain metropolitan of that see. The churches
that lay level with the ground, he rebuilt, and (which was their chief
ornament) saw them filled with assemblies of devout persons of both
sexes. Also the nobility that were driven out by the disturbances of the
Saxons, he restored to their country.
Chapter 9. Arthur honours Augusel with the sceptre of the Scots;
Urian with that of Mureif; and Lot with the consulship of Londonesia.
There were there three brothers of royal blood, viz. Lot, Urian, and
Augusel, who, before the Saxons had prevailed, held the government of
those parts. Being willing therefore to bestow on these, as he did on
others, the rights of their ancestors, he restored to Augusel the
sovereignty over the Scots; his brother Urian he honoured with the
sceptre of Mureif; and Lot, who in time of Aurelius Ambrosius had
married his sister, by whom he had two sons, Walgan and Modred, he
reestablished in the consulship of Londonesia, and the other provinces
belonging to him. At length, when the whole country was reduced by
him to its ancient state, he took to wife Guanhumara, descended from a
noble family of Romans, who was educated under duke Cador, and in
beauty surpassed all the women of the island.
157
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Chapter 10. Arthur adds to his government Ireland,
Iceland, Gothland, and the Orkneys.
The next summer he fitted out a fleet, and made an expedition into
Ireland, which he was desirous to reduce. Upon landing there, he was
met by king Guillamurius before mentioned, with a vast number of men,
who came with a design to fight him; but at the very beginning of the
battle, those naked and unarmed people were miserably routed, and fled
to such places as lay open to them for shelter. Guillamurius also in a short
time was taken prisoner, and forced to submit; as were also all the other
princes of the country after the kingÕs example, being under great
consternation at what had happened. After an entire conquest of Ireland,
he made a voyage with his fleet to Iceland, which he also subdued. And
now a rumour spreading over the rest of the islands, that no country was
able to withstand him, Doldavius, king of Gothland, and Gunfasius, king
of the Orkneys, came voluntarily, and made their submission, on a
promise of paying tribute. Then, as soon as winter was over, he returned
back to Britain, where having established the kingdom, he resided in it
for twelve years together in peace.
Chapter 11. Arthur subdues Norway, Dacia, Aquitaine, and Gaul.
After this, having invited over to him all persons whatsoever that
were famous for valour in foreign nations, he began to augment the
number of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his court,
as people of the remotest countries thought worthy of their imitation. So
that there was not a nobleman who thought himself of any consideration,
unless his clothes and arms were made in the same fashion as those of
ArthurÕs knights. At length the fame of his munificence and valour
spreading over the whole world, he became a terror to the kings of other
countries, who grievously feared the loss of their dominions, if he should
make any attempt upon them. Being much perplexed with these anxious
cares, they repaired their cities and towers, and built towns in
convenient places, the better to fortify themselves against any enterprise
158
Geoffrey of Monmouth
of Arthur, when occasion should require. Arthur, being informed of
what they were doing, was delighted to find how much they stood in
awe of him, and formed a design for the conquest of all Europe. Then
having prepared his fleet, he first attempted Norway, that he might
procure the crown of it for Lot, his sisterÕs husband. This Lot was the
nephew of Sichelin, king of the Norwegians, who being then dead, had
appointed him his successor in the kingdom. But the Norwegians,
disdaining to receive him, had advanced one Riculf to the sovereignty,
and having fortified their cities, thought they were able to oppose
Arthur. Walgan, the son of Lot, was then a youth twelve years old, and
was recommended by his uncle to the service of pope Supplicius, from [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szamanka888.keep.pl
inferior clergy, met together, and bearing the reliques of the saints and
other consecrated things of the church before them, barefooted, came to
implore the kingÕs mercy for their people. As soon as they were admitted
into his presence, they fell down upon their knees, and humbly besought
him to have pity on their distressed country, since the sufferings which
he had already made it undergo, were sufficient; nor was there any
necessity to cut off the small remainder to a man; and that he would
155
Geoffrey of Monmouth
allow them the enjoyment of a small part of the country, since they were
willing to bear the yoke which he should impose upon them. The king
was moved at the manner of their delivering this petition, and could not
forbear expressing his clemency to them with tears; and at the request of
those holy men, granted them pardon.
Chapter 7. Arthur relates the wonderful nature of some ponds.
This affair being concluded, Hoel had the curiosity to view the
situation of the late, and wondered to find the number of the rivers,
islands, rocks, and eaglesÕ nests, so exactly correspond: and while he was
reflecting upon it as something that appeared miraculous, Arthur came to
him, and told him of another pond in the same province, which was yet
more wonderful. For not far from thence was one whose length and
breadth were each twenty feet, and depth five feet. But whether its
square figure was natural or artificial, the wonder of it was, there were
four different sorts of fishes in the four several corners of it, none of
which were ever found in any other part of the pond but their own. He
told him likewise of another pond in Wales, near the Severn, called by
the country people Linligwan, into which when the sea flows, it receives
it in the manner of a gulf, but so as to swallow up the tide, and never be
filled, or have its banks covered by it. But at the ebbing of the sea, it
throws out the waters which it had swallowed, as high as a mountain,
and at last dashes and covers the banks with them. In the meantime, if all
the people of that country should stand near with their faces towards it,
and happened to have their clothes sprinkled with the dashing of the
waves, they would hardly, if at all, escape being swallowed up by the
pond. But with their backs towards it, they need not fear being dashed,
though they stood upon the very banks.
156
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Chapter 8. Arthur restores York to its ancient beauty,
especially as to its churches.
The king, after his general pardon granted to the Scots, went to York
to celebrate the feast of ChristÕs nativity, which was now at hand. On
entering the city, he beheld with grief the desolation of the churches; for
upon the expulsion of the holy Archbishop Sanxo, and of all the clergy
there, the temples which were half burned down, had no longer divine
service performed in them: so much had the impious rage of the pagans
prevailed. After this, in an assembly of the clergy and people, he
appointed Pyramus his chaplain metropolitan of that see. The churches
that lay level with the ground, he rebuilt, and (which was their chief
ornament) saw them filled with assemblies of devout persons of both
sexes. Also the nobility that were driven out by the disturbances of the
Saxons, he restored to their country.
Chapter 9. Arthur honours Augusel with the sceptre of the Scots;
Urian with that of Mureif; and Lot with the consulship of Londonesia.
There were there three brothers of royal blood, viz. Lot, Urian, and
Augusel, who, before the Saxons had prevailed, held the government of
those parts. Being willing therefore to bestow on these, as he did on
others, the rights of their ancestors, he restored to Augusel the
sovereignty over the Scots; his brother Urian he honoured with the
sceptre of Mureif; and Lot, who in time of Aurelius Ambrosius had
married his sister, by whom he had two sons, Walgan and Modred, he
reestablished in the consulship of Londonesia, and the other provinces
belonging to him. At length, when the whole country was reduced by
him to its ancient state, he took to wife Guanhumara, descended from a
noble family of Romans, who was educated under duke Cador, and in
beauty surpassed all the women of the island.
157
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Chapter 10. Arthur adds to his government Ireland,
Iceland, Gothland, and the Orkneys.
The next summer he fitted out a fleet, and made an expedition into
Ireland, which he was desirous to reduce. Upon landing there, he was
met by king Guillamurius before mentioned, with a vast number of men,
who came with a design to fight him; but at the very beginning of the
battle, those naked and unarmed people were miserably routed, and fled
to such places as lay open to them for shelter. Guillamurius also in a short
time was taken prisoner, and forced to submit; as were also all the other
princes of the country after the kingÕs example, being under great
consternation at what had happened. After an entire conquest of Ireland,
he made a voyage with his fleet to Iceland, which he also subdued. And
now a rumour spreading over the rest of the islands, that no country was
able to withstand him, Doldavius, king of Gothland, and Gunfasius, king
of the Orkneys, came voluntarily, and made their submission, on a
promise of paying tribute. Then, as soon as winter was over, he returned
back to Britain, where having established the kingdom, he resided in it
for twelve years together in peace.
Chapter 11. Arthur subdues Norway, Dacia, Aquitaine, and Gaul.
After this, having invited over to him all persons whatsoever that
were famous for valour in foreign nations, he began to augment the
number of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his court,
as people of the remotest countries thought worthy of their imitation. So
that there was not a nobleman who thought himself of any consideration,
unless his clothes and arms were made in the same fashion as those of
ArthurÕs knights. At length the fame of his munificence and valour
spreading over the whole world, he became a terror to the kings of other
countries, who grievously feared the loss of their dominions, if he should
make any attempt upon them. Being much perplexed with these anxious
cares, they repaired their cities and towers, and built towns in
convenient places, the better to fortify themselves against any enterprise
158
Geoffrey of Monmouth
of Arthur, when occasion should require. Arthur, being informed of
what they were doing, was delighted to find how much they stood in
awe of him, and formed a design for the conquest of all Europe. Then
having prepared his fleet, he first attempted Norway, that he might
procure the crown of it for Lot, his sisterÕs husband. This Lot was the
nephew of Sichelin, king of the Norwegians, who being then dead, had
appointed him his successor in the kingdom. But the Norwegians,
disdaining to receive him, had advanced one Riculf to the sovereignty,
and having fortified their cities, thought they were able to oppose
Arthur. Walgan, the son of Lot, was then a youth twelve years old, and
was recommended by his uncle to the service of pope Supplicius, from [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]