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！
History Of The Britons （Historia Brittonum）
by Nennius
Translated by J。 A。 Giles
I。 The Prologue。
1。 Nennius； the lowly minister and servant of the servants of
God； by the grace of God； disciple of St。 Elbotus；* to all the
followers of truth sendeth health。
* Or Elvod； bishop of Bangor； A。D。 755； who first adopted in the
Cambrian church the new cycle for regulating Easter。
Be it known to your charity； that being dull in intellect and
rude of speech； I have presumed to deliver these things in the
Latin tongue； not trusting to my own learning； which is little
or none at all； but partly from traditions of our ancestors；
partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of
Britain； partly from the annals of the Romans； and the chronicles
of the sacred fathers； Isidore； Hieronymus； Prosper； Eusebius；
and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons； although our
enemies； not following my own inclinations； but； to the best of
my ability； obeying the commands of my seniors； I have lispingly
put together this history from various sources； and have endeavored；
from shame； to deliver down to posterity the few remaining ears of
corn about past transactions； that they might not be trodden under
foot； seeing that an ample crop has been snatched away already by
the hostile reapers of foreign nations。 For many things have been
in my way； and I； to this day； have hardly been able to understand；
even superficially； as was necessary； the sayings of other men；
much less was I able in my own strength； but like a barbarian；
have I murdered and defiled the language of others。 But I bore
about with me an inward wound； and I was indignant； that the name
of my own people； formerly famous and distinguished； should sink
into oblivion； and like smoke be dissipated。 But since； however；
I had rather myself be the historian of the Britons than nobody；
although so many are to be found who might much more satisfactorily
discharge the labour thus imposed on me； I humbly entreat my
readers； whose ears I may offend by the inelegance of my words；
that they will fulfil the wish of my seniors； and grant me the easy
task of listening with candour to my history。 For zealous efforts
very often fail： but bold enthusiasm； were it in its power； would
not suffer me to fail。 May； therefore； candour be shown where
the inelegance of my words is insufficient； and may the truth of
this history； which my rustic tongue has ventured； as a kind of
plough； to trace out in furrows； lose none of its influence from
that cause； in the ears of my hearers。 For it is better to drink
a wholesome draught of truth from the humble vessel； than poison
mixed with honey from a golden goblet。
2。 And do not be loath； diligent reader； to winnow my chaff； and
lay up the wheat in the storehouse of your memory： for truth regards
not who is the speaker； nor in what manner it is spoken； but that
the thing be true； and she does not despise the jewel which she has
rescued from the mud； but she adds it to her former treasures。
For I yield to those who are greater and more eloquent than myself；
who； kindled with generous ardour； have endeavoured by Roman
eloquence to smooth the jarring elements of their tongue； if they
have left unshaken any pillar of history which I wished to see
remain。 This history therefore has been compiled from a wish to
benefit my inferiors； not from envy of those who are superior to
me； in the 858th year of our Lord's incarnation； and in the 24th
year of Mervin； king of the Britons； and I hope that the prayers
of my betters will be offered up for me in recompence of my labour。
But this is sufficient by way of preface。 I shall obediently
accomplish the rest to the utmost of my power。
II。 The Apology of Nennius
Here begins the apology of Nennius； the historiographer of the
Britons； of the race of the Britons。
3。 I； Nennius； disciple of St。 Elbotus； have endeavoured to write
some extracts which the dulness of the British nation had cast away；
because teachers had no knowledge； nor gave any information in
their books about this island of Britain。 But I have got together
all that I could find as well from the annals of the Romans as from
the chronicles of the sacred fathers； Hieronymus； Eusebius； Isidorus；
Prosper； and from the annals of the Scots and Saxons； and from
our ancient traditions。 Many teachers and scribes have attempted
to write this； but somehow or other have abandoned it from its
difficulty； either on account of frequent deaths； or the often
recurring calamities of war。 I pray that every reader who shall
read this book； may pardon me； for having attempted； like a
chattering jay； or like some weak witness； to write these things；
after they had failed。 I yield to him who knows more of these
things than I do。
III。 The History。
4； 5。 From Adam to the flood； are two thousand and forty…two
years。 From the flood of Abraham； nine hundred and forty…two。
》From Abraham to Moses； six hundred。* From Moses to Solomon； and
the first building of the temple； four hundred and forty…eight。
》From Solomon to the rebuilding of the temple； which was under
Darius； king of the Persians； six hundred and twelve years are
computed。 From Darius to the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ；
and to the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius； are five hundred
and forty…eight years。 So that from Adam to the ministry of
Christ and the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius； are five
thousand two hundred and twenty…eight years。 From the passion of
Christ are completed nine hundred and forty…six； from his incarnation；
nine hundred and seventy…six： being the fifth year of Edmund； king
of the Angles。
* And forty； according to Stevenson's new edition。 The rest of
this chronology is much contracted in several of the manuscripts；
and hardly two of them contain it exactly the same。
6。 The first age of the world is from Adam to Noah； the second
from Noah to Abraham； the third from Abraham to David； the fourth
from David to Daniel； the fifth to John the Baptist； the sixth
from John to the judgment； when our Lord Jesus Christ will come
to judge the living and the dead； and the world by fire。
The first Julius。 The second Claudius。 The third Severus。 The
fourth Carinus。 The fifth Constantius。 The sixth Maximus。 The
seventh Maximianus。 The eighth another Severus Aequantius。 The
ninth Constantius。*
* This list of the Roman emperors who visited Britain； is omitted
in many of the MSS。
Here beginneth the history of the Britons； edited by Mark the
anchorite； a holy bishop of that people。
7。 The island of Britain derives its name from Brutus； a Roman
consul。 Taken from the south…west point it inclines a little
towards the west； and to its northern extremity measures eight
hundred miles； and is in breadth two hundred。 It contains thirty
three cities；＇1＇ viz。
1。 Cair ebrauc （York）。
2。 Cair ceint （Canterbury）。
3。 Cair gurcoc （Anglesey？）。
4。 Cair guorthegern ＇2＇
5。 Cair custeint （Carnarvon）。
6。 Cair guoranegon （Worcester）。
7。 Cair segeint （Silchester）。
8。 Cair guin truis （Norwich； or Winwick）。
9。 Cair merdin （Caermarthen）。
10。 Cair peris （Porchester）。
11。 Cair lion （Caerleon…upon…Usk）。
12。 Cair mencipit （Verulam）。
13。 Cair caratauc （Catterick）。
14。 Cair ceri （Cirencester）。
15。 Cair glout （Gloucester）。
16。 Cair luillid （Carlisle）。
17。 Cair grant （Grantchester； now Cambridge）。
18。 Cair daun （Doncaster）； or Cair dauri （Dorchester）。
19。 Cair britoc （Bristol）。
20。 Cair meguaid （Meivod）。
21。 Cair mauiguid （Manchester）。
22。 Cair ligion （Chester）。
23。 Cair guent （Winchester； or Caerwent； in Monmouthshire）。
24。 Cair collon （Colchester； or St。 Colon； Cornwall）。
25。 Cair londein （London）。
26。 Cair guorcon （Worren； or Woran； in Pembrokeshire）。
27。 Cair lerion （Leicester）。
28。 Cair draithou （Drayton）。
29。 Cair pensavelcoit （Pevensey； in Sussex）。
30。 Cairtelm （Teyn…Grace； in Devonshire）。
31。 Cair Urnahc （Wroxeter； in Shropshire）。
32。 Cair colemion （Camelet； in Somersetshire）。
33。 Cair loit coit （Lincoln）。
＇1＇ V。R。 Twenty…eight； twenty…one。
＇2＇ Site unknown。
These are the names of the ancient cities of the island of Britain。
it has also a vast many promontories； and castles innumerable； built
of brick and stone。 Its inhabitants consist of four different
people； the Scots； the Picts； the Saxons and the ancient Britons。
8。 Three considerable islands belong to it； one； on the south；
opposite the Armorican shore； called Wight；* another between
Ireland and Britain； called Eubonia or Man； and another directly
north； beyond the Picts； named Orkney； and hence it was anciently
a proverbial expression； in reference to its kings and rulers；
〃He reigned over Britain and its three islands。〃
* Inis…gueith； or Gueith。
6。 It is fertilized by several rivers； which traverse it in all
directions； to the east and west； to the south and north； but
there are two pre…eminently distinguished among the rest； the
Thames and the Severn； which formerly； like the two arms of Britain；
bore the ships employed in the conveyance of riches acquired by
commerce。 The Britons were once very populous； and exercised
ex