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THE HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIE OF GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH

V. Gesta Regum Britannie

Neil Wright

s

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THE HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIE OF GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH V Gesta Regum Britannie The Gesta Regum Britannie, a Latin poem comprising nearly five thousand hexameters, is a vital but little known witness to the reception of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britannie. Written shortly before the middle of the thirteenth century, the poem is dedicated to Cadioc, bishop of Vannes in Brittany, and so testifies to the Breton reaction to and enthusiasm for Geoffrey's immensely popular pseudo-history. The poem also provides important evidence for the literary culture of thirteenth-century Brit-

tany, for its author was widely read in Latin verse and was particularly influenced by Walter of Chátillon's Alexandreid, one of the best known of all medieval epic poems. The author's fusion of Geoffrey's narrative with the conventions of hexameter poetry results in a reworking of the Historia which is more than a simple verse paraphrase, laying as it does a special emphasis on the tragic side of Britain's decline. Much in the poem is original and this new edition will bring it before a wider audience so that it may be read in conjunction with the more familiar vernacular verse versions of Geoffrey's Historia. The poem has previously been available only in a faulty and unreliable edition published over a hundred years ago; until now, it has never been translated. The present volume offers a comprehensive critical edition based on all three known manuscript witnesses; it also contains a complete conspectus fontium cataloguing the poet's sources, and a modern English translation. The edition

will be standard for future work on the text. NEIL WRIGHT is a Senior Member of Wolfson College, Cambridge, and editor of the Geoffrey of Monmouth project; his published work includes numerous articles on mediaeval Latin.

THE HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIE OF GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH ISSN 0267-2529

I Bern, Burgerbibliothek, MS. 568 Edited by Neil Wright II The First Variant Version: a critical edition

Edited by Neil Wright

III A Summary Catalogue of the Manuscripts Julia C. Crick

IV Dissemination and Reception in the Later Middle Ages Julia C. Crick

LEE HISTORIA REGUM BRITANNIE OF GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH

V Gesta Regum Britannie

Edited and translated by Neil Wright

From the library of

Marion Archibald

D. S. BREWER

Introduction, translation and editorial matter © Neil Wright 1991

All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under current legislation no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system, published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast, transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the copyright owner

First published 1991 by D. S. Brewer, Cambridge

D. S. Brewer is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer Ltd PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF, UK and of Boydell & Brewer Inc. PO Box 41026, Rochester, NY 14604, USA

ISBN 0 85991 2140

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data The “Historia Regum Britannie” of Geoffrey of Monmouth: Vol V. Gesta Regum Britannie. — (The “Historia Regum Britannie” of Geoffrey of Monmouth) I. Wright, Neil II. Series 871 ISBN 0-85991-214—0 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Revised for vol. 5) Geoffrey, of Monmouth, Bishop of St. Asaph, 11007-1154. The Historia regum Britannie of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Text in Latin; editorial matter in English. Vol. 5: Latin text, parallel English translation. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. Contents: 1. Bern, Burgerbibliothek, MS. 568 — — 5. Gesta regum Britannie. 1. Great Britain - History - To 1066. 2. Arthurian romances — Sources. 3. Legends - Great Britain. 4. Britons — History. I. Wright, Neil. II. Burgerbibliothek Bern. Manuscript. 568. III. Title. DA140.G353 1985 941.01 84—24170 ISBN 0—85991-211-6 (v. 1)

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984

Printed in Great Britain by Woolnough Bookbinding Ltd, Irthlingborough, Northants

CONTENTS

EDITOR’S

vii

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

Date and Authorship The Poem and its Sources

Prosody and Metrics Manuscripts Editions and Text «aBH" BIBLIOGRAPHY

GESTA REGUM Book I Book II

BRITANNIE:

Book III Book IV Book V Book VI Book VII Book VIII Book IX Book X

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM INDEX NOMINUM INDEX LOCORUM INDEX FONTIUM

TEXT

AND TRANSLATION

EDITOR’S

PREFACE

The Gesta Regum Britannie, which was written in Brittany in the mid-thirteenth century, comprises nearly 5,000 hexameters divided into ten books; conceived as an epic, it represents a full-scale metrical paraphrase of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s immensely popular Historia Regum Britannie. Yet despite its ambitious scope, the poem has until recently been almost completely neglected. It has previously been edited only once, by Francisque-Michel in 1862. Unfortunately, that edition is unsatisfactory in many ways and is unreliable by today’s standards; Michel’s edition has, moreover, remained little known to the majority of readers. In 1986, however, a useful introductory essay was published by Rosemary Morris. She rightly argued how important it is that the poem be read not only in relation to other Latin epic poetry, for example Walter of Chátillon's influential Alexandreid, which was one of the Breton poet’s prime models, but also in conjunction with vernacular poetic versions of Geoffrey’s Historia, such as Wace’s Roman de Brut; as Morris has shown, such comparison casts valuable light on the poet’s aims and literary achievements. Nevertheless Morris is unfair to criticise the poet for not writing a unified epic with Arthur as its hero. Rather, the poet’s aim was to paraphrase the entire Historia, and so to create an epic whose sweep was far broader than that of a single reign; his is a national epic, whose heroes are Britain and her kings. Moreover, Geoffrey had recounted not only the foundation of the kingdom of

Britain and its triumphs, but also its reverses and inevitable decline. The Breton poet was concerned to highlight the stages of this decline and to heighten the tragic tone of many episodes in Britain’s ruin. He wrote between 1236 and 1254, a period when the independence of Brittany was seriously threatened by the Capetian kings of France. At the time of writing, then, the decline of the original British kingdom had, as Morris herself recognises, a special relevance for the poet’s Breton audience, a relevance which he underlined in his account of the foundation of Brittany. The poet’s view of contemporary Breton politics is thus thematically linked with Geoffrey’s text: the collapse of the mother country is

inextricably bound up with the fate of its daughter. The poem therefore deserves to be recognised as an important early witness to the reception of Geoffrey’s Historia in Brittany, as well as to the literary response made to it by one Breton

author. This, the first critical edition of the poem, aims to provide an accurate text with a full apparatus based on all three known manuscript witnesses. To enable

EDITOR’S PREFACE

the reader more easily to compare the poem with its prose source, the text has, within the overall ten-book structure of the poem, been divided into the two hundred and eight chapters (first employed by Faral) used in the two editions which have already appeared in this series. In other respects, however, the format of this volume is different from those which have preceded it. Since the poem has never been translatedg and because some of its more rhetorical passages are by no means easy, the text is printed here with a facing English

version; it is hoped that this will bring the poem before a wider audience and so

promote further much-needed study of the Gesta Regum Britannie in comparison with vernacular verse versions of Geoffrey’s Historia. Also, in order that the

breadth of the poet’s reading and the poem’s often complex relationship with prior Latin poetry can be fully appreciated, the text and translation are followed

by a conspectus fontium, which lists the borrowings, primarily poetic, so far identified in the poem. I have preferred to quote the poet’s sources in full after the text, rather than, as is more conventional, merely to cite the relevant passages at the foot of the page (without quoting them). The aim is to allow the reader to assess at a glance the exact nature of the poet’s borrowing in any particular line and to avoid the need for consulting a number of other texts in order to do so. In addition, the question of the poet’s use of his sources is examined in detail in the introduction to this volume, which also contains discussion of the authorship, prosody and metrics, manuscripts, and text of the

poem. I should like to express my gratitude to all those who have assisted in the production of this volume, in particular the British Academy whose generous provision of a grant made the edition possible. My thanks are also due to Dr David Dumville, Dr Michael Lapidge, Dr Francoise Le Saux, Dr Andy Orchard, Professor Michael Reeve and Dr Julia Smith, all of whom have read parts of this edition, discussed its contents with me, or offered helpful advice on particular problems. A paper based on some aspects of the introduction to this volume was delivered at a seminar on mediaeval literature in the University of Cambridge in March 1991; I am most grateful to Professor Peter Dronke and the other participants for a number of useful points raised on that occasion. Above all, I wish to thank Dr Richard Barber whose unfailing kindness and patience have proved an invaluable support during the preparation of this volume.

INTRODUCTION

I Date and Authorship The Gesta Regum Britannie can be dated, though not exactly, through its addressee. In the prologue of the poem (1.16), the dedicatee is referred to as presul Uenetensis or bishop of Vannes; and in the last line of the work (X.501), he is named as Chadiocus. His name, in the form Chadioccus, is also found as an acrostic, set out below, which is spelled out by the opening letters of the ten books of the poem (viz. excluding the short introductory capitula which precede each book):

Caliope referas ut te referente renarrem; Hiis ita dispositis Brutus sibi construit urbem; Architenens uix Romuleum compleuerat annum; Dum Kibelino subiecta Britannia seruit; Innumeris uero collectis Maximianus; Omnia Merlinus intenta colligit aure; Candida Caliope, cetu comitante sororum; Continuis sollempne tribus celebrare diebus; Uisibus humanis premissa nocte cometes; Spes regni reditusque sui rerumque relinquit. Cadioc (or Chadiocus) was elected bishop of Vannes in 1235 and was consecrated in the following year; he died in 1254.! The poem must therefore have

been written between those dates. Michel, the first editor of the Gesta Regum Britannie, suggested that the poem belongs to the earlier part of Cadioc's episcopate because it may contain a reference to an event of recent Breton history.” In a highly rhetorical apostrophe to Conanus Meriadocus, legendary founder of Brittany, the poet, having described the bloody takeover of Armorica by the Britons, their extermination of the existing Gallic population, and the elevation of Conanus as the first king,

prophesies dire repercussions for the future Bretons (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.480—509): O regnum minime felix! O sanguine fuso !1 2

Gallia christiana, XIV, cols 926-7. Gesta, p. xiv.

INTRODUCTION

Optentum regale decus! Conane, resigna Hoc ius iniustum! Prescripcio nulla tueri Te poterit quoniam dum uixeris intus habebis Accusatricem que teque tuosque nepotes Semper mordebit. Non debet predo reatum Dum tenet ablatum? Res semper erit uiciosa Que uenit ex rapto, dum raptam predo tenebit; Predonisque heres, postquam rem nouit ademptam, In uicium succedit ei. Tecum tua proles Uerget in interitum penam luitura perhennem, Dum sic possideat iniuste res alienas; In sobolem peccata patrum de iure redundant, Dum soboles effrena patrum peccata sequatur. Quis putet intrusos Britones uel semen eorum In male quesitis cum pace quiescere terris? Euentus quis habere bonos se credat in illis Que male parta tenet? Meritis Deus equa rependit. Stirps homicidarum totis homicidia uotis Perpetrare studens reputat dispendia pacem. Cortinam cortina trahit, sanguisque cruorem. Inconstans Britonum populus constanter in ipsa Mobilitate uiget; numquam Ranusia uirgo Mobiliore rota fertur quam spiritus eius. O regio, tibi nunc rex presidet; ante ducatus Aut comitatus eras. Non regnum siue ducatus Sed comitatus eris; tu, que ducibus dominaris, Cum seruis domino continget te dominari. Ecce dies uenient quibus ad sua iura reducti Tristia sub pedibus Galli tua colla tenebunt.

According to the poet, the kingdom born in blood will never prosper; the Gauls will regain their rights and hold the Bretons in subjugation; Brittany, formerly a kingdom, will be neither kingdom nor duchy, but merely a French county. Michel argued that this passage refers specifically to the homage paid by the recently defeated Pierre Mauclerc, Duke of Brittany (1213-37), to Louis IX of France in 1234; and thus that the poem was written shortly after Pierre's

submission. Allowing for poetic hyperbole, this interpretation is not implausible, although it should be noted that the homage rendered on that occasion by Mauclerc was personal rather than offered on behalf of the Bretons as a whole. However, the intended historical reference may not be as precise as Michel maintained. Mauclerc had also previously done homage to Philippe-Augustus of France on becoming duke in 1213 (although that homage was again personal). Indeed, the very elevation of the Capetian Pierre Mauclerc as Duke of Brittany might, with rhetorical exaggeration, be viewed as exactly the kind of humiliation described by the poet. Moreover, Mauclerc's son, Jean le Roux, also did 3 ^

La Borderie, Histoire, 11I.324—5; Poisson, Histoire, p. 102. La Borderie, Histoire, III.301—2; Poisson, Histoire, p. 99.

DATE AND AUTHORSHIP

homage to Louis IX on his succession as duke in 1237.5 This event could therefore equally well be seen as the humbling to which the poet alludes; in that case the poem may have been composed after 1237. Similarly, the allusion to Brittany being treated as a county rather than duchy could, if it is anything more than rhetorical, apply equally well to Mauclerc or to his son since both termed themselves duke but were regarded as counts by the French court.$ Thus the passage cannot conclusively be shown to refer to the events of 1234, as Michel claimed; rather, given due latitude for the pessimistic tone evident within the poem as a whole, it fits well enough with the political situation which obtained in Brittany after 1213 and need not necessarily refer in particular to the homages of 1234 or 1237. The identity of the author of the poem is more difficult to determine. Three different attributions are found in the surviving manuscripts, but two can swiftly be discounted. The ascription to the sixth-century British writer Gildas found in Cotton Julius D.xi need not detain us since it is no older than the seventeenth century.’ In addition to having no mediaeval authority, this attribution is patently irreconcilable with the date of the poem (1236-54), its reliance on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britannie (published c. 1138), and its extensive borrowings from the Alexandreid of Walter of Chatillon (c. 1176-82). A second attribution, to Alexander Neckam, is found in Valenciennes 792, where the poem is introduced by the rubric ‘Sequitur de eadem materia historia Britonum uersificata et magistro Alexandro Nequam compilata, ut credo, et scripta ad dominum Cadiocum episcopum Uenetensem’ (fo 54v). This appears to be an example of the arbitrary attribution of works to famous authors; for, as Michel

pointed out, the ascription is a guess on the part of the scribe (as is indicated by his use of the phrase ut credo); the poem is nowhere else assigned to Neckam,

who, moreover, died at the latest in 1227, almost ten years before Cadioc became bishop of Vannes.* The author of the poem cannot therefore have been Neckam. There remains a third attribution, found in Paris, BN lat. 8491, where the poem ends with the following colophon ‘Explicit decimus liber gestorum regum Britannie per manum Guillelmi dicti de Redonis monachi’ (fo 60v). Michel suggested that this *Guillelmus dictus de Redonis monachus' might be identical with the known contemporary author, William of Rennes.? He was a Dominican, born in Thorigné, two miles from Rennes. Educated at Dinan around 1250, he proceeded from there to Paris. He composed a gloss or apparatus on the Summa de Poenitentia et Matrimonio of Raimond of Pefiafort, who was apparently his

teacher, and *un questionnaire sur les cas de conscience' which also draws on Raimond's Summa, both gloss and questionnaire being transmitted with that text; in addition to these works, William is also supposed to have written many La Borderie, Histoire, III.329 and 336; Leguay & Martin, Fastes, p. 34. Montigny, Essai, p. 22. See p. xcix below. Michel, Gesta, p. viii. t^ ON oan Ibid., pp. ix-x.

xi

INTRODUCTION

books on canon and civil law (‘multa in utroque iure"), which have not sur-

vived.!? Michel's suggestion seems plausible at first sight, and the attribution of the poem to William of Rennes, along presumably with Michel's identification of the author, has been accepted without question by Rosemary Morris." Indeed, in favour of Michel's identification it could be argued that William, as a Breton born in Thorigné, might well have been responsible for a verse paraphrase of the

Historia Regum Britannie which was of evident relevance to contemporary Breton politics and addressed to a Breton bishop. Moreover, the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie occasionally evinces an interest in legal vocabulary and questions of law.!? This too might arguably conform with the known interests of

the Dominican William of Rennes. On closer inspection, however, a number of difficulties arise. First, we may wonder how likely it is that a serious-minded Dominican friar and jurist would have produced a metrical paraphrase of Geoffrey's pseudo-history. And, even if we conclude, like Michel, that William might have cultivated poetry as a diversion? or that the paraphrase may be a product of William's youth written during his education at Dinan, there remains the problem that such a poem is nowhere recorded amongst William's writings. Second, there is the question of why William, if he were the author of the Gesta Regum Britannie, should have

dedicated the poem to Cadioc, bishop of Vannes. The chronology of William's life is far from certain, but, if he composed the poem during the time of his education by the Dominicans at Dinan (c. 1250) and before he left for Paris (as would seem likely since Cadioc died in 1254), why should he have sent the

poem to a southern bishopric rather than, for example, to his local bishop at Dol? That William should have dedicated the poem to Cadioc is made all the more unlikely by the fact that the Dominicans had no house in Vannes during the 1250s; the first mendicant house in Vannes, which belonged to the Franciscans, was not founded until the 1260s, after Cadioc's death.!^ A further difficulty is raised by the use of the words per manum in the colophon of the Paris manuscript. As Michel rightly observes, these words ‘seem to point out the amanuensis rather than the author."5 Michel found it difficult to believe that a man of the standing of William of Rennes ‘could lower himself to the humble office of an amanuensis.'!$ Nevertheless Michel did not consider the possibility that, if the phrase ‘per manum' does, as it appears, 10 On William of Rennes and his works, see Histoire littéraire, XVIII.403—6 and XXIX.602—6; and Martin, Les ordres, pp. 127, 159 and 164. i. Ine Gesia:,p. 61. 12 See, for example: 1.331 (Corineus’s invocation of the lex ueterum); IV.193-8 (use of legal metaphors); IV.481-99 (illegality of the foundation of Brittany); VIII.53—71 and 93-106 (rejection of Rome's rights over Britain); X.470-1 and 492-8 (illegality of English occupation of Britain; cf. also X.354—5).

1! 1^ 15 16

«

Gesta, pp. ix-x. Martin, Les ordres, p. 12. Gesta, p. ix. ibid., p. ix.

xii

DATE AND AUTHORSHIP

denote the role of copyist, William not only composed the Gesta Regum Britannie but was also the scribe of the Paris manuscript. That hypothesis can, however, be ruled out because the level of textual corruption found in the Paris manuscript makes it extremely unlikely that it is the author’s autograph.” If, then, the colophon of the Paris manuscript, as Michel suspected, names the copyist rather than the author of the poem and if it does indeed refer to the Dominican William of Rennes, he did no more than copy the poem. It is, therefore, important to stress that in the final analysis Michel felt it was more likely that ‘a William of Rennes, different from the jurisconsult, was merely the transcriber of the metrical History of the Britons.”!* Even if the phrase ‘per manum’ were to denote the author rather than the copyist, which seems unlikely, there is no guarantee that ‘Guillelmus dictus de Redonis monachus’ is identical with the Dominican William of Rennes. It is safest to conclude provisionally that the authorship of the poem remains uncertain, and that even if a William of Rennes composed the poem rather than, as is more likely, merely copied it, we cannot be sure that this William is the same as the Dominican friar and jurist. One final problem needs to be considered. Despite the poem’s dedication to a Breton bishop and the poet’s evident interest in Breton affairs, Ward and Herbert nevertheless questioned whether the author was himself Breton; although, on the strength of the dedication, they concede that the poet was resident in Brittany, they state that it is ‘difficult to decide whether he speaks as a Breton or a Welshman.’!? Their doubts stem from the following lines in the

epilogue of the poem (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.490-8): Saxones hinc abeant; lateant mea scripta Quirites; Nec pateant Gallis, quos nostra Britannia uictrix Sepe molestauit. Solis hec scribo Britannis, Ut memores ueteris patrie iurisque paterni Exiliique patrum propriique pudoris, anhelent Uocibus et uotis ut regnum restituatur Antiquo iuri, quod possidet Anglicus hostis; Neue male fidei possessor predia nostra Prescribat sumatque bonas a tempore causas.

For Ward and Herbert, the problem is whether these lines are addressed to the Bretons or to the Welsh, as descendents of the original Britons. Does nostra Britannia refer simply to Brittany, which has frequently harried the French, or in a broader sense to Britain, foe of English, Romans and Gauls alike? Is the homeland to be recovered by the Bretons, the Welsh or both? Like Ward and

Herbert, Michel felt that this passage could be related as well, if not better, to Welsh aspirations to drive out the English as to an implausible appeal to the

Y 18 19

Seep.cv below. Gesta, p. X. Catalogue, p. 274. xiii

INTRODUCTION

Continental Bretons to recover their lost homeland.” In a sense, of course, this is right. The poet, following the lead of the Historia Regum Britannie, is here writing as a greater Briton, and one of his aims is to foster Breton memories of former British glory; but be that as it may, his impractical dream of restoring the ancient kingdom of Britain need not be literally interpreted as evidence that he was a Welshman rather than a Breton.” Two further pieces of evidence bear on the poet’s nationality. The first occurs in a passage which describes a battle between the British king Aurelius and Hengist, which, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, takes place on a plain called Maisbeli (Historia Regum Britannie, §121, ‘campo qui dicitur Maisbeli’). The name of this plain, which has not been identified, means in Welsh ‘the field of Beli’, a name very probably invented by Geoffrey.“ In the poem, this place-name is correctly explained by the author: ‘Campus erat Beli de nomine nomen adeptus’ (Gesta Regum Britannie VI.131). However, the poet’s correct latinisation of the place-name Maisbeli need not mean that he was himself a Welshman, since at that time the Welsh and Breton languages were not dissimilar and Welsh may well have been largely comprehensible to a Breton-speaker. Indeed, an error earlier in the same passage strongly suggests that the poet was not Welsh. Before the battle of Maisbeli, Hengist had crossed the Humber and gathered troops from the far north. In Historia Regum Britannie, §120, these northern troops are specified as being drawn from the ‘Pictis, Scotis, Dacis, Norguegensibus’. In the Breton poem, only the Scoti and Daci are retained, the Picti and Norguegenses being incongruously replaced by the Uenedoti (Gesta Regum Britannie VI.119—20):

Ex aquilonali plaga Dacos, Uenedotos Congregat et Scotos.

Unless “ex aquilonali plaga' is here understood to refer only to the Daci, which seems impossible as it applies equally well to the Scoti, the poet appears to be locating the Uenedoti, or northern Welsh, far to the north of the Humber. Such an error is extremely unlikely to have been made by a Welshman and so points strongly in favour of the author of the poem having been a Breton.

70 Gesta, p. xvi. ?^ Cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, pp. 110-12, who, reading the passage similarly, regards the author as a Breton pessimistic about Breton independence, but who saw in the Welsh resurgence of the 1230s a chance of recovering ‘British’ greatness.

2 Bern 568 here reads Maubeti (Wright, The Historia, 1.87), but the correct form Maisbeli is found in the majority of the manuscripts.

?3

See Tatlock, The Legendary History, pp. 21 and 39. On Geoffrey's knowledge of Welsh,

see Crawford, 'Linguistic competence'.

^ Anumber of passages (especially Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.257 and IX.501-2) make it clear that the Breton poet uses Scoti to denote the Scots (as opposed to the Irish), as indeed does Geoffrey of Monmouth; see Tatlock, The Legendary History, pp. 8-9. xiv

II The Poem and its Sources (a) Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britannie

Because of its great popularity, Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britannie, or parts of it, not infrequently attracted the attention of Latin versifiers.^ However, none of their efforts is as ambitious as the Gesta Regum Britannie, which comprises nearly 5,000 lines. As a hexameter version of the entire Historia, it belongs to a long tradition of verse paraphrases of prose texts which spans the Middle Ages and reaches back to Antiquity: to cite two twelfthcentury parallels, the Breton poem stands in a similar relationship to its source as Joseph of Exeter’s Ylias (or Bellum Troianum) does to Dares Phrygius’s De Excidio Troiae, or Walter of Chatillon’s Alexandreid to Quintus Curtius and the other historical sources which Walter used. Both Joseph of Exeter and Walter of Chátillon freely adapted their source texts in various ways, fusing their contents with the conventions of Classical Latin epic as well as the modes of expression of their models, primarily Vergil, Ovid and Lucan.? By comparison with Joseph and Walter, the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie adheres more closely to his basic source; but he too often recasts Geoffrey's narrative in accordance with the conventions of poetry and rhetoric, Classical and mediaeval. Before we examine the poet's major modifications to the Historia and his responses to prior poetry, however, we must first consider his use of his prime source itself more closely. Rosemary Morris, the only modern critic to have considered the literary merits of the poem, has compared the Gesta Regum Britannie unfavourably to Walter of Chátillon's Alexandreid; she regards the Breton poem's lack of a central hero as a serious fault.?* She criticises the poet for not writing an Arthurian epic by concentrating on Arthur alone, as Walter did on Alexander. However, this criticism is anachronistic, laying as it does an emphasis on unity which is foreign to mediaeval epic. Walter's poem certainly concentrates on Alexander, but it remains primarily a paraphrase of Quintus

Curtius: its unity is that of its principal source. Conversely, Joseph of Exeter's Ylias, which follows, albeit loosely, the narrative of Dares Phrygius, has no one central character, but is concerned with the story of Troy and the heroes, both Greek and Trojan, who participated in its siege and destruction. The theme of the Gesta Regum Britannie is similarly broad, though even more ambitious in 25 Schmidt, * "Brutus" ’; Hammer, ‘Une version’, “The poetry’, and ‘Some Leonine summaries’ (on which see also pp. ci-ii below). ; 26 For editions of these poems see respectively nn. 174 and 92 below. joseph and Walter's adaptation of their sources is discussed by Bate, Joseph, pp. 7-9 and 7 Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, ch. 4; their borrowings from Classical poetry are set out in the apparatus of the respective editions, although in Joseph's case much work remains to be done. 28 ‘The Gesta’, pp. 61 and 117—23 (especially 122).

XV

INTRODUCTION

the scope of its canvas. The parameters of its story are clearly announced in the opening lines (Gesta Regum Britannie, I.11—15): Caliope referas, ut te referente renarrem, Unde genus Britonum, que nominis huius origo, Unde suos habuit generosa Britannia reges, Quis fuit Arturus, que gesta, quis exitus eius, Qualiter amisit infelix nacio regnum.

It is true, as Morris observes, that Arthur is here singled out for special mention among Britain's kings, but the same is also the case in the prologue to Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia itself.? It is also true that in the body of the poem the character of King Arthur is, as we shall see, to some extent modelled on that of Walter of Chátillon's Alexander.?? Nevertheless, although he is among the mightiest of Britain's heroes, Arthur remains here, as in the Historia, one in a line of British kings, some of whom, such as Brutus, Brennius or Ambrosius Aurelius for example, rival or parallel his prowess. The poem's central theme is thus wider than Arthur's reign alone: like its source, the Historia, the poem traces the history of Britain from the arrival of the British in prehistory through their triumphs and reverses to their final loss of sovereignty to the English in the seventh century A.D. The poem is conceived as a national epic, an account of the former greatness of the British people which the poet lays before his Breton audience. It is therefore unjust to criticise the poet for failing to write an Arthuriad when his intention, like that of the Historia Regum Britannie which he paraphrases, is to compose a Britanniad, tracing the rise and tragic fall of Britain and the British. Having established that the poet aimed to reproduce the overall scope and general subject-matter of his source, we must consider precisely how he paraphrased Geoffrey's prose into hexameters. Generally, the Gesta Regum Britannie follows the Historia closely, although there is a tendency to abbreviation. Consider, for example, Geoffrey's account of the reign of Morvid in Historia Regum Britannie, $48:?! Quo defuncto insignitus est Moruidus quem ex Tangusteaia concubina genuerat. Hic nimia probitate famosissimus esset nisi plus nimie crudelitati indulsisset. Nemini namque parcebat iratus quin eum interficeret si copiam telorum reperiret. Erat namque pulcher aspectu et in dandis muneribus profusus. Nec erat tante fortitudinis alter in regno qui congressum eius sustentare quiuisset. Tunc temporibus ipsius applicuit quidam rex Morianorum cum magna manu in Northamhimbriam et patriam uastare incepit. Cui Moruidus collecta totius 7?!

81.

30 pp. xliv-vii below. The specific reference to Arthur's gesta at the beginning of the Breton poem (1.14) may indeed allude to the opening line of the Alexandreid, (*Gesta ducis Macedum totum digesta per orbem"), although the same word is used for Arthur's deeds in Historia Regum Britannie, $1. 31 The text cited here is that of the Bern manuscript (ed. Wright, Historia Regum Britannie

I).

xvi

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

potestatis sue iuuentute obuiam perrexit et cum illo preliatus est. Plus ipse solus in preliando proficiebat quam maxima pars exercitus cui principa batur. Et ut uictoria potitus est, non euasit ullus uiuus quin ipsum interficeret. Iubebat enim unum post alium ante se adduci ut quemque perimendo crudelitatem suam satiaret. Et cum fatigatus paulisper cessasset, precipiebat ipsos uiuos excoriari et excoriatos comburi. Inter hec et alia seuicie sue gesta contigit ei infortunium quoddam quod nequiciam suam deleuit. Aduenerat namque ex partibus Hibernici maris inaudite feritatis belua que incolas iuxta maritima sine intermissione deuorabat. Cumque fama aures eius attigisset, accessit ad illam et solus cum ea congressus est. At cum omnia tela sua in illa in uanum consumpsisset, accelerauit monstrum illud et apertis faucibus ipsum uelud

pisciculum deuorauit.

This account is paraphrased into hexameters as follows (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.129—58): At illum In regno sequitur Morindus filius eius, Sed non legitime natus. Quo corpore maior Uel probitate prior uel largior in tribuendis Muneribus nullus toto reperitur in orbe. Sed nimis indulgens feritati suffocat omnes Uirtutes alias quibus est laudabilis ipse.

130

133

In regnum cuius magna comitante caterua Rex Morianorum seuus uenit. Obuiat illi Innumero Britonum circumdatus agmine. Partes Prelia committunt; stragem facit agmen utrumque. Solus rex Britonum gladio facit in Morianos Maiorem stragem quam cetera turba suorum. Cedit ei tandem uictoria; seuit in hostes Terga fuge dantes gladioque suo iubet omnes Seruari satagensque sue furialiter ire In cunctos fertur; cunctorum funera gaudet Ascribi sibimet. Fera dextera percuciendo Forte fatigatur, sed mens sitibunda cruoris Indefessa manet. Dum cessat dextera lassa, Ipse facit propriis spoliari pellibus omnes Appositoque iubet spoliatos igne cremari. Dum uacat in cunctis intento corde furori, Belua que regis crudelia uindicet acta, Exit ab occeano; quam cum prope constat adesse Magnanimo regi, poscit certamen inire Solus cum sola. Telis petit exiciale Monstrum; consumptis manet hec sine uulnere telis Et regem oppressum mendico deuorat ore _ Et quasi pisciculum uentri commendat inani.

140

145

150

155

The basic narrative is essentially the same in both the prose and verse versions

of this passage. Very few important details are missing from the poem. At the beginning of the passage, the name of Morvid's mother is omitted when the xvii

INTRODUCTION

clause ‘quem ex Tangusteaia concubina genuerat’ is paraphrased as ‘filius eius / Sed non legitime natus' (lines 130-1); also, the exact geographical origin of Geoffrey's sea-monster, which comes ‘ex partibus Hibernici maris", is blurred in the poem where it simply ‘Exit ab occeano' (153). Nevertheless, Geoffrey's narrative is often compressed in the hexameter version; for example, the sentence *Nec erat tante fortitudinis alter in regno qui congressum eius sustentare quiuisset' disappears entirely in the verse, unless it is dimly reflected in the phrase ‘Quo corpore maior / . . . nullus' (131-3) (which may also render the description of Morvid as ‘pulcher aspectu' in Geoffrey's previous sentence). Despite this abbreviation, the verse passage generally follows the prose closely, even to the extent of repeating some of its vocabulary: compare 'probitate prior' (line 132) with 'probitate famosissimus'; 'largior in tribuendis / Muneribus' (133) with *dandis muneribus profusus’; and ‘consumptis . . . telis/ ... mendico deuorat ore / quasi pisciculum' (156-8) with ‘cum omnia tela... consumpsisset, . . . ipsum uelud pisciculum deuorauit.'? However, other elements in the prose account are completely recast; for example, “collecta totius potestatis sue iuuentute obuiam perrexit becomes *Obuiat illi /Innumero Britonum circumdatus agmine' (137-8). Sometimes prosaic phrases are reclothed in

more poetic diction. For instance, ‘rex Morianorum cum magna manu’ is recast as ‘magna comitante caterua / Rex Morianorum’ (136-7). Here the expression

‘cum magna manu’, a commonplace which Geoffrey perhaps borrowed from Sallust,? is replaced by the phrase ‘magna comitante caterua’, a half-line originally used by Vergil and much imitated by later writers.* In addition to adding poetic diction such as this, the poet also injects heightened feeling by the frequent use of emotive epithets absent from the prose: thus the unnamed rex Morianorum is described as seuus (137), Morindus himself as magnanimus (154), and his cruel mind as metaphorically sitibunda cruoris (147); similarly, the sea-beast which destroys him, termed merely a monstrum by Geoffrey, becomes an excitiale /Monstrum (155-6), whose mouth, moreover, is mendicus and its belly inanis (157-8). There are other vivid touches of treatment and

language: the phrase ‘seuit in hostes’ (142) is substituted in the verse for Geoffrey's bland ‘cum illo preliatus est’; and, in cruelly executing his prisoners with his own hands, Morvid is described as ‘satagensque sue furialiter ire’, his savagery being underscored by the poet’s use of the impressive adverb furialiter.55 According to Geoffrey, the sea-beast merely puts an end to Morvid's wickedness, *nequiciam suam deleuit'; in the poem (152), this is the explicit 32 In the conspectus fontium, I have recorded a number of passages in which the poet follows Geoffrey's diction very closely (as, for example, when he borrows hexameters directly from the Historia in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.279-81). 73 Catilina 43.2; Bellum Iugurthinum 12.3 and 58.1. ** Aeneid, 11.40, 11.370, and V.76; for later imitations (often with a different adjective

substituted for magna), see Schumann, Héxameter Lexikon, 1.381. The influence of Vergil on

the Gesta Regum Britannie is discussed below, pp. lxi-ii. He: E adjective is used only once in Classical poetry, by Ovid, Fasti, III.637 (Thesaurus, .1, 1617-18).

xviii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

purpose of its appearance, ‘que regis crudelia uindicet acta’ (note too the addition of the descriptive epithet crudelia). Moreover, in the verse version Morvid does not simply meet the beast alone (as in Geoffrey’s ‘solus cum ea congressus est’), but purposefully demands to fight it in single combat, ‘poscit certame n

inire / Solus cum sola’ (154-5), the stark confrontation of man and beast being

emphasised by the pointed repetition in the half-line ‘Solus cum sola’. Likewis e, when in the poem Morvid executes his victims, he takes delight in so doing, ‘cunctorum funera gaudet / Ascribi sibimet" (145-6), the emphatic pronoun sibimet not being used simply metri causa but also to underline the horror of Morvid’s personal cruelty. A further vivid touch in the verse is the contrast between the king’s hand, which grows weary of slaughter ‘by chance’ and his unassuaged cruelty: *Fera dextera percuciendo / Forte fatigatur, sed mens sitibunda cruoris / Indefessa manet’ (146-8), a touch which is developed from no more than the hint given in Geoffrey’s ‘cum fatigatus paulisper cessasset.' In

addition, the poem also employs vivid metaphor, as, for example, when Morvid is said to smother all his virtues by indulging his savagery, ‘nimis indulgens

feritati suffocat omnes / Uirtutes’ (134-5); and also hyperbole, as when the description of Morvid’s virtues is magnified to a global scale, ‘Quo corpore

maior / Uel probitate prior uel largior in tribuendis / Muneribus nullus toto reperitur in orbe.’ Moreover, Geoffrey’s effective final simile, in which the sea-monster swallows the haughty king like a little fish, is reproduced in the verse, the poet also retaining the striking diminutive form ‘quasi pisciculum’ (158). Rosemary Morris, when evaluating the poet’s adaptation of his source, censures him for his close rendition, maintaining that the versification of Geoffrey’s ‘driest chronicle style’ results in ‘highly unpoetical and tedious’ passages.* However, the passage discussed above, which was chosen entirely at random, serves to counter her criticism. It affords a good example of the Breton poet’s regular practice in versifying Geoffrey’s prose; while he adheres closely to the Historia and abbreviates it slightly, he also reclothes the narrative in poetic diction and imagery. Indeed, Morris’s objections seem to be grounded on modern romantic notions of poetry. She also faults the poet for incorporating into his verse the occasional precise dates given by Geoffrey (such as that of Arthur’s death),?” and for contrasting ‘Classical form with violently non-Classical content'?* by ‘adapting Geoffrey’s rebarbative nomenclature’ while ‘the metre can no longer take the strain.'?? Yet the inclusion of dates was a topos of metrical epitaphs in the Middle Ages; Walter of Chátillon, one of the most influential of 36 ‘The Gesta’, p. 65, where Gesta Regum Britannie, III.117-21 is cited as an example. 3 [bid., p. 119, the relevant lines being IX.312-13, ‘Anno quingeno quadragenoque secundo / Post incarnatum sine patris semine uerbum’; compare also IV.166—7, ‘Bis octoginta subductis quatuor annis / Post incarnatum celesti semine uerbum’, and X.407-9, 'Secula sex, lustra octodecim, dempto tamen uno, / Post incarnatum uerbum uenisse feruntur, / Cum Cadualadrus celi secessit ad arcem." 38 [bid., p. 66, quoting V.284—5 and 287-8. 39

[bid., pp. 65-6, where III.221—3 is cited.

xix

INTRODUCTION

mediaeval

Latin poets, did not shrink from including such a date in the

Alexandreid.® And Geoffrey's fondness for outlandish names can, as Morris herself concedes, be paralleled in Chrétien de Troyes; more appositely, Walter of Chátillon himself takes pleasure in the names of Alexander's eastern opponents, and on occasion builds entire lines around proper names, much as the Breton poet does.*! Likewise, when the poet omits the metrically difficult names Gratianus and Valentinianus, his admission that they are so (Gesta Regum Britannie,

V.15, ‘quorum sunt nomina dissona metro’) does not mean that he is entirely

defeated, but simply that he is employing another convention of Latin verse.*? Indeed, just as a few lines later (V.40) he uses a different stylistic trick, refering to another Gratianus (Municeps) by an etymological periphrasis (*uirum, dederat qui gratia nomen"). Such effects would have been expected and appreciated by his thirteenth-century audience. Moreover, the poet's versification of the Historia is not so slavish that he does not on occasion omit material. Sometimes it is clear that he does so in order to smooth Geoffrey's narrative, as, for example, when he omits details of ecclesiastical deaths and appointments which, in Historia Regum Britannie, $8179— 80, obtrude awkwardly into the account of Constantine's campaign against Mordred’s rebellious sons (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1X.318—25). The same motive probably lies behind one of the poet's most considerable omissions, that of the body of the Prophetie Merlini (Historia Regum Britannie, $8113—17); ostensibly the poet claims that the Prophecies are too difficult to versify (Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.70, ‘Quorum difficile est seriem committere metro’), but we may suspect that behind this mask of rhetorical modesty he welcomed the chance of omitting the Prophecies which, despite their popularity, might have been viewed as an obscure digression in the poem. Sometimes there are other reasons for the poet's omissions. His handling of the prelude to the battle of Siesia is a case in point. Geoffrey, writing as a (pseudo-) historian, prefaces his account with two detailed descriptions of the British and Roman dispositions for battle (Historia Regum Britannie, §§169-70). In the poem, the battle is, as we shall see, treated more impressionistically and tragically. The details of battleformations are therefore omitted. The poet does retain, in modified form, the contrasting exhortations of Arthur and the Roman commander Lucius to their troops (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIIL413—40 and 448-62), but he injects a note of impending doom by adding after Lucius's speech that it was easy to tell that the Romans would be the beaten party (VIII.468—70): ^! Alexandreid, V11.429—30, ‘In summa annorum bis milia bina leguntur / Bisque quadringenti decies sex bisque quaterni.' ^! Pace Morris, ‘The Gesta', p. 66. See for instance, Alexandreid, III.55-6, ‘Impiger Antigonus Cenos Craterus et ipse / Parmenio' (Greeks); III.72, *Hiis Agilon, hiis adit Elan boe Cherippum’, and V.30, ‘Et Pharos Orcanides: Eliphaz iaculo, Pharos ense' (easterners). ??

Cf. Ovid, Tristia, IV.12.1-2 (addressed to Tuticanus), ‘Quo minus in nostris ponaris

amice, libellis /Nominis efficitur condicione tui.' Morris, "The Gesta', p. 66, herself compares Horace, Satires, 1.5.87, *oppidulo quod uersu dicere non est.'

XX

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Attamen in uultu tam principis ista iubentis Quam promittentum firma hec promissa potentum De facili potuit belli pars uicta notari.

Another considerable omission occurs at the very beginning of the poem. Geoffrey, loosely following the Historia Brittonum, begins his narrative with an

account of Aeneas’s arrival in Italy with his son Ascanius, the illicit relationship of Ascanius’s son Silvius with a niece of Lavinia, and the subsequent birth of Brutus, who kills his mother in childbirth and later his father in a hunting accident, for which he is exiled (Historia Regum Britannie, §6). At the opening of the poem, this complicated story is condensed into slightly more than one line at the beginning of the narrative: ‘Brutus, ab Enea quartus, casu patricida/ Exulat’ (1.24-5). The poet's motive for this abruptness was probably the desire to pass swiftly over the rather unsavory details of the birth of Brutus, who in the poem is to be not merely the eponym of the Britons but also the archetypal British ruler and hero. The poet is thus able to move directly on to Brutus's more praiseworthy exploits in Greece. In one last case, however, it is more difficult to determine why a passage was omitted by the poet. The passage concerned is the moving speech by which Tonwenna averts civil war and reconciles her sons, Brennius and Belinus (Historia Regum Britannie, 841). Despite the effective-

ness of the speech, which would easily lend itself to the kind of pathetic elaboration favoured, as we shall see, by the poet, he entirely omits it, recording only that Tonwenna ‘trementi / Se gerit in medium passu pacemque reformat/ Inter eos’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.20—22).**

More often than he omits material, however, the poet reshapes the Historia by means of additions, both major and minor, to his source. A great number of Classical details or allusions is, for example, added in the poem. These range from single words to give a Classical colouring, such as the Greek patronymics Utherides (V1I.378; VIII.117) and Pandrasides (11.25), to specific references to Classical myth or history. When, for example, Brutus sacrifices to Diana, the considerable Classical feel which the passage already has in Geoffrey's account (Historia Regum Britannie, $16) is increased still further in the poem (1.24288). Brutus is for instance dressed in a Greek robe (sindon, 257) and uses a crater to pour his libation (266). And, while Geoffrey mentions only that the three gods invoked each received an offering (Singulis singula libamina dederunt’), the poet, probably inspired by a passage of Ovid, specifies the positions of the alters relative to each other and apportions a fitting sacrifice to each god — an ox for Jupiter, a hind for Diana, and a dog for Mercury (261—2).^ In

Geoffrey's version of Brutus's subsequent prayer to Diana, the Goddess's triple aspect is alluded to by reference to her powers over the woods, over the sky, and over hell; in the poem, which may have been influenced here by the Graecismus Morris, ‘The Gesta’, p. 86, somewhat implausibly attributes this omission to a masculine 43 ; ' distaste for ‘gentler emotions.’ Cf. Metamorphoses, IV.753-6, although there the offerings are a bull for Jupiter, a calf 44 for Mercury and a cow for Minerva.

xxi

INTRODUCTION

of Everhard of Béthune,‘ these references are retained (in reverse order), but are strengthened by the use in each case of the relevant cult name, respectively Diana goddess of hunting, Luna the moon-goddess, and Proserpina queen of the underworld (266-70).

Further Classical allusions abound in the poem. Winds are loosed from the bag of Aeolus (‘Missus ab Eoliis . . . utribus Auster’, Gesta Regum Britannie, V.27);*6 Leir’s daughters are induced to reject him by the Fury Tisiphone ('ductu Tesiphoneo’, II.250), while another Fury reigns during battle (‘regnat Erinis’,

1.346);47 also in battle, the Classical Fate Atropos is described as being like a

reaper, shearing the lives of men woven by her sisters (‘Atropos occat ibi tot forcia fila sororum / Quot messes messor defalcat falce recurua', VI.165—6);

when the rival armies are drawn up before the battle of Siesia, Bellona, the goddess of war, comes between them and provides their weapons (“In medium Bellona uenit gladiosque ministrat / Telaque militibus' IX.26—7), just as, according to Lucan, Caesar did at the battle of Pharsalia.** One of the most effective of these allusions to Classical myth occurs in a passage concerning the death of Bladud, the magician king who perished during an attempt to fly (II.160—4). In the Historia ($30), no reason is given for his failure, but in the poem the king falls because his wings melt ('liquefactis corruit alis', II.162); his fate thereby mirrors that of Icarus, who according to myth fell to his death after the wings manufactured by his father Daedalus melted when he flew too close to the sun. In the poem, the single word /iquefactis thus adds an entirely new resonance to the Galfridian original. A similarly striking allusion, this time to Classical history, is found in Cassibellaunus's letter replying to Caesar's request for subjection from the Britons. After having castigated Roman greed, Cassibelaunus rhetorically absolves the Parthians from blame for punishing Crassus's typically Roman avarice by making him drink molten gold. This constitutes a reference to one tradition about the

fate of Crassus's corpse after the battle of Carrhae in 53 B.C.*9 A further effective use of a detail from Classical history, in this case of the organisation of a Roman triumph, occurs in an apostrophe to the Briton Androgeus, who is treacherously fighting against his own people (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.390— 4): Tua te uictoria uictum Reddit, dumque tuos superas, te subicis hosti. Non tu, sed Cesar curru uictore uehetur. Quo uultu cernes tabulam Britonesque ligatos? Cesar erit uictor et tota Britannia uicta.

Androgeus is fighting to defeat himself; it is not he but Caesar who will ride 55 ^6 ‘7 48 49

See p. lvi below. Cf. Ovid, Amores, III.12.29, ‘Aeolios Ithacis inclusimus utribus Euros.’ The latter phrase is probably borrowed from Metamorphoses, 1.241. Cf. De Bello Ciuili, V1L574, ‘gladios ac tela ministrat.’ See p. Ixxiii below.

xxii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

in the triumphal chariot.* Then, imaginatively depicting Androgeus as present at Caesar's triumph?! the poet demands to know how he will bear to see the Britons in chains and the tabulae of the Roman victory, pictures which were customarily carried in the triumphal procession. In contrast with these Classical allusions, a thoroughly mediaeval motif which the poet adds to his source is that of Fortune’s wheel? This is first mentioned in the reign of Leir. The inspiration for this reference was probably provided indirectly by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In Historia Regum Britannie, §31, the despairing Leir reproaches the inevitability of fate, ‘irreuocabilia fatorum seria que solito cursu fixum iter tenditis’. This fully Classical imagery is also found in the poem, where the king apostrophises ‘O quam rata seria fati / Que nemo reuocare potest’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, 11.261—2).*3 But immediately before this speech, the poet holds up Leir as an example of the fickleness of Fortune (11.245—9), in a passage which has no parallel in the prose text: O rota fortune, que tam cito uolueris, altos Deicis ex alto, deiectos tollis in altum; Nusquam stas stabilis, nusquam pede firma tenaci. Ecce Leyr, quem turba ducum circumdabat olim, Uix habet unius solacia militis.

In a later passage, the poet returns to the image of Fortune’s wheel when he compares with it the inconstancy of the British people (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.501-3): Inconstans Britonum populus constanter in ipsa Mobilitate uiget; nusquam Ranusia uirgo Mobiliore rota fertur quam spiritus eius. This conceit also forms the basis of a final ironic reference to Fortune's wheel in

the poem (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.431—7), where it recurs in an apostrophe to

Britain herself:

testis Fortune stabilis, mendaces esse poetas Conuincis, qui stare deam, quam uoluit in orbe Orbita, posse negant. Fortunam stare tenaci Proposito te teste probas nusquamque moueri: Nam qualis tecum cepit persistere, talis Perstat adhuc.

ueheris' (which also The poet here echoes Ovid, Tristia, IV.2.47, 'curru, Caesar, uictore 50 3 describes a triumph). ac-

Androgeus The idea e probably suggested by Geoffrey's Historia, 864, where 51 victory. his after Rome companies Caesar to Es 52. On Fortune's wheel, see Patch, The Goddess, ch. 5. Lucan, De Bello Ciuili, 1.70, In the Historia, seria seems to be a mistake for series (cf. 53 pts (cf. Reeve, ‘The trans‘Inuida fatorum series’), but it is the reading of all manuscri mission"); the poet apparently follows Geoffrey in this error.

xxiii

INTRODUCTION

Here, by an ingenious twist typical of the poet’s style, Britain is unexpectedly and paradoxically made to bear witness to the stability of Fortune, and to give the lie to poetic assertions of her mutability: just as Brutus’s career of war gave birth to Britain, so strife is to be her unerring fate. The poet’s taste for vivid imagery can also be observed in the frequent emotive speeches found in the Gesta Regum Britannie, some of which (like that discussed below) are more elaborate versions of Galfridian originals, while others are entirely original. A single example from the opening of the poem will serve to illustrate the way in which one of Geoffrey’s speeches is recast by the poet. The following passage, from Historia Regum Britannie, §7, describes the reasons which persuaded Brutus to lead the captive Trojans in a revolt against their Greek masters: Diuulgata itaque per uniuersas nationes ipsius fama Troiani ceperunt ad eum confluere orantes ut ipso duce a seruitute Grecorum liberarentur. Quod leuiter

fieri asserebant, cum in tantum iam intra patriam multiplicati essent ut .vii. milia exceptis paruulis et mulieribus computarentur. Preterea erat quidam nobilissimus iuuenis in Gretia nomine Assaracus qui partibus eorum fauebat. Ex Troiana namque matre natus erat fiduciamque in illis habebat maximam ut auxilio eorum inquietudini Grecorum resistere quiuisset. Arguebat enim eum frater suus propter tria castella que sibi moriens pater donarat et ea auferre conabatur quia ex concubina natus fuerat. Erat autem frater et patre et matre Grecus asciueratque regem ceterosque Grecos parti sue fauere. In Geoffrey's version, the Trojans' request for Brutus's leadership and the encouragement offered by their numbers are expressed in indirect speech; and the

support of the half-Trojan Assaracus and the reasons for it are added as part of the narrative itself. In the poem, the entire passage is quite differently treated (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.37—67):

Plebs igitur Troiana uirum de sanguine cretum Dardanio flexis genibus lacrimisque profusis, Passibus aggrediens timidis, sic orsa profatur: "Dedecet ingenuos sub iniquo principe uitam Ducere degenerem. Pudet, ha pudet, esse tot annis Sub domino dominos. Serui sumus et generosi. Dum nos seruimus, partim seruire uideris, Cum sis pars nostri; nostri miserere tuique. Nam potes — et debes — nostros disoluere nexus. Grecia, nunc uictrix, reddet tibi uicta tributum Auxilio nostro. Fortes sumus et legione Maiores numero preter sexum muliebrem Et pueros. Nostre casus ulciscere Troie. Esto dux noster; uincemus te duce regem

Grecorum. Grecos credas tibi terga daturos. Nec status hic faciet seruilis condicionis

40

45

50

5 — As, for example, the laments of Immogen and the Roman maiden, for which see pp. Ixv-viii below.

xxiv

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Nos pauidos, memores antique nobilitatis. Nos labor assiduus duros armisque ferendis Aptos, delicie Danaos et pax diuturna Efficiunt molles. Hec pugna uidebitur impar: Cedentes Danaos cedemus; uulnere Grecis In tergo dabimus; uultus ostendere numquam Audebunt nobis fugientque; fugabimus et nos. Adde quod Assaracus, Troiana matre creatus, Patre tamen Greco, tria munitissima castra, Que sibi legauit moriens genitor, tenet. Illi Hec auferre parat eius frater quia non est Legitime natus. Rex Pandrasus auxiliatur Assaraci fratri. Tibi uult hec opida sponte Tradere seque simul. Hec et nos suscipe. Greci

n

60

65

Qui nunc sunt domini, fient te uindice serui.’

In the verse passage, the references to the Trojans’ numbers (47-9) and to the aid offered by Assaracus (60—66) have been transferred from the narrative into direct speech, to become part of the attempt to persuade Brutus. Moreover, other emotive elements have been added: the Trojans speak on bended knee, with

flowing tears and timid steps (38-9); they express indignation at their present servile situation (40-42), which by implication embraces Brutus himself (43-7),

victory is assured by the nobility of the Trojans and their hard toil, which contrasts with the sloth of the Greeks (49-59); and the speech ends with the confident assertion that the roles of master and slave will be reversed (66—7). As

recast by the poet, the entire speech constitutes a rhetorical tour-de-force. Another trait characteristic of the Gesta Regum Britannie is its fondness for elaborating battle-scenes. Consider, for example, the following descriptions of the battle of Calaterium between the brothers Belinus and Brennius. Geoffrey's original version (Historia Regum Britannie, $37) does not itself lack vigour: Multum diei in bellando consumpserunt quia in utraque parte probissimi uiri dextras commiscebant. Multum cruoris hinc et inde fuderunt quia tela ipsorum uiribus uibrata letifera uulnera ingerebant. Concidebant inter choortes uulnerati quemadmodum segetes a falcatoribus aggrediuntur. In the poem, this is rendered as follows (Gesta Regum Britannie, I1.430-45):

Plusquam ciuilia bella Committunt fratres. Obnubitur eminus aer Grandine telorum; franguntur cominus haste. Accedunt propius; commiscent ensibus enses. Mors cum marte uenit; gladio testante probatur Quis probus aut reprobus, quis fortis, quisue remissus, Quis sit amans laudis. Sitit omnis turba cruorem; Omnes arma tenent, omnes feriuntue caduntue. Nemo pari parcit; strages iacet alta uirorum. Forte aliquis gladiosue timens modiceue cruentus Labitur in terram; deiecta cadauera lapsum

XXV

430

440

INTRODUCTION

Extingunt fictamque necem mors uera secuta est. Ast alius letale gerens sub pectore uulnus, Cum prope conspiceret auctorem uulneris, ipsum Impetit et mersis digitis in gutture, fronti Dentibus affixis, ad tartara tendit uterque.

445

The scene of carnage is much expanded by the poet. The atmosphere is initially heightened by verbal dexterity: this war between brothers is, in Lucan's phrase, worse than civil (plusquam ciuilia bella’, 430);55 and the link between war and death is underscored by word-play (‘Mors cum marte uenit’, 434).56 The exchange of spears in the original version is extended to become a progression from an initial shower of javelins, to lances broken on either side, and finally to close-quarters fighting with swords. Moreover, Geoffrey's closing simile of the wounded falling like corn before reapers is replaced by two grisly vignettes: that of wounded men and grovelling cowards being crushed alike by corpses as they lie; and that of the mortally injured soldier who grapples with his assailant, teeth fixed in his face like a wild animal, so that both descend to hell together. This taste for the gruesome manifests itself in other battle-scenes in the poem. For example, during the slaughter of the Greeks in their camp by night, the Trojans frenziedly hack at the bodies of those who have already died (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.174—5):

Frustra sepe secant in frusta cadauera; mortem Ictibus inuitant repetitis, que uenit ultro.

When Uther Pendragon similarly sacks a Saxon camp at night, the flowing blood forms a pool behind a dam of corpses and drowns the wounded (Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.457-62):

Effusi per castra uage ruit unda cruoris De cliuo ruitans in ualle. Iacentibus ictu Uulneris ingeminat mortem cum uulnere sanguis. Corpora cesorum coaceruat sanguinis unda Uallis in extremo; defuncta cadauera firmo Obice diffusum faciunt stagnare cruorem.

Finally as a variation on this theme, at Arthur's last battle, the river Camlann, amazed at its waters being turned to blood, breaks its banks and the bloody torrent carries the wounded out to sea where they can be seen crying for help

(Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.276—81):

Late ruit unda cruoris Et fluit in fluuium. Naturam Cambula fontis Mutatam stupet esse sui. Transcendit inundans Sanguineus torrens ripas et ducit in equor

55 56

Cf. p. Ixix below. On the poet's use of annominatio, see pp. li-v below.

xxvi

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Corpora cesorum; plures natare uideres Et petere auxilium, quos nondum uita relinquit.

This taste for the grotesque can also be observed in the poet’s depiction of the giant of Mont-Saint-Michel, which is among the most effective descriptive passages in the poem. In the Historia (§165), beyond the giant’s size, ferocity and the blood around his mouth, his general appearance is left to the reader’s imagination. In contrast the poet, with some help from Ovid, paints, not without a certain grim humour, the following horrific portrait (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIIL240-7);? Ecce pudor matris, nature dedecus, horror Opprobriumque hominum, porcorum tabe cruenta Ora gerens, barbam concretam sanguine fedo, Distortum nasum, dentes non ordine iusto Dispositos, fauces patulas Acherontis ad instar, Obliquos oculos, caput admirabile uisu, Innatas setas in toto corpore gestans, Non alias uestes, ardenti presidet igni.

The poet is also fond of amplifying passages with religious content. For example, in Historia Regum Britannie, $64, Geoffrey notes in passing that the reign of the British king Kimbelinus coincided with the birth of Christ: In diebus illis natus est dominus noster Iesus Christus cuius precioso sanguine redemptum est humanum genus quod anteacto tempore demonum cathena obligabatur.

In the Gesta Regum Britannie, the corresponding passage, which is prominently placed at the beginning of Book IV, runs to 29 lines. After treating.the paradox of the virgin birth, and listing some of Christ's epithets and attributes, the poet ends the passage with a comparison of Christ, as the true Moses, with his Old Testament forerunner, an exercise in antithesis which is quite typical of his rhetorical style (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.30—39): Hic uerus Moyses sicco pede per Mare Rubrum Duxit iter, subiens crucis aram sanguine fuso; Iordanem primus Moyses non transiit, iste In Iordanis aqua nostrum scelus abluit; ille Egyptum populo Domini spoliauit, at iste Infernum penetrans inferni federa rumpit; Ille Dei seruos ad terram melle fluentem Ducere non potuit preuentus morte, fideles

Iste suos duxit secum fecitque perhenni Pace frui faciemque Dei sine fine uidere. The poet aptly draws on Ovid's grotesque description of the Cyclops Polyphemus in 5! Metamorphoses, XIV.201, 'barbam concretam sanguine’ (cf. Gesta Regum Britannie, VIII.242, ‘barbam concretam sanguine’), and XIIL.850, ‘in corpore saetae’ (cf. VIII.246, *setas in toto corpore").

xxvii

INTRODUCTION

A similar passage, which is one of the most highly wrought in the whole poem, is found in another religious passage reworked by the poet. In the prose text, this passage occurs before the battle of Badon, when Archbishop Dubricius delivers an exhortation to Arthur’s soldiers. Encouraging them to fight for their country, he likens death suffered in such circumstances to the passion of Christ, a death which moreover will be an absolution from all sins (Historia Regum Britannie,

§147): Pugnate pro patria uestra et mortem si superuenerit ultro pro eadem patimini. Ipsa enim uictoria est et anime remedium. Quicunque enim pro confratribus suis mortem inierit uiuam hostiam se prestet Deo Christumque insequi non ambigitur qui pro fratribus suis animam suam dignatus est ponere. Si aliquis igitur uestrum in hoc bello subierit mortem, sit ei mors illa omnium delictorum suorum penitentia et ablutio, dum hoc modo eam recipere non diffugerit.

The same speech, with much the same content, is found in Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.151-82, but the moralizing element is much augmented. Consider for example the following passage in which the death of the just man is compared and contrasted to that of the sinner, in much the same way as Christ and Moses had been (VII.156—64):

Presentis uite est spacium breue; uita futura Morte caret. Iusti mors gloria, pena perhennis Mors peccatoris; seruatur mortibus iste. Prima grauat corpus, animam necat altera. Primam Inducit natura necem, premissa secundam Accio. Prima perit cum corpore, durat in euum Spiritus et sua mors. Non posse perire periclum Talibus est; non posse mori mors tristior omni Morte. Moram mortis accusant qui paciuntur.

Other passages in which religious content is expanded by the poet are King Lucius's letter to Pope Elutherius (IV.125—44), the reference to the Invention of the True Cross by Constantine's mother Helena (IV.306-13), and the martyrdom of the monks of Bangor (IX.416—27), as well as a number of other passages in Books VIII-X to which we must return later.5* However, not all Geoffrey's religious passages are so treated. The highly rhetorical account of the passion of St Alban (Historia Regum Britannie, $77), which Geoffrey derived directly from

Gildas,? is, for example, omitted from the poem. The poet retains only a general reference to Alban and other British martyrs, although he does add some brief moralizing about martyrdom (IV.283—6), and, characteristically, introduces his account of the persecution of Diocletian, in which Alban supposedly died, with a

metaphorical description of St Peter’s ship endangered by the storms of the world (IV.276-7).

Perhaps the most effective of the additions made to his source by the poet of 55

Below, pp. xxxiii-vi.

59

Wright, ‘Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gildas’, pp. 7-8 and 35-6.

XXVili

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

the Gesta Regum Britannie is that of a number of apostr ophes, which, moreover, play an important part in binding the poem together. The addressees of these Passages are as follows. Gesta Regum Britannie

Androgeus Cassibellaunus Conan and Brittany Constans Vortigern Combatants at Siesia Mordred Britain

1II.388—402 III.436-39 IV.480—508 V.129-39 V.295-304 VIIL474—503 IX.199-240 X.429-45

The indignant flavour of the apostrophes can be gauged from the first of them, that to Androgeus, a Briton who treacherously fights with the Romans against his countrymen: Quid facis, Androgeu? Que te demencia cogit In populum seuire tuum? Seruire laboras, Qui fueras dominus? Tua te uictoria uictum Reddit, dumque tuos superas, te subicis hosti. Non tu, sed Cesar curru uictore uehetur. Quo uultu cernes tabulam Britonesque ligatos? Cesar erit uictor et tota Britannia uicta. Uictor honus pro laude feres, et Cesar honorem. Ecce tuus frater Tenuancius, hostibus hostis, Pugnat pro patria et pro libertate tuenda; Tu certas ut ferre iugum generosa propago Addiscat Britonum reddatque perhenne tributum. Esto memor Bruti nec agas contraria Bruto, Qui libertatem captiuis patribus olim Reddidit et proprio tribuit de nomine nomen.

Rhetorical outbursts of this kind are very much in the style of Lucan, one of the Breton poet's favourite Classical models. It is also possible that, in including these apostrophes, the poet may have been indirectly influenced by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who on three occasions allows himself this luxury: to praise the British for their resistence to Caesar (Historia Regum Britannie, $62); to deplore the fact that the ravages of Guanius and Melga were made possible by Maximianus's denuding Britain of its troops ($91); and, most impressively, to castigate Britain's decline into sin and civil war (8185). Since, in the poem, the apostrophes are directed against Geoffrey's villains or mark significant points in

Britain's decline, it may be that the poet's inspiration came from the third of these Galfridian passages in particular. 60

See pp. Ixviii-ix below.

xxix

INTRODUCTION

The apostrophes make an important thematic contribution to the poem, by highlighting the errors responsible for the downfall of the British kingdom. Androgeus, the first character to be addressed, is a traitor to his king and country who invites Caesar to make his third and successful invasion of Britain; he is apostrophised precisely at the moment when he is fighting with the Romans against his own people. Cassibellaunus, who is otherwise a strong and success-

ful king, is reproved for making Britain tributary to Rome; this, being the first time that Britain loses her ancestral freedom, also foreshadows her ultimate fate. The address to Conan marks, as we have seen, the foundation of Brittany.” In different ways this foundation constitutes a error for both Geoffrey and the poet: for Geoffrey, it leaves Britain undefended and open to attack by barbarians; for the poet, it represents an illegitimate seizure.of territory, an original sin to which all Brittany's tribulations down to his own day are attributable. The next address, to Constans, ironically pillories the inconstancy of this weak-minded monk illegally crowned by Vortigern, Geoffrey's arch-villain.? Vortigern is himself lambasted by the poet at the moment at which his lust leads him to marry Ronwen, the pagan daughter of Hengist, an impiety which surpasses that

of Constans and makes Vortigern as much of a traitor to his people as Androgeus. The condemnation of the warriors at Siesia, which is one of the most impressive of these apostrophes and owes much to Lucan, embraces both Romans and British, and by implication Arthur himself. Pride leads the Romans to demand tribute from Britain, but equally the British ought, according to the poet, to be satisfied with their own territory (VIII.476-8):

contenta Britannia fine Debuit esse suo; potuit quoque Roma tributum Quod petit iniuste non exegisse.

This apostrophe also, like those to Constans and Vortigern, has a religious element, since both sets of combatants are represented as being led astray by the Devil as part of his plan to thwart all human aspirations (VIII.478-92). The resulting battle is catastrophic for the Romans and also indirectly results in Arthur's ruin, for his absence on the Continent allows Mordred to rebel. The apostrophe to Mordred, like that to Androgeus, castigates his treachery (which also parallels that of Vortigern) and underscores the tragic nature of his role as an unknowing agent and victim of Satan. The final apostrophe, that to Britain herself, forms the culmination of those which preceded it (Gesta Regum Britan-

nie, X.429-445):

O Bruti regio, miserande condicionis Insula, plena doli, ueneris domus, hospita martis, Sanguinis urna, capax uiciorum sportula: testis Fortune stabilis, mendaces esse poetas Conuincis, qui stare deam, quam uoluit in orbe 9! €

Above, p. ix. Bor the poet's 5ünniAo Ga Reate hake LL S NL

E

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Orbita, posse negant. Fortunam stare tenaci Proposito te teste probas nusquamque moueri: Nam qualis tecum cepit persistere, talis Perstat adhuc. Regni cepisti nomen habere Ui gladii; tua cepta tenes, tua cepta tenebis, Dum poterunt Britones et Saxones arma tenere. Progenies Priami, fera gens, quam blanda molestat Pax, quam bella iuuant, que semper uiuis in armis, Cui semper discors concordia, scismaque concors, Ecce uenit uindicta Dei dignaque reatus Punit clade tuos; regni, quod polluis, expers Huius eris. Tua destituens, aliena sequeris.

It is no longer individual Britons who are at fault, but all collectively bear the burden of their sins. Britain is revealed in a new light, as a nation forged by the sword and ever fated to self-destructive strife and civil war. These apostrophes thus signal the important steps down Britain’s road to ruin, and so serve to fulfil the poet’s initial promise to relate ‘Qualiter amisit infelix nacio regnum’ (1.15). The pessimistic tone of these apostrophes is apparent elsewhere in the poem. In particular, the final three books are treated with increasing freedom by the poet, who considerably augments their doom-laden and tragic atmosphere. Thus in Book VIII, the mustering of troops at Rome is the occasion for a highly emotive account of their lamentation before leaving for war (VIII.146—73).* And, as we have seen, that book closes with the poet’s despairing address to the combatants, both Roman and British, before Siesia. Book IX likewise opens with an ominous passage which has no parallel in the Historia (IX.11—24): Uisibus humanis premissa nocte cometes Luciferum caput exeruit, tot regibus omen Triste. Striges et noctis aues cecinere propinquas Tot procerum strages; ululantum rixa luporum, Latratusque canum, respondensque omnibus echo Incussere metum cunctis. Aurora maritum Decrepitum fugiens, confuso sanguine uultu, Obtusis radiis lacrimisque fluentibus orta, Prestitit instantis presagia certa ruine. Surgit ab eois solito maturius horis Phebus et, ut uidit acies et bella parata, Pallidus et tristis et languens lumine toruo, Induxit sub nube caput radiosque reduxit Ne uideat tot fata ducum, tot funera regum.

These lines constitute a striking example of the pathetic fallacy: all nature foreshadows and laments the oncoming catastrophe; the night preceding the battle is marked by a comet, and the cries of owls, wolves and dogs; the dawn is On the role of this passage in the poem as a whole, see p. xxxvii below; for the reference 6 below. to Brutus in line 429 and for the speaker of the passage, see respectively nn. 71 and 76 See pp. Ixvii-iii below. 64

INTRODUCTION

suffused with blood, tearful and dim; and, in a topos borrowed from Lucan,® the sun is reluctant to rise over the field of carnage. The influence of Lucan on these lines, and on the apostrophe at the end of Book VIII, thematically aligns the battle of Siesia with that of Pharsalia, a suicidal struggle of brother against brother.© This is an important modification of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s narrative. In the Historia, the battle of Siesia is Arthur’s last and perhaps greatest triumph, which represents a final settling of the score with the Romans before the disaster of Mordred’s rebellion.” For the Breton poet, Siesia, a battle motivated by the excessive pride of the combatants on both sides, is a tragically hollow victory, which, moreover, paves the way to Camlann. Arthur’s last two battles, which are strongly contrasted in Geoffrey’s Historia, thus become in the poem corresponding parts of a single literary construct: as Rosemary Morris has remarked, ‘Siesia seals Arthur’s fate, Camlann consummates it.’ The link between the two battles is driven home by further borrowings from Lucan. For example, the preparations for the civil strife between Arthur and Mordred at Camlann are also described in terms reminiscent of Pharsalia (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.188-99):9 Undique conueniunt illuc et bella minantur Intestina sibi: fraterno federe fracto In iugulum fratris intendit frater; anhelat Filius in patrem, uicta pietate paterna; Inminet exicio nati pater. Omnia iura Nature confusa iacent; concessa uidentur Fasque nefasque simul, gladio dum uincere captant. Qui fera tela tenet non curat quid sit honestum.

These lines are followed almost immediately by the poet’s bitter apostrophe to Mordred, which also owes a debt to Lucan’s tone and diction.” After the apostrophe, the final march to the battlefield is related fatalistically (IX.241—3): Sed quia fatorum contra decreta uenire Nulli permissum est, ad bellum tendit uterque Ante datum fatis.

The final confrontation of Arthur and Mordred is thus depicted as tragically inevitable. 65 See p. Ixxi below; and cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, P- 72, who notes that the topos is also twice reworked by Walter of Chatillon, a favourite model of the Breton poet. $$ Cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, pp. 71-5. 67 See especially Geoffrey's comments on the justice of the British victory in Historia Regum Britannie, $175: ‘Quod diuine potentie stabat loco cum et ueteres eorum priscis temporibus auos istorum inuisis inquietationibus infestassent; et isti tunc libertatem quam illi SUE demere affectabant tueri instarent, abnegantes tributum quod ab ipsis iniuste exigeantur." * ‘The Gesta’, p. 7L 6

Morris, ibid., p. 76, compares De Bello Ciuili, VII.180-4, *turba ... quae patrum iugulas,

quae pectora fratrum sperabat." 70 See, for example, p. Ixviii below (and cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, p. 76). xxxii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

This dark atmosphere is even more pronounced in Book X, which opens with the despairing Cadwallon caught in a furious storm (lines 14-29), which is more elaborately described than that in the Historia at this point ($193). On Cadwallon's arrival in Brittany, the speeches which he and King Salomon exchange are modified from their Galfridian originals (Historia Regum Britannie, $8194—5) to lay added emphasis on Britain's decline. Salomon vividly contrasts the modern

British with their noble forebears, ‘de stirpe leonum / Egressi lepores, nani de stirpe gygantum’ (X.57-8); he ironically recalls the past triumphs of Brutus, Brennius and Belinus, Constantine, Maximianus and Arthur (X.63—74);! and

he concludes, *Ueteres didicere Britanni / Uincere nec uinci; norunt dare terga moderni' (X.74—5). In Cadwallon's speech the extensive Gildasian quotation found in Geoffrey's original version is recast in order to amplify even further its condemnation of British corruption (X.90—106); and a further note of fatalism is struck by Cadwallon's pessimistic statement (X.107—14) that Merlin’s prophecy of the victory of the white dragon has now been fulfilled (which is not entirely accurate: cf. VIL50—68; and Historia Regum Britannie, §112.1-2). It is in the passages describing the final collapse of British rule, however, that the pessimistic tone is most pronounced. Geoffrey recounts how, when Cadwaladr, Cadwallon's son, fell ill, the Britons were afflicted by civil war, famine and plague (Historia Regum Britannie, 8203): Quo igitur, ut dicere ceperam languente afficiuntur discordia Britones et opulentam patriam detestabili discidio destruunt. Accessit etiam aliud infortunium quia fames dira ac famosissima insipienti populo adhesit ita ut totius cibi sustentaculo quaeque uacuaretur prouintia excepto uenatoriae artis solatio. Quam uero famem pestifera lues mortis consecuta est quae in breui tantam populi multitudinem strauit quantam non poterant uiui humare. ;

This passage is considerably expanded by the poet (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.286-315): Rex infirmatus diuturna febre tenetur. Inde fit ut Britones ciuilia bella mouentes In ciues urbesque ruunt, in rura suosque Ruricolas: nulli prodest munimen asili; Nulla est ecclesie reuerencia, nulla parentum, Nullus amor fratrum; cleri iacet ordo sub ense. Sed Dominus, qui cuncta uidet, nichil esse salubre Sincerumque nichil in toto corpore regni Prospiciens, delere cupit cum plebe potentes. Ergo lues grauior cladi superadditur: aret

290

295

The poet often uses Brutus (who is scarcely mentioned after his death by Geoffrey) as an 71 exemplum of former British greatness. He is so mentioned in the poet's apostrophe to Androgeus (III.400—2, quoted on p. xxix above), and in the speeches of Asclepiodotus (IV.265, the entire address being an addition by the poet), of Salomon (X.60 and 63, cited here) and of Cadwalladr (X.319, quoted p. xxxv below). In the poet's final apostrophe to Britain (quoted p. . xxx above), the positive aspect even of Brutus's career is undermined when his occupation of the island is itself depicted as merely the first violent act in a history of bloody war (X.436-8). xxxiii

INTRODUCTION

In terra semen, uel germinis herba segesque Non uenit ad culmum; fallunt sua uota colonos. Defectus cereris panisque carencia diram Esuriem pariunt; nec eis animalia multum Ad uitam prosunt; herbas uolucresque ferasque Radicesque suis commendant uentribus. Omni Materia uictus consumpta, nec tamen inde Ingluuie uentris sedata, mortis ymago, Torpor iners, pallor, macies et meror ubique. Nusquam deest moriens; non plangit filia matrem, Non sua mater eam; non claudit lumina patris Filius aut matris, leto moriturus eodem. Non defuncta queunt sepelire cadauera uiui, Quos manet instantis urgens uicinia casus. Mortuus et moriens, languens et uiuus in uno Conueniunt lecto. Nec uiuo mortuus ullum Incutit horrorem: mora mortis morte molesta Est magis afflictis. Sub sole relicta liquescunt Corpora, que totum corrumpunt aera: uiuis Altera causa necis.

300

305

310

The poet begins by elaborating Geoffrey's description of the detestabile discidium by which the Britons destroy their homeland (287-91); these lines are intended to recall Cadwallon's earlier denunciation of British corruption in his speech to Salomon (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.95—7): Iura, fides, pietas, patrum reuerencia, fratrum Gratia, coniugii concordia, federa pacis, Uirtutesque alie populum fugere ferocem.

However, this civil war is to be the for it calls down God's wrath on Historia, the ensuing famine (and tune’, aliud infortunium, the Breton

sent directly by lines (295-315) poet adds to his understood /ues

culmination of those which went before it; the perpetrators (292-4). Whereas in the plague) is simply termed ‘another misforpoet makes it clear that it is a punishment

God in order to purge Britain of her inhabitants. The following constitute another of the vivid descriptive passages which the source. He conflates Geoffrey's famine and plague (possibly he mortis to refer to no more than the results of starvation, as in his

own version), but dwells on their horrific ravages. The passage is full of emotive touches: as the seed withers in the ground, farmers' expectations are cheated (296—7);? the effects of hunger are described in a starkly effective series of nouns (303-4);? death is so widespread there is no time for family grief (305—

7y; Geoffrey's statement that the dead were too numerous to be buried by the living is combined with a nightmarish vision of the sick, for whom death is now

72

Another Ovidian touch: cf. Ex Ponto, III.9.29—30, ‘si fallat uota coloni / . . . Ceres.’

7| With these lines compare, for example, Vergil's description of the sack of Troy in Aeneid, 1I.368—9, ‘crudelis ubique/Luctus, ubique pauor et plurima mortis imago.'

XXXIV

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

less terrible than life, sharing their beds with the bodies of the dead, while rotting corpses lie unburied (308-15). This catastrophe drives the Britons, including their king, to abandon their country. In the Historia, Cadwaladr gives vent to a bitter speech as he sails for Brittany (§203):

‘Ue nobis peccatoribus ob nimia scelera nostra quibus Deum offendere nullatenus diffugimus dum penitentiae spatium habebamus. Incumbit ergo illius potestatis ulcio quae nos ex natali solo exstirpat quos nec olim Romani nec deinde Scoti uel Picti nec uersute proditionis Saxones exterminare quiuerunt. Sed in uanum patriam super illos tociens recuperauimus cum non fuit uoluntas Dei ut in ea perpetue regnaremus. Ipse uerus iudex cum uidisset nos nullatenus a sceleribus nostris cessare uelle ac neminem genus nostrum a regno expellere posse, uolens corripere stultos indignationem suam direxit qua propriam nationem cateruatim deserimus. Redite ergo Romani, redite Scoti et Picti, redite ambrones Saxones: ecce patet uobis Britannia ira Dei deserta quam uos desertam facere nequiuistis. Non nos fortitudo uestra expellit sed summi regis potentia quam numquam offendere distulimus."

This speech is retained by the poet, but in a modified form (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.319—55):

*O regio diues, o nobilis insula, Bruto Responsis ostensa Dei, regnata Britannis Regibus assidue, nunc desolata suorum Consilio procerum, propriis nudata colonis, Ciuibus orba tuis, que numquam subcubuisti Hostibus in bello, de te sine cede triumphat Sola fames. Iam uultur edax coruusque lupusque Dilaniant generosa ducum sub sole relicta Corpora, mixta uage nullo discrimine plebi. Ruricolis tua rura suis et ciuibus urbes Et castella carent; nullus citharedus in aula, Nullus in ecclesia cantor; non organa dulces Perstringunt modulos. Funestas nocte querelas Deuia promit auis. Sterilis tua terra cruore Fertiis est hominum; sine semine falce secanda Gramina luxuriant. Cunctis mea regibus olim, Nunc est facta feris habitacio, uile luporum Hospicium catulis et fedum uulpibus antrum. Hoc merito patimur quoniam peccauimus; in nos Fulminat ira Dei, quem nos offendimus; in nos Ulcio digna uenit. Nostros purgare reatus Debuimus dum tempus erat. Paciencia Christi, Longa nimis, iustam uindictam distulit ut nos Excessus nostros delictaque corriperemus. Sed quia noluimus prauos compescere gressus Et magis atque magis creuit uesania nostra, Ipse Deus, cernens in toto corpore regni

320

y» (ui d25

330

335

340

345

INTRODUCTION

Omne caput languens, cor merens, putrida membra, *Non opus est medico sic infirmantibus,” inquit, “Filius et genitor, genetrix et filia, clerus Et dux et miles mortem meruere subire. Occius intereant." Lata est sentencia; latam Angelus exequitur. Cuius mucrone perempti, Morte pari Britones pereunt, insonsque nocensque. Saxones et Deiri, Picti Scotique, redite In regnum tutore carens: ius uendicat in re, Qui prior inuadit rem quam non possidet alter.’

350

32323

In the Historia, Cadwaladr's speech begins as a lament for himself and the fleeing Britons (‘Ue nobis peccatoribus"). Conversely, in the poem the initial emphasis is shifted to Britain itself, which Cadwaladr directly addresses (^O regio diues"); his speech is thus thematically linked with the emotive

apos-

trophes which are so characteristic of the poet's style. In this address emphasis is laid, as it was in Salomon's speech, on the degeneracy of Britain: the island once shown to Brutus by God and thereafter the home of British kings has now become a desert (319-23). The poet then adds another highly-wrought, elegiac description of desolation: corpses lie unburied, prey to crows, wolves and (incongruously) vultures (325-9); the music of harpers and church choirs is replaced by ill-omened bird song (329-32);^ the grass, watered with human blood, will never be cut, for only wolf-cubs and foxes remain (332-6); in short,

civilisation has broken down, and the island is left to wild beasts. In the next section (336-52), the poem attributes Britain's ruin, as Geoffrey did, to divine

retribution; the poet, however, is, as usual, the more vivid of the two: Christ's patience has been too long-suffering (340-1); the corruption of the Britons is made verbally to recall that of Israel in the Book of Isaiah (345—6);5 their death-sentence is pronounced by God himself (347-50), carried out by the sword of an angel (350-1), and embraces innocent and guilty alike (351—2). Only then does the speech close, as in the Historia, with an ironic invitation to Britain's foes to occupy the island (353-5), which, as Cadwaladr has said earlier, was laid low by hunger rather than any human enemy (323-5). Cadwaladr never returns to Britain, but sends his son Ivo to fight the English,

who now control Britain. War begins again, leading aged Britons, worn out by incessant stife, to wonder when it will all end (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.424— 8):

Inde patres matresque pie, quos longa senectus, Quosque grauat series bellorum, talia dicunt: "Ecquid erit tempus in quo cessauerit ista Tempestas bellique lues, et micior hora Uenerit et dulcis concordia paxque benigna?"

74 75

Which thus recalls that preceding the battle of Siesia (IX.13-14). See p. Ix below.

XXXVi

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

This despairing rhetorical question introduces the poet’s last and most devastating apostrophe, that to Britain herself (X.429-45), in which, as we have seen, she is depicted as a sink of iniquity, a nation born by the sword, whose fate will

be perpetual war, just as the Britons are doomed to exile." Thus, in the last three books of the poem, apostrophes, speeches and descriptive purple passages all contribute to casting a tragic aura over Britain’s collapse, a collapse which is moreover, in the poet’s eyes, part of a history inextricably bound up with the troubles of thirteenth-century Brittany.” Having examined the poet’s additions ‘and modifications to his source, it is now in order to consider the way in which he structured his poem. The Gesta Regum Britannie is divided into ten books each of about five hundred lines, the same overall scheme as is found in Walter of Chàátillon's Alexandreid.”* The architecture of the poem can best be appreciated by consulting the following table, which sets out the number of lines in each book of the poem, the corresponding number of chapters of the Historia Regum Britannie paraphrased in each book, and a general indication of the way that Geoffrey's narrative is divided up in the poem. Historia

Gesta Regum Britannie

I

(504 lines)

II

(482 lines)

§§6-21 (16 88; 1-5 omitted) Career of Brutus - Gogmagog

8822-40 (part) (19 $8)

Foundation of London - strife of Belinus and Brennius

III

(456 lines)

8840-64 (25 88)

Reconciliation of Belinus and Brennius — Roman subjugation of Britain §§65-86 (part) ($822) (509 lines) IV Birth of Christ — foundation of Brittany V

(479lines)

VI

(535lines)

VII

(453 lines)

8886-107 (8822) Maximianus — Merlin

§§ 108-142 (8827; 109-10 and 112-17 omitted) Uther Pendragon of death — prophecy Merlin’s

§§ 143-157 ($815)

Arthur I: coronation — York crown-wearing

d in the speech of the aged See p. xxx above. In Michel's edition, this address is include 76 phes play in structuring apostro s author' the which role nt importa the Britons; in the light of . himself his poem, I have preferred to attribute it to the poet 77 Seep.ix above. T debts to Walter, see pp. xliii-lv below. 7k. For 1detailed discussion of the poet's literary xxxvii

INTRODUCTION

VIII (503 lines) §§ 158-170 (§§13) Arthur II: Roman embassy — preparations for the battle of Siesia IX

(507 lines)

X

(SOllines)

$8171-193 (part) ($823) Siesia - Cadwallon's flight to Brittany §§ 193-207 ($815; 208 omitted) Storm at sea — end of British rule

Although it is uncertain whether Geoffrey of Monmouth himself divided his Historia into books or not, it is nevertheless instructive to compare the bookdivision of the poem with that most often found in manuscripts of the Historia, which comprises eleven books.”? The books, and their contents, are usually as follows. Historia Regum Britannie Preface and dedication

§§ 1-3/4

Book I §§5/6-22 Career of Brutus — foundation of London Book II §§23-34 Brutus’s sons — Dunwallo Molmutius Book III 8835-53 Belinus and Brennius — Cassibellaunus Book IV $854—72 Caesar's invasions — Lucius's acceptance of Christianity Book V 8873-88 Death of Lucius — death of Maximianus Book VI §§89-108 Gratianus Municeps — Vortigern and Merlin Book VII §§109-117 Prophetie Merlini (§§109-10 often being treated as a separate preface) Book VIII §§118-142 Ambrosius Aurelius — death of Uther Book IX

§§143-162

Arthur I: coronation to declaration of war on Lucius

Crick, Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.143-51; Commelin’s division of the text into twelve

books, which is used in Griscom’s edition, corresponds exactly to the eleven-bo ok structure except that the last book is redivided as follows: Book XI, §§177-89; Book XII, §§190-208 (Wright, Historia Regum Britannie, |liii-iv and 172-4).

XXXVili

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Book X §§ 163-176 Arthur II: Roman preparations — battle of Siesia Book XI §§177-208 Mordred and Arthur — end of British rule

This book-division — whoever may have been responsible for it — is carefully structured round key events of British history, as they are narrated by Geoffrey. The first book is dominated by Brutus, eponymous founder of Britain, and ends with the building of its capital city, Trinovantum or London. The second book tells the story of Brutus's dynasty until its collapse into civil war and the establishment of a new ruling family by the Cornish leader Dumwallo Molmutius. The third relates the civil strife of his sons, Belinus and Brennius, their reconciliation and capture of Rome, and brings the story down to Cassibellaunus, the last king to reign before the Roman invasions. The fourth recounts the loss of British independence and the intermittent struggles between Britons and Romans until the arrival of Christianity in Britain. The fifth runs from the death of Lucius, the first Christian king of Britain, to that of Maximianus after he has invaded the Continent with the bulk of Britain's warriors. The sixth describes the barbarian raids against the now weakened Britain, Vortigern's usurpation, his disastrous decision to accept aid from Hengist and the English, and their subsequent betrayal of him. The seventh book, which is also transmitted as a separate work, comprises the Prophetie Merlini. The eighth recounts the re-

establishment of the dynasty of Constantine under Ambrosius Aurelius and its vicissitudes down to the death of Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father. The ninth deals with Arthur's English campaigns, and his first, successful Continental expedition, ending with his preparations for a second. The tenth book relates that expedition's success and Arthur's victory at Siesia. The eleventh and final book recounts Mordred's treason and Arthur's death, the victories of the English, and, after a temporary resurgence by the Britons, the ultimate end of British rule. This book-division provides a useful point of comparison with that of the Gesta Regum Britannie; if the largely non-narrative Prophetie Merlini (Book VII) - which had moreover a separate status as a text in their own right — are set aside, there remain ten books, the same number as in the poem (which also

omits the body of the Prophecies).? When we compare the two sets of book-

80 This is not, of course, to suggest that the poet himself necessarily used a manuscript which divided the Historia into eleven books. Given our present ignorance of the text-history of Geoffrey's oeuvre, it is difficult to determine exactly what kind of manuscript (or manuscripts) the poet possessed. There is no evidence tosuggest that he knew the First Variant version (cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, p. 61, n. 5). The version of the death of Arthur's successor Constantine found in the poem (he is murdered by Aurelius Conanus after reigning for three years; see Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.326—7) agrees with that of the largely continental group of manuscripts (PMG) identified by Michael Reeve ("The transmission"). Beyond that, some of the poet's divergences from the Historia could well be due to the peculiarities of his source manuscript: in L.366—7, Suhardus has three hundred thousand soldiers, *militibus ter centum xxxix

INTRODUCTION

divisions set out above, it becomes clear that the Breton poet exercised considerable art in structuring his work. The first book of the poem is devoted to Brutus, much as is that of Historia, save that the poet prefers to end the book with the dramatic wrestling-bout between Corineus and the giant Gogmagog, and to

postpone his account of the foundation of London until the beginning of Book Two. This attention to the positioning of book-endings can be observed throughout the poem. Book Two, for example, does not, like that of the Historia,

end with Dumwallo Molmutius, but in the middle of its account of his sons. The

reason is evidently to highlight the turning-point in their story: Book Two ends starkly with the war of brother against brother, war which foreshadows Britain’s eventual ruin through civil strife; Book Three begins more optimistically with the brothers’ reconciliation and their subsequent capture of Rome. Books Three and Four of the poem are similarly juxtaposed: Book Three ends with Britain’s subjugation to Rome (an episode which, as we have seen, includes the poet’s emotive apostrophes to Androgeus and Cassibellaunus); Book Four paradoxically opens on a lighter note, the Advent of Christ, which, it will be remembered, the poet marks with a fitting display of rhetorical fireworks.*' The Fourth Book concludes, however, with the bloody British occupation of Armorica and the poet's condemnation of it; by positioning the condemnation so prominently at the end of the book, the poet throws into relief the importance of this event of Britain's history, the event from which, in his view, all the ills afflicting his contemporary Breton audience stem. This message is further reinforced by the opening of Book Five, which begins with the death of Maximianus and the collapse of the now defenseless mother country; the remainder of the book relates the catastrophic events of Vortigern's reign. The sixth, and longest, book carries the narrative down from Merlin to the death of Uther Pendragon. The seventh and eighth books largely correspond to the eighth and ninth books of the Historia. As in the Historia book-division, Arthur's reign is divided into two: in the poem the first section (Book VIT) contains Arthur's English campaigns and first Continental expedition, while the second takes the action down to the prelude to the battle of Siesia. The junction of the two books is again carefully

placed at a turning-point: Book VII ends with the joyful celebrations of Arthur's crown-wearing, while Book VIII begins abruptly with the arrival of Roman envoys bearing Lucius's haughty demand for tribute. Moreover, Book VIII does not, as in the Historia, bring the narrative down to Arthur's victory over the Romans. Instead, as we have seen, it concludes with the poet's empassioned apostrophe to the combatants before the battle, an apostrophe which thus receives emphatic weight from its position, just as that to Conanus Meriadocus milibus', as opposed to three hundred, ‘trecentis militibus’, in Historia Regum Britannie, §18 (where his manuscript may have read milibus for militibus); in VIL413, Arthur's crown-wearing most unusually takes place at York, Eboracum, rather than Caerleon as in Historia Regum

Britannie, $156; and in VIII.143, Echion is king of the Persians, not of Boetia as in Historia

Regum Britannie, $163. However, any attempt to identify the manuscript used by the poet more precisely must await the results of a thorough examination of the surviving witnesses. 8! See p. xxvii above.

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

had done at the end of Book IV. Book IX itself begins with an ominous passage reminiscent of Lucan, which, as we have seen, plays an important part in giving Siesia a tragic colour and linking it with the disastrous battle of Camlann against Mordred.* Finally, Books IX and X are divided at the point where Cadwallon takes flight to Brittany; in the larger perspective, this is not a particularly significant moment, but it enables the poet to begin Book X with a violent storm-scene, which fittingly sets the tone for the last and most pessimistic book of the poem. It is clear, then, that in recasting Geoffrey’s narrative, the poet took great care to place important or effective passages, which often constitute additions to his source, in prominent positions at the beginnings and ends of individual books. Before moving on from Geoffrey of Monmouth, we must briefly consider the possibility that another of his works, the hexameter Uita Merlini, may also have been known to the Breton poet.? Rosemary Morris has called attention to the similarity between the poet's description of the isle of Avalon and that found in the Uita.^ Whereas in the Historia (8178) Geoffrey had given few details of

Avalon, where Arthur was taken to have his wounds cured, in his later poem the island is described at length in terms worthy of an earthly paradise (Uita Merlini, 908-21): Insula pomorum que fortunata uocatur Ex re nomen habet quia per se singula profert. Non opus est illi sulcantibus arua colonis; Omnis abest cultus nisi quem natura ministrat; Ultro fecundas segetes producit et uuas, Nataque poma suis pretonso germine siluis; Omnia gignit humus uice graminis ultro redundans. Annis centenis aut ultra uiuitur illic. Illic iura nouem geniali lege sorores Dant his qui ueniunt nostris de partibus ad se,

Quarum quae prior est fit doctior arte medendi Exceditque suas forma prestante sorores. Morgen ei nomen didicitque quid utilitatis Gramina quaeque ferant ut languida corpora curet.

With this may be compared the elaborate description of the same island in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1X.296—309: Cingitur occeano memorabilis insula, nullis Desolata bonis: non fur, non predo, nec hostis Insidiatur ibi; non nix, non bruma, nec estas Immoderata furit. Pax et concordia perpes: Uer tepet eternum; nec flos nec lilia desunt Nec rosa nec uiole; flores et poma sub una 82 $3 84

Seep. xxxi above. Edited by Clarke, Life. ‘The Gesta’, pp. 95-6. xli

INTRODUCTION

Fronde gerit pomus. Habitant sine labe pudoris Semper ibi iuuenis cum uirgine. Nulla senectus, Nullaque uis morbi, nullus dolor: omnia plena Leticie. Proprium nichil hic, communia queque. Regia uirgo locis et rebus presidet istis, Uirginibus stipata suis pulcherrima pulcris Nimpha, decens uultu, generosis patribus orta, Consilio pollens, medicine nobilis arte.

In both passages, Avalon is described as abundantly fruitful; according to Geoffrey it bestows long life, and according to the Breton poet, old age, sickness and pain are absent; in both versions the island is presided over by a royal maiden. However, apart from these general parallels, which are commonplace in mediaeval otherworld literature, there are no close verbal correspondences between the two passages. It is therefore difficult to determine the exact relationship between them. While Geoffrey’s hexameter poem does not seem to have been as popular as his prose History, there is evidence that it may have had a wider circulation in the Middle Ages than the number of surviving manuscripts would indicate.*6 Thus it is not impossible that the Breton poet may, as Morris suggests, have been influenced by the Uita Mer lini. Finally, it is in order briefly to consider the Gesta Regum Britannie in relation to a vernacular verse version of the Historia, Robert Wace's Roman de Brut. Rosemary Morris has made a useful and illuminating comparison of the Latin hexameter paraphrase of the Historia with its Anglo-Norman counterpart.** Laying considerable emphasis on the different approach and tone of the two poetic versions, she doubts whether the Roman de Brut was known to the Breton poet, who, she asserts, ‘shows no knowledge of Wace.'9 Morris is certainly right about the differences of treatment in the Roman de Brut and the Gesta Regum Britannie. There is, however, at least one parallel between the two texts which deserves consideration. In the Breton poem, the passage in question occurs when Julius Caesar, after his first defeat by the British, averts a Gallic rebellion by means of liberal gifts of money (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.306— 14): Cesar, ut agnouit Gallos sibi bella minari, Et se post Britonum certamina debilitatum,

Discordes sibi concordat cum plebe potentes, Large distribuens illis aurum quod auare Accumulauerat; exheredatis sua iura Restituit; timet hos Cesar quibus ipse timori est. 85 See Patch, The Otherworld, p. 287. 86 Clarke, Life, pp. 43-54. It is also possible that the Vita Merlini may have been used by BAN see Le Saux, Layamon's Sources, pp. 110-16 (especially 113-14 on the Avalon passage). 87 Edited by Arnold, Le Roman. 88 "TheGesta', pp. 78-97. $9 Ibid, p.78. .

xlii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Quam bona libertas! Quam detestabilis auri Argentique fames! Que libera debuit esse — Et potuit — corrupta datis gens Gallica seruit.

With this denunciation of greed may be compared Wace’s similar strictures when recounting the same episode (Roman de Brut 4192-2 00): Aveir, mult as grant poesté! Tost as une mellee faite Et une guerre a neient traite. Cil ki anceis Cesar haeient E ki ocire le vuleient, Unt pur l'or mué lur curage E chescuns li ad fait humage E quant qu'il lur sout demander Neis en Bretaine a mener.

It is not impossible that the similarity between these two passages is coincidental, particularly as the condemnation of avarice is a topos in Latin poetry.?? However, it is striking that both authors employ this rhetorical device at the same moment in the narrative. Nor did their inspiration come directly from their common source, since Geoffrey of Monmouth treats this episode as an indication not of the power of greed, but of the completeness of Caesar's humiliation?! The parallel at least serves to remind us that the Breton poet may not necessarily have worked in complete ignorance of vernacular texts.

(b) Walter of Chátillon's Alexandreid After Geoffrey of Monmouth, the mediaeval author who most influenced the Gesta Regum Britannie was unquestionably Walter of Chátillon. Walter's Alexandreid, which appeared in about 1182, was one of the most influential of all mediaeval epics;?? and, just as the Gesta Regum Britannie constitutes a para-

phrase of Geoffrey's Historia, so the Alexandreid was based, somewhat more freely, on historical prose accounts of Alexander, primarily that of Quintus Curtius. The Gesta Regum Britannie certainly owes its overall structure directly to the Alexandreid: both poems are divided into ten books of roughly 500 lines each, although, as we have seen, the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie exercises considerable ingenuity in the way in which he adapts Geoffrey's History to fit into that framework;?? in both poems too, each book is introduced by a

99

Thus in III.312-13, the Breton poet echoes Aeneid, III.57, ‘Auri sacra fames' (as well as

De Bello Ciuili, IX.1108, *O bona libertas"). 91 Historia Regum Britannie, $58: ‘Qui prius leonina feritate fulminans ipsis omnia abstulerat, nunc mitis agnus humili uoce balans omnia posse reddere letatur.’ ?2 Edited by Colker, Galteri; on the dating of the poem, see Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, ch. 1, who also discusses the Nachleben of Walter's epic (ibid., ch. 5). P

?3

Above pp. xxxvii-xli; the Breton poet's inspiration for his dramatic division the battle of

xliii

INTRODUCTION

ten-line capitulum summarizing its contents; and both poems share the device of

the initial letters of each of the books spelling out the name of its dedicatee (Chadioccus in the case of the Gesta Regum Britannie, Guillermus, or William, archbishop of Rheims, in that of the Alexandreid). Rosemary Morris has suggested that one of the motives behind the composi-

tion of the Gesta Regum Britannie was the desire to depict King Arthur as a rival to Walter of Chátillon's Alexander. There is undeniably an element of truth in this suggestion. The Arthurian section of the poem, which occupies Books VII, VIII and a good half of Book IX, begins with a fresh invocation of the Muse (VII.11-31), echoing, but longer than, that at the beginning of poem (1.11—23). After invoking Calliope, the poet states that without her aid neither Homer, Ovid, Vergil nor Cicero could do justice to Arthur, who outrivals Achilles by as much as Achilles outrivals Thersites; and further that Vergil’s Aeneid, Lucan’s De Bello Ciuili and Statius’s Thebaid would all have been devoted to the deeds of Arthur rather than their own heroes if only he had lived before those poets wrote (VII.15—24): Nil hic prodesset Homerus, Nil Naso, nil Uirgilius, nil Tullius ipse Absque tuo nutu, quia quantis fortis Achilles Tersitem excedit, tantis prefertur Achilli Laudibus Arturus. Cuius preconia uatis Meonii condigna modis Eneidos auctor Hystorie ueteris Anchise preposuisset, Lucanusque grauis tacuisset Cesaris actus, Et ueteres Thebe caruissent perpete fama, Si precedissent Arturi gesta poetas.

With this assertion of Arthur’s superiority over Achilles and, by implication, over Aeneas and Caesar we can compare the similar praise of Alexander in the proem to Walter of Chátillon's epic (Alexandreid, I.5—8):

qui si senio non fractus inermi Pollice fatorum nostros uixisset in annos, Cesareos numquam loqueretur fama triumphos, Totaque Romuleae squaleret gloria gentis.

Moreover, the poet's claim that Arthur's exploits are a theme more lofty than those of ancient heroes is also paralleled later in the Alexandreid, when Alexander's deeds are said to outshine those of Lucan's Caesar or Claudian's Honorius (V.498-509): nam si regum miranda recordans Laudibus et titulis cures attollere iustis Si fide recolas quam raro milite contra Siesia between Books VIII and IX probably also came from Walter, who treats the battles of

Issus (Books II-III) and Arbela (IV-V) similarly.

%

"TheGesta', pp. 60-5 and 70-71.

xliv

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Uictores mundi tenero sub flore iuuentae Quanta sit aggressus Macedo, quam tempore paruo Totus Alexandri genibus se fuderit orbis, Tota ducum series, uel quos Hispana poesis Grandiloquo modulata stilo uel Claudius altis Uersibus insignit, respectu principis huius Plebs erit ut pigeat tanto splendore Lucanum Cesareum cecinisse melos Romaeque ruinam Et Macedum claris succumbat Honorius armis.

In the Gesta Regum Britannie, then, Arthur is depicted as a conqueror who, like Walter of Chátillon's Alexander, surpasses those of Classical epic. It is also true that Arthur is in the Gesta Regum Britannie cast to some degree in the role of Walter's Alexander. On the purely verbal level, for example, the glorious epithet inuictus princeps, which is Alexander's in the Alexandreid, is reapplied by the Breton poet to Arthur in the very invocation of Calliope which has just been discussed;5 and, indeed, the closest parallel between the two 'unconquered princes’ lies in their respective roles as world conquerors. As Tatlock has observed, there already exists an implicit parallel between Arthur and Alexander in Geoffrey's Historia.5 But, in the Historia Regum Britannie, Arthur, even at the height of his power, controls only the British Isles, Scandinavia and France; conversely, in the Breton poem he is represented, after having defeating Lucius and the Romans, as having world domination within his grasp, just as, according to Walter of Chátillon, Alexander did shortly before his untimely death.? Moreover, Arthur's role as a world conqueror is adumbrated as early as his first campaigns against the English in Britain. Before the battle of Badon the young Arthur's Alexander-like ambitions are betrayed at the opening of his address to his soldiers (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.136—8):

O socii, quorum probitate subactus Solis ab occasu — uiuam modo! — solis ad ortum Uertice subposito totus michi seruiet orbis.

Arthur's wars against the English are thus, for him, no more than a prelude to foreign conquest. And during Arthur's second Continental expedition, another ?5

Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.26 (Principis inuicti) and Alexandreid, 1.542 and VILA48

(inuicti principis). Other, less striking epithets shared by Arthur and Alexander are: heros Martius (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.58-9 and Alexandreid, IV.483); maximus regum (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.244 and Alexandreid, IX.514); and bonus rex (Gesta Regum Britannie,

VIII.186 and Alexandreid, 11.233), although in the last case the phrase is Vergilian (Aeneid, XI.344). 96 The Legendary History, pp. 312-20. ; ?] With the long list of nations (the Saxons, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, France, Rome, the east, the north, Spain, and the people of the Antipodes) described as quailing before Arthur in Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.220-40 (and cf. the similar catalogue in VII.322-4), compare Alexandreid, X.219—48, where after his eastern conquests Alexander receives the token submission of Africa, Spain, Gaul, Germany, Italy and Sicily; and cf. also X.312-17, where Alexander threatens to attack ‘antipodum populos." xlv

INTRODUCTION

verbal address to his troops, this time before the fateful battle of Siesia, contains He er. Alexand of role the in echoes of Walter’s poem which similarly cast Arthur Tot / subegi uirtute quorum . . addresses his soldiers as ‘Participes operum . demundi partes’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIII.413-15); this recalls Walter's orbem at subeger uirtute scription of Alexander's troops as those ‘quorum (Alexandreid, X.300)* Moreover, Arthur’s speech before Siesia is also mod-

elled in part on that made by Alexander before his victory at Issus. For example, Arthur continues his exhortation (VIII.416-7):

Ecce dies optata uenit qua Roma securi Nostre colla dabit.

After the opening of his speech before Issus, Alexander expresses a similar sentiment (Alexandreid, 11.452—3):

Ecce dies optata parat qua prouide nobis Soluere promissum tociens Fortuna tryumphum.

At the end of his speech, Arthur makes over the spoils of battle to his men, claiming for himself only the glory of victory (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIII.438-40): Tantum uictoris habere Nomen amo; uobis urbes, castella, domosque Et uillas et opes et cetera commoda trado.

This echoes the similar gesture made by Alexander near the end of his address (Alexandreid, 11.484—6): cedant Premia preda meis, michi gloria sufficit una. Rem uobis, michi nomen amo.

There is, furthermore, a close similarity between the ultimate thwarting of both Alexander's ambitions and those of Arthur.*?? In the last book of the Alexandreid, Natura puts an end to Alexander's career because of his excessive hubris in boasting that one world was not enough for him to conquer. Before enlisting the help of Satan to effect Alexander's murder by Antipater, she warns creation not to exceed the bounds, ‘in nullo naturae excedere metas’ (Alexandreid, X.25),

and so to avoid Alexander's excesses. Arthur partakes of a similar hubris which is both his own and that of the Britons generally. Before departing on his first Continental expedition, for example, he 'Concipit ingentes animos' (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.326). Later the Roman envoys sent by Lucius warn him not to ‘tuas excedere metas’ (VIIL17), words which echo those of Walter of

Chátillon's Natura. And, in the poet's impassioned apostrophe to the combatants before Siesia, Arthur is, as we have seen, implicated in the general sin of pride ?8 Cf. also Alexandreid, VII.481, "Terrarum quas tam celeri uirtute subegi.’ ?? Pace Morris, "The Gesta', p. 71, who, like Cary, The Medieval Alexander, pp. 173-4, lays too much stress on Walter's admiration for his hero.

xlvi

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

which drives on both sides, the Britons through not being satisfie d with their own boundaries, the Romans through demanding tribute to which they are not entitled (VIIL.473-8). When after the battle Arthur prepares to conquer Rome itself, his excessive hopes are, like Alexander’s, thwarted, although in Arthur’ s Case it is by God not Natura: ‘Sed Deus opposuit tantis sua numina uotis’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.145). Moreover, the ways in which Arthur and Alexander's ends are engineered are also similar in both poems. In the Alexandreid Satan uses Antipater as his agent to bring about Alexander's murder by poison; likewise Mordred, whose rebellion brings about Arthur's fall, is also motivated by Satan. This is made clear by the Breton poet's apostrophe to Mordred, which deplores him being prevented from yielding to Arthur by the Devil in the guise of the angel of ambition (IX.216—9):109 Cedere te regi uetat angelus ambicionis, Et, memor ipse sui casus causeque ruine, Consimili capiens te crimine tollit in altum Ut te deiciat lapsum grauiore ruina.

Both Alexander and Arthur are thus represented as the tragic victims of their own ambition, and both are brought down through the Devil's wiles. Nevertheless, beyond these general similarities between the two characters, there is no comprehensive attempt in the Gesta Regum Britannie to recast Geoffrey's Arthur entirely in the mould of Walter's Alexander. Indeed, in one passage in the poem, Arthur is depicted quite differently from Alexander. The passage, which corresponds only loosely to its source in Historia Regum Britannie, $154, describes how Arthur's court attracted warriors from all countries (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.315—21). In particular, the poet's vision of how

Arthur's court was organised has no parallel in the Historia: Nobilium interea de quantumcumque remotis Partibus adueniunt iuuenes. Rex letus honorat Neoptolomosque facit et equis armisque decorat Muneribusque datis ditat. Uenientibus eius Omnibus aula patet nec queritur unde uel ad quid Quis ueniat. Nichil proprium, communia cuncta: Rex regis tantum seruat sibi nominis usum.

According to the poet, the court was open to all, possessions were held in common, and Arthur retained only the title of king. The inspiration for this motif is not clear. Rosemary Morris has suggested that the poet may have had in mind the contemporary court of St Louis of France or be remembering the Classical Golden Age;!“ but, as she notes, the closest parallel to his ideal of Arthur's court 100

These lines contain an echo of Claudian’s Jn Rufinum (see p. lxx below), and so cast

Mordred in the role of the arch-villain Rufinus; since Walter similarly assigns a Rufinus-like

role to Antipater (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 89-90), this echo strengthens the

parallel between the two characters. 10 "The Gesta', pp. 90-2. xlvii

INTRODUCTION

is that of the monastery, where ‘property was held in common, guests were always welcomed, and the abbot, while holding undisputed authority, was elected by the monks and was in a way primus inter pares.’ Perhaps, therefore, the passage constitutes evidence that the author was himself a regular monk. But be that as it may, this aspect of Arthur’s character cannot, for all Walter’s admiration for Alexander’s many acts of courtliness and generosity, be paralleled in the Alexandreid;' it is, moreover, completely at variance with Alexander’s increasingly autocratic and tyrannical treatment of his companions as Walter’s poem progresses. It is equally the case that Arthur is not the only figure in the Breton poem to share some of Alexander’s characteristics. Consider, for example, the stress which Walter, writing shortly before the Third Crusade, lays on Alexander’s role as a proto-crusader.'? Arthur too might, in a different way, have been made to share this role, for his early wars in Britain are directed against a pagan enemy, the English. Indeed, at the beginning of Arthur's reign, the poet deliberately draws attention to this aspect of the struggle, emphasising not only the savagery of the English but also their hostility to Christianity (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIL49—54): Passim perimunt iuuenesque senesque Et lactans lactensque simul insonsque nocensque Morte pari pereunt. In templa nefanda deorum Ecclesias uertunt; nulla est reuerencia sacri Ordinis et Christi nomen deletur; ab Humbro Ad Cathinense fretum cedunt diuina prophanis.

Yet, although the opposition of christian and pagan is implicit in the following account of Arthur's victories over the English (as it is in Geoffrey's Historia), the poet does not again state it explicitly. Moreover, Arthur is not the only British king to fight the heathen English. So too did his uncle Aurelius Ambrosius, the crusading nature of whose reign receives considerable emphasis from the poet. Thus Aurelius is introduced as ‘Christi famulum, pietatis amicum, / Cultorem fidei, custodem religionum' (Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.109-10) Moreover, his two battles with Hengist are represented as direct confrontations between christianity and paganism. Both battles are introduced by contrasting exhortations on the part of the opposing leaders (VI.137-45 and 152-9; 183-9 and 192-8); in the first of these pairs of speeches Aurelius tells his troops, 'Illos Mercurius fallit, nos Christus ab hoste / Protegit; in Christo tantum spem ponite uestram" (VI.144—5), while Hengist addresses the English as *Robusti iuuenes, quibus idola nostra triumphum / Prestant continuum’ (VI.153—4). When the

1? Compare for example the very different description of Alexander at his coronation in Alexandreid, 1.203—38. 19 See Morris, “The Gesta', p. 63, although she does not cite the important passage where Walter claims that, if only France had a king the like of Alexander, then crusades in the east, as well as in Spain and Africa, must succeed (Alexandreid, V.510—20).

xlviii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

English reassemble for battle after their first defeat, Hengist reass ures th them as g

follows (VI.185-9):

Dii nostri, qui nos superari sustinuerunt, Iam uigilant, iam stant pro nobis, iam pudet illos, Dum superaremur, sompni grauitate teneri. In manibus nostris dant hostes. Christus eorum Iam dormit; uincamus eos dum dormiat ille. Aurelius counters this with (VI.192-4): Gloria sit patri, nato sit gloria, sancto Gloria spiritui, qui nostros tradidit hostes In manibus nostris.

When in the ensuing battle Hengist fights hand to hand with the Briton Eldon, the two champions bring their gods directly into the conflict (VI.213—7): Pallada, Martem, Cum Iunone Iouem, Saturnum Mercuriumque Inuocat Hengistus; Christo se deputat Eldon. Sed neque Christus adhuc isti, nec muta triumphum Idola dant illi. In dubio uictoria pendet. The stress laid on the clash between christian and pagan in Aurelius's campaigns means that, in the poem, it is not so much Arthur as Aurelius who inherits Alexander's mantle as a proto-crusader. Moreover, when relating the events of Aurelius's reign, the Breton poet draws on the Alexandreid in much the same way as he did when telling of

Arthur's. For example, in the first of the speeches mentioned above, Aurelius exhorts his men to beat an enemy who is already defeated, ‘Uincite iam uictos’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.139). The same exhortation is found verbatim in Alexander's speech before Issus (Alexandreid, 11.470), the very speech from

which other motifs were, as we have seen, borrowed by the poet and placed in Arthur’s mouth.’ In the fighting which follows, Aurelius cuts his way through the English with his sword before him: ‘gladio ductore per hostes / Ducit iter’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.167). This is precisely the way in which Alexander,

in his speech before the battle of Arbela, instructs his men to advance: 'Ite per inbelles gladio ductore cateruas' (Alexandreid, 1V.565).'^5 Aurelius and his actions are thus, like Arthur's, also reminiscent of Walter's Alexander. Another instance of the way in which borrowings from Walter of Chátillon are freely adapted to different contexts by the Breton poet is afforded by his use on three separate occasions of a favourite passage from the Alexandreid. The lines in question occur at the end of Book Four of Walter's poem, just as the battle of Arbela commences (IV.588—93): il 104 See p. xlvi above. 105 Note that the Breton poet later applies exactly the same phrase to Arthur himself at the battle of Camlann (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.285, ‘tendit gladio ductore per hostes). xlix

INTRODUCTION

sic fatur, et ecce Concurrunt acies. It tantus ad ethera clamor Et uulgi strepitus, quantum si dissona mundi In Chaos antiquum rediuiua lite relabens Machina corrueret, rerum compage soluta Horrisonum concussa darent elementa fragorem.

Walter emphasises the cosmic nature of this battle by likening it to the crash at the end of the world, and in so doing he follows Lucan who uses the same cataclysmic imagery to describe the Civil War.'!% Walter and Lucan are themselves imitated by the Breton poet, who depicts Arthur’s battle against the Romans at Siesia as similarly earth-shattering (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.30— 34): Tumultus Et fragor armorum, strepitus et clangor et echo Omnia confuse reboant finguntque supremum Aduenisse diem; rediise elementa putares In chaos antiquum, rerum compage soluta. We have seen, moreover, that Siesia is thematically linked by the poet with Camlann, Arthur's last battle. It is not therefore surprising that he draws on the same cosmic imagery, although with careful verbal variation, at the start of that engagement too (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1X.271-3):

Nec mora concurrunt acies tantoque fragore Aer concutitur, quantus fieret resolutis In chaos antiquum celo terraque marique.

Arthur's last battles both thus partake of the epic significance of Darius's final defeat by Alexander. However, the Breton poet also chooses to introduce another, earlier battle with the same imagery. The clash of the armies of Aurelius and Hengist at Maisbeli is also said to resemble the end of the world (Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.159-64): Et ecce

Occurrunt acies ad missi fulminis instar. Tunc clangor lituum, uoces, hinnitus equorum Armorumque fragor impellunt aera tanto Concussu quantus fieret si machina rerum In chaos antiquum rueret compage soluta.

Indeed, of the three, this passage exhibits the most extensive imitation of Walter." The battle between Aurelius and Hengist, which, as we have observed, 15 De Bello Ciuili, I. 72-5, ‘sic cum compage soluta/Saecula tot mundi suprema coegerit hora / Antiquum repetens iterum chaos, ignea pontus / Astra petent' (cf. Morris, "The Gesta", p. 74). 1? In addition to the Arbela episode, this passage also echoes Walter's description of the opening of the battle of Issus: 'Iam fragor armorum, iam strages bellica uincit / Clangorem lituum’ (Alexandreid, YII.1—2).

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

the poet treats as a contest between christianity and paganism, thus also recalls Sibel but in a different way, as a victory of a proto-crusader over an eastern oe. It is evident from the preceding discussion that the Breton poet had studied Walter's poem very closely. Some further examples of his reminiscences of the Alexandreid, which was a standard mediaeval school-book, will serve to illustrate his extensive debts to Walter's diction. For instance, in Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.239, the roar of shouting warriors is described in the phrase ‘it tantus ad astra boatus’, which combines two expressions used by Walter, ‘/t tantus ad ethera clamor’ (Alexandreid, IV.589, in the passage discussed above)! and ‘ferit horrifer astra boatus’ (Alexandreid, V.152). In Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.364, a loyal subject is termed a ‘regis non fictus amicus’, recalling Walter's *Darii non fictus amicus' (Alexandreid, VI.491). In Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.375—7, the wounding of Arthur by the Roman tribune Frollo is related thus: Toto conamine Frollo Allidit regis terebrata casside frontem; Purpurat arma cruor.

The unusual coupling in this passage of the verb terebro (literally ‘to bore") with the noun cassis reflects Walter's manner, for it is similarly employed in Alexandreid, V.89, ‘terebrata casside ceruix’; furthermore, the last half-line, ‘Purpurat arma cruor', is an ingenious variation, with the change of a single letter, of Alexandreid, 111.24, ‘Purpurat arua cruor'.J? In Gesta Regum Britannie, VIL.449, when Arthur's knights compete in games to celebrate his crownwearing, a crowd of women watches from the city-walls, 'Edita murorum mulierum turba coronat' (also X.149—50, ‘clausi cuncta coronant / Edita murorum);

here the metaphor of 'crowning the heights of the walls' is borrowed from Alexandreid, V.482, ‘Edita murorum longa statione coronant' (where the citizens of Babylon crowd to see Alexander). And finally in Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.411—12, the English strive to raze British towns, 'funditus urbes/ Ui delere student’; Alexander's intention of sacking Thebes is similarly ex-

pressed in Alexandreid, 1.334—5, 'funditus urbem / Exicio delere paras.’ Many more such borrowings could easily be listed, since Walter of Chátillon's Alexandreid serves the poet as a verbal model more often than any other text. The influence of the Alexandreid can also be observed in the Breton poet's taste for annominatio, to which we must now turn our attention. Walter's fondness for such word-play can, for example, well be observed in Alexandreid, III.323-5: 108 Note, however, that Walter himself borrowed this phrase verbatim from De Bello Ciuili, 1.388, ‘It tantus ad aethera clamor’; it is sometimes difficult to tell whether Classical echoes in the Breton poem are first hand or come indirectly from Walter (as far as is possible, Ihave t: _ recorded all likely sources in the conspectus fontium). 19 Colker (Galteri, p. 65) does not report arma as a variant reading in his apparatus.

li

INTRODUCTION

Elegere mori: mortis genus illud honestum Et labi sine labe fuit non cedere cedi Cedereque et cedi dum non cedantur inulti.

Walter’s insistant punning on cedo, caedes and caedo in these lines seems to be the direct inspiration for an identical conceit in Gesta Regum Britannie, VI. 204— I Cesaque uel cedens pars omnis cedere cedi Turpe putat cedique priusquam cedere gaudet. Such annominatio is very common in the poem, the poet being particularly given to complex plays based on caedo, caedes and cedo (including an etymology of Caesar),""° par, pareo, pars, paro and parco," and uictus and uictor? Rosemary Morris has criticised the poet for employing frequent annominatio, terming him a ‘hopeless addict.'!? However, her objections are once more based on anachronistic notions of style: even though she recognises that the poet’s annominatio ‘did not count as an inelegance in its day: it was recommended by all poetic authorities’, Morris complains that such word-plays ‘nag at the modern reader’s mind’; and that ‘many an epic moment is, to later taste, ruined . . in this way.'!!^ In fact, not only is Morris's criticism anachronistic, but many of the poet's complex word-plays are also pointedly effective in their context. Consider, for example, the cluster of puns which he employs in the episode of the reign of Constans

(Gesta Regum

Britannie,

V.111—98).

This

lapsed monk,

who

is

crowned king against his monastic vows and becomes Vortigern’s puppet, is clearly most inappropriately named since he is far from ‘constant’. The poet seizes on this obvious pun, but subtly makes it part of a series of plays on the unfortunate king's name. The first of these plays occurs after Vortigern has offerred to crown Constans if the latter will agree to increase his own power. Constans readily consents: ‘Sic fore constanter Constans promittit (V.119). Here the adverb constanter ironically picks up Constans' name: ironically, because his promised constancy is in contravention of his monastic vow (and hence no constancy at all); and it will moreover lead to him becoming Vortigern's gullible dupe. The inappropriateness of Constans' name is next explicitly driven home in the poet's apostrophe to him: *O puer inconstans, qui falso nomine Constans / Diceris’ (129-30). This time the punning is further underlined by the use of leonine rhyme of the two key words to reinforce the wordplay." Almost immediately the king's feeblemindedness is pointed up by a similar pun: *Constans, quem non constantia mentis / Erigit in regem’ (139-40). H0 Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.57, 348-9, 445; 11.344, 353; III.78, 257-8 (on which see p. lvii below), 397; V1.196—7; IX.1—2, 127-8, 227-8, 289, 425-7. Ibid., 1.43940; 1I.357-8, 408, 438; V.24, 116, 213; VII.67; IX.104; X.395, 464-5. Lite bid} 1145, 370-1; III.293, 341. 13

"The Gesta’ »D: 67.

M4

Ibid., pp. 66-7.

!5

On the poet’s occasional use of such rhyme, see p. xciv below.

lii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

All three of these puns have so far remained close to the meanin g of the name Constans itself. The last, which brings the series to an unexpected and effective climax, involves a play on the related impersonal verb constat, ‘it is clear.’ After Constans’ murder, engineered by Vortigern, some of his subjects accuse the latter of the crime, while others absolve him (194—5): *Accusat pars una ducem, pars altera purgat / De nece Constantis; constat tamen esse peremptum." The final cruel irony is that the only thing that is sure and ‘constant’ (constat ) about Constans’ death is that he has been murdered. We may admire the skill with

which this series of puns is orchestrated: different parts of speech are employed; the proper name Constans is sucessively juxtaposed to adverb (constanter), adjective (inconstans), noun (constantia), and finally impersonal verb (constat). Similar examples of pointed or meaningful word-play abound in the poem.

To cite only some of the most striking: the Trojan slaves suffer from ‘the anxiety of the yoke and continual toil’ (‘Anxietate iugi iugique labore', Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.32, punning on the noun iugum and the adjective iugis); an echo resounds (both aurally and visually) with equal force (‘echo / Ex equo reboat’, 1.124-5, echo and aequum); war and death approach together (‘Mars morsque propinquant’, I.429);!5 Corineus and Gogmagog are so well matched that the victor is uncertain (‘par cum pare certe / Certat in incertum", I.493-4, par, certe, certo and incertus); Brennius is urged to break ‘so foul a treaty’ (‘tam fedum

fedus', II.394); a king is buried after being enbalmed ('conditus conditur', III.300, condio and condo); the Britons mangle the Romans (‘Lacios lacerant’, III.383);"* Androgeus’s rage in battle will only result in his own subjection (‘Que te demencia cogit / In populum seuire tuum? Seruire laboras’, III.389, saeuio and seruio);? similarly, Androgeus will bear the burden of his victory, while Caesar will gain the glory (*Uictor honus pro laude feres, et Cesar honorem’, II.395, onus and honor); King Lucius deems pagan idols full of trick-

ery, which is almost literally true of the words idolum and dolus ('Idola plena dolis reor esse’, IV,132);?! the Saxon Eopa, disguised as a monk, undertakes to care for King Aurelius, yet does not cure him, but hastens his end ('suscipit egri / Curam. Nec curat morbum, sed currit in eius /Mortem’, VI.385—7, cura, curo and curro); the world is widowed of its leaders by Arthur ('orbatus orbis', IX.229); and, in another elaborate play, on the martyrdom of the monks of Bangor the gates of heaven receive them as an offering from the enemy (*Hostia celi /Tota patent ualuis adapertis. Hostica Christo / Hostia grata placet', IX.419— 21, ostia, hosticus and hostiay; finally, in the epilogue, the poet, steering his ship 16 Cf.]L434, ‘Mors cum marte uenit." ! 17 Cf. VI.390-1 and X.255-6. 18 Cf. III.289; also, in II.52-3, Brennius hides in order to surprise the Romans ( qua redituri / Sunt hostes Lacii, latet hic’). Both word-plays subtly suggest derogative etymologies of the name Latii (from /acero and lateo respectively). _ 19

1:09 124

Cf, VI.249, 'serua seruire uolentes' (seruo and seruio).

:

:

Cf. V.199-200, ‘At Uortigernus sumens sibi regis honorem / Sumit honoris honus. The annominatio is eased by the scansion idóla, which was normal in mediaeval verse

(see p. Ixxvi below).

liii

INTRODUCTION

safe to harbour, now fears envious critics by land (‘Terrent terrarum fantasmata, terret edacis / Liuoris morsus’, X.475—6, terreo and terra). This is only a selection of the poet’s many word-plays; nevertheless it serves to illustrate how wide of the mark is Morris’s assertion that only ‘rarely does the annominatio contrib-

ute more than decoration for its own sake.’! Indeed, in one passage, which even Morris commends,’ the poet uses a particularly effective web of punning in order to denigrate the Britons’ hereditary enemy, the English (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.446—62): At genus Anglorum, stirps impia, nacio fallax, Gens in marte fugax, in agendis fraudibus audax, Turba bibax, soboles mendax, populusque bilinguis, Excedit numero Britones; probitate Britanni Excedunt Anglos. Sed quare Saxones Angli Dicuntur michi, Musa, refer, ne nescius errem. Respondet sic Musa michi: “Dat patria nomen Illud; id euentus nomen facit, Angulus Anglum. Angelus angelicus tamen exponi solet; huius Nominis expositor et dictus apostolus Angli Gregorius populi respexit ad exteriorem Candorem uultus, cum quondam dixerit Anglos Angelicos. Tamen angelico peruersa nitore Mens caret; angulus est Sathane huius nominis auctor. Forte uel inferior determinat angulus Anglos In quo cauda riget; uel id ex **in-gloria" nomen Composita exponit, sine qua gens illa futura est.’

450

455

460

This passage follows immediately on the poet's final, devastating apostrophe to Britain (X.428—45).'^ It is thus artfully positioned to suggest that, although the British are now degenerate, the English who have ousted them are still their moral inferiors.?* After sketching the faults of the English and their superiority in numbers alone (446—50), the poet asks his muse to explain their name. This direct request to the muse and her etymological reply is very much in the manner of the Fasti of Ovid, who was one of the poet's favourite Classical models.?$ The Muse's answer is built round a series of word-plays on Anglus (and Anglicus), angulus, and angelicus; and, in the process, it combines an allusion to the mediaeval commonplace of the ‘tailed’ English!? with a subversion of a well-known story from Bede.'?5 12 "TheGesta', p. 67. 13 Ibid., pp. 67-8. 1^ Above, p. xxx. 75 Anti-English sentiment is already present in Geoffrey's Historia, although at the end of that text ($207) the English are more favourably treated; as Morris, "The Gesta', p. 104, observes, the poet’s further blackening of the English was probably motivated by hostility over their disastrous interventions in recent Breton history. 126 See p.lxii below. 17 See p. lviii below. 12 See p. lviii below.

liv

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

A last, slightly different example of word-play in the poem also merits attention. It occurs in the indignant reply made by Cassibelaunu s to Caesar’s demand for submission from the Britons. His reply begins as follows (Gesta Regum

Britannie, 11I.244—6):

Roma, manus rodens, thesauri dedita tante Ydropisi, quam nulla phisis tibi tollere nouit, Quid tibi nobiscum?

The phrase manus rodens, ‘gnawing the hands’, here applied to Rome, at first sight seems odd. In fact it is a derogatory etymology, commonly found in mediaeval satire, by which Roma is derived from the initial syllables of its epithet (‘rodens manus’). This punning derivation, and others like it, is typical of literature satirising the greed of the Roman Curia, which ‘bites the hand that feeds it."?* By employing this conceit, the Breton author not only adds another dimension of word-play to his poem, but also draws a subtle parallel between the avarice of the Roman empire and that of contemporary Rome; the parallel was hinted at already by Geoffrey of Monmouth, but it must have struck a particular chord with the poet’s thirteenth-century audience, familiar as they were with passionate denunciations of papal greed and ambition.

(c) Other Mediaeval Texts While Walter of Chátillon's Alexandreid unquestionably exerted a fundamental influence on the Breton poet, there is also evidence that he was familiar with other mediaeval verse. It seems likely, for example, that he knew Alan of Lille's Anticlaudianus, which was probably written c. 1181—4.?! There are several possible verbal echoes of Alan's poem in the Gesta Regum Britannie, including, for instance, an apparent reminiscence of the opening words of the Anticlaudianus (1.1, *'Auctoris mendico stilum’) in the Breton poet's proem (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.18—20, 'si / . . . Auctorisque stilum laudauerit"). However, the most extensive and interesting example of such borrowing is found in the epilogue to

the Breton poem, which mirrors a number of features in that of the Anticlaudianus. Given the conventional nature of such epilogues, one must be cautious about drawing parallels, but the similar manipulation of shared topoi certainly suggests that the Breton poet had the Anticlaudianus firmly in mind. He fears that, even after steering his ship safe to port, it will fall prey to the worse perils of hostile criticism (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.472-8):

Iam mea pene ratis fluctu maris obruta portum Optatum tangit; et quam nec seua Caribdis 13 130

See Benzinger, Invectiva, pp. 106, n. 188 and 107, n. 190.

Cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, pp. 105-8, where she discusses this and other anti-Roman

assages in the poem. in "Edited by Bossuat, Alain; on the date of the work, see Sheridan, Alan, pp. 24—5. lv

INTRODUCTION

Nec catuli Scille nec terruit equoris unda Terrent terrarum fantasma, terret edacis Liuoris morsus tormento seuior omni. Quis locus inuidie, quid agit detractio mordax Hic, ubi culpat opus proprium quod fecerat auctor?

The same metaphor is found at the end of Alan’s poem, in a passage which moreover shares very many points of detail and vocabulary. (Anticlaudianus, IX.415-21): Iam ratis euadens Scillam monstrumque Caridbis Ad portum tranquilla meat, iam littore gaudet Nauita, iam metam cursor tenet, anchora portum. Nauta tamen tremebundus adhuc post equoris estum Terrenos timet insultus, ne tutus in undis Naufragus in terra pereat, ne liuor in illum Seuiat aut morsus detractio figat in illo.

In addition to the Anticlaudianus, the poet also borrows from the Graecismus of Eberhard of Béthune (who died in 1212).?? We have already seen that, in a prayer to Diana, he elaborates Geoffrey's original allusion to the goddess's triple power over the underworld, the moon and the woodlands by adding her relevant cult titles (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.267—9): Diua triplex, cui sunt Proserpina, Luna, Diana, Nomina, claustra Stigis penetras, preclara refulges In celo, iaculo nemorum grassaris in apros.

A similar reference to Diana's three spheres of influence in conjunction with her three names is found in Graecismus, VII.57, ‘Tres Triuie sedes: Diana, Proserpina, Luna.' At first sight it is unclear whether the poet is relying directly on Eberhard or whether both are drawing independently on Classical myth. However, the Breton poem also contains a further striking parallel with the Graecismus. This parallel occurs in a battle-passage in which the Fate Atropos is described as shearing the lives of the slain like a reaper with a scythe (Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.165—6): Atropos occat ibi tot forcia fila sororum Quot messes messor defalcat falce recurua.

In these lines, the use of the very rare word occare is particularly striking. It is thus significant that the identical word is also used of Atropos in the enumeration of the Fates and their occupations found in the same section of the Graecismus (VII.44—S):

Tres quoque fatales que ducunt fila sorores, Clotho colum portat, Lachesis trahit, Atropos occat 12 Edited by Wrobel, Eberhardus; the section of the poem echoed by the Breton author is probably not the work of Eberhard himself (see Raby, Secular Latin Poetry, I1.84-6). lvi

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

This close parallel argues strongly that the poet was indeed familiar with Eberhard’s Graecismus. Another mediaeval school-text which influenced the poet is the Facetus, "Moribus et uita’, a elegiac guide to courtesy and the art of love probably written in the mid-twelfth century. Towards the end of that text, the Muse Caliope is invoked as follows: ‘Calliope, proprio cetu comitata sororum’ (line 467). This is evidently the source of the similar invocation of the same Muse with which the poet begins the proem to his account of King Arthur: ‘Candida Caliope, cetu comitante sororum / Ex Elicone ueni' (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.1 1-12). We have seen that the author of the Gesta Regum Britannie was much

influenced by rhetoric and word-play. It is not therefore surprising that there is evidence that he was familiar with a standard school-text on the art of poetry, the Ars Versificatoria of Matthew of Vendóme.* Among the embellishments which the poet adds to Cassibellaunus's defiant reply to Caesar's demand for his submission is the following play on Caesar's name (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.257-8): Cesar, qui ceso nomen trahis istud ab hoste, Ne quia cederis sis Cesar, cede Britannis.

The pun here is one of those resting on caedo and cedo of which the poet was so fond.5* However, the word-play also depends on an etymology which explains Caesar's name as being derived from caedo, and more particularly from cutting down his enemies in battle (‘ceso . . . ab hoste’, line 257). The accepted etymo-

logical explanation of the name Caesar was supplied by Isidore of Seville, who explained it as being derived either from caedo, because Caesar was delivered

by caesarian section, or from caesaries, because Caesar was born with hair.!?é Although the first of these etymologies loosely agrees with that of the poet in that caedo is at the root of the name, it offers a completely different interpretation by relating the derivation to Caesar's being cut from his mother's womb rather than to his cutting down his foes. In fact, an etymology far closer than Isidore's to that of the poet is employed by Matthew of Vendóme, who, in a passage exemplifying panegyric, explains the name Caesar as 'cutting down all things’ (Ars Versificatoria, 1.51.31—2): Cesar ab effectu nomen tenet: omnia cedens

Nominis exponit significata manus.

When turning this flattering etymology to Caesar's disadvantage, then, the poet seems to have had Matthew's explanation of the name in view. a Indeed, there is a further passage which contains a verbal reminiscence of the 13 14

Edited by Elliott, ‘The Facetus’; on the dating, see Dronke, ‘Pseudo-Ovid’, p. 129. Edited by Munari, Mathei, III

» Au am f 135 See p. lii above. 136 Etymologiae, IX.3.12 (ed. Lindsay): 'Caesarum nomen a Iulio qui bello ciuili commoto primus Romanorum singularem optinuit principatum. Caesar autem dictus, quod caeso mortuae matris utero prolatus eductusque fuerit, uel quia cum caesarie natus sit. lvii

INTRODUCTION

Ars Versificatoria. It occurs in the poet’s vituperative attack on the Angli. One of the derogatory etymologies offerred by the poet holds that their name arises from their ‘lower angle’ where they have a stiff tail (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.460-1): Forte uel inferior determinat angulus Anglos In quo cauda riget.

The reference is to the notorious jibe which attributed tails to the English;!? but there is here added to the insult a further innuendo which, to pillory the lust of the English, identifies these stiff tails with their erect penises. Although the word cauda sometimes has this connotation in Classical Latin,!** it is used in precisely this sense by Matthew of Vendóme, who, moreover, couples it with the verb rigeo in a passage of invective against Rufus, his red-haired rival (Ars Versificatoria, 1.53.77-8): Uergit in incestum, Uenus excitat egra bilibres Fratres, membra tepent cetera, cauda riget.

The Breton poet has thus seemingly transferred a striking detail of Matthew’s invective directly into his own poem. Compared with verse, the influence of mediaeval prose texts on the Gesta

Regum Britannie is, with the exception of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia, minimal. However, in the passage on the origins of the name Angli, which we have just been discussing, the poet does make use of perhaps the best known book of English history, Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum.?? The first of the etymologies offered by the poet in this passage is geographical, the English being named after their original homeland (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.452-3): Dat patria nomen Illud; id euentus nomen facit, Angulus Anglum.

This historical explanation is also given by Bede: ‘Anglis, hoc est de illa patria quae Angulus dicitur’ (Historia Ecclesiastica, 1.15). Although this first etymology is seemingly accepted by the poet, a second is subtly subverted by him (X.454—9): Anglicus angelicus tamen exponi solet; huius Nominis expositor et dictus apostolus Angli Gregorius populi respexit ad exteriorem Candorem uultus, cum quondam dixerit Anglos Angelicos. Tamen angelico peruersa nitore Mens caret; angelus est Sathane huius nominis auctor. 17 On this, see Tatlock, The Legendary History, pp. 505-7. 15 Thesaurus, 111.627 (especially Horace, Satires, 1.2.45 and 11.7.49); Adams, The Latin Sexual Vocabulary, pp. 36-7. 139 Edited by Colgrave & Mynors, Bede's Ecclesiastical History.

lviii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

The connection of Angli with angeli of course alludes to the well known series of word-plays supposedly made by Pope Gregory the Great on first seeing English captives, the story being told by Bede in Historia Ecclesiastica, II.1; but the poet here flatly contradicts Gregory (and Bede) by contrasting the angelic outer appearance of the English with their inner corruption, which shows that their eponym was not an angel of God but of Satan. Moreover, the poet then proceeds also to subvert Bede's first etymology by, as we have seen, associating the angulus from which the name of the Angli is derived not with their ancient homeland, but with their ‘lower angle’ from which spring both their lust and their name (X.460-1). To close the passage, the poet adds one last derogatory etymology (X.461—2): uel id ex “‘in-gloria” nomen Composita exponit, sine qua gens illa futura est.

He suggests the name of the Angli (in the genitive Anglorum) derives from the compound an-gloria or in-gloria, since the English will never have any glory. As Rosemary Morris has observed, this pun on the genitive case of the name may have arisen because this is the form in which it appears in the title of Bede's history (Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum).\*° The Breton poet thus ironi-

cally contradicts and subverts one of the most famous texts of English history in order to pour further scorn on his English victims. It is also possible that, when offering another etymology, the poet made use of a standard mediaeval reference work, the Etymologiae of Isidore of Seville.!* The object of his etymology is again English, this time the Saxons. In his apostrophe to Mordred, the poet warns him to repudiate his Saxon allies, whose very name betrays their relentlessness (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.201—4): Tibi federa nulla Sint cum Saxonibus. Nam rem cum nomine ducunt: Saxones a saxis, quibus hii sunt asperiores Austerique magis.

The name Saxones is here derived from saxum, alluding to the Saxons' characteristic toughness. A similar explanation of the name is found in Isidore's Etymologiae, 1X.2.100: Saxonum genus . . . unde appellatum quod sit durum et ualidissimum genus

However, Isidore, although referring to the Saxons' hardness, does not explicitly derive their name from saxum. It may well be, therefore, that the poet's etymology is drawn from another source or from common received wisdom rather than directly from Isidore's Etymologiae. — .

The prose text from which the poet borrows most frequently (after Geoffrey's Historia) is, not unexpectedly, the Bible. Most often, he uses a biblical allusion 10 14

"TheGesta', p. 68. Edited by Lindsay, Isidori.

INTRODUCTION

to reinforce a moral point or argument. In Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.278—9, for example, Aurelius Ambrosius praises the British leaders who were treacherously slaughtered by Hengist with the following words, ‘tua mors preciosa / Est in conspectu Domini’; the phrase recalls Psalm 115.15, ‘preciosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum eius.' This echo has an important resonance, for it bestows on the christian British, murdered by the pagan English, an aura of martyrdom, suggesting that they have become the Lord's sancti; the echo thus plays its part in the poet's depiction of Ambrosius's campaign against the English as a crusade.!? The poet also cites the Psalms to condemn Constantine’s renunciation of his monastic vows (Gesta Regum Britannie, V.133—4): “Dicens psalmista, **uouete", / "Reddite" continuo dixit’ (cf. Psalm 75.12, *uouete et

reddite Domino Deo uestro"); the Psalms, probably the book of the Bible best known to the monastic audience, is thus aptly employed to censure a lapsed monk.!? St Paul's letters are used in much the same way: in Gesta Regum Britannie, V.331—2, for instance, when the British reprove Vortigern for his marriage with the pagan Ronwen, they echo the words of Paul (Gesta Regum Britannie, V.331—2): ‘nulla est conuencio Christi ad Belial’ (cf. II Corinthians 6.15, ‘quae autem conuentio Christi ad Belial').^* An equally effective biblical reminiscence, this time of the prophet Isaiah, occurs in Cadwaladr's despairing speech as he leaves Britain for ever. He declares that God is driven to punish the British because He sees the moral corruption of their kingdom (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.345—6): ‘cernens in toto corpore regni / Omne caput languens, cor merens, putrida membra.' This recalls Isaiah's strictures against Israel, ‘omne caput languidum et omne cor maerens' (Isaiah 1.5—6). The biblical echo contributes, as we have seen, to the heightened religious and moral tone of Cadwaladr’s lament in the poem.!^5 In addition to using biblical sententiae, the poet also often employs other pithy phrases or sayings to underline a moral. These are listed below: ‘Excessum sequitur de iure ruina' (Gesta Regum Britannie, 11.164); *participum regni dissensio sepe / Assolet esse comes’ (1I.316—7); ‘qui plus petit equo/A toto de iure cadit’ (II.321-2); *misceri discordia prosperitati / Sepe solet' (II.386-7); ‘dum ridet, deridet gloria mundi’ (III.295); ‘sucessus humani stare tenaci / Non possunt passu' (III.350-1); *Meritis Deus equa rependit" (IV.497); ‘sepe solent misceri tristia letis' (VI.513); ‘Cur in messes alienas / Inmittis falcem’ (VIII.19—

12 13 14

See pp. xlviii-li above. There is also an apparent echo of Psalm 120.8 in Gesta Regum Britannie, II.115.

Other reminiscences of the Pauline epistles occur in IV.137-8 (Ephesians 4.15-16) and

VIIL.496 (Colossians 3.5); another letter, II Timothy 2.5, is probably alluded to in VII.175. 145 See p. xxxvi above. There are also references to the scriptures in 1I[359—60 and VII.150—-1, and perhaps in I.372-3 (where the wide road that leads to Hell seems narrow to Corineus's victims; cf. Matthew 7.13, ‘spatiosa uia quae ducit ad perditionem"). Such mixing of biblical imagery and diction with Classical form is also sometimes found in Walter of Chátillon's epic: for example, Alexandreid, X.302, ‘Egit ut in nostro conspectu terra sileret’

recalls

1 Macchabees 1.3 (also 11.38 and 52), ‘et siluit terra in conspectu eius' (a reminis-

cence which is not noted in Colker's apparatus).

Ix

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

20); "breuis esse solet concordia regni / Eiusdem dominis' (IX.463— 4);!45 ‘nulla diu stat firma potencia rerum / Quas secum fortuna trahit (X.2823). So far I have not been able to trace the majority of these dicta to particul ar sources;! but their conventional nature certainly suggests that they belong to the mediaeval common stock of sayings and aphorisms. Finally, another of the poet's sententiae presents one of the very few problems of interpretation in the poem. It occurs in the address to Conanus Meriadocus, where the idea that blood leads to blood in an unbreakable cycle of sin is expressed by the poet with the

following remarkable phrase: *Cortinam cortina trahit, sanguisque cruorem' (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.500). The second half of the line makes the poet's meaning clear enough, but the first half is problematic: cortina regularly means either a prophetic tripod or a curtain;!^ but neither sense seems satisfactory in the line quoted. I have, therefore, provisionally translated the phrase as ‘A iy draws a curtain’ in the hope that a better explanation may yet come to ight.

(d) Classical Texts We have seen that the Gesta Regum Britannie was greatly influenced by Walter of Chátillon's Alexandreid, a poem itself replete with imitations and echoes of Classical poetry. Not surprisingly, the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie also reveals knowledge of a wide range of Classical verse. He knows Vergil well, although, like Walter, he usually incorporates halflines or final cadences into the poem rather than whole lines. Indeed, on the one occasion that the poet repeats an entire Vergilian line verbatim he does so with consciously ironic inversion. When the Briton Mauricius, bringing Maximianus from Rome, advances to parley with Conanus Meriadocus, he bears an olive

branch before him, ‘Pacifereque manu ramum pretendit olive’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.402). The line is borrowed wholesale from the Aeneid (VIII.116),

but there the context is different: Aeneas comes to the future site of Rome sincerely seeking an alliance with its Greek inhabitants. Mauricius on the contrary intends to trick his fellow Britons and accomplish by guile what he cannot by war: to establish Maximianus rather than his rival Conanus as the next king

146

Cf. 'Consortis in uno / Impaciens rego' (X.211-12), which echoes Lucan, De Bello

:

Ciuili, 1.92-3 (see p. Ixix below).

14 An exception is 'sepe solent misceri tristia letis' (VI.513), which is a reworking of Ovid, Fasti, VI.436, ‘Scilicet interdum miscentur tristia laetis." An analogue to ‘Cur in messes alienas / Inmittis falcem' (VIII.19—20) is found in Ranulph Higden's Polychronicon VII (edd. Babington and Lumby, VIII.182—4), ‘Non licet tibi falcem ponere in messem alienam" (I owe this reference to Oliver Padel); cf. also Walther & Schmidt, Proverbia, nos 37430e1 (11.129) and 36840 (1.804), and Walther, Proverbia, 33290 (V.703). Finally, with *qui plus petit aequo / A toto de iure cadit' may perhaps be compared Walther, Proverbia, no. 24501a (IV.239).

M8

Thesaurus, IV.1071-2.

Ixi

INTRODUCTION

of Britain. Recognition of the context of the borrowed line thus adds to its effectiveness in its new setting. It is more often the case, however, that Vergilian lines are recast in the Breton poem. For example, Dido’s desperate resolve to try any ploy to keep Aeneas with her, ‘Ne quid inexpertum frusta moritura relinquat’ (Aeneid, IV.415), is reworked to describe Ambrosius Aurelius’s efforts to reconstruct and reform devastated Britain, ‘Ne quid inexpertum desolatumque relinquat’(Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.269). Less extensive echoes of Vergilian diction occur throughout the poem. Compare, for example, Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.56, ‘Hec pugna uidebitur impar’ and Aeneid, XII.216, ‘impar ea pugna uideri’; Gesta Regum Britannie, I.91—2, "Troas precipitato / Turbine correptos' and Aeneid, 1.45, 'turbine corripuit'; Gesta Regum Britannie, III.14, ‘thesaurus ab auis atauisque ducis collectus' and Aeneid, VII.56, *auis atauisque potens'; Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.501—2, ‘Britonum populus in ipsa / Mobilitate uiget’ and Aeneid, IV.175, *[Fama] Mobilitate uiget’; and finally, Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.501, * Arturus eternum nomen habebit! and Aeneid, V1.381, ‘Eternumque locus Palinuri nomen habebit.' Two of the poet's many word-plays on pareo and paro, *parere paratus' (Gesta Regum Britannie, V.116) and *parere parati’ (V.213), are also directly inspired by a similar Vergilian line ending, 'parere parabat (Aeneid, IV.238). While the vast majority of the poet's Vergilan borrowings (including all those cited above) are drawn from the Aeneid, the Eclogues and Georgics also occasionally serve him as models: compare Gesta Regum Britannie, V.160, ‘Ut quorum instabiles animos’ with Georgics, IV.105, ‘Instabilis animos ludo prohibebis'; and Gesta Regum Britannie, 111.388, ‘Que te demencia cogit" with Eclogues, II.69, ‘que te dementia cepit." Yet, despite the poet's frequent recourse to Vergil as a verbal model, he rarely goes so far as to give an entire episode or character a Vergilian colour. There is, for example, an obvious parallel between the wanderings of Brutus and his Trojan exiles in Gesta Regum Britannie I and those of Aeneas and his followers in Aeneid Book III; but this parallel is already implicit in the narrative of Geoffrey's Historia,’ and the poet does little to strengthen or emphasise it.

Writing as he was during a period which has been termed the aetas Ouidiana, it is not unexpected that the poet makes more extensive use of Ovid than of Vergil. He was familiar with the full range of Ovid's works. In particular, the Metamorphoses, Ovid's only composition entirely in hexameters, exerts extensive influence on the diction of the poet, who borrows from it very frequently. Indeed, on one occasion the poet takes over verbatim an entire line from Ovid's epic, ‘Este, precor, memores qua sitis stirpe creati" (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.257 and Metamorphoses, III.543), just as he did from the Aeneid, although in this case there does not appear to be any pointed modification of context. There are many further borrowings from the Metamorphoses in the poem. For example, Vortigern, though he is glad at Constans' murder, weeps crocodile tears over it, “Lumina detergens ueluti lacrimancia’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, 19

Tausendfreund, Vergil; Tatlock, The Legendary History, p. 261.

Ixii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

V.188); just so Ulysses hypocritically laments Achilles’ death while competing

for his arms, 'manuque simul ueluti lacrimantia tersit / Lumina' (Metamor-

phoses, XIIL131-2). In Gesta Regum Britannie, V.356, when the Saxon Ronwen enacts the classic role of the stepmother by poisoning her stepso n Vortimer, miscens aconita nouerca', the allusion is reinforced by the fact that the phrase quoted echoes Ovid, who connects such poisonings with the decline from the golden age, *miscent aconita nouercae' (Metamorphoses, 1.147). Ovid's description of this decline is again laid under contribution in Gesta Regum Britann ie, X.98-9, where the poet depicts the moral degeneracy of the British, whose virtues give way to vice, ‘In quorum subiere locum uiolencia, furtum, / Fraus, dolus'; in Metamorphoses, 1.130, the virtues of the Golden Age are similarly

ousted by vices, ‘In quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolusque' .Another striking Ovidian borrowing occurs in a passage dealing with Satan's envy of human prosperity, *Suppliciumque suum est hominum benefacta uidere / Successusque' (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIIL486—7); this represents a christianisation of part

of Ovid's portrait of Envy, who likewise envies men and is at the same time her own punishment, ‘intabescitque uidendo / Successus hominum carpitque et carpitur una / Suppliciumque suum est’ (Metamorphoses, 11.780—2). In addition to Ovid's epic, his amatory verse was also known to the poet, who borrows from it in much the same way, although less frequently. For example, the expression ‘candida pax’ in Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.441 probably echoes Ars Amatoria, 111.502; and the pointed repetition ‘Fallere fallentes’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.232) recalls ‘Fallite fallentes’ (Ars Amatoria, I.645). On one

occasion, the Remedia Amoris is imitated; compare ‘Jn regis rapide serpunt precordia flamme' (Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.487) with ‘serpunt in uiscera flammae' (Remedia Amoris, 105), in both passages the flames referred to being those of love. Ovid's Amores are echoed more frequently. For instance, the line-ending 'serior aetas' is shared by Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.115 and Amores 11.4.45; ‘mixtum cum dulci melle uenenum' (Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.387) echoes ‘sub dulci melle uenena latent’ (Amores, 1.8.104); and ‘Nocte

soporatos hostes inuadite ferro’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.453) reworks

*Saepe soporatos inuadere profuit hostes’ (Amores, 1.9.21). Ovid's exile poetry also serves the poet as a frequent verbal model. ‘O quam uirgo tue genus est miserabile mortis' (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIII.210) is, for example, evidently based on ‘genus est miserabile leti" (Tristia, I.2.51).5? More than the Tristia, however, it is the Epistolae ex Ponto on which the poet draws. In Gesta Regum Britannie, 11.313, Cordilla commits suicide by ending her misery with a sword, ‘satagensque sue gladio finire dolorem’; this echoes Ovid's temptation to suicide for a similar reason, ‘gladio finire dolorem’ (Ex Ponto, I.6.41). In Gesta Regum Britannie, V.466, the incubus who will father Merlin disappears by melting into the air (‘tenues dilapsus in auras’) exactly as a vision of Cupid vanishes before Ovid's eyes in Ex Ponto, III.3.93. Tu On a larger scale, the Epistolae ex Ponto also provide the inspiration for an

150

See also the borrowing from the Tristia recorded in n. 147 above.

Ixiii

INTRODUCTION

elaborate modesty topos in the prologue to Gesta Regum Britannie VII. The poet, conscious that his talent is insufficient to do justice to his subject, is comforted by the thought that sincerity is more important than ability. This dictum he expresses in the form of a Classical allusion, stating that the calf sacrificed by Croesus is no more welcome to the deity than a lamb sincererly sacrificed by a poor man (VII.28—32):

sed pauper gratus ad aram Acceptusque uenit, nec in eius munere numen Estimat effectum precii, sed sacrificantis Affectum. Non est acceptior hostia Cresi Mactato uitulo quam ceso pauperis agno.

Here the poet with characteristic elaboration — adding a reference to Croesus and word-play on effectum and affectum — reworks an Ovidian couplet, which similarly praises sincerity (Ex Ponto, III.4.81—2): Haec facit ut ueniat pauper quoque gratus ad aras, Et placeat ceso non minus agna boue.

Indeed, the poet may be adding a further ironic resonance to the Ovidian borrowing. These lines occur just after he has, as we have seen, favourably compared his hero, Arthur, to those of Vergil, Lucan and Statius. The apparent modesty of his own humble offering of a lamb, as opposed to the ox of ancient epic, may thus cloak his confidence that, despite the alleged inadequacy of its author, a poem devoted to a christian prince such as Arthur will prove more acceptable to God than the pagan epic of Antiquity. Of Ovid's remaining corpus, the Fasti are only occasionally echoed. However, an interesting example of such borrowing occurs in Gesta Regum Britannie, V.96—7, ‘Nec mora. . . nauta tepenti / Carbasa dat Zephiro’; in these lines the poet combines echoes of Fasti, VI.715, *Zephyro date carbasa, nautae' ,and II.220, ‘niue, quae Zephyro uicta tepente fluit.' Even one of Ovid's minor poems was apparently known to the poet. In Gesta Regum Britannie, V.219, a list of

predominantly Classical deities supposedly worshipped by Hengist and the pagan English includes ‘Saturnumque senem, Satyros, Faunosque Laresque’; this unusual collocation of Satyrs, Fauns and Lares is also found in Ovid's /bis, line 81, *plebs superum Fauni Satyrique Laresque.' Of all of Ovid's elegiac verse, however, it is the Heroides which exerted the

greatest influence on the Gesta Regum Britannie. The poet's many borrowings from the Heroides span the full range from simple verbal echoes to entire passages which are inspired by their content and suffused with their spirit. To begin with verbal reminiscences, in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.88—9, for example, Pandrasus's anger is said to be too uncontrolled to befit a king, *ultra/ Quam regem deceat, nimie non imperat ire’; this constitutes a reworking of Ovid's decription of the rage of Aeolus, father of Canace, 'Imperat heu uentis, tumidae non imperat irae’ (Heroides, XI.15). After the battle of Siesia, as we have seen, Arthur's plans to take Rome are thwarted, according to the poet by Ixiv

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

God’s will (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.145, ‘Sed Deus opposuit tantis sua numina

uotis’); the line cited recasts the abandonned

Oenone’s question of

which god has blocked her hopes of Paris’s faithfulness (Heroid es, V.5, ‘Quis deus opposuit nostris sua numina uotis?’). This recasting may again be pointed, for it is Venus, goddess of love, who has checked Oenone’s hopes and, although it is evidently the christian God who confounds Arthur, he does so by means of Mordred’s rebellion and his incestuous marrage with his uncle’s wife; the borrowing from the Heroides may thus subtly foreshadow the infidelity which will hasten Arthur's ruin.!5! The poet also owes to the Heroides one of his many Classical allusions. Already in Geoffrey’s Historia there is a strong parallel beween the begetting of Arthur and that of Hercules: Uther assumes the shape of Gorlois in order to seduce his wife Igerna in much the same way as, according to myth, Jupiter transformed himself into Amphitryo in order to enjoy Alcmene.'2 As Rosemary Morris has observed, the poet adds a further detail which strengthens this parallel. According to him, the disguised Uther spent three nights with Igerna, as Jupiter had done with Alcmene. And the poet expressly states that a single night was not enough for the conception of Arthur, just as it was not enough for that of Hercules (Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.496—500): Rex subit optatum thalamum uotoque potitus Tres noctes totidemque dies dux creditus illic Continuat, quoniam non est nox unica tanti Ut tantus generetur homo quantus sit in illo Tempore conceptus.

In fact, this allusion echoes a similar one which Ovid puts in the mouth of Deianira (Heroides, IX.9—10):

At non ille uelit, cui nox — sic creditur — una Non tanti, ut tantus conciperere, fuit.

The parallel between Arthur and Hercules is thus further reinforced by the poet's borrowing from Ovid. In two passages the influence of Ovid's verse, and of the Heroides in particular, deserves special attention. The first of these passages occurs when Innogen, Brutus's reluctant bride, is carried away in the Trojan fleet, leaving behind her country and father. In Geoffrey's Historia (815) this episode is treated with considerable pathos: 15! Another striking borrowing occurs in Gesta Regum Britannie, VI.58-9, where Arthur's famous epithet ‘the Boar of Cornwall’ ('Aper . . . Cornubie’, Historia Regum Britannie, $112.2) is rendered as ‘obliquo dente timendus / Cornubiensis aper', a phrase which echoes Heroides, IV.104, ‘obliquo dente timendus aper." 1322 Tatlock, The Legendary History, p. 317. Í i 133 "TheGesta', p. 87,although she does not note the Ovidian borrowing. By reinforcing the parallel with Hercules, the poet perhaps aimed to shift attention away from the lessflattering one with Alexander, conceived through the adultery of his mother with the disguised magician Nectanebus. Ixv

INTRODUCTION

At Innogen in excelsa pupi stans sepius inter brachia Bruti in extasi collabitur. Fusis quoque cum singultu lacrimis parentes ac patriam deserere conqueritur. Nec oculos a littore auertit dum littora oculis patuerunt. Already in Geoffrey's account Innogen is reminiscent of Ovid's Ariadne, who, having been deserted, stares at the sails of Theseus until they disappear from

sight;!* a despairing speech in the manner of the Heroides is all that is lacking. This the poet, sensitive to the Ovidian possibilities of the scene, supplies. He recasts the passage as follows (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.221—34): At noua nupta sui ducis inter brachia summa Stans in pupe, suam patriam carosque parentes Destituens, spectat terras (et Pandrasus equor). *Me miseram, quid id est? Pater, o pater, auferor.' inquit, *Efferor, ut dicam ueracius. Est michi latum Pro tumulo pelagus; Syrtes michi fata minantur; Predulci me uoce uocant Syrenes; edendam Scilla suis canibus promittit ferre frequenter. Exequias uiue, si recte uita uocari Talis uita potest que peior morte uidetur, Exequias uobis facio; sum mortua uobis, Uosque michi. Lugens nubo; dotata maritor

225

230

Exilio uitaue breui. Cur matris in aluo Non perii? Pereo monstris seruata marinis.’

Here, as in the Historia, Innogen stands on the stern of Brutus's ship and stares at the disappearing land, but the emotion of the situation is heightened by the added detail of her father Pandrasus similarly watching her depart (line 223). Her lament is Ovidian in tone, and in two places echoes Ovidian passages. In line 224 Innogen’s despairing cry to her father is borrowed verbatim from Ars Amatoria, 11.91 (‘Decidit atque cadens “Pater o pater, auferor" inquit').5 However, the context of the borrowing is ingeniously varied, for in Ovid the speaker is Icarus, who, as he falls into the sea with his wings melted by the sun, calls to his father Daedalus for help; and, although the dramatic setting is different, Icarus dies in the waves just as Innogen expects to meet her death at sea. Characteristically, the poet also adds an element of word-play to the Ovidian borrowing, contrasting auferor (‘I am carried off’) with ‘Efferor, ut dicam ueracius’ (*Or, to speak more truely, I am being carried out for burial’). A further Ovidian borrowing occurs in the lines where Innogen imagines the dangers which await her during her voyage, the Syrtes, the Sirens and Scylla (226-8). This recalls a passage in which the abandonned Medea wishes that she and Jason had perished at sea (Heroides, XII.121—6). In particular, Innogen's gruesome fear that she will become food for Scylla's dogs (‘edendam / Scilla suis canibus promittit ferre frequenter") is modelled on Medea's regret that she had

19 155

Heroides, X.29—36. Cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta', pp. 69-71.

Ixvi

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

not been similarly devoured (Heroides, XII.123, ‘Aut nos Scylla rapax canibus misisset edendos").

The second passage which bears the stamp of the Heroid es is even more striking. In it the poet does not simply elaborate a passag e which already has Ovidian overtones, but creates an entirely new scene to frame a pathetic heroine of his own invention. The passage in question occurs when the imperial army musters at Rome to resist Arthur. By depicting this Roman army as already foredoomed, the poet is able to add to the dark atmosphere which characterises the last three books of the poem, and to provide a fit setting for the lamentations

of a love-sick maiden (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIII.145—73) : Romana potestas

Arma capit, sua castra mouet, ciuesque Quirini Flentes prospiciunt Romam, non prospiciendam Amplius; et sponsam flentem flens ipse relinquit Sponsus; in amplexus uxor pia coniugis heret. Filius in patris breuibus ceruice lacertis Pendens exclamat: *Quo te, pater, eripis, aut cui Deseris uxorem? Cui me fratresque relinquis? Deserimur fratres uiuo genitore pupilli." Ecce puellarum pulcherrima credita uirgo, Tacta tamen tecto pulchri tyronis amore, Egreditur thalamis et quem celauerat ignem Detegit insano ueneris stimulata furore. Namque uelut bache stimulis exercita Bachi In furias rapitur sparsis in terga capillis, Sic ea mentis inops, uultu prodente furorem, Se iacit in turbas, iuuenisque retentat habenas, Et clamans, “Meus es, meus es! Quo te rapis?’ inquit, *Quid tibi cum bellis, solitis inducere mortem? Quid cum Normannis, quid cum feritate Britanna, Quid tibi cum Scotis, cum Pictis et Uenedotis? Arturum timeo, qui cum Frollone duellum

Commisit mortique dedit rex ipse tribunum. Loth, Cador, Auguselus, Keius, Galganus, Hoelus— Hec audita sono solo me nomina terrent." Nulla domus plangore caret, uia nulla querelis: Feminei planctus et uoces aera pulsant; Horrisonos tonitrus reboat resonabilis eucho; Exsequias uiui facit uxor maesta mariti.

145

150

155

160 E

165

170

In addition to its central heroine, the passage owes much of its impact to a mass of Ovidian diction and borrowings. For example, the image of the weeping husband leaving his wife in tears (148, ‘flentem flens ipse relinquit") recalls Ovid's last embraces with his wife before leaving Rome in exile (Tristia, I.3.17, ‘flentem flens acrius ipsa tenebat"); the fact that Ovid was never to return from exile adds a further resonance to the fate of the husband, who will indeed, like Ovid, never see Rome again. The amatory fury of the Roman maiden herself is Ixvii

INTRODUCTION

described in Ovidian terms; with ‘Jn furias rapitur sparsis in terga capillis (159), compare Ars Amatoria 11.487, ‘In furias agitantur' and 1.541 'sparsis in terga capillis." However, it is to the Heroides that the poet turns most often. Sometimes he simply borrows their phraseology: the ‘little arms’ by which the son hangs from his father’s neck (150) echo those of Hermione (Heroides, VIII.93, ‘Non ego captaui breuibus tua colla lacertis"); and the love hidden by the Roman virgin (156) recalls a rhetorical question of Paris (Heroides, XVI.7, ‘quis enim celauerit [var. celauerat] ignem"). Other of the poet's borrowings gain in significance if their original context is recognised. For instance, when the Roman maiden desperately shouts that the young man belongs to her (162, ‘clamans, “Meus es, meus es" ."), she echoes Medea's hopeless desire to reclaim Jason even as he marries another (Heroides, XII.158, ‘clamarem

“meus est!”

iniceremque manus’). Likewise, her terror at hearing the mere names of Arthur's commanders (168-9) mirrors the same fear which the very mention of Troy and its environs inspires in Laodamia (Heroides, XIII.53—4): Ilion et Tenedos Simoisque et Xanthus et Ide Nomina sunt ipso paene timenda sono.

In this case, the echo is the more poignant since Laodamia's husband, Protesilaus, is fated to be the first Greek to fall at Troy; her fears are thus entirely justified. Although the Breton poet does not explicitly tell us what happens to the Roman youth, the clear implication, if the borrowing is recognised, is that he too will never see Rome or his lover again. Indeed, the last of the Ovidian reminiscences in this passage may represent a touch of whimsy on the poet's part. In VIII.172, the line-ending ‘resonabilis eucho’ is derived from Metamorphoses, 111.358: this ‘resounding echo’ borrowed from Ovid may well be a signal from the poet to his readers, challenging them to admire the ingenuity with which Ovidian reminiscences have been woven into the emotive picture which he has painted.

Other Classical epics in addition to Vergil’s Aeneid and Ovid's Metamorphoses influenced the Breton poet. He was intimately familiar with Lucan's De Bello Ciuili. With Lucan he shares, as we have seen, a taste for dramatic apostrophe; and the De Bello Ciuili plays an important part in shaping the narrative of the Breton poem. In particular, the tragic closing books of the Gesta Regum Britannie are greatly indebted to Lucan's epic, using reminiscences of it to create the ominous and doom-laden feeling which permeates the account of Arthur's final battles at Siesia and Camlann. As Rosemary Morris has shown, echoes of Lucan abound in these books.55 To consider one such borrowing which has not been discussed by Morris: before the climactic battle of Camlann, the poet laments that Mordred has permitted ‘tanta licencia ferri" to his pagan allies, since they will slaugher the christian British (Gesta Regum Britannie,

IX.197); this recalls Lucan's indignant question to his fellow-citizens in the

155

‘The Gesta’, pp. 71-7; cf. pp. xxxi-ii above.

Ixviii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

proem to De Bello Ciuili (1.8, ‘Quis furor, o ciues, quae tanta licentia ferri^);? by echoes such as these Arthur's final battles are made to reflect the communa l madness of Pharsalia. Indeed, Lucan's pithy descriptions and fiery denunciation of civil strife are echoed throughout the poem. For example, the battle of Calaterium between the brothers Brennius and Belinus is described as 'Plusquam ciuilia bella’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, 11.430), a phrase borrowed directly from the opening line of Lucan's epic (De Bello Ciuili, I.1, ‘Bella per Emathios plusquam ciuilia campos’). Later in the poem, Penda speciously describes Oswi as ‘Consortis in uno/ Impaciens regno' (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.211-12); his words constitute an echo of Lucan's pessimistic sententia on the impossibility of power-sharing, "Nulla fides regni sociis, omnisque potestas / Jnpatiens consortis erit" (De Bello Ciuili, 1.92-3). On occasion, the poet's borrowings from Lucan can, as in the case of Vergil and Ovid, be ironic. For example, one of Lucan's best known phrases, which describes the Stoic Cato as ‘Jn commune bonus’ (De Bello Ciuili, 1I.390), is neatly inverted by the Breton poet when he depicts the Roman tyrant Maxentius as ‘Jn commune malus' (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.324). Many other echoes of Lucan are found in the poem. In Gesta Regum Britannie, V.428—-9, for example, Vortigern's magi are termed ‘uos quos cura laborque / Mundi sollicitant', thus echoing Lucan's description of natural scientists, *Quaerite quos agitat mundi labor’ (De Bello Ciuili, 1.417) and combining it with another line-ending from Lucan's poem, ‘non cura laborque' (IX.621). Similarly, a difficult (and possibly corrupt) description of the vernal equinox, *Ponderat in Libra sol tempora, pondere iusto / Equatum cum nocte diem’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1X.136—7) is evidently a free reworking of De Bello Ciuili, IV.58—9, *aequatis ad iustae pondera Librae / Temporibus uicere dies.’ Finally, Lucan's epic on at least one occasion colours the Breton poet's hostile characterisation of Caesar, which is more pronounced than in Geoffrey's account. In Historia Regum Britannie, 863, Caesar's launching of the Civil War is described as follows: ‘Succedente postmodum tempore collectis undique ex omni genere militibus Romam contra Pompeium perrexit.' In the poem this becomes (Gesta Regum Britannie, 11I.444—7): Uere nouo Cesar collectis undique turmis Tendit in Ytaliam. Confundit fasque nefasque; Contra communem bellum gerit utilitatem; Pompeio fugiente sibi ius uendicat omne.

The emphasis here laid on the illegality and irresponsibility of Caesar's action, as well as on his assumption of absolute power, clearly reflects Lucan's anti-

Caesarian stance.'* Compared with Lucan, Statius's Thebaid, which was very popular in the 159 The opening of the same line is, moreover, also echoed in Gesta Regum Britannie, I.107 and VIII 474 (at the beginning of the apostrophe to the warriors at Siesia). 158 Note, however, that the passage also recalls the diction of Metamorphoses, V1.585-6 *fasque nefasque | Confusura.'

INTRODUCTION

Middle Ages, is less frequently echoed in the Gesta Regum Britannie. However, the poet’s use of the phrase ‘Contra fraternas acies’, again in the context of the civil war between Belinus and Brennius (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.26), can hardly be other than a deliberate echo of the opening line of Statius's epic (Thebaid, 1.1, *Fraternas acies alternaque regna’). Similarly, although it is a commonplace of epic poetry to describe the fall of weapons metaphorically as a shower or hail? the phrase ‘telorum densus cadit undique nimbus’ (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.66) is evidently indebted to Thebaid, 1X.526—7, ‘premit undique nimbo / Telorum.’ The section of the Thebaid perhaps best known and most imitated by mediaeval authors was its epilogue (XII.809-19). It may be, therefore, that the opening of the epilogue of the Gesta Regum Britannie, ‘Iam mea pene ratis fluctu maris obruta portum' (X.472) recalls Thebaid, X1I.809, ‘Et mea iam longo meruit ratis aequore portum.' Such nautical imagery is, however, not uncommon; the same metaphor is found, for example, at the close of Alan of Lille's Anticlaudianus,!'9 a passage which, as we have seen, was also familiar to the Breton poet, who may perhaps have had both models in mind. Claudian, like Statius, does not, despite his great popularity in the Middle Ages, appear to have exerted a very great influence on the Breton poet. There is, however, one passage where he unquestionably echoes Claudian. In his bitter apostrophe to Mordred before the battle of Camlann, the poet depicts the traitor

as a mere puppet in the hands of Satan, who mindful of his own Fall, raises Mordred up only to dash him down in greater ruin (Gesta Regum Britannie,

IX.217-9): Et, memor ipse sui casus causeque ruine, Consimili capiens te crimine, tollit in altum Ut te deiciat lapsum grauiore ruina.

These lines recall the /n Rufinum, one of Claudian's most popular poems.!6! There Rufinus's death is treated as a consoling example of justice in the world, since it demonstrates that the apparent success of the wicked is no more than the prelude to a harder fall: ‘tolluntur in altum / Ut lapsu grauiore ruant’ (In Rufinum, 1.22-3). But whereas Rufinus's fall restores Claudian's faith in just retribution, the Breton poet characteristically views Mordred's treachery more pessimistically: as the devil's cat's paw, Mordred is not only himself tricked, but also becomes part of Satan's plan to pervert all mens' efforts (cf. Gesta Regum 19 As, for example, in Ovid's Metamorphoses, V.158, ‘tela uolant hiberna grandine plura', a line which is reworked in Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.199-200, “grandine plura / Tela hinc inde uolant.’ 196 ]X.415-7 (quoted above, p. Ivi); that Alan is certainly influenced by the Thebaid is shown by the preceding lines of his epilogue, ‘O mihi continuo multo (var. multum) sudata labore / Pagina . . . / Uiue, nec, antiquos temptes equare poetas / Sed potius ueterum uestigia

semper adorans | Subsequere’ (Anticlaudianus, IX.410—14); cf. Thebaid, XII. 811-12 and 816-17, *O mihi bissenos multum uigilata per annos / Thebai . . . / Uiue, precor; nec tu diuinam Aeneida tempta / Sed longe sequere et uestigia semper adora' (a borrowing which

Bossuat fails to record!).

19

Edited by Birt, Claudii.

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

Britannie, VIII.482-90); Mordred's ruin will involve not only himself but also Arthur and all his fellow Britons, and it will ultimately lead to the ruin of Britain herself. Another of Claudian’s poems also provides an explanation for a puzzling allusion in the poet’s apostrophe to Conanus Mediadocus, founder of Brittany. In that apostrophe, the fickleness of the British people is compared to the ever-turning wheel of Fortune (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.501—3): Inconstans Britonum populus constanter in ipsa Mobilitate uiget; numquam Ranusia uirgo Mobiliore rota fertur quam spiritus eius.

What is odd here is the epithet Ranusia, a mediaeval spelling of Rhamnusia, applied to Fortune. The Greek town of Rhamnos is usually associated not with Fortune, but with Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution. Evidently the poet is associating the two divinities, who play a similar role in dashing mens' hopes. He is not, however, the first to do so. The two had already been identified with each other in Claudian's De Bello Gothico, 631-2: Sed dea quae nimiis obstat Rhamnusia uotis Ingemuit flexitque rotam.

Claudian's reference to the goddess's wheel in these lines clearly equates Nemesis with Fortune. In its context, moreover, this equation is a useful one for the Breton poet, for it enables him to suggest not only the inconstancy of Fortune's wheel, but also the inevitable retribution which, in his view, would be visited on the future Bretons as a consequence of their bloody occupation of Armorica.!? ‘ Other Classical verse is also occasionally echoed by the Breton poet. He knew Juvenal’s Satires, although his borrowings from them are limited to verbal reminiscences. One such borrowing is, for instance, found at the beginning of Book IX, in the passage describing the sun’s reluctance to rise on the morning of Siesia (IX.20-24): Surgit ab eois solito maturius horis Phebus et, ut uidit acies et bella parata, Pallidus et tristis et languens lumine toruo, Induxit sub nube caput radiosque reduxit Ne uideat tot fata ducum, tot funera regum.

This represents, as has already been noted, an imitation of De Bello Ciuili, VII.1—6:!9 Segnior Oceano quam lex aeterna uocabat Luctificus Titan numquam magis aethera contra Egit equos cursumque polo rapiente retorsit, 1 Above, p. ix. The apparent echo, in IV.502, of Catullus, LXVL71 ('Rhamausia uirgo") probably arose through coincidence. 18 Above, p. xxxii.

INTRODUCTION

Defectusque pati uoluit raptaeque labores Lucis, et attraxit nubes, non pabula flammis Sed ne Thessalico purus luceret in orbe.

In reworking Lucan, however, the poet also had recourse to Juvenal; the phrase, ‘solito maturius’, which he substitues for ‘Segnior’, is also found in Satire

XI.88, ‘solito maturius ibat.’ A curious detail in the poem may equally be traceable to Juvenal.!* During Arthur’s first Continental expedition, his lieutenant Hoelus conquers the Gascons, forcing them to give up their cannibalism in favour of ordinary food (Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.387—92: Pictauos uincit Hoelus Cum duce Guitardo, solitosque sitire cruorem Uascones humanum posita feritate Britanno Subdere colla iugo cogit, legemque subactis Indicit ritusque nouos inducit, et uti Nunc primum dapibus communibus edocet illos.

A reference to the cannibalism of the Gascons can also be found in Juvenal's Satire, XV.93-4, ‘Uascones, ut fama est, alimentis talibus [viz. human flesh] usi / Produxere animas.' However, since Juvenal is referring to a single occasion when the Uascones were reduced to this extremity by a siege, it is unclear whether the poet was directly influenced by the Roman satirist or was drawing on some intermediate source. The Ilias Latina,'$ an abridged version of the /liad in latin hexameters which was commonly read in mediaeval schools, also exercises some influence on the diction of the Breton poem. In Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.110—11, for instance, Arthur is compared in battle to a hungry lion, *ueluti leo nobilis ire / Quem stimulat ieiuna fames’; although a related simile is found at the same point in Geoffrey's Historia (8174), the poet’s verbal model is evidently /lias Latina, 396-7, 'ueluti . . . saeua leaena / Quam stimulat ieiuna fames." Likewise, the poet’s description of the Trojan Turnus as ‘quo nec formosior alter / . . . / Uenerat ad bellum' (Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.434—6) represents a deliberate inversion of the portrait of Thersites in /lias Latina, 136—7, *quo non deformior alter / Uenerat ad Troiam.'!9 It is also probable that the poet was familiar with one of the most popular christian poems of Late Antiquity, the Carmen Paschale of Caelius Sedulius.!® 14

Cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, p. 107.

16

Edited by Baehrens, Poetae, III.3—59.

16 However, the position is complicated by the fact that these lines are also imitated by the Breton poet's favourite author, Walter of Chatillon; cf. Alexandreid, III.31—2, ‘rapit ira leones / Quos stimulat ieiuna fames' (this borrowing from the Ilias Latina not being reported in Colker's apparatus). The poet's reference to the ira of the lion clearly shows that he has Walter in mind (although he also recalls Lucan, De Bello Ciuili, V1.487, ‘nobilis ira leonum', as well as

IIL614, ‘nobilis irae’); but his retention of the initial word ueluti, introducing a comparison with a single lion, points to his recognition of Walter's model, and imitation of both. 167 The poet is probably also glancing at Aeneid, VI.164, ‘quo nec praestantior alter.’ 18 Edited by Huemer, Sedulii Opera.

Ixxii

THE POEM AND ITS SOURCES

In Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.151, he refers to pagan temples as ‘fana prophana deorum'; this etymological word-play, which terms the shrines ‘unholy holies’ is also found in Carmen Paschale, 1.47, one of the best known lines of Sedulius’s poetry.19 In comparison with verse, the Gesta Regum Britannie's debt to Classical prose is modest indeed. It is possible, however, that the author may have read Florus's Epitome.” One of the poet's Classical allusions is, as we have seen, a historical exemplum which Cassibellaunus uses to condemn Roman greed (Gesta Regum Britannie, 11I.249—51); Laudamus Parthos, et in hoc absoluimus illos, Quod Crassus uitam finiuit funere digno, Ore bibens aurum quod corde sitiuit auaro.

The passage refers to the story that molten gold was poured between the lips of Crassus's severed head after his defeat by the Parthians at Carrhae. This tale is not found in Orosius or Justinus, but is preserved by Florus (Epitomi, 1.46.2): Aurum enim liquidum in rictum oris infusum est, ut cuius animus arserat auri cupiditate, eius etiam mortuum et exsangue corpus auro ureretur. However, whereas Florus explicitly states that Crassus was already dead before the drinking of the gold, the poet, by implication at least, makes it the cause of his death. It is therefore unclear whether he derived the tale directly from Florus, modifying it to underline the poetic justice of Crassus's fate, or whether he was drawing on an intermediary source or tradition.

III Prosody and Metrics The author of the Gesta Regum Britannie was, as we have seen, well-versed in

hexameter poetry; he was profoundly influenced by Walter of Chátillon's A/exandreid, and was also familiar with a range of Classical poets, including Vergil, Ovid and Lucan. An examination of the prosody and metrics of the Gesta Regum Britannie against this background therefore permits an assessment of how hexameter composition was practised by a poet who wrote, and was per16 The line is much imitated; see Hexameter Lexikon, 11.226. It is less clear whether the poet knew Prudentius's Psychomachia (ed. Cunningham) and pseudo-Prosper’s Ad Uxorem (ed. Hartel), since apparent echoes of these works (noted in the conspectus fontium and index fontium below) may be coincidental, as also may be seeming reminiscences of the Disticha Catonis and Martial. 10 Edited by Rossbach, L. Annaei Flori. ; = 11 A similar reference to the story is, for example, found in Alan of Lille’s Anticlaudianus, II.227-8, ‘Non auri potum siciens, non hebrius auro / Aurum potasset Crassus, male potus in auro.

Ixxiii

INTRODUCTION

haps trained, in thirteenth-century Brittany. The following discussion is based on a complete examination of the Gesta Regum Britannie, except where some information has been drawn from representative portions of the the poem.!7? Throughout the investigation, the Gesta Regum Britannie has been closely compared with the Alexandreid of Walter of Chatillon,’” and the Ylias (or Bellum Troianum) of Joseph of Exeter; in the case of each of the latter, statistics have also been gathered from the entirety of their poems or from significant parts thereof.'75 These two twelfth-century writers have been selected for examination here because both wrote epic poems which, like the Gesta Regum Britannie, paraphrase prose texts; furthermore, their poems offer different points of comparison with the Gesta Regum Britannie, for, while its author was intimately familiar with the Alexandreid, there is no evidence to suggest that he knew Joseph of Exeter’s Ylias. Some additional material presented here concerning these and other mediaeval and Classical poets has been drawn from various studies devoted either to hexameter verse in general or to the metrical practice of particular authors."$ The aim is to provide as full a picture as possible of the prosody and metrics of the Gesta Regum Britannie in comparison to those of near-contemporary and prior poetry.

(a) Prosody The prosody of the Gesta Regum Britannie is largely correct by mediaeval standards. As in all mediaeval verse, vowels which are followed by two consonants forming a combination of a mute and a liquid or nasal are treated as common (viz. may be scanned as long or short according to metrical convenience);!? the Gesta Regum Britannie thus admits scansions such as apros (1.269), archipresul (IV.156; IX.374), latro (IV.321), mediocres (V.23), propria (X.84, but próprium in X.87), and regreditur (VII.313 and 394). By the same token, the initial syllable of a word such as pater may in the oblique cases be treated indiscriminately as long or short; on one occasion both forms are found in the same line." Final short vowels followed by a word beginning with impure s (sc, Sp, st), which are normally lengthened in Classical poetry, are regularly per172 For instance, figures for the percentages of dactyls and spondees in the first four feet are given only for Books I, V and X. 73 Edited by Colker (see n. 92 above).

4 75 the U6

Edited by Gompf, Joseph. Figures for the percentages of dactyls and spondees, for example, are drawn only from first book of each poem. Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 56-7; Duckworth, Vergil; Klopsch, Einführung, pp.

63-92; Munari, M. Valerio, pp. lxiv-lxxviii; Munari, Mathei, 1I.32-9; Schmidt, Johannes, pp. 87-92; Sedgwick, “The Bellum Troianum'; Thraede, Der Hexameter; Winbolt, Latin Hex-

ameter Verse. 17 Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p.72; Munari, M. Valerio, pp. Ixvi-vii.

V8 Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.460, ‘Defunctos pátribus patrum diademata sumunt'; for Classical and mediaeval parallels, see the list given by Munari (n. 177 above). Ixxiv

PROSODY AND METRICS

mitted to remain short in the poem;!? in this respect too the Gesta Regum Britannie conforms to mediaeval practice. Conversely, initial h is not treated

as a consonant in the Gesta Regum Britannie and seemingly never makes position (viz. lengthens a preceding short syllable), as it does in some mediaeval authors.1*! In its treatment of final -o and -i the practice of the Gesta Regum Britannie is also typical of its period, short and long forms being freely mixed.!*? Final -o in the nominative case of nouns is generally short;!® but long forms are also found, and some words exhibit both scansions at different points in the poem.!* Pronouns ending in -o are similarly treated.!55 In verbs, the first-person singular in -o may also be long or short;!*$ on one occasion both forms are found in the same line.'* The ablative singular of the gerund is usually short, but can sometimes be long;!** twice, both forms occur together in the same line.!*? Imperatives in -o may be long or short.!® The same is true of the connective ergo, ?! while the final vowel of ideo is always long,*? and that of uero is also usually so scanned.!? In the case of final -i, this is treated in pronouns as indiscriminately long or short.'* The final -i of nisi is scanned short,?5 as, with a single exception, is that of ubi;*$ conversely, the final -i of ibi is always long.!?

7?

As for example in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.20 ('auctorisque stilum"), L65 (‘opida

sponte’), and L.268 (‘claustra Stigis’).

180 See Munari, M. Valerio, p. Ixxv, who cites inter alia examples from Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter. 18 Jbid., p. Ixxv. The only possible exception in the Gesta Regum Britannie comprises a number of examples of lengthening in the arsis of the third foot before words beginning with h; in these cases, however, the lengthening is more likely to be due to productio ob caesuram (see p. Ixxxvii below).

182 13 18%

Cf. Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 71—2; Munari, M. Valerio, pp. lxviii-ix. For example, porció (1.187), contentio (1.202), ulcid (1.208), and uisió (1.285 and 287). For instance, latré (11.375), but latro (IV.321); led (VII.58), leo (1.354); predó (V.353),

predo (11.375); uirgó (VIII.283), uirgo (V.299); cf. also dud (V.14) and duo (IX.115). 185 eoó (L147), ego (111.432); ambó (VI.41), ambo (VII.371); however, nemo regularly has a short -o (as, for example, in 1.166).

186 18?

For example, tractabó (111.432); postuló (IV.139). Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.363, ‘Uos tamen excuso uestrumque minoró pudorem', where, however, the final -o of excuso might arguably be lengthened because of productio ob caesuram (see p. Ixxxvii below).

18

condempnandd

(IV.198),

temptandó

(VI.337),

pugnandó

:

(VII.177),

excedendó

(VIL476), uincendó (IX.104); for examples of the opposite scansion, see the following note. 198 Gesta Regum Britannie, V.62, 'Ascendendó pigri, defendendo pigriores'; and VI.270, *Eradicandó uicia et plantandó bonorum'. 19 191

12

193 14

For example, esto (1.50) and estó (III.400). For instance in Book I, ergo (1.142) and ergó (1.73).

As in Gesta Regum Britannie, V.426.

As for instance in II.413, but werd is found in IX.431.

d

M

u^

For example, michi (1.225), michi (1.232); tibi (V.93), tibi (VIIL19); sibi (1.206), sibi

(IV.251). 1955 Qesta Regum Britannie, 1.399. ' Á 196 For example, VII.59, the exception being ubi fors in III.110. 197 As for instance in IV.109. Ixxv

INTRODUCTION

Synezesis is not common in the poem.!%8 In Book I it is limited to deest and diis,! in addition to three cases involving the oblique cases of the name Corineus;?? noteworthy examples of this licence elsewhere in the poem are Néoptolemos (VII.317) and probably also Gorhuandus (1I1.93),?* Belial (V.332), and

Moyses (IV.30). Syncope is also infrequent in the poem, being limited to words regularly so contracted in Latin poetry: uincla (1.92), maniplis (IV.471 and

passim), and periclo (VI.407).7? Systole too is rare, only the forms illius (IV.121, 279, and VI.425) and tocius (VI.514) being found; both also occur in

Walter of Chatillon’s Alexandreid.?? Apart from these licences, some false quantities are evident in the Gesta Regum Britannie, although many of them can be paralleled in other mediaeval verse. A number of these errors of quantity occur in the following words derived from Greek, listed below (with parallels from other authors noted in brackets):

acephalus artéria

VIII.367; X.471 (Alexandreid, V.21)

X.78 (Alexandreid, 11.168; V.34; Ylias, III.96)

caractére 1V.309 catholicus 1X.381?* ecclésia IV.86 and passim?5 idólum IV.132 and passim (Alexandreid, 1.207; IV.242, 250) monarchia X213? sindóne 1.257 theuma (for théma) 1.19; VII.150 (Matthew of Vendóme, Tobias, 2130-1) ydea

VI.494 (Alexandreid, II.327; Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus, 1.22 and

passim) ydrópisis 111.245 (cf. Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus, VII.446, ‘hydropicat’)

There are also false quantities in a few words, including one proper name, derived (or in one case compounded) from Hebrew:

archiléuita IV.350 Isráél Vl1.248 iubileus X.374 (Matthew of Vendóme, Tobias, 1868)

198 [exclude here forms such as hii and hiis, where the apparent synezesis is due more to mediaeval spelling conventions than to metrical licence. 19 Qesta Regum Britannie, 1.173 and 481 respectively, with which cf. deest (X.305) and also préést (VI.474); all these examples of synezesis can be paralleled in the Alexandreid (see Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 63). ??» Corineum (1.3), Corinei (1.437), Corineo (1.474); to these should perhaps be added the nominative form Corineus (1.306 and passim), since Vergil scans the name as Corynaeüus (Aeneid, VI.228 and XII.298). 2! Seen.286 below. ?? All three forms can for instance be paralleled in the Alexandreid (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 63). 7995 [bid., p.63. 2* This scansion is, however, regular in mediaeval verse; see Munari, Mathei, II.36. Heo scansion too had been current since Venantius Fortunatus; cf. Schmidt, Johannes, p. 87. 26 Compare perhaps mOnoculus in Architrenius, 1.267.

Ixxvi

PROSODY AND METRICS

Proper names are in fact treated with some latitude throughout the poem. The initial vowel of Modredus for instance, since it is followed by a mute and nasal combination, is common, appearing as both Modredus and Módredus; indeed both scansions are found in consecutive lines in Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.180-81. Conversely, the initial vowel of Petrus is always scanned long. Likewise, the final -o of names such as Dunuallo and Caduallo may appear interchangeably as either long or short, in line with the poet’s customary treatment of such nouns.?" Since the word Saxónes is metrically intractable in a hexameter, its final syllable is always scanned as short in the poem (Saxonés, V.335 and passim), as if it were a Greek nominative plural; Syrenés (1.227) and Uasconés (VII.389) are also so treated.?* Similarly, the final syllable of the accusative form Léngrias, which cannot otherwise be admitted into a hexameter line, is always scanned short in the poem. Other variants are less easily explic-

able: Loegria is scanned as Loégria in II.33, but as Loégria in II.353; Basianus appears either as Básianus (1V.189, 221 and 225) or Basidnus (IV.191 and 197);

and Gorhuandus is apparently scanned as both Gorhuandus (1II.217) and Gorhuandus (111.93, probably by synezesis). Furthermore, non-Classical scansions can be found in the following names (of both Latin and Greek derivation), mediaeval parallels again being noted in brackets:?? Ambrosius |V.106 Asclépiodotus IV.248 Aurélius .250 and passim

Britones

1.12 and passim (Geoffrey of Monmouth, Uita Merlini, 1529)

Didclétianus IV,275 Médi IX.50 VIIL142; IX.62 (Alexandreid, V1.303; VII.102, 103; VIIT.121) Média Parisius

11.347 and passim (John of Hauville, Architrenius, 11.484)

Rédonis IV.464 Sécana (for Sequana) Ytiirei VIIL.143

VII.360

Finally, there remains a number of other words which contain false quantities:?!?

27 Dunualló (11.356), Dunualló (11.349); Caduallo (1X.456), Cadualló (IX.464); cf. p. Ixxv " (and n. 184) above. These 208 [n the latter case the poet may be following Juvenal, XV.93 (see p. Ixxii above). (gygen, s accusative Greek of use occasional poet's the pseudo-Greek forms are of a piece with of a Greek 1.502 and VIII.251; pentecosten, VI.351; Merlinon, VI.490) and, on one occasion, ma Les idos, VII.20). iti here ea such as Proserpina (1.267), Ytalia (L25 and passim), and Ytala p 1.2, and VII.634 (111.34), which were sanctioned by Classical usage (cf. Aeneid, VI.142,

be paralleled m have excluded commonplaces such as religio (IX.394), which can P the correct form in Vergil (e.g. Aeneid, 11.715), and muliZres (1.343 and passim), where pp. 10-11). mulieres is not admissable in a hexameter (see Norberg, Introduction,

Ixxvii

INTRODUCTION

conducticius 1X.270 decoro VIL317?! dispóno 1IL.420??

empticius

1X.266

inéquus (for inaequus) X.87?? occido (‘T kill’) 1.433744

octódecim V.273; X.40775 pirata 1.250, 294; X.64

piraticus

IV.206

plaga (‘region’) potitur

1.476 and passim?!

IV.85, 199; VIL210; X.248

propiticus 1.253 regréedior IX.3? sopitus IV.454; X.369718 statura X.257 suffoco 1.309; III.134; IV.284; VIIL.503 (Alexandreid, V.343)"? tribunicius 1II.288 trigintiá X247?»

While several of these errors can, as is indicated by the parallels cited and in the relevant notes, be explained in terms of mediaeval analogies or false etymologies, a number are arresting (particularly dispóno, plaga, regrédior, and sópitus). It may be concluded that, although the poet's prosody is largely correct by the standards of his contemporaries, his grasp was not perhaps quite so perfect as writers like Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter.?! Indeed, a further striking irregularity occurs in Gesta Regum Britannie, I1I.168: -

-

|

-

v

-—

—

V

I-

-(=

("ow Sy

m

Tandem'de medio sublatüs obit clarisque sepultus. ? This scansion may be due to a false analogy with the adjective decorus. Moreover, the fact that the poet is here using the verb decoro to secure a rhyme with honoro in the preceding hexameter (see n. 310 below) may account for the unusual scansion; elsewhere, he employs the correct form decóro (e.g. VI.423).

712

Perhaps by analogy with the past participle dispósitus, but dispono is scanned correctly

in IV371. 723 Here the explanation for the unusual scansion may be that the poet is punning with equites. 214 "Occiditur Turnus", where the metre could be restored by conjecturing ‘Occidit et Turnus’ (from occido, ‘I fall’). However, although the poet elsewhere scans occido (‘I kill’) correctly, he may here simply have confused the homographs occido and occido. 215

Note that in the second of these lines octodecim is restored by conjecture; see p. Cxii

below. 2160 Apparently the poet regularly confused plaga (‘a region’) with plaga (‘a blow"). ?7 However, the poet regularly scans regrédior elsewhere.

218 75

Probably by a false analogy with the noun sópor or the participle sóporatus. Again probably by a faulty etymology from fécus; strangely, in IV.284 the verb appears twice, once correctly and once with the false quantity (‘Guttura suffocans hominem non suffocat illum’). Walter of Chatillon also scans the word in both ways, incorrectly in Alexandreid, V.343 (quoted above) and correctly in V.445. 220 In 1.214, the poet scans triginta, but this may represent lengthening due to productio ob caesuram (see p. Ixxxvii below).

?1 For their rare lapses, see Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 72, and Sedgwick, ‘The Bellum Troianum', p. 51.

Ixxviii

PROSODY AND METRICS

The line has seven feet. Since, however, there is nothing to suggest that the anomaly arose through corruption or interpolation, this metrical slip too appears to be attributable directly to the poet.

(b) Rhythm: the first four feet The rhythm of the hexameter depends primarily on the disposition of dactyls and spondees within the line. To set aside temporarily the fifth and sixth feet, whose structure is less varied,” it is the interplay of dactyl and spondee in the first four feet which gives the line its rhythm. Within these feet, sixteen different combinations of dactyl and spondee (here represented as D and S respectively) are possible; patterns which have more dactyls (e.g. DDDS) impart a light rhythm, while those where spondees predominate (e.g. DSSS) give a heavier effect. The question of which types of rhythm were favoured by mediaeval poets needs much further attention; as yet we lack studies based on full scansion of the works concerned, in the manner of Duckworth’s very useful investigation of Classical poetry. The following discussion therefore offers a preliminary examination based on a comparison of the practice of the Gesta Regum Britannie with that of Walter of Chatillon, Joseph of Exeter, and certain Classical authors. Book I of the Gesta Regum Britannie contains 504 lines (including the ten-line introductory capitulum). If, of the sixteen combinations of dactyl and spondee possible in the first four feet, the eight patterns least commonly used by the poet are, for simplicity’s sake, excluded, we find that, in Book I, he employs the remaining eight patterns in the following order of frequency (the actual number of occurrences of each being given in brackets).?5

Ist= Ist3rd 4th

DSSS DDSS SDSS DSDS

(58) (58) (54) (45)

5th 6th 7th 8th=

SSSS (39) DSSD (37) DDSD (31) SDDS (29)

The poet clearly preferred a heavier rhythm: his first and third patterns contain

three spondees (DSSS and SDSS respectively); and the weighty spondaic pat-

tern SSSS is fifth in frequency. The poet also favours placing dactyls early in the line (particularly in the first 22

,

See p. xc below.

23 The sixteen combinations are: SSSS; DSSS, SDSS, SSDS, SSSD; DDSS, DSDS, DSSD, SSDD, SDSD, SDDS; DDDS, DDSD, DSDD, SDDD; and DDDD. 224

.-

225 Creta iSOM patterns are (in order of frequency): 8th - DDDS (29); 10th SSDS (25); 11th SSSD (23); 12th DSDD (19); 13th SDSD (18); 14th SDDD (16); 15th DDDD (14); 16th SSDD (9).

Ixxix

INTRODUCTION

foot), and spondees in the third and fourth feet: five of his first eight patterns

(1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th) have an initial dactyl; and six (all except 6th and 7th)

have a spondee in the fourth foot. This pattern can be better appreciated in the following table, which sets out the percentages of dactyls and spondees found in each of the first four feet in Gesta Regum Britannie I.” Foot

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

96D 96S

58 42

50 50

37 63

34 66

As the table shows, dactyls predominate in the first foot; in the second foot, however, dactyls and spondees occur with roughly equal frequency; and in the third and fourth feet, spondees are the more numerous. The rhythm of Book V of the Gesta Regum Britannie is remarkably similar, as is demonstrated by the following, corresponding tables. (i) First eight patterns?”

Ist DSSS (65) 2nd _ _DDSS (60) 3rd= SDSS (42) 3rd= DSDS (42)

Sth 6th 7th 8th

SSSS (41) DDDS (33) DSSD (30) SSDS (27)

(ii) Percentage of dactyls and spondees in each foot Foot %D 96S

1st 59 41

Ond 45 55

Srdee th 36 59 64 68

As the tables show, in both books the first five patterns are almost identical; and

the percentages of dactyls and spondees in each of the feet is comparable in every Case. To turn for comparison to Alexandreid I, Walter of Chátillon's first eight preferred patterns in that book are as follows. Ist 2nd 3rd 4th

DSSS . DSDS DDSS DSSD

(72) (68) (62) (58)

5th 6th 7th= 7th=

DDDS SDSS DDSD SDDS

(46) (40) (39) (39)

226 For simplicity, percentages have been rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. 227 +The remaining eight patterns are (in order of frequency): 9th SSSD (26); 10th DDSD (24); 11th = DSDD and SDSD (20 in each case); 13th SDDS (15); 14th SSDD (14); 15th SDDD (12); 16th DDDD (8). 28 The remaining eight patterns are: 9th SDSD (36); 10th DSDD (28); 11th SSDS (20); 12th DDDD (16); 13th SSDD (14); 14th SDDD; (13); 15th SSSS (8); 16th SSSD (5).

Ixxx

PROSODY AND METRICS In some respects, Walter of Chatillon’s practice is akin to that of the Gesta Regum Britannie. If, for example, we compare the statisti cs for Gesta Regum Britannie I, given above, we find that both poets employ the relatively heavy combination DSSS as their first preferred pattern; moreover, Walter shares seven of his first eight patterns with the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie. Nevertheless, despite these similarities, the rhythm favoured by Walter is relatively light in comparison to that of the Gesta Regum Britannie. The spondaic pattern SSSS (which is fifth in Gesta Regum Britannie I and V) is relegated by Walter to fifteenth position; and six of Walter's eight favoured pattern s (including the first five) have an initial dactyl, a higher proportion than in Gesta Regum Britannie I (only five such patterns, which moreover do not include the third and fifth).?9 Walter's preference for dactyls over spondees is well illustrated by the percentages of each found in the first four feet in Alexandreid I. Foot %D 96S

Ist 69 31

2nd 32 48

3rd 43 57

4th 37 63

-If these figures are compared with those given for Gesta Regum Britannie I (p. Ixxx above), it is clear that Walter has a greater proportion of dactyls in every foot, and particularly in the first foot (69% as compared with 57%). By contrast, the rhythm favoured by the third of the poets examined here, Joseph of Exeter, differs in another way. In Ylias I, Joseph's eight preferred

patterns are.? Ist DSDS 2nd__—sCODSSS 3rd DDSS 4th SSDS

(99) (64) (62) (59)

Sth 6th 7th 8th

SDSS SDDS DDDS DSSD

(46) (39) (32) (27)

It is true that six of these eight patterns are also found, in a different order, among the first eight combinations in Gesta Regum Britannie I, and seven

among those in Alexandreid I. However, there is an important difference: half of Joseph’s first eight patterns, including, moreover, the first (DSDS) and fourth (SSDS), have a dactyl in the third foot: in Gesta Regum Britannie I the total of such patterns is no more than two (and those fourth and eighth); and in A/exandreid I it is limited to three (second, fifth and seventh only).

The same characteristic feature of the rhythm of Joseph's verse can also be observed in the following table, which sets out the percentages of dactyls and spondees in each of the first four feet in Y/ias I. 22 For Walter's concomitant avoidance of initial spondaic words, see Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 63. 230 The bere eight patterns are: 9th SSDD (22); 10th DDSD (21); 11th SSSS (19); 12th

SDSD (17); 13th DSDD (13); 14th SDDD (12); 15th DDDD (11); 16th SSSD (6). Ixxxi

INTRODUCTION

Foot %D 96S

1st 60 40

2nd 44 56

3rd 52:5 47:5

4th «24 9776

As these statistics show, Ylias I has far fewer dactyls in the first foot (60%) than

Alexandreid I (69%), and only slightly more in that position than in Gesta Regum Britannie I (57%); moreover, in the second and fourth feet, Ylias I is less dactylic (44% and 24% respectively) than both Alexandreid I (52% and 37%) and Gesta Regum Britannie I (49% and 32%). Conversely, in the third foot

Joseph has far more dactyls than either of the other two poets (52.5%, as against 43% and 37%); indeed, there are proportionately more dactyls than spondees in the third foot in Ylias I.?! These differences between the rhythms preferred by the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie, Walter of Chatillon, and Joseph of Exeter can best be understood when considered in relation to the practice of Classical epic poetry. In the Aeneid, Vergil, who was of course one of the poets most widely read in the Middle Ages, adopts a relatively heavy rhythm, very much like that of the Gesta Regum Britannie, as can be observed in the following tables.” (i) First eight patterns

Ist 2nd 3rd 4th

DSSS DDSS DSDS SDSS

5th 6th 7th 8th

SSSS DDDS SSDS SDDS

(ii) Percentage of dactyls and spondees in each foot

Foot %D %S

ast 61 39

2nd 9 3r] 48 40 52 60

MB 26 74

Vergil’s preferred combination in the Aeneid is DSSS, the same as that in the Gesta Regum Britannie; moreover, the heavy pattern SSSS is fifth in both poems. However, as Duckworth's analyses have shown, epic poetry tended to ?1 Klopsch, Einführung, p. 87, gives the following figures for spondees in the first four feet in Joseph's hexameters (but without stating whether his statistics are drawn from the entire Ylias or from only a part of the poem): 1st foot 32%; 2nd foot 61%; 3rd foot 50.5%: 4th foot 73.5%; although these figures differ slightly from my own drawn from Ylias I, they agree in highlighting the importance of the third-foot dactyl in Joseph's verse.

72

All figures refer to the entire Aeneid: table (i) is drawn from Duckworth, Vergil, Table 1

(Latin poets. Patterns and Percentages', facing p. 156); table (ii) is derived from Klopsch, Einführung, p. 87. Winbolt, Latin Hexameter Verse, p. 115, gives slightly different figures for the percentage of dactyls and spondees in the first four feet in the Aeneid: 1st foot 6196

dactyls; 2nd foot 53% dactyls; 3rd foot 60% spondees; 4th foot 72.596 spondees. However,

these minor discrepancies do not significantly affect the overall pattern evident in the Aeneid. Ixxxii

PROSODY AND METRICS

became more dactylic after Vergil: in the Metamorphoses, the pattern preferred by Ovid has two initial dactyls (DDSS), and the proportion of dactyls in the poem generally, particularly in the fourth foot, is greatly increased; Statius, and later Claudian, favoured a different combination with two dactyls, DSDS, as their first pattern; it is also Lucan’s second (after the Vergilian DSSS).25 It is evident, then, that post-Vergilan epic exercised a powerful influence on Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter. Although Walter’s preferred pattern is the Vergilian DSSS, his second is, like Lucan’s, DSDS; and the general increase in the number of dactyls throughout the line favoured by Walter (particularly in the first and fourth feet) reveals his debt to the lighter hexameters of Ovid.?*

Clearly too Joseph owes his first pattern, DSDS, and his predilection for a dactyl in the third foot to Statius, Claudian and Lucan.?5 It is, however, less certain whether the more spondaic rhythm characteristic of the Gesta Regum Britannie represents a conscious imitation of the heavier Vergilian model, or is simply the result of a lack of interest in the lighter, more dactylic rhythms which influenced Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter. It will be remembered that, although the author of the Gesta Regum Britannie certainly knew the Aeneid well, he in fact more frequently echoes and imitates the poetry of Ovid.?6 The apparent contradiction between this pattern of borrowing and the heavier rhythm of the Gesta Regum Britannie suggests that the second hypothesis may be the more likely. Moreover, further support for this hypothesis is afforded by analysis of the rhythm of Book X of the Gesta Regum Britannie. This, the last book of the poem, exhibits a slightly more dactylic rhythm than Books I and V, as is clear from the following tables.

(i) First eight patterns???

DDSS (60) Ist 2nd __—rDSSS (57) DSDS (44) 3rd DDDS (42) 4th

5th 6th= 6th= 8th

SSDS DDSD DSSD SDSS

(35) (32) (32) (31)

Ein23 Statistics from Duckworth, Vergil, Table 1 (n. 232 above); according to Klopsch, foot. fourth the in spondees 53% only have oses führung, p. 87 Ovid's Metamorph (Klopsch, 24 Note too that Statius has a total of only 30.5% spondees in the first foot above). Ixxxi (p. 31% Walter’s to e comparabl directly is which 87), . p Einführung, ot that in the case of Statius the total of spondees in the third foot is only e 9 imitation o (Klopsch, Einführung, p. 87), a figure identical to that in Ylias L on Joseph's and 66-9. 49-50 pp. Troianum', Bellum "The Sedgwick, Silver-Latin epic in general, see Vergilian epic postof ryhthms dactylic more the by influenced poem twelfth-century Another p. 90. is the Architrenius; see Klopsch, Einführung, p. 87 and Schmidt, Johannes, 235 Above pp. lxi-viii. (25); 23

'The ute

eight patterns are (in order of frequency): 9th SSSS (30); 10th SSSD

(19); 15th SDDD 11th = SDDS and DSDD (24 in each case); 13th DDDD (22); 14th SSDD (16); 16th SSDD (8).

Ixxxiii

INTRODUCTION

(ii) Percentage of dactyls and spondees in each foot Foot %D %S

1st 62.5 Cah

2nd 49 eet

3rd 43 24

4th 36 64

In this DDDS Books ninth).

Book, the first pattern is the Ovidian DDSS, while the light pattern is fourth; and, most significantly, the spondaic SSSS (which was fifth in I and V) has disappeared from the first eight patterns entirely (being Furthermore, as the second table shows, there is a slight increase in the number of dactyls in the first two feet, and a more marked one in the third and fourth feet.2** This more dactylic rhythm evident in Gesta Regum Britannie X is by no means as pronounced as that of Walter of Chátillon or (in the third foot) that of Joseph of Exeter; but it does indicate a shift to a slightly lighter feel than in Books I and V. The explanation may be that the poet grew more at ease with his medium as he progressed, and so began to seek a less heavy rhythm. It may also be significant that the final books of the poem, especially Book X, are those in which the poet treats the Historia Regum Britannie with the most freedom,?? a fact which may have allowed him more latitude in handling his hexameters. Finally, to conclude this discussion of the disposition of dactyls and spondees in the first four feet, we may observe that, although the rhythm of the Gesta Regum Britannie is generally, like that of Aeneid, heavy and spondaic, it is not, in terms of metrical variety, noticeably monotonous or repetitive. In Gesta Regum Britannie I for example, the pattern most commonly used (DSSS) is found in roughly 12% of the lines; this represents a frequency comparable to, but in fact less than, that for the first patterns in the Aeneid (14%), the Alexandreid (13%), and the Ylias (1890).? The frequency with which the first four and

first eight patterns are employed in Gesta Regum Britannie I (43% and 70%) is also comparable to the usage of Vergil and that of the two twelfth-century authors.?*! The Breton poet thus avoids rhythmical monotony by ensuring some interplay between his favoured patterns and those which are less usual in his verse.

(c) Caesurae

The rhythm of the hexameter is also to a considerable degree determined by its caesurae, that is by the position of word-endings within each foot in the line. 238 [n the latter two feet, the percentages of dactyls (43 and 36% respectively) are comparable with those of Walter of Chátillon (43 and 3796: see p. Ixxxi above). ?9 Above, pp. xxxi-vii. 70

These figures refer to Aeneid I-XII (Duckworth, Vergil, p. 5), Alexandreid I, and Ylias I.

?^ Vergil, 41 and 65% respectively; Walter of Chatillon, 46 and 75%: and Joseph of Exeter, 52 and 79%. It is noticeable that in every case Joseph is the least careful to vary his preferred

patterns.

Ixxxiv

PROSODY AND METRICS

When a word-ending follows the first long syllable of foot (whether it is a dactyl or a spondee), the resultant caesura is termed strong; but when a word-ending follows the first short syllable of a dactyl, the caesura is weak or trochaic. If the fifth and sixth feet are once again temporarily set aside, it is the combination of caesurae in the third and fourth feet (and, to a lesser extent, in the second foot) which is of particular importance. In Gesta Regum Britannie I, caesurae are employed in these feet in the following ways. Like the great majority of hexameter poets, the author prefers a combination of strong caesurae in the third and fourth feet (this combination being here represented as 242312). The next most frequent pattern is a strong caesura in the third foot only (or 212), with no caesura in the fourth foot; conversely, a combination of the strong, third-foot caesura with a weak, or trochaic, caesura in the fourth foot (2V24t) is much less

common. Lines which lack the strong caesura in the third foot are also less frequent: the most common such pattern in Gesta Regum Britannie I, as in hexameter poetry generally, is the combination of a strong caesura in the fourth foot with a trochaic caesura in the third, almost invariably supported by a strong caesura in the second foot (this combination being here represented as 11431315); a combination of strong caesurae in the fourth and second feet, with no caesura in the third, (14232) is much less usual.?? The frequency with which these caesurae-patterns are employed in Gesta Regum Britannie I, as well as in Aeneid, I.1-100, Alexandreid I, and Ylias I, is set out for comparison in the following table, which records the percentage of lines exhibiting each of the combinations discussed above:™? Combination

2153/9

215

2V54t

1433%

Gesta I Aeneidl.1-100"7^

55 66

31 20

5 3

9 6

112315 m 4

2:2 Apart from these conventional patterns, the Gesta Regum Britannie also contains a scattering of unusual or effectively 'caesura-less' lines: 1.257 Hiis uisis // discedunt inde / ferasque ferentes (1 /24t only) II.122 Ex uinginti coniugibus // quas ipse tenebat (31 only) 11.461 Iura monent // regemque / precantur / ut indicet illis (1V2314t) 111.97 Hostibus hostis, / amicus / amicis, fortis in armis (3t only) IIL310 Accumulauerat exheredatis sua iura (no caesura)

IV.473 Centum milia plebanorum // equitumque decem ter (31 only) VII.267 Sed contentum sorte / sua, // quam lege perhenni (33V only). For a poet to admit a high proportion of such anomalous patterns would indicate metrical ineptitude, but the small number listed here does not appear to be significant; it may represent an interest in occasional variety of rhythm. The last of the lines cited above (with the combination 31314) can, moreover, be paralleled, for example in Alexandreid, 1.141, ‘Hic equus opponatur / equis, // hic ensibus ensis’ (see further Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 59); and also in Aeneid, 1.85, ‘Una Eurusque Notusque / ruunt // creberque procellis’, where i the unusual rhythm suggests the rushing of the winds. general 243 The figures for Aeneid I.1-100 are my own, and are representative of Vergil’s 70-105 pp. Verse, Hexameter Latin Winbolt, in discussion detailed practice; compare the ( p . 81-7). especially also one is there here, reported 1143131A of examples six the to addition in d rome Ixxxv

INTRODUCTION

Alexandreid I

49

31

9

9

Ylias I

50

17

3

29

1

The following observations can be made about the disposition of caesurae in the Gesta Regum Britannie in comparison with that favoured by the other poets. First, while 242314 is the combination predominantly employed by the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie, by Walter of Chatillon, and by Joseph of Exeter, all three used this pattern less frequently than did Vergil, who preferred it because it imparts a heterodyne rhythm to the third and fourth feet.“° Conversely, both the Gesta Regum Britannie and Walter of Chatillon use the third strong caesura alone (212) rather more frequently than Vergil. This pattern results in an opposite, homodyne rhythm in the fourth foot, a rhythm which is in fact also, as we shall see, characteristic of the fifth and six feet." Lines so constructed thus have a smooth feel in the last three feet, since the underlying beat of the hexameter is there emphasised. While such a rhythm is less frequently employed by Vergil, it is found more commonly in Ovid's verse; the increased frequency of 212 alone in the poetry of Walter of Chátillon and Joseph of Exeter, as in the Gesta Regum Britannie, may therefore represent further evidence for the influence upon them of Ovid and post-Vergilian epic. Second, the employment of the minor patterns QV24t, 142334, and 11231) in Gesta Regum Britannie I is, with one exception, roughly Vergilian. The pattern 2V24t is used sparingly by Vergil, the Gesta Regum Britannie, and Joseph of Exeter alike (5, 3 and 3% respectively)?" However, the pattern 1142342, which both Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter also employ less frequently than Vergil (respectively 2% and 1% as against 4%), is almost entirely neglected in Gesta Regum Britannie I, there being only one example in the entire book.^* Finally, the pattern 1143t314 is employed by the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie and by Walter of Chatillon with a frequency (9% in both cases) which is only slightly higher than that of Vergil (6% in Aeneid 1.1—100). By contrast, Joseph of Exeter greatly favours this pattern (in which the third foot must, of course, be dactylic); in Ylias I, it occurs example of the unusual 3132 combination, in Aeneid, 1.85 (quoted in n. 242 above), which has not been included in the table. 7$

"That is, word-accent (here represented by ^) does not coincide with verse ictus (*), as, for

example, in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.30: Ulciscens cáptós // glébé // seruíre coegit. That is, word-accent and verse ictus coincide, as, for instance, in Gesta Regum Britannie 1.179 (where such coincidence occurs in the last three feet):

Interfectorum // qui plüres réddit acéruos.

%7 Note that this pattern too involves the fourth foot anticipating the rhythm of the fifth, as in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.13 (where the last three feet are homodyne, and the fourth and fifth feet both dactylic):

Unde suos habuit // generósa / Britannia clues.

Of the poets examined, only Walter of Chátillon uses this pattern frequently (996 in AlexanPee D, again probably under the influence of Ovid (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 59, n. 1). 75$ 1.110, ‘Sic faciunt // nec proficiunt; // ceduntur inermes." However, the pattern is slightly more frequent in Book X, where there are seven examples (1%, as in Ylias I.

Ixxxvi

PROSODY AND METRICS

in no less than 29% of the lines, and is so the second most frequent caesura

combination (after 212314). In fact, frequent use of this pattern, with its trochaic

caesura in the third foot, is another characteristic of the verse of Lucan, Statius and Claudian; Joseph’s fondness for this trochaic rhythm, as for the third-foot

dactyl, is thus a further indication of his careful imitation of their metrical practice. By comparison, the employment of this caesura-combination in Gesta Regum Britannie I is much more modest, and is in line with the poet's general lack of interest in dactylic rhythms.2*

(d) Productio

Related to caesurae is the licence of productio ob caesuram; this involves the lengthening of final short syllables, almost exclusively in arsis (viz. in the first syllable of a foot) and usually before the strong caesura of the third foot (214).25 The licence, which mediaeval metrical treatises claimed was sanctioned by ancient practice, was employed by almost all mediaeval Latin poets.5! For instance, in Alexandreid I, Walter of Chatillon allows, by my reckoning, 32 cases of productio before the 2V2 caesura (or roughly one per 18 lines)?*? while Joseph of Exeter has 28 examples in Ylias I (roughly once per 20 lines)2* In this respect the first book of the Gesta Regum Britannie is directly comparable: I count there 27 examples of productio (or approximately one per 17 lines). The majority of these cases of productio involves the lengthening of verbal forms ending in -t and noun- or adjective forms in -us.** Lengthening of final short -a is generally avoided, there being no examples in Gesta Regum Britannie I.* In five cases, productio occurs before a word beginning with A (where it might alternatively be held that A is being treated as a consonant, and so making position). In addition to productio before the third strong caesura, lengthening at other positions in the line was permitted by mediaeval theorists, but in practice

249

[n this connection, however, it should be noted that, in the more dactylic Book X, the

frequency of 1153131/^ increases slightly to 13%. 250 As, for example, in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.15, ‘Qualiter amisit // infelix natio regnum.’ 251 Klopsch, Einführung, pp. 74-6; Munari, M. Valerio, p. lxxiv. 252 Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 57—8, counts 359 examples in the 5,406 lines of the poem (excluding the capitula); he gives the slightly lower figure of 27 cases of productio in Book I. ' d ; 255 Klopsch, Einführung, p. 75, gives a similar figure for Ylias VI.1—200 (8 examples or one per 25 lines). In the Architrenius, productio is slightly more frequent; see Schmidt, Johannes, . 89-90. ^ i As do those in the Alexandreid (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 58). 255 Productio of final -a is also avoided by Walter of Chatillon (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 58). However, in Gesta Regum Britannie X, which contains proportionately more productio (43 examples, or roughly one per 12 lines), there is one example of the lengthening of short final -a (X.85). Ixxxvii

INTRODUCTION

such lengthening is rare;56 there are no examples in Gesta Regum Britannie I, and only a very few in the poem as a whole.’

(e) Elision and hiatus A third element which can contribute variety to the rhythm of the hexameter is elision; this occurs when a final vowel (or vowel and -m) which precedes a word beginning with a vowel is disregarded in scansion (having originally been pro-

nounced with reduced emphasis). Elision was an important feature of Classical hexameter verse. In the Aeneid for example, Vergil relied heavily on elision, employing the device on average more than once in every two lines. PostVergilian epic generally had a smoother rhythm and less frequent elision: Ovid elided roughly once per 3.5 lines; Lucan once per 6.5 lines; Statius once per 3 lines; and Claudian as little as once per 18 lines.?? Mediaeval poets, for whom the device had become largely artificial, adopted different approaches to elision. Munari has shown that, in their use of elision, eleventh- and twelfth-century authors may be divided into three groups. Some writers avoid elision almost totally; a striking example of this approach is afforded by Alan of Lille, who in the first book of the Anticlaudianus, permits no more than one elision (in 510 lines).%! Other poets employ elision more frequently, loosely imitating the practice of Silver-Latin epic. Walter of Chátillon and Joseph of Exeter belong to this

group: in Alexandreid I, for example, there are 107 elisions or approximately one per 5 lines;?? and in Ylias I there are 117 elisions, again roughly one per 5 lines.?9 Finally, there is a third class of writers who use elision more sparingly; an example of this third approach is the Architrenius, in which John of Hauville permits one elision per 14 lines or so.?* The Gesta Regum Britannie may be classified among those texts in which elision is sparingly employed, although the number of elisions varies consider?56 Klopsch, Einführung, p. 75. 29 Productio in the arsis of the fourth foot is found in V.143, VIL50 and VIII.265, as well perhaps as V.410 and X.155; productio at the fourth diaeresis (viz. before the fifth foot) is found in IV.154 and V.410. Lengthening at both these positions is also found very occasionally in the Alexandreid (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 58). ?5 In Aeneid, I.1-100, for example, I count 55 elisions (one per 1.8 lines); Vergil's practice is discussed in detail by Winbolt, The Latin Hexameter, pp. 166-91. ?9 [bid., p.182. ?9 M. Valerio, pp. Ixx-xxi; see also the discussion by Klopsch, Einführung, pp. 79-87. 261 Klopsch, Einführung, p. 82 (pace Sedgwick, ‘The style’, p. 360, n. 1). The elision occurs in Anticlaudianus 1.213, ‘Suspendensqu(e) animos' (where the majority of manuscripts read Suspendens, thus eliminating elision completely from Book I); note too that the elision (of the enclitic -que) is of the lightest kind. 262 Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 60-1, gives a total of 772 elisions for the entire Alexandreid (although he reports only 101 in Book I). 28 Klopsch, Einführung, p. 81, records a similar total of 105 elisions in Ylias VI.1—500 (21%, or approximately 1 per 5 lines). 264 Schmidt, Johannes, p. 89, where he records elision in 7.2% of the total lines in the poem. Ixxxviii

PROSODY AND METRICS

ably from book to book of the poem. In the 504 lines of Book I, for instance, there are only six elisions.2 In the remaining books, however, elision is rather more frequent, being most common in Book VII, which contains 35 elisions.* In total, there are 214 elisions in the 4929 lines of the poem, an average of one elision per 23 lines.?? Lines which contain two elisions are rare, there being no more than four such lines in the poem.?* The poem thus has, in terms of elision, a very smooth rhythm.?9 This smoothness of rhythm is also reflected in the type of elision favoured by the poet. Of the 35 elisions in Book VII for example, the majority are light: short is elided before short 7 times (and on four occasions the elision is of the lightest kind, that of -que); short is elided before long 8 times (the elision being that of

-que in every case). Aphaeresis of est, where the initial e of the verb is absorbed by the preceding syllable, has a similarly light feel (although aphaeresis is not, strictly speaking, elision, it was counted as such by mediaeval theorists); such aphaeresis occurs 9 times in Book VII. The remaining 11 elisions comprise that of vowel and -m before a long (8 times), and long before long (3 times only). Harsher elisions — of vowel and -m or long before a short — are entirely avoided.7? Elision of monosyllables is likewise avoided; there are no instances in Gesta Regum Britannie VII, and only three in the poem as a whole.””! When considering a poet's metrical practice, it is also important to examine the frequency with which elision is employed in the various positions possible in the line. To this end, the number of elisions found within each foot of the hexameter in Gesta Regum Britannie VII is set out in the following table.?? Foot arsis thesis

255 266

1st 5

2nd 11 2

3rd 4 1

4th 1 6

5th 1 1

6th = 3

Elision occurs in I.117, 151, 278, 320, 332 and 357. The figures for the remaining books are: Book II, 15 elisions; III, 17; IV, 24; V, 25; VI,

22; VIII, 33; IX, 23; X, 14. The increased frequency of elision in Books IV-IX may be a

further indication of the poet's handling of his medium becoming increasingly confident as the poem progressed (but note the low figure for Book X). 267 Or 4.3%, a figure comparable with those given by Klopsch (Einführung, pp. 81-2) for the Ecbasis Captiui, Vitalis of Blois' Geta, and the pseudo-Ovidian De Uetula. 268 WVA04, VIL261, VIIL72 and X.426. By contrast, Walter of Chatillon has four lines containing two elisions in Alexandreid I alone (pace Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 62, ; who notes only three lines), and Joseph of Exeter six in Ylias I. 269 Even in Book VII, which has the most frequent elision, the overall rhythmical feel remains smooth, particularly as the total of elisions is swollen by two clusters: six elisions in ia VII.260—66, and three in 280-82. 270 This general preference for light elision can be paralleled by a similar tendency in the r ; Alexandreid; see Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 61. 271 [V.135 (quem), IX.43 (qui) and 423 (quam), the second example being paralleled in Alexandreid, X.116 (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 61); moreover, identical elided monoLIT syllables can be found in the Architrenius (Schmidt, Johannes, p. 89). 22 Arsis here refers to elision in the first syllable of a foot, and thesis to elision in the final syllable of a spondee, or in one of the last two syllables of a dactyl. Ixxxix

INTRODUCTION

Save for its relative infrequency, the arrangement of elisions which can be observed in this table is typical of that found in hexameter poetry in general: in particular, elision in the arsis of the first foot (necessarily of a monosyllable) and that of the sixth foot is entirely absent; moreover, elision is most frequent in the arsis of the second foot and the thesis of the fourth, the positions favoured by most hexameter poets.?? In one respect, however, Book VII is not representative of the Gesta Regum Britannie as a whole: the two elisions in the arsis and thesis of the fifth foot are unparalleled elsewhere in the poem.?^ Hiatus, or non-elision, is generally avoided by mediaeval poets.?5 The Gesta Regum Britannie is no exception: there are no examples of hiatus in the poem, save for a single instance of non-elision before a word beginning with A (which might be counted as a consonant).?6

(f) The fifth and sixth feet The final cadence of the hexameter is generally less flexible than that in the first four feet. The fifth foot is regularly a dactyl; and the last word in the line is normally di- or trisyllabic, which has the effect of giving these feet a homodyne rhythm.”” For special effect, this final rhythm could be modified in three chief ways” First, a spondee might be substituted for the dactyl in the fifth foot (such verses being known as spondiazontes). Second, elision might be employed in the thesis of the fifth foot or, more rarely, in the arsis of the sixth foot.?? Third, the line might end either with a pentasyllabic word, which gives a weakened stress in the fifth foot; with a monosyllable, which gives a heterodyne rhythm in the sixth foot; or with a quadrisyllable (or its metrical equivalent, two disyllables), which has the same effect in the fifth foot.¥° In the last two cases, the final cadence is affected less if the final monosyllable, quadrisyllable or two disyllables are themselves preceded by a monosyllable.?*! All three of of these irregular types of line-ending were used occasionally for special effect by most Classical poets.%?

735 Compare the statistics in Klopsch, Einführung, pp. 83—5 (in particular Table X). 7^ See further p. xci below. The elisions in the thesis of the sixth foot all involve aphaeresis of est, which regularly occurs in this position in hexameter poetry and was not felt to disrupt the final cadence (Winbolt, The Latin Hexameter, pp. 169—70). 75 Munari, M. Valerio, pp. lxxii-iii; in the Alexandreid, hiatus is limited to a single example (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 60), 1.484, ‘O utinam', for which there are several Classical precedents (cited by Schmidt, Johannes, p. 89). 76

[V.387; see p. cvii below.

77

For the term homodyne, see n. 246 above.

7$

Winbolt, The Latin Hexameter, pp. 127-47.

79 [exclude here elision in the arsis of the fifth foot, which has less effect on the closing rhythm, and aphaeresis of est in the thesis of the sixth (which occurs frequently in hexameters; see n. 274 above).

280 281

For the term heterodyne, see n. 245 above. For this reason, hexameters ending with two monosyllables are not unusual; see Winbolt,

The Latin Hexameter, pp. 140-43).

282

For example, in the 915 lines of Aeneid XI, Vergil employs: two spondiazontes (31 and

XC

PROSODY AND METRICS

Mediaeval practice differed from Classical in a number of respects, all of which can be observed in the Gesta Regum Britannie as well as — although often

to a lesser extent — in the poetry of Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter. Spondiazontes were generally avoided in the Middle Ages; there is only one example in the entire Ylias,™ and there are none in the Alexandreid;*55 spondiazontes are also entirely lacking in the Gesta Regum Britannie.™ Elision in the thesis of the fifth foot or the arsis of the sixth is similarly rare in mediaeval hexameters: Joseph of Exeter, who employs such elision comparatively frequently, has only nine examples in the whole Ylias, while the Alexandreid contains no more than two instances;? in the Gesta Regum Britannie, there is, as we have seen, only one such elision in the entire poem.?* Final monosyllables are also unusual in mediaeval verse: Joseph of Exeter almost entirely avoids such endings;?? Walter of Chatillon permits final monosyllables slightly more frequently, there being 41 examples in the Alexandreid (although all but seven of these are preceded by another monosyllable).* In this respect, the practice of the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie is similar to that of Walter of Chatillon; the poem contains 45 final monosyllables, only nine of which do not follow another monosyllabic word.?*! 659); six elisions in the fifth thesis (154, 217, 355, 409, 633 and 881), and one elision in the sixth arsis (228); one final pentasyllable (614); two final monosyllables (373 and 632,

excluding three cases where a final monosyllable is preceded by another monosyllable); three final quadrisyllables (69, 217, 355, excluding 659 where the spondiazon closes with a quadrisyllable); and three disyllabic endings or their metrical equivalent (143, 170 and 562), in addition to six further examples (57, 179, 389, 442, 688 and 822) where two disyllables are preceded by a monosyllable. 283

Munmari, M. Valerio, p. lxxvi.

É

24 Pace Munari, M. Valerio, p. lxxvi; the line is Ylias, I.209, ‘Leda Therápneis et fratribus Orithyia', which echoes similar spondaic endings in Vergil (Aeneid, XII.83) and Ovid (Metamorphoses, V1.683; VII.695).

285

Cf. Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 66.

oe:

us

deme

226 In L478, I scan nomen Géomagis; in II.166, Kaerléyr; est nunc (cf. 11.248, ‘Ecce Leyr uem turba ducum"); in V.287, drincheil. Tile (cf. Morris, ‘The Gesta’, p. 66); in VI.247,

srael; illé, in VIIL196, et Bédubro; in IX.455, et Cáduano; and in X.120, me Cáduanus (treating u as a vowel in the last three cases). A problematic line is III.216, *Rodaldus,

Clóteus, Gorhuandüs, Merianis’, where the final words might conceivably be scanned Gor! huandus, Merianus, the name Gorhunadus being so treated in III.93; however, other names

admit more than one scansion elsewhere in the poem (see p. Ixxvii above); and so heavy a spondiazon, with no dactyls at all (or possibly one if Cloteus were scanned as C.lotéiis), would be extremely unlikely (since the fourth foot in such lines is almost invariably dactylic; see Winbolt, The Latin Hexameter, p. 129). 2/7 Respectively Ylias, I.162, 212, 431, 440; V.226, 361; VI.161, 529 and 620; and Alexandreid, V1LI.264 and X.392. aa , VITI.241, 'abscondit(a) in auro’ (see p. Ixxxix above). 288 29 On the single occasion that Joseph does permit a final monosyllable (Ylias, V.395), it is eceded by another monsyllable (see n. 281 above). po Christensen, who includes final est in his figures, cites 64 examples (Das Alexanderlied, fon s nine are: 1.286, retractat apud se (also III.16); 11.121, natasque decem ter; 11.293,

uenisse Leyr rex; 111.104, ecce decem ter; 111.110, sulcamus ubi fors, IV.473, equitumque

decem ter; VIII.71, honore meo me; VIII.227, iura michi uim. Of these monosyllabic endings,

xci

INTRODUCTION

It is, however, in its treatment of final polysyllables that the Gesta Regum Britannie stands furthest from Classical usage, and also from that of Joseph of

Exeter and Walter of Chatillon. Final pentasyllables are unusual in the Ylias and Alexandreid.% Yet in the Gesta Regum Britannie there are no fewer than 201

such endings, or an average of one per 25 lines.?? In the case of final quadrisyllables, these are almost completely avoided by Joseph of Exeter, there being only four in the entire Y/ias, all of them preceded by a monosyllable;?* Walter of Chátillon permits more such endings, 34 by my reckoning, and 23 of these final quadrisyllables are not preceded by a monosyllable.”* By comparison, however, quadrisyllabic endings are far more frequent in the Gesta Regum Britannie, there being 185 final quadrisyllables in the poem (or one per 27 lines), 78 of which do not follow a monosyllable. Lines ending with two disyllables (the metrical equivalent of a quadrisyllable in this position) are also avoided by Joseph of Exeter; although the Ylias contains 34 such lines, on only one occasion are the disyllables not preceded by a monosyllable.?* Walter of Chátillon's practice is freer; two final disyllables are found in 66 lines, in 34 of which there is no preceding monosyllable. The Gesta Regum Britannie is freer still: it contains 104 such endings (or one per 47 lines), although a preceding monosyllable is absent on only 38 occasions. It is evident, then, that the Gesta Regum Britannie employs a very high proportion of pentasyllables, quadrisyllables, and two disyllables at the end of the line; such words occur in a total of 490 lines, or on average once in every ten lines, far more often than in the Ylias or Alexandreid.?" Moreover, the Gesta Regum Britannie also frequently permits a final quadrisyllable (or two disyllables) without a preceding monosyllable, thus disrupting the homodyne final

honore meo me (VIII.71) is employed to secure leonine rhyme (see p. xciv below); in the case of retractat apud se (1.286 and IIL.16), which can be paralleled in the Alexandreid (IV.19,

nollet apud se; VIL14, solus apud me; VII.21, securus apud quos; VIII.26, uersat apud se), the combination of a final monosyllable preceded by a disyllabic preposition has an effect very similar to a regular trisyllabic ending; only in iura michi uim (VIII.71), and perhaps in sulcamus ubi fors (1II.110), is the final monosyllable emphatic.

292

Joseph permits only one (the Greek name Laomedontem, in Ylias, 1.122), Walter eight

(Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 66—7).

293

The poet's preference for polysyllabic endings can be observed, for example, in his

imitation of Alexandreid, V1.382—3, 'comitum titubantia firmat / Pectora' ,which he recasts in

the form of a line with a final pentasyllable (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.202, ‘Pectora firmauit titubancia discipulorum"). Final words of more than five syllables (which are found occasionally, e.g. Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.321, alienigenarum) are also included in my figures here, since they have a similar effect on the final cadence. ?9 11.183, IV.519, V.348 and VI.159, excluding, that is, the spondaic ending Orithyia in Ylias, 1.209 (see n. 284 above), which gives a different final rhythm. E RR x who excludes the capitula, gives the figure as 33 (Das Alexanderlied, pp.

296 Ylias, 11.285, Coniunx erit. Una. 27 [n this respect, it is interesting to compare the frequent final polysyllables found in the Phillippeis of Guillaume le Breton (ed. Delaborde), another thirteenth-century epic heavily indebted to Walter of Chatillon; see Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 67, n. 3 and 168-72. xcii

PROSODY AND METRICS

rhythm which is characteristic of the Classical hexameter;9* such disruption occurs on average once in every 42.5 lines in the Gesta Regum Britannie. Klopsch has drawn attention to the importance, when considering mediaeval hexameters, of comparing the frequency of such lines, which, contrary to Classical practice, effectively have a strong caesura in the fifth foot,” with that of elision.* Klopsch observes that writers such as Walter of Chatillon and Joseph of Exeter, who follow the Classical raodels relatively closely, combine frequent elision (once in every five lines in both cases)?! with comparative avoidance of

the strong fifth-foot caesura; and further that poets who employ the latter caesura freely also generally elide infrequently.?*? This observation holds good for the Gesta Regum Britannie, in which a tendency to a heterodyne final cadence is accompanied by low elision.*? In this respect, as in its use of final polysyllables generally, the practice of the Gesta Regum Britannie is characteristically mediaeval, and contrasts strongly with that of Classicizing poets such as Walter of Chátillon and Joseph of Exeter.

(g) Rhyme, golden symmetry and alliteration Another important feature of mediaeval verse is the use, in some hexameters, of fixed patterns of rhyme. Such rhyme is, however, generally avoided by Walter of Chátillon and Joseph of Exeter. Nor is it regularly employed in the Gesta Regum Britannie. Indeed, the type of rhyme most commonly found in the poem is related, often coincidentally, to a pattern of word-order characteristic of the hexameter line: the majority of hexameter poets, both Classical and mediaeval, favoured the agreement of an adjective placed before the strong caesura of the

third foot with a noun positioned at the end of the verse; this pattern sometimes resulted in rhyme, almost always of one syllable.* Although rhyme of this kind is found in the Gesta Regum Britannie, it is not noticeably frequent; in Book I,

298 For example, Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.24, casu patricida, and 1.60, genitor tenet. Illi (see also n. 245 above). 299 AsinGesta Regum Britannie, 1.3, Corineum // sibi iungit. 30 Einführung, pp. 85-7. 39! Above, p. Ixxxviii. 3? Einführung, Table XI (p. 86); as Klopsch's statistics show, there is also a further group of poets who generally avoid both elision and the strong fifth caesura, for example Alan of Lille and also John of Hauville (on the latter, see Schmidt, Johannes, pp. 89-91).

30 Expressed in Klopsch's terms, the Gesta Regum Britannie has a strong fifth caesura in 2.396 of its lines and elision in 4.396, as compared with the Alexandreid which has the strong fifth caesura in only 1% of its lines, and elision in 15.8%; the figures for the Gesta Regum Britannie are, however, less pronounced than in the case of, for example, Hugh Primas (16.6 Einführung, and 0.95% respectively; see Klopsch, p. 86). c Gesta gin Yiris 149, ‘Et pueros. Nostre // casus ulciscere 30 As, for aea Troie; compare Aeneid, 1.63, ‘Et premere et laxas // sciret dare iussus habenas.

xciii

INTRODUCTION

for example, such rhyme occurs proportionately less often than in the Alexandreid or, for that matter, in Classical epic.*° The chief mediaeval development of the pattern described above is leonine thyme, or a two-syllable rhyme between the main caesura and verse end, often involving words not in grammatical agreement. Despite the general infrequency of rhyme in the Gesta Regum Britannie, the poet was nevertheless evidently familiar with the techniques of leonine verse. Very occasionally, he himself employs such rhyme, as, for example, in Gesta Regum Britannie, 202219281 Supplicibus parcit, // illis sua iura resarcit.

This occasional use of leonine rhyme by the poet is often for rhetorical as well as decorative effect. In two successive lines which describe Christ's incarnation and resurrection (Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.126—7),

leonine rhyme

is, for

example, coupled with annominatio to add rhetorical emphasis:** Uerbum incarnatum, regem de uirgine natum, In cruce defunctum, uita post funera functum.

Likewise, the end of the speech in which King Arthur rejects a Roman demand for tribute receives similar emphasis from the use of a pair of leonine hexameters, the rhyme in the second being particularly striking (Gesta Regum Britannie, VIII.70—71): Predecessorum // michi reddere iura meorum

Mandabo Rome, // que priuat honore meo me.

In addition to regular leonine rhyme, the poet, again for decorative effect, sometimes employs a pair of rhyming words elsewhere in the line, as, for example, in Gesta Regum Britannie, III. 164:?9 Iusticiam seruat; uires eneruat iniqui.

Closely related to leonine lines are caudati, paired hexameters linked by 305 29 times, or 5.7%, compared with 7.8% in the Alexandreid, 6% in the Aeneid, and 10% in Ovid's Metamorphoses (figures from Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, p. 68). 5306 Onleonine rhyme, see Klopsch, Einführung, pp. 76-9. 307 Leonine rhyme also occurs in Gesta Regum Britannie, 111.317, “Britannorum . . . suorum’; IV.266, ‘mangonelli . . . belli’ (also X.148); VI.53, ‘coniunxisti . . . dedisti; VI.317,

'seruabant . . . rigabant’ (where the rhyme may be accidental; see n. 310 below); VII.292, *missarum . . . epularum"; VII.303, *uxorem . . . decorem'; VIII.165, 'Scotis . . . Uenedotis’;

VIII.168, ‘Auguselus . . Hoelus’; and VIII.469, ‘promittentum . . . potentum." 50 "This occasional use of leonines for special effect within a poem which does not regularly employ rhyme can be paralleled in John of Hauville's Architrenius (Schmidt, Johannes, p. 92, n. 30, especially Architrenius, V.100—1) and even the Alexandreid (Christensen, Das Alexan-

derlied, p. 68, n. 1, particularly Alexandreid, 1I.90, where such rhyme is also associated with annominatio). 309 Also IV.334, 'Tangit et angit’; VI.263, 'Seruat et eneruat’; VI.469, "Taxat; taxatas nulla pietate relaxat"; VI.485, '*cultum uultumque ducisse'; X.277, ‘Iusticiam seruat, hostes eneruat."

xciv

PROSODY AND METRICS

disyllabic end-rhyme. The poet also employs such caudati on occasion, using them too for rhetorical emphasis, as in Gesta Regum Britannie, V1.473—-4;3!° Cum consorte thori, que quanto Cincia stellis Et Phebus lune tanto preest illa puellis.

Indeed, in one passage, two successive hexameters are linked by end-rhyme and by internal rhyme at the caesura (Gesta Regum Britannie, X.103-4):34 Quo magis offendunt uiciorum labe notati Hoc magis ascendunt ad honorum summa uocati.

In these lines, rhyme is coupled with a parallel metrical structure (both ters scanning DSDSDS, and having the same verbal shape) to point up relationship between sin and high office in Britain's corrupt society. even more striking example of the parallel structuring of lines, but in with only incidental rhyme, occurs in one of the poet's spirited battle

hexamethe close Another, this case passages

(Gesta Regum Britannie, VII.339—44), where four successive hexameters have,

with minor variation, the same form:?:? Utraque Utraque Utraque Utraque Utraque

Pars parti cedere nescit fulmineis telis infestat utramque; fraxineis hastis inpugnat utramque; mortiferis gladiis detrucat utramque; sanguineis torrentibus inficit equor. dampna sui patitur pars.

The effect is one of grisly and inevitable crescendo: from fighting with javelins and spears, to mangling with swords, to a plain stained red with blood that has

been spilled.

E

Elaborate verbal patterning such as that discussed above is, however, rare in

the Gesta Regum Britannie. Just as he generally avoids regular rhyme except for special effects, the poet also does not frequently employ another pattern characteristic of the hexameter, the so-called golden line, in which two adjectives and two nouns frame a central verb. There are no golden lines in Book I of the poem, and the first striking example of such symmetry occurs only in Gesta Regum

Britannie, IV.75: 310

The Gesta Regum Britannie here reworks the well-known Ovidian rhyme, *Quot caelum

stellas, tot habet tua Roma puellas' (Ars Amatoria, 1.59). Caudati also occur in Gesta Regum Britannie, V.228-9, ‘laborum / honorum', and VII.316—17, ‘honorat / decorat' (see n. 211

above). In other lines, which are not so closely linked by sense, such rhyme may be fortuitous: I.90-1, 'citato / precipitato’; L420—1, ‘Galli / ualli’; V.28-9, ‘puelle / procelle’; VI.258-9, *Eboracenses / Londonienses’; VI.316—17, ‘lauabant / rigabant’ (in a passage where four verbs end in -abant or -ebant within three lines); VII.122-3, ‘redire / perire’; VII.254—5, ‘piorum / eorum"; VIII.376-7, ‘duosque / eosque'; X.31—2, "laborem / dolorem’; occasional

end-rhyme of this kind can also be found in the Alexandreid as well as in Classical verse (Christensen, Das Alexanderlied, pp. 69—70). 3121. Such lines were known as concatenati (Klopsch, Einführung, p. 78). 312 With this passage may perhaps be compared Architrenius, IV.46-52, a catalogue in which seven consecutive lines begin ‘Et pirus’.

XCV

INTRODUCTION

Bellica securos impellit machina muros.

Golden symmetry of this type is used sparingly by Vergil, but much more frequently by Ovid, Lucan and particularly by Claudian;?? the example of the latter poets was followed by Walter of Chátillon and Joseph of Exeter, who often employ such lines for decorative effect or to round off a period.?'^ In this respect too, then, the practice of the poet of the Gesta Regum Britannie differs from theirs, although it is perhaps significant that the very last verse of the poem is a species of golden line (X.501)2!5 Antistes uestro uiuat Chadiocus in ore.

A pattern related to the golden line (which in its purest form consists of five words) is the four-word line, which was sometimes used for impressive effect by Classical writers;?$ however, such lines are infrequent in the Gesta Regum Britannie.?? One curiosity in the poem is the employment on two occasions of rhopalic lines.** Such lines, in which the constituent words successively increase by one syllable, are exceedingly rare in narrative poetry;?? their use in the Gesta Regum Britannie is therefore decidely idiosyncratic, although it may be related to the frequency of final pentasyllabic words in the poem. On two occasions, the poet also employs another, less unusual form of climax, building up a crescendo by employing an adjective in successively its simple, comparative and superlative forms, as in Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.324—S:3” In commune malus, peior sibi, pessimus illi Cui nichil occultum.

Finally, the Gesta Regum Britannie does not usually make very pronounced 33

Winbolt, Latin Hexameter Verse, pp. 220-1.

314

There are, for instance, five golden lines inAlexandreid I (lines 8, 64, 507, 520 and 521);

YliasIcontains two (lines 266 and 267), in addition to numerous other lines exhibiting related

golden symmetry (on Joseph’s fondness for such patterns, see Sedgwick, ‘The Bellum’, pp.

49-51). 315 The name Chadiocus being qualified not by an adjective but by the noun antistes in

apposition. 316 For instance, Georgics, 1.502, ‘Laomedonteae luimus periuria Troiae.' On such lines, see Winbolt, Latin Hexameter Verse, pp. 227-8. 37 There are, for example, only two such lines in Gesta Regum Britannie I; however, in the first (1.132, *Dilapidatores. Greci cassumque laborem") the line's impact is diminished by the internal punctuation; and in the second (1.321, ‘Aduentus ergo causas alienigenarum’), the final seven-syllable word produces a quite different effect (such lines being, moreover, relatively common because of the frequency of polysyllabic endings in the poem). 318 Gesta Regum Britannie, II.386, ‘Nam quia misceri discordia prosperitati'; and X.429, ‘O Bruti regio, miserande condicionis.'

313 There is, to my knowledge, only a single example in both the Aeneid (X.413, ‘Hic mactat Ladona Pheretaque Demodocumque") and the Alexandreid (VIII.107, ‘Et celo facinus Lecolaum Demetriumque’). ; 320 The second occurrence is in Gesta Regum Britannie, IV.381—2, 'corpore magnus, / Mente tamen maior, facundo maximus ore’; with both, compare Architrenius, 1.97, ‘Magna doles, maiora notas, in maxima seuis’ (where the adjectival climax is mirrored by an increase in the number of syllables in successive phrases).

XCV1

PROSODY AND METRICS

use of alliteration. Patterns of light alliteration, involving only a pair of words, Can, as in most hexameter verse, be found throughout the poem (as for instance

in Gesta Regum Britannie, X.501, quoted above). However, alliteration is not

regularly used for particular effect in the poem. Occasional lines exhibit heavy alliteration, as in Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.212:3 Innumerasque rates et cetera congrua classi.

Most often, heavy alliteration of this sort is not employed in isolation, but is allied with elaborate annominatio, as in the following passage concerning the martyrdom of the monks of Bangor (Gesta Regum Britannie, IX.423-7): O quam admirabile bellum Est ubi qui patitur reputatur uictor, et ille Qui uicit uictus: cedit uictoria ceso, Cedit cesori confusio; cesus ad astra, Cesor ad infernum post cursum tendit agonis.

In this passage alliteration of c and u (as well as p, t and s) is combined with plays on the words uinco, cedo and caedo which the poet so favoured.

(h) Enjambment One reason why the poet largely avoids leonine rhyme, and perhaps also golden symmetry (both being patterns in which lines tend to be self-contained), is his concern to employ a variety of enjambment in his verse. Like Walter of Chátillon and Joseph of Exeter, he is at pains not to compose in a monotonous series of end-stopped lines, but prefers to combine a basic framework of erd-stops with contrasting stops at various other points in the line; and, although he generally prefers short sentences for his narrative, internal pauses are also artfully deployed. Consider for example the following passage, chosen at random, in which stops have been marked as // and pauses as / (Gesta Regum Britannie, III.45—60):

Penitet interea Romanos federis: / unde Ad Germanorum partem se consul uterque

45

Transfert. // Quod postquam fratrum peruenit ad aures, Consilio fretus Belini Brennius urbem Romuleam festinus adit. // Romana iuuentus Factum comperiens Germanica castra relinquit Et Romam repetit. // Premissa nocte reducens Agmina Belinus in uallem, / qua redituri Sunt hostes Lacii, / latet hic; / expectat eorum Aduentum. // Ueniunt ueniente die; / ruit omnis Cautus in incautos exercitus; / agmen inerme

50

55

Other such alliteration is found in 1.206; 11.463; III.91, 294; IV.431; V.10, 191-2, 379, 32 394; VI.235, 460; VII.11, 44, 162, 348; VIII.80, 105, 136—7, 201, 423; IX.142, 159 and 189.

xcvii

INTRODUCTION

Armati sternunt Britones. // Non pugna uidetur Que geritur, quoniam ferit hec pars, pars cadit illa. // Dant Lacii sua terga fuge, /Belinus eorum Terga secat gladio nulla pietate retentus; / Tandem consulibus Laciis nox et fuga prodest. //

60

The passage comprises seven relatively short sentences. The first (lines 45—7) stops at the end, or diaeresis, of the first foot in line 47, while there is an internal

pause at the diaeresis of the fifth foot in line 45. The second sentence ends before the strong caesura of the fourth foot in line 49,7? with a pause at the end of line 47. The third sentence also ends within the line, this time before the strong caesura of the third foot in line 51. The fourth sentence, a longer period, ends at the strong caesura of the second foot in line 54, with pauses at the fourth (or bucolic) diaeresis in line 52, and before both the third and fourth strong

caesurae in line 53. The fifth sentence again ends at the fourth strong caesura in line 56,75 coupled with an unusual pause before the strong caesura of the fifth foot in line 54,3% and another at the fourth diaeresis in line 55. The sixth sentence, which brings the passage to its conclusion, is for that reason also end-stopped (in line 60), with pauses at the fourth strong caesura in line 58 and at the end of line 59. In this passage, then, which is typical of many in the poem, rhythmical monotony is avoided by frequent interplay of end- and internal stops and pauses. In this respect, it is impossible to agree with Rosemary Morris that enjambment is 'the most irritating aspect' of the style of the Gesta Regum Britannie or that it ‘destroys the poetic rhythm’;** as the passage cited demonstrates, far from being ‘excessive’, skillful enjambment helps to lend variety to the narrative flow of the poem. Attention to the positioning of stops and pauses should therefore be recognised as an important element in the poet’s hexameter Style.

32

In line 49, the strong caesura of the fourth foot (32) is combined, as it often is (see p.

Ixxxv above), with the 14 and 3t caesurae (viz.'Romuleam // festinus / adit /f). Such a stop or

pause at the 31/2 caesura after the third trochaic is common in Ovid and Lucan, frequent in Walter of Chatillon (e.g. in Alexandreid, I.39 and 41), and becomes a mannerism in Joseph of Exeter (it occurs, for instance, three times in Ylias, L9—15, five times in 96—104, and no less than four times in 124-8). In the Gesta Regum Britannie, as in the Alexandreid, this combination is employed with more restraint (the line in question, indeed, imitating Alexandreid, VI.163, ‘Persepolim festinus adit"); however, it recurs in line 58 of the passage quoted. 35 In this case, however, this caesura is combined not with the third trochaic, but with the strong third-foot caesura ('Armati sternunt // Britones //"). 9^ The line closes with two disyllables; see p. xciii above. 95 "TheGesta', p. 66.

xcviii

MANUSCRIPTS

IV Manuscripts The three manuscripts of the Gesta Regum Britannie and the sigla used in this edition are as follows.

C: British Library, MS. Cotton Julius D.xi is a composite codex, created in the

seventeenth century, the relevant portion of which (fos 2 to 60) was written in

the early fourteenth century. The codex now comprises some one hundred folios.** Its text of the Gesta Regum Britannie is the sole content of fos 2r-60v. The poem is written in single columns of between 32 and 38 lines per page. The text, which has no rubric, is incomplete. The end of the poem

(from Book

IX.424) has been lost, and there are two significant lacunae (I.451-1I.93, and IX.41-105) caused respectively by the loss of two leaves between fos 7 and 8, and the loss of a single leaf between fos 55—56. There is also a less extensive omission in Book III (lines 211-15). As a result of careless copying, a number of other verses are omitted. They are: 1.283; II.239; III.19; IV.222, 389, and 507-8; VI.30, 139, 259, 298, 412-14 (nascetur . . . Unica’, through a saut du méme au

méme), 423, and 452; VII.31; VIII.136, 337-8, and 500. The mediaeval provenance of fos 2-60 is unknown. In the early seventeenth century, they belonged to Thomas Allen of Oxford (1540-1632), from whom they passed in to the collection of Sir Robert Cotton?? That they may have come into Cotton's hands by the late 1620s is suggested by the presence, on the

fly-leaf of the composite volume, of an Elenchus contentorum written by his librarian, the Reverend Richard James, as this was the period during which James was most active in adding such contents lists.?* In the Elenchus contentorum the poem is entered as 'Hystoria Britonum Latine carmine Heroico per Gyldam.' It was probably from this codex that Archbishop Ussher quoted a number of passages from the poem, which he attributed to ‘Pseudo-Gildas’>”

P: Paris, Bibliothéque Nationale, MS. lat. 8491 is a poetry collection written in the thirteenth century. It comprises 80 folios.*? The contents of the codex are as follows: 3r-68v: the Gesta Regum Britannie. 69r-70r: the well-known verses ‘Pergama flere uolo'.?! At the end of ‘Pergama 326

Smith, Catalogus, p. 10; Michel, Gesta, p. viii; Ward & Herbert, Catalogue, L274-7.

32 Watson, "Thomas Allen’, pp. 299 and 309. 35 [bid., p. 300. 39 Ward & Herbert, Catalogue, 1.275. 330 Mellot, Catalogus, p. 464; Michel, Gesta, pp. viii-ix. 331 Walther, /nitia, 1.723, no. 13985; it should be noted in this connection that ‘Pergama flere uolo’ is also transmitted with Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britannie in four manuscripts (Crick, A Summary Catalogue, nos 32, 60, 84 and 164, the text being printed by Hammer, ‘Some Leonine summaries’, pp. 121-2). xcix

INTRODUCTION

flere’ is directly appended a further elegiac couplet, with the same rhymescheme, on the fate of Troy: Ne quis amet temere docet obruta Troia cauere, Que Paridis scelere fit nichil absque fere.

70r: a pair of similarly rhymed hexameters entitled “Ecce tota pugna Troie in duobus uersibus’ :** Urit amor Paridem, nuptam rapit; armat Atridem Ulcio; pugnatur, fit machina,.Troia crematur.

70r: a short version of a rhymed elegiac poem on Paris and Troy: Feruet amore Paris, Troianis immolat aris; Ciuibus ignaris cinditur [sic] unda maris. Temptat Tindaridem; fauet illa, reliquid Atridem, Prompta sequi Paridem, passa perire fidem. Argos nudatur, classis coit, unda minatur, Hostia manctatur [sic], aura secunda datur. Post pelagi strepitus Frigium tenet anchora litus; Obstruit introitus Hector ad arma citus. Argis exosa ruit Ilios, ante iocosa, Inclita, famosa, nunc rubus, ante rosa.

70v-80r: a rhymed hexameter poem on contemptus mundi, with the rubric ‘Incipit liber qui uocatur contemptus mundi.’ The poem begins:**° Cartula nostra tibi mandat, dilecte, salutes; Pauca uidebis ibi, sed non mea uerba refutes.

It ends:

In qua gaudebunt qui pura mente nitebunt, Et bene gaudebunt quia gaudia fine carebunt. Laus tibi sit, Christe, quoniam labor explicit iste. Explicit liber qui uocatur contemptus mundi.

The copy of the Gesta Regum Britannie has the following incipit: 'Incipit primus liber gestorum regum Britannie'. The poem is written in single columns of approximately 36 lines per page. The text of P is incomplete, though less so than that of C. There is a lacuna in Book II (lines 237-310), resulting from the 32 333

Walther, Initia, 1.597, no. 11665. ]bid., 1.1036, no 19746.

3*4

]bid., 1.325, no. 6462. 'Pergama flere uolo', ‘Urit amor Paridem', and 'Feruet amore

Paris' are all also found in the Carmina Burana collection, respectively nos 101, 99a (beginning ‘Armat amor Paridem"), and 102 (Hilka, Carmina Burana, 11.139—60, 134, and 160—65). The short version of ‘Feruet amore Paris’ in Paris, lat. 8491 comprises lines 1-4, 9-12 and 31-2 of Hilka's text, and it contains a number of variant readings: Ciuibus for Fratribus (line Amie for quieta (line 10); Post pelagi for Passa freti (line 11); and ruit for iacet (line

5355

Walther, Jnitia, 1.126, no. 2521.

MANUSCRIPTS

loss of a leaf between fos 12 and 13. A further omission occurs in III.369—7 3, where the passage 'cito deserit . . . Disponunt acies’ has dropped out through a saut du méme au méme ('acies . . . acies"). A number of other lines are omitted: they are I.465; III.28, 141, 300; IV.294; V.46; VI.152; IX.319. The mediaeval provenance of the manuscript is unknown. Notes on fos 68v and 80v indicate that the codex once belonged to a Robert Demffay (or Deniffay or Damffay?). In the seventeenth century, it formed part of the collection of Antoine Faure, doctor of Theology and prevost and chancellor of Rheims, who died in Paris on 30 November, 1689.5:

V: Valenciennes, Bibliothéque Municipale, MS. 792 (589) was written between the end of the thirteenth century and the middle of the fourteenth. It contains 265 folios.*? Its contents, which have recently been described in detail by Julia Crick, chiefly comprise historical and pseudo-historical materials relevant to the British Isles. The text of the Gesta Regum Britannie, which occupies fos 55r-85v, is introduced by the rubric, beginning at the foot of fo 54v: ‘Sequitur de eadem materia historia Britonum uersificata et magistro Alexandro Nequam compilata ut credo et scripta ad dominum Cadiocum episcopum Uenetensem. Incipit historia Britonum uersificata.' The poem is set out in two columns of, on average, between 38 and 41 lines per page. V's text of the poem is, like that of the other manuscripts, incomplete. There is an extensive lacuna in Book VII (lines 112423), caused by the loss of two leaves between fos 74r-75v. There is also a less extensive omission in Book III (lines 211-15). A number of other lines are omitted, namely: II.94; V.236 and 380; VI.60; X.216.

V is the only manuscript in which the poem is transmitted with Geoffrey's Historia Regum Britannie, which precedes the poem, occuping fos 1r—54r. It is unclear, however, whether the association of the two texts is part of an attempt to create an opus geminatum combining prose and poetry, or whether they have been brought together simply because of their common subject matter. Certainly, the manuscript bears witness to an interest in other verse related to Geoffrey's History. On fo 54, between the Historia and the Gesta Regum Britan-

nie are found three short poems. The first of these, on 54r, is the following verse colophon to the Historia?” Scripsimus Arturum, quem Britto putat rediturum: Si redit Arturus, homo fit capra, uel caper urus. Principium finis superat, cui laus datur omnis. Finis principio melior esset mea Clyo. Sit feriata manus, digitis tribus occia demus. Premia sumpta michi: laus, gratia nomen amici.

336 37 338 33

Delisle, Le cabinet, 1.304-5, and (on Faure's manuscripts) 1.320 and III.368-9. Lievre, Catalogue, XXV.474—5; Crick, Summary Catalogue, pp. 319-21. Crick, Summary Catalogue, pp.319-20. Colophons, V1.492, no. 23365.

INTRODUCTION

Ast ubi uoce tube rediuiua rapi caro nube Ceperit, huic anime sit Eden uel celica Tempe.

There follow on fo 54v two further pieces, the first in rhymed hexameters, with the rubric ‘Historia Britannorum in uersibus’:*° Dardanus exulat, alta perambulat, et Rutulorum Rex nece uapulat; unde repullulat ars Phrygiorum. Hac ab origine prodiit omine Brutus iniquo, Qui quasi sanguine fedus, ab anguine cessit iniquo. Transmeat equora, figitur anchora, fitque quietus; Uendicat haut mora prospera tempora. Flens Anacletus, Ut Phrigios uidet, hiis cito prouidet, et prohibentur. Curia dissidet; ut mala prouidet, ire iubentur. Ignoge fit sua, que quasi mortua mestaque plangit; Iam loca congrua uela per ardua plebs ea tangit. Dando piacula consulit infula templa deorum. Spernitur insula tela per emula cede suorum. Hec Britonum uia fit modo regia: gens aliena Sic prius inuia, cui Cathenesia seruit amena.

The second piece consists of rhymed elegiac couplets:* Hec Bernardus ego, qui sub Domini cruce dego, Scriptis allego scriptaque sepe lego: Hactenus ignota, que nescit plebs ydiota, Nunc facio nota qualibet absque nota. Lector, quem foui scriptis que scribere noui, Scribe, qui uoui, scripta memento noui. Hiis oculos adhibe, capta, gusta, lege, scribe; Bernardi scribe musta iocosa bibe. Si dictata notes, Arturi gesta, nepotes, Regna, sacerdotes, cetera nosse potes. Nosse genus Britonum, fines, urbes regionum Et cuiusque thronum bellaque, credo bonum. Si michi parueris, o lector qui noua queris, Hec lege que sequeris sicque peritus eris.

These poems are also associated with Geoffrey's History in two other manuscripts, Douai, Bibliothéque Municipale, MSS. 880 and 882.* The first two lines of the verse colophon of the Historia are found in Douai 882, where they have been added after that text by a later hand on fo 198r. The second two pieces are found in both Douai 880, fo 88v and in 882, fos 197v-198r (where they are copied from Douai 880). Bernard, who is probably the author of both pieces (as well as other verses in these manuscripts), appears to have been the scribe of

349 94 342,

Walther, Initia, 1.204, no. 4051. [bid., 1.377, no. 7477. Hammer, ‘Some Leonine summaries’

cii

MANUSCRIPTS

Douai 880. However, the precise relationship of the poems in V with those in the two Douai manuscripts remains unclear. The mediaeval provenance of V is uncertain. The fact that the contents of fos 229r—-259r (three prose texts connected with Britain and its history) are also

found in a manuscript apparently compiled by a canon of Merton (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS. 59, fos 140-173r) led Julia Crick to suggest that V may have originated in England.*3 However, by the Early Modern period, if not earlier, the codex belonged to the Premonstratensian abbey of Vicoigne, from where it passed to the town library of Valenciennes.>“

V Editions and Text The Gesta Regum Britannie has been edited in its entirety only once before, by Francisque-Michel in 1862.*5 His edition was serviceable for its date, but it contains many serious flaws which limit its usefulness for the modern reader. Michel knew all three of the surviving manuscripts of the poem, and it is claimed on the title page that his edition is based on all three; however, the text printed by him is a semi-diplomatic and largely uncritical transcription of the Paris manuscript (P). There is no textual apparatus, Michel instead printing some of the variant readings of the other two manuscripts as an appendix.**é However, Michel did not know the Valenciennes manuscript (V) at first hand;

his collation rested on an incomplete transcript, of Gesta Regum Britannie, I.1-IV.139 only, made by an earlier scholar, De Gaulle." Many valuable readings of V in the last six books of the poem are not therefore reported at all in Michel's edition. The London manuscript (C) Michel collated himself and ap-

parently in full; however, Gesta Regum Britannie, III.1-IV.151 is absent from his collation, no explanation for this omission being given in the appendix. Moreover, in addition to being incomplete, the collations of both V and C printed by Michel are woefully inaccurate. The spelling of both manuscripts is misrepresented or sometimes arbitrarily altered to conform with Classical norms. More seriously, words are frequently misread or omitted, abbreviations in particular often being erroneously expanded. The collation of V, for example, contains inter alia the following errors in Book I alone: spargit for spargi (1.9); casum for cursum (1.18); tum for tamen (1.119 and 470); uetera for uetusta (1.250); grassariis (which may be a misprint) for grassaris (1.269); Acsi puero 3433 Summary Catalogue, p. 321 34 ]bid. 345 (Gesta: in addition to the Gesta Regum Britannie itself, Michel also included, as an appendix (pp. 199—235), editions of the Anglo-Norman verse text Des Grantz Geanz and the Latin elegiac poem Brutus (re-edited by Brereton and Schmidt respectively). 346 Gesta, pp. 181-95 (with the title ‘Various Readings’). 347 [bid., p. xviii. ciii

INTRODUCTION

for Acsi cum puero: (1.309); turba for turbam (1.372); altaria for animalia

(1.395); perimatur for prematur (1.416); and certam for circum (1.489). Michel's reporting of C contains similar errors, for example in Book II: tum for tandem

(11.112); Hester (which is, in fact, the reading of V, although Michel does not record it) for austri (1I.144);** Gornozilla for Gornorilla (II.168); in for michi (11.278); aratur for aratra (11.377); Optulerit for Obtulerit (II.426).550

In the light of these inaccuracies in Michel's appendix, it is not surprising that text of P printed by him is also full of errors. The following lines or portions of text are thus entirely omitted by Michel, despite their presence in P: IIL.211; VI.76; VI.499-500 (‘quantus sit in illo /Tempore conceptus"); IX.505-6 (‘Sed

iter rex impius illi /Prepedit’). Apparently faulty hexameters in fact result from Michel's omission of words: for example, uictor in 1.112; nimbus in III.66; regnum in V.141; draconum in VI.36; fidei in VII.139; regum in VII.409; ad se in VIII.347.35! On other occasions, the addition of words results in lines with seven feet??? Misreadings of P are legion: for instance Omnibus for Ciuibus (II.20); agrum for agmen (IV.184); arma for sacra (IV.237); mente for marte (IV.292 and V.87); pace for prece (IV.300); tria for ter (IV.473); iuncte for iniuste (IV.491); A numeris for Innumeris (V.11);33 imperia for impia (V.182) parui for pueri (V.474 and 479); munera for dona (VIL8); pruna for prima (VII.159 and 161); Merlinus for uulneris (VII.378); uirtusque for utriusque (IX.5); sibi for consul (IX.37); ictu for ritu IX.133); terras for trans (1X.152); donatur for dominatur (X.272); illa for bella (X.373). Some of the above errors are evidently due to Michel's misreading of abbreviations, which are frequently incorrectly expanded, in particular those for quoniam and spiritus.55* In addition to this misreporting of P, Michel's text is marred by other faults.

On a minor level, misprints are frequent, and the text is often incorrectly punctuated.56 Another inconvenience is Michel's decision, despite the author's division of the poem into ten books, to number the lines serially from beginning to end of the text, which results in cumbersome line-numbers in the later books. However, the chief limitation of Michel's edition is undoubtedly its uncritical reliance on a single manuscript (P). Since, as we shall see, this witness (like the 348 This and other confusions between the readings of C, P and V (see nn. 349 and 350 following) may have been caused by Michel's notes having become disordered. 59 Where V reads Aretur. 359 Again, Optulerit is the reading of V. 335 Michel's comment that ‘too often the quantity and the metre are defective’ (Gesta, p. xu is true only of his own text; as we have seen, the poet handles the hexameter competenty. 332 For example, 1.293; IV.187 and 461; V.343. 353 This misreading disrupts the Chaddiocus-acrostic, of which Michel was apparently unaware. 39 quoniam is wrongly expanded in II.182, IV.189 and 394, V.35, VII.111, IX,357 and X,337; and spiritus in IV.305 and 503, and VI.74. 355 For example, in I.24, 173; 11.218, 397; 111.167; IV.217, 257 and 332; V.257; V1.386; VII.58 and 245; VIII.409 and 478; IX,427; and X 2.

356 For example, in I.227-8, 409-10 and 498-9; III.3, 5-6 and 258; IV.387-8; VI.462-3 and 523; VII.51, 53, 159-60, 284—5 and 441; VIII.319-22; X.226—7 and 229-30. civ

EDITIONS AND TEXT

other two) exhibits a considerable degree of corruption and error, the reader is

frequently left to edit the text as he reads, as far as this is possible using

Michel’s appendix.

The situation is made worse by the fact that Michel did not consistently

adhere to his policy of following MS.P. In order to remedy some of P’s deficiencies, he often had recourse to the other manuscripts, although he did not always acknowledge the fact. For example, two lacunae in P (II.237—310 and III.369— 73) are supplied in Michel’s text from V, although in the latter case so clumsil y that III.373-4 (‘hinc inde necemque subire / Pugnando’) is printed twice and the metre disrupted. Individual lines omitted from P are in some cases (1.465, III.28, 141, 300, IV.294, and VI.152) similarly supplied from V; yet two other lines absent from P (V.46 and IX.319) are not restored to the text, despite being reported in Michel’s appendix. Equally arbitrarily, Michel often silently substitutes readings from MSS.CV for those in P. For instance, in L403 he prints ostendit instead of P's est ausus; and in I.496 he replaces P’s unmetrical reading adhuc uter obruit with V's constat uter sic obruat. This editorial meddling often has unfortunate results: in I.132, Michel prints cassumque Grecique laborem, an unmetrical conflation of cassum Grecique laborem (P) and Greci cassumque laborem (V). In short, Michel's bewildering changes of editorial policy leave the reader uncertain as to the manuscript source or sources of any given word in the text.

The present edition aims to answer the need for an accurate text, securely based on a through examination of all three manuscript witnesses and of their text-history. Such an examination reveals that none of the extant manuscripts of the poem can have been the author's own copy of the text: not only were C (saec. xiv in.) and V (saec. xiii/xiv) written at too late a date, but they also

contain omissions and corruptions; and collation of P, which belongs to the thirteenth century, reveals that it too is corrupt. Indeed, in a number of passages, in particular II.442, IIL.184, V.96, and IX.415 (which are discussed in detail below), all the manuscripts share corrupt readings, which must therefore also have been found in their common ancestor. Since this ancestor was itself cor-

rupt, it too is unlikely to have been the original exemplar. All the manuscripts thus stand at at least two removes from the archetype. It is clear too from collation that C and V are closely related. They share a lacuna in Book III (lines 211-15), which, since it is not caused by any easily repeatable saut du méme au méme, must also have been a characteristic of their common ancestor. That neither C nor V can, however, be a direct copy of the other is shown by the fact that each contains further omissions unique to itself. C and V also often agree in error against P: they read, for example, Principes (which is unmetrical) in III.267; Ecoliis (for Eoliis) in V.27; miranda (which is again unmetrical) in V.447; forma (for fama) in VI.378; iudicat and iudice (both readings being unmetrical) in VIII.100—2; tangit (for tenet) in VIII.189; Admittunt (for Amittunt) in VIII.396; and pubes (for perpes) in IX.299. On several occasions when V and C agree against P, one or other of them shows evidence of further corruption: for example, in V.48, where P has Subieccv

INTRODUCTION

tum populum, C reads Subiectus populus as against V’s unmetrical Populus subiectus; in VI.306, where P correctly reads Ex Affris (cf. Historia Regum Britannie, 8129), C has Ex castris and V Ex antris; and in VI.364, where P rightly has Kilaro (cf. Historia Regum Britannie, 8130), C reads Talaro and V

Colare. Comparison of C and V also reveals a number of places where the scribe of V (or of his exemplar?) has tried to correct the transmitted

text. The clearest

example of such correction occurs in 1I.342, where P reads ‘Quam dolor in facinus trahit, anxia facta nouerca'; in C nouerca is omitted, leaving a line of only five feet; an attempt to restore the metre has been made in V, which reads ‘Quam dolor in magnum facinus trahit anxia factum’ (although factum represents a further corruption). The same process may also be observed in IV.55, where only P has the correct name-form Lelius Hamo; for Lelius, C has Belius, whereas in V the name has been rationalised to become the adjective bellicus. In V.219, where P alone reads Laresque, V has Panesque, which, although it makes sense, is unmetrical; V's reading may thus represent an attempt to make sense of the corrupt form Fanesque (or something like it) which is preserved by C. Although in the instances discussed above P preserves a better text than CV, there are other passages where the reverse is true and P too is evidently corrupt. For example, P reads gradiaris (for grassaris) in 1.269; nacta (for uasta) in III.114; nomine (for nobile) in IIL.235; expugnare (which is unmetrical) in III.376; nomen est (for nomen) in IV.70; sacra (for sata) in IV.84; infestaque (for infectaque) in IV.237; terga (for uota) in V.65; stupet (for stupor) in V.426; inuadere (for inuadite) in V1.453; uno (for uiuo) in VIIL.153; telo (for zelo) in

VIII 230; pugnat et (for pugnanti) in VIII.387; promittendum (for promittentum) in VIII.469; and urbem (for iram) in VIII.484. It seems clear, then, that the manuscripts fall into two groups, CV and P. Yet there are seemingly also occasions, although they are fewer in number, on which

C and P agree in error: in IV.4—6, line 6 is misplaced before 4—5 in CP; in V.9 Hengist is wrongly termed Vortigern's gener by CP, while V correctly reads socer; in V.435, CP read nomine (for nemine), and in VI.532 Purius (for Purior). However, in each case it is possible that the scribe of V corrected these obvious errors by conjecture (which would sit well with the occasional attempts to correct the text in that manuscript, discussed above); if so, these errors must also

have been present in the common ancestor of CP and V, and need indicate

neither that C and P are closely related nor that V necessarily preserves a superior text in these passages. However, the question of the relationship of CV to P is complicated by a

further problem. There are a number of passages, to which we must now turn our attention, where the text as transmitted by them diverges slightly. In the case of some of these passages, it is possible to advance explanations for their divergence. For example, in I.292-3, where P reads ‘inde secatur / Inter Rusicadam Zareamque fretum', C has ‘exiit inde / Inter Rusicadam Zareamque fretum’ and V ‘exiit inde / Inter Rusicadam Zareeque fretum.' The reading of C here is unsatisfactory, since it awkwardly places Zaream in apposition to fretum; this cvi

EDITIONS AND TEXT

difficulty is eased by the genitive form Zareeque in V. Conversely, P’s reading is closer to that of Historia, §17 (where Zarea is a mountain range); and the

impersonal verb secatur follows on naturally from petitur (which precedes it). A likely explanation of the divergence of the manuscripts is thus that P preserves the original text, and that exiit was supplied in the common exemplar of CV to make good the omission of secatur; this would explain the awkwardness in C, which the scribe of V attempted to remedy by changing Zareamque to Zareeque3*" In another case, it appears that the text has been modified in C. In IV.387, where P and V read ‘Applicat ad Portum Hamonis’, C has ‘Applicat Hamonis ad Portum.’ The agreement of P and V here suggests that they preserve the original text. However, the text as transmitted by them exhibits a very unusual

example of hiatus before initial A (Portum not being elided); in C, this hiatus has been eliminated, having been replaced with productio ob caesuram (‘Hamonis

ad’)3%8 Finally, in X.192-3 (where the text of C is wanting), P reads ‘Aufridus Osualdi fratrisque sui Iodualdus / Filius’ as against ‘Alfridus Osuini fratrisque sui Iodualdus / Filius' in V. In this case, the apparent divergence is probably caused by corruption in P, since the character in question is, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Alfridus, son of Oswi (Historia Regum Britannie, 8200). In the majority of the passages where the manuscripts disagree, however, it is impossible to establish the priority of one reading over another. A good example of this difficulty is afforded by IV.157—8, where CV read:

Cum sibi submissis populis, pars Londoniensi, Pars Legionensi. Sic disposita regione.

P reads commissis for submissis, and disiuncta for disposita. In this case, the divergence is on a minor verbal level, but in other passages it is more extensive. Thus in VI.97-9, P reads: Conueniunt dominosque suos ciuesque uidentes Illis se sociant, decorant diademate regni Aurelium.

In line 98, CV have Illum, pontifices; both versions make sense, and it is difficult to decide between them. In VII.133 (where the text of V is lacking), P reads *Horum perfidiam miratus tendit in hostes’, while C has ‘Obsidibus cesis obsessam tendit in urbem.’ C reading is closer to the Historia (8146, where Arthur hangs his English hostages): but does C here preserve the original text,

in 39 Similarly, in L493-4 (where C is lacunose), P reads *par cum pare certe / Certat may Credit V's here V; in incertum' in Credit / certat pare cum incertum" as against ‘par represent an attempt to repair the text after certe had dropped out (by an easy omission before Certat). 358 See also p. xc above. cvii

INTRODUCTION

which was modified in P in order to disassociate Arthur from this hanging; or is P the original, which has been recast in C (in the light of Geoffrey’s narrative)? Similarly, in VII.396~7, P reads: picerna tibi Normania tota In sortem, Beduer, cessit.

Conversely, C has:?*?? dapifer cedit Normania tota In sortem «Beduere» tibi

This time it is the text of P which is closer to the Historia ($156, where Bedevere is Arthur’s pincerna), but which version is the original is again unclear. In

IX.136-8, the text is particularly problematical. P reads: Ponderat in Libra sol tempora, pondere iusto Equatum cum nocte diem, cum uictor ad urbes Allobrogum tendit et eas sibi subiugat. CV have:

Ponderat in Libra sol tempora pondere iusto Et cum nocte diem, cum uictor tendit ad urbem Allobrogum tendit et eas [eam V] sibi subiugat.

In P, the opening clause (which is modelled on a passage of Lucan) is awkward, diem apparently being in apposition to tempora; this difficulty is smoothed in CV (‘tempora.../ Et. . . diem"), but their text is marred by the repetition of tendit in lines 137-8. Possibly both sets of readings represent independent responses to a passage which was already corrupt in the common ancestor of the manuscripts.?9 There is a major divergence in IX.146-9, where P reads: Nam uiolasse thorum regis regnique Britanni Usurpasse sibi sumptum diadema Modredum Fama refert, minime iustum minimeque fidelem In sibi commissis.

Conversely, CV read: Nam uiolasse thorum regis regnumque Britannum Usurpasse sibi contra rectumque fidemque Fama refert, minime iustum Modredumque fidelem In sibi commissis.

At the root of these variant readings lies the scansion of the name Modredus, which elsewhere in the poem is always scanned Modrédus or Médrédus:*! P's 359

T have corrected C's loquere, an obvious corruption of Beduere, in 397.

1 Similar metrical correction may have occurred in IX.161, where P reads ‘Uicinos quos eius habebat auunculus hostes’ (a line which lacks a main caesura), while CV have ‘Uicinos et

quos habet eius auunculus hostes’ (thus restoring a strong caesura in the third foot). 36€ See p. Ixxvii above.

Cviii

EDITIONS AND TEXT

text (147) exhibits scanned Modrédus, uncertain whether exemplar of CV, or

the second of these forms; but in CV (148), the name is a form used nowhere else by the poet. However, it remains P preserves the Original text which was modified in the the version of CV is the original which has been ‘improved’

in P. Finally, in X.334—5 (where the text of C has been lost), P reads ‘Cunctis mea regibus olim / Nunc est facta feris habitacio.' For Cuncti s mea regibus, V has Mea regio patribus, which is unmetrical. Once again, it is unclear whether V's text is a corrupt version of P's, or whether it preserves a corruption which has been emended in P. In addition to these major divergences, CV and P often differ in point of minor variations of vocabulary, where it is also impossible to determine priority. These variants are too numerous to record in full here, but the following, for instance, are found in Book I of the poem: I.7 terre CV, patrie P; I.37 sanguine CV, semine P; 1.85 mauis CV; malis P; 1.97 oritur CV, aderat P; 1.141 caute ev tacite P; 1.250 Inueniunt CV, Inspiciunt P; 1.270 circumspicis V (circonspicit C), tu conspicis P; 1.331 omne CV, esse P; 1.376 uidit CV, audit P; 1.404 ostendit CV, est ausus P; 1.456 Quarta V (C lacunose), Quinta P. These divergences between CV and P, in the light of our uncertainty about the origin of the majority of them, present problems for the establishment of the text. It is clear, however, that one cannot simply rely on a single manuscript, as Michel did, nor on a single group. All of the manuscripts contain extensive lacunae: I.451-11.93, IX.41-105 and IX.425 to the end of the poem are missing from C; IL237-310 from P; and VII.112-423 from V. Often no one single manuscript transmits the text without corruption. For example, in IV.475, *Ut tueantur eas habitentque regantque colantque', none of the manuscripts preserves the original text: C reads, habitentque regentque colentque. (the last two subjunctives having become futures under the influence of the termination of habitent); P reads habitentque regnentque colantque (regnentque being unmetrical); V has habitantque regantque colantque (habitant being unmetrical). Thus of the three, only PV have the correct colantque, only CP have habitentque and V alone has regantque. Likewise, in V.27, ‘Missus ab Eoliis equor mouet utribus Auster', only P reads Eoliis (Ecoliis CV), while C alone preserves the correct reading utribus (turbidus P; imbribus V). In X.460, 'Forte uel inferior determinat angulus Anglos' only P reads determinat (deteriat V, C not being a witness at this point), while only V reads inferior (interior P). And on another occasion, C alone offers the correct reading: in III.250, which refers to Crassus's severed head being made to drink gold, only C reads Crassus, correctly as against

Cresus in PV. Faced with difficulties such as these, the only solution, and one which has, with some reluctance, been adopted here, is to present an eclectic text based on the best readings offered by each of the manuscripts in any particular passage. In the case of the divergences, major and minor, between CV and P, each has been judged on its own merits, and that which seemed the most likely or appropriate has been accepted into the text. This procedure is the only one possible given the present uncertainty about the genesis of these variants. cix

INTRODUCTION

Once established on these principles, the resulting text of the poem is generally free from problems. Only a very few passages, which are set out below, have needed emendation (all corrections here, as in the text, being indicated by the use of angle-brackets). (a) Gesta Regum Britannie, 1.162-3: Troes se leiter infra

Castra gerunt.

All the manuscripts here read /euiter. This might be interpreted in two ways, but neither of them is satisfactory: /éuiter ‘lightly’ does not scan, while the much rarer adverb léuiter ‘smoothly’ does not give the required sense. I have therefore restored /eniter ‘nimbly’, which is the reading of the Historia Regum Britannie at this point ($13).

(b) 1.495-6: Et nimio sudore probant non posse duellum Stare diu; nec «constat adhuc uter» obruat utrum. In the second line, P reads ‘nec adhuc uter obruat utrum’, which gives only five feet; V has ‘nec constat uter sic obruat utrum’, sic giving very weak sense; C is

lacunose at this point. Evidently constat, which introduces the indirect question, has fallen out of P, while adhuc has similarly dropped out of V (where sic has apparently been added to restore metre). (c) IL.442-4: «A»st alius letale gerens sub pectore uulnus, Cum prope conspiceret auctorem uulneris, ipsum Impetit.

In line 442, all the manuscripts read Est, which is lame and disrupts the flow of the sentence. I have therefore restored by conjecture Ast, which gives the required sense as well as a suitably epic note; the poet uses the same expression in II.92, ‘Ast alia lingua fluuius Sabrina uocatur."

;

(d) III.183-4: repetitaque basia fratris Imprimit «in» faciem.

All the manuscripts read Imprimit faciem in line 184; not only is this metrically faulty, but the double accusative after the verb is impossible. I have therefore restored in which has evidently fallen out after the verb.

Cx

EDITIONS AND TEXT

(e) IV.165-7:

«Octoginta bis» subductis quatuor annis Post incarnatum celesti semine uerbum, Lucius ethereas letus secessit in auras.

In line 165, all the manuscripts read Ex octoginta, which results in the date of Lucius's death being A.D. 76. According to Geoffrey (and Bede) the king died in A.D. 156. (Historia Regum Britannie, 873, "sepultus est anno ab incarnatione

Domini .clvi."). To restore the required date, I have conjectured Octoginta bis (^with four years deducted from twice eighty [viz. one hundred and sixty]').282

(f) IV.266-9: Nec mangonelli desunt nec machina belli Diuersi generis; mortem balista propinat; Talpa fodit muros quos crebro uerberat ictu Dissoluitque ares.

In line 269, the reading of all the manuscripts is arces, giving the sense ‘the mole burrows under walls which it beats with repeated blows, and breaks down the citadels.' Not only is arces jarring, but it is also weak in sense: the mole undermines (fodit) the walls; beating and breaking down (uerberat, Dissoluitque) is the proper function of the ram (aries). Moreover, mention of the ram, the

siege engine par excellence, completes the list of machinae belli mentioned in line 266, which would otherwise consist of only the ballista and the mole. For this reason I have, since arces is an easy corruption of aries, restored the latter to the text by conjecture.*? i (g) V.96-8: Nec mora classe uiris impleta nauta «t»epenti Carbasa dat Zephiro. Litus Totonense repente Nauigio tegitur.

In line 96, all the manuscripts read repenti, which is nonsensical, corruption obviously having occurred under the influence of repente in the following line. I have conjectured tepenti, which is a standard epithet of the West wind in Latin

poetry.?*

362 The proviso must, of course, be added that the date A.D. 76 might possibly have been à! found in poet's manuscript of the Historia. 363 The conjecture is supported by the fact that these lines probably rework Alexandreid,

V.448-9, ‘nisi machina numine diuum / Coctile cementum crebro disolueret ictu' (where the

ram is meant), just as line 267, ‘mortem balista propinat' recalls Alexandreid, III.287, ‘mortem ballista minatur.' 364 Cf. Ovid, Fasti, I1.220, ‘Zephyro uicta tepente.’ cxi

INTRODUCTION

(h) IX.413-5: Clausi Missilibus saxisque suos defendere muros G«n»auiter intendunt.

In line 415, all the manuscripts read grauiter, which does not scan and gives poor sense; I have conjectured the less common adverb gnauiter, ‘skillfully’, which restores the metre, fits the context, and could easily have been corrupted to grauiter.

(i) X.407-9: Secula sex, , dempto tamen uno, Post incarnatum uerbum uenisse feruntur, Cum Cadualadrus celi secessit ad arcem.

This passage presents a similar problem to that in IV.165 (discussed above). In line 407, the reading of all the manuscripts is Secula sex et lustra octo, which makes Cadwaladr’s death occur in A.D. 639. According to Geoffrey (and Bede), however, it happened in A.D. 689. (Historia Regum Britannie, §206, ‘anno ab incarnatione Domini .dclxxxix.'). To restore this date, I have conjectured octodecim, ‘six centuries and eighteen periods of five years [viz. ninety years] less one’, and omitted et. The corruption may have arisen through a misreading of the abbreviated form of octodecim, et having then been added to repair the

metre.565 In addition to the conjectures set out above, I have also made a small number of corrections of obvious errors of latinity or sense. They are as follows: nectnt for nectant (PV only) in 1.491; uiridntis for uiridentis (CV; uirentis P) in IV.301; Dependant for Dependant (CPV) in IV.469; in «t»e for in se (CPV) in VL53; Aga for Agap (CV; Agaz P); «Nequiquam» for Ne quicquam (CP only) in VII.201; «Hyberi» (cf. X.136) for Hiberni P (Yberni V) in IX.507.

Finally, one last problem merits attention. In II.293-4, the poet describes Leir's eager completion of his daughter Cordeilla's instructions as follows: Leyr rex Iussa sibi letus sine cunctu cuncta peregit.

The phrase sine cunctu, ‘without hesitation’, used here is extraordinary, since there is no precedent for a fourth declension noun cunctus meaning ‘hesitation’ (as opposed, for example, to cunctamen which is regularly found in poetry). Nevertheless, although cunctu is the reading only of V (C reading cuncta twice, and the text of P being lacking here), it seems unlikely to be corrupt: sense demands a two-syllable noun meaning ‘delay’; moreover, the resultant word36

But cf. n. 362 above.

cxii

EDITIONS AND TEXT

play, cunctu cuncta is, as we have seen, entirely typical of the poet’s style. I have therefore, with some hesitation, printed sine cunctu on the assumption that it is a neologism, coined by the poet metri causa. The text printed here conforms to the principles of those which have already appeared in this series. The accompanying apparatus is intended to be comprehensive, giving the reader as complete a picture as possible of the variant readings and spellings of the extant manuscripts. Emendations have been signalled by the use of angle-brackets (all other use of the term correction in the apparatus referring to scribal activity). As before, abbreviations have been silently expanded, and the mediaeval orthography of the manuscripts retained throughout. To aid the reader, modern punctuation has been introduced, but the sentence-structure of the manuscripts retained as far as is possible. I have numbered the lines in each of the ten books separately (including, for convenience sake, the introductory ten-line capitula). In order to allow the poem to be compared easily with Geoffrey’s Historia, the text has, within its overall tenbook structure, been divided into the two hundred and eight chapters of my previous editions (these chapters in fact corresponding by and large to the systems of paragraphing found in the manuscripts). As a further aid to the reader, the text is printed here with a facing English translation. Also, the text is followed by a conspectus fontium, which sets out in full the poet’s borrowings from previous authors, and an index fontium (in addition to the usual indices nominum and locorum) to enable the reader to locate without difficulty borrowings from any particular work.

366

gratia of the unusual With this might be compared, for instance, the poet's use metri

form insulula (for insula) in VII.230 and 258, and IX.151.

cxiii

BIBLIOGRAPHY ADAMS,J.N. The Latin Sexual Vocabulary (London 1982) ARNOLD, Ivor (ed.) Le Roman de Brut de Wace (2 vols, Paris 1938-40) Polychronicon BABINGTON, Churchill & LUMBY, Joseph Rawson (edd.) Ranulphi Higden monachi Cestrensis together with the English translations of John of Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century (9 vols, London

1865-86) BAEHRENS, Emil (ed.) Poetae Latini Minores (5 vols, Leipzig 1879-83) BATE, A.K. (ed. & transl.) Joseph of Exeter, Trojan War I-III (Warminster 1986) BENZINGER, Josef |Invectiva in Romam. Romkritik im Mittelalter vom 9. bis zum 12 Jahrhundert (Lübeck 1968) BIRT, Theodor (ed.) Claudii Claudiani Carmina (Berlin 1892) BOSSUAT, Robert (ed.) Alain de Lille. Anticlaudianus (Paris 1955) BRERETON, Georgine E. (ed) Des Grantz Geantz. An Anglo-Norman Poem (Oxford 1937) CARY, George The Medieval Alexander (Cambridge 1956) CHRISTENSEN, Heinrich Das Alexanderlied Walters von Chátillon (Halle 1905) CLARKE, Basil (ed. & transl) Life of Merlin. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Vita Merlini (Cardiff 1973) COLGRAVE, Bertram & MYNORS, R.A.B. (edd. and transl.)

Bede's Ecclesiasti-

cal History of the English People (Oxford 1969) COLKER, Marvin L. (ed.) Galteri de Castellione Alexandreis (Padova 1972) Colophons de manuscrits occidentaux des origines au xvie siécle (6 vols, Fribourg, Suisse 1965-82) CRAWFORD, T.D. ‘On the linguistic competence of Geoffrey of Monmouth’, Medium Aevum 51 (1982), 152-62 CRICK, Julia C. The Historia Regum Britannie of Geoffrey of Monmouth, III: A Summary Catalogue of the Manuscripts (Cambridge 1989) CRICK, Julia C. The Historia Regum Britannie of Geoffrey of Monmouth, IV: Dissemination and Reception in the later Middle Ages (Cambridge 1991) CUNNINGHAM, Maurice P. (ed.) Aurelii Prudentii Clementis Carmina (Turnhout 1966) DELABORDE, Henri Frangois (ed.) Oeuvres de Rigord et de Guillaume Le Breton historiens de Philippe-Auguste (3 vols, Paris 1882—5) DELISLE, Léopold Le cabinet des manuscrits de la Bibliotheque Imperiale (3 vols, Paris 1868-81) DRONKE, P. ‘Pseudo-Ovid, Facetus and the Arts of Love’, Mittellateinisches Jahrbuch 11 (1976), 126-31 DUCKWORTH, George E. Vergil and Classical Hexameter Poetry. A Study in Metrical Variety (Ann Arbor 1969) ELLIOTT, Alison Goddard (ed. & transl.) ‘The Facetus: or, the Art of Courtly Living’, Allegorica 2.2 (1977), 27-52

Cxiv

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gallia christiana, in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa; qua series et historia archiepiscoporum, episcoporum et abbatum Franciae vi cinarumque ditionum ab origine Ecclesiarumad nostra tempora deducitur (16 vols, Paris 171 5—86,1856—65) GOMPF, Ludwig (ed.) Joseph Iscanus. Werke und Briefe (Leiden 1970) HAMMER, J. ‘Some Leonine summaries of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae and other poems', Speculum 6 (1931), 114-23 "The poetry of Johannes Beverus with extracts from his Tractatus de Bruto abbreviato', Modern Philology 34 (1936/7), 119-32 “Une version métrique de |’ “Historia Regum Britanniae" de Geoffroy de Monmouth’, Latomus 2 (1938), 131-51 E De(ed. Sancti Pontii Meropii Paulini Nolani Carmina (Vien-

na Histoire littéraire de la France. Ouvrage commencé par les religieux Bénédictins de la Congrégation de Saint-Maur et continué par les membres de l'Institut (Académie des inscriptions et belles lettres) ( vols, Paris 1733- ) HUEMER, Johann (ed.) Sedulii Opera Omnia (Vienna 1885) KLOPSCH, Paul Einführung in die mittellateinische Verslehre (Darmstadt 1972) KURFESS, Alphonse (ed.) C. Sallustii Crispi Catilina, Iugurtha F. ragmenta ampliora (Leipzig 1968) LA BORDERIE, Arthur Le Moyne de & POCQUET, Barthélemy Histoire de Bretagne (5 vols, Rennes 1896-1914) LEGUAY,

Jean-Pierre

& MARTIN,

Hervé

— Fastes et malheurs de la Bretagne

ducale 1213-1532 (Rennes 1982) LE SAUX, Francoise —Layamon's Brut. The Poem and its Sources (Woodbridge

1989) LIEVRE, A.-F. Catalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothéques publiques de France 25 (Paris 1894) LINDSAY, W. M.(ed.) Isidori Hispalensis episcopi Etymologiarum siue Originum libri xx (2 vols, Oxford 1911) ; MARTIN, Hervé Les ordres mendiants en Bretagne vers 1230 — vers 1530: pauvreté volontaire et prédication la fin du moyen-age (Rennes 1975) (MELLOT, A.) Catalogus codicum manuscriptorum Bibliothecae Regiae (4 vols, Paris 1739-44) MICHEL, Francisque- (ed. ^ Gesta Regum Britanniae. A Metrical History of the Britons (Bordeaux 1862) MONTIGNY, Jean-Loup Essai sur les Institutions du Duché de Bretagne à l'époque de Pierre Mauclerc et sur la politique de ce Prince (1213—1237) (Paris 1961 IE Rosemary ‘The Gesta Regum Britanniae of William of Rennes: an Arthurian epic?', Arthurian Literature 6 (1986), 60-123 MUNARI, Franco (ed. —Mathei Vindocinensis Opera (3 vols, Roma 1977-88) M. Valerio. Bucoliche (2nd edn, Firenze 1970) NORBERG, Dag Introduction à l'étude de la versification latine mediévale (Stockholm 1958) PARKES, M.B. & WATSON, Andrew G. (edd.)) Medieval Scribes, Manuscripts & Libraries. Essays presented to N.R. Ker (London 1978) PATCH,HowardR. The Goddess Fortuna inMedieval Literature (New York 1967) The Otherworld according to Descriptions in Medieval Literature (Cambridge, Mass. 1950) CXV

BIBLIOGRAPHY

POISSON, Henri RABY, ELE.

Histoire de Bretagne (Rennes 1947)

A History of Secular Latin Poetry in the Middle Ages (2 vols,

Oxford 1934) ‘The transmission of the Historia Regum Britanniae’, Journal of REEVE, M.R.

Medieval Latin 1 (forthcoming) ROSSBACH, Otto (ed.) L. Annaei Flori Epitomae libri II et P. Anii Flori fragmentum de Vergilio Oratore an Poeta (Leipzig 1896) "Brutus" - Ein metrische Paraphrase der “Historia regum SCHMIDT, P.G. Britanniae" für den Durhamer Bischof Hugo de Puiset’, Mittellateinische Jahrbuch 11 (1976), 201—23 Johannes de Hauvilla. Architrenius (München SCHMIDT, Paul Gerhard (ed.) 1974 Musee Otto — Lateinisches Hexameter Lexikon. Dichterisches Formelgut von Ennius bis zum Archipoeta (6 vols, Mnchen 1979-83) Alan of Lille. Anticlaudianus or the Good and SHERIDAN, James J. (transl) Perfect Man (Toronto 1973) ‘The Bellum Troianum of Joseph of Exeter’, Speculum 5 SEDGWICK, W.B. (1930), 49—76 ‘The style and vocabulary of the Latin Arts of Poetry of the SEDGWICK, W.B. 12th and 13th Centuries', Speculum 3 (1928), 349-81 Catalogus librorum manuscriptorum Bibliothecae Cottonianae SMITH, Thomas (Oxford 1696) Thesaurus Linguae Latinae ( vols, Leipzig 1900— ) TATLOCK, J.S.P. The Legendary History of Britain. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae and its Early Vernacular Versions (Berkeley 1950) TAUSENDFREUND, Eduard Gustav Hans — Vergil und Gottfried von Monmouth (Halle a.S. 1913) THRAEDE, Klaus Der Hexameter in Rom. Verstheorie und Statistik (München 1978) WALTHER, Hans /nitia Carminum ac Versuum Medii Aevi Posterioris Latinorum. Alphabetisches Verzeichnis der Versanfánge mittellateinischer Dichtungen (Góttingen 1959) WALTHER,

Hans

Proverbia

Sententiaeque Latinitatis medii aevi. Lateinische

Sprichwórter und Sentenzen des Mittelalters (6 vols, Góttingen 1963-9) WALTHER, Hans & SCHMIDT, Paul Gerhard — Proverbia Sententiaeque Latinitatis medii ac recentioris aevi. Lateinische Sprichwórter des Mittelalters und der frühen Neuzeit (3 vols, Gottingen 1982-6) WARD, H.L.D. & HERBERT, J.A. Catalogue of Romances in the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum (3 vols, London 1883-1910) WATSON, Andrew G. ‘Thomas Allen of Oxford and his manuscripts’, in Medieval Scribes, Manuscripts and Libraries. Essays presented to N.R. Ker, edd. M.B. Parkes & Andrew G. Watson (London 1978), pp. 279-314 WINBOLT, S.E. Latin Hexameter Verse. An Aid to Composition (London 1903) WRIGHT, Neil (ed.) The Historia Regum Britannie of Geoffrey of Monmouth, I: Bern, Burgerbibliothek, MS.568 (Cambridge 1984) pore N. ‘Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gildas’, Arthurian Literature 2 (1982), WROBEL, Johann (ed.) |Eberhardus Bethuniensis. Graecismus (Breslau 1887)

Cxvi

GESTA REGUM BRITANNIE TEXT

AND

TRANSLATION

SIGLA

C P V

British Library, MS. Cotton Julius D.xi, fos 2r-60v Paris, Bibliotheque Nationale, MS. lat. 8491, fos 3r- 68v Valenciennes, Bibliothéque Municipale, MS. 792 (589), fos 55r-85v

Liber Primus

Incipit primus liber Gestorum Regum Britannie Primus ab Ytalia post patris fata relegat Brutum. Nubit ei regalis uirgo. Dianam Consulit. Inuadit Mauros. Corineum sibi iungit. Post maris et terre diuersa pericula uincit Pictauos. Turonim sibi construit. Albion intrat Gaudet, sacrificat, discurrit per loca. Nomen Immutat terre. Sociis assignat habendas Pro meritis sortes. Urbes, castella, deorum Templa facit. Statuit leges et semina spargi Precipit in terra. Tutos iubet esse colonos.

10

Caliope referas, ut te referente renarrem, Unde genus Britonum, que nominis huius origo, Unde suos habuit generosa Britannia reges, Quis fuit Arturus, que gesta, quis exitus eius, Qualiter amisit infelix nacio regnum. Hiis presul Uenetensis opem conatibus addat, Qui, si post sacre scripture seria ludi Presentis cursum uacuus spectauerit et si Theumaque propositum consertaque uerba poete Auctorisque stilum laudauerit, omne timoris Excussum cedet nostro de pectore frigus. At si ridiculum uel inutile uiderit, igni Supponat totum uel lima tollat abusum.

[$86/7]

Brutus, ab Enea quartus, casu patricida Exulat. Ytaliam fugiens Lacedemona querit. Pandrasus est ibi rex; sub quo captiua tenetur Progenies Heleni, quem cum multis Frigiorum

15

20

25

$81—5 are not present in the poem. Rubric P; no rubric in C; Sequitur de eadem materia historia Britonum uersificata et magistro Alexandro Nequam compilata ut credo et scripta ad dominum Cadiocum episcopum Uenetensem. Incipit historia Britonum uersificata. Prologus primus V. 1 Primus PV; «P»rimus C.

2 Dianam PV; DyanamC.

5 Albion CV; Albyon P.

7 Immutat

V; Inmutat CP: terre CV; patrie P. 11 No rubric in CP; Prologus secundus V: Caliope P; «C»aliope C; Calliope V. 15 nacio CP; nascio V. 19 Theumaque CP; Teumaque V. 20 Auctorisque CP; Actoris V. 22 si CP; sibi V: uiderit CPV (corrected from uidebit in C). 24 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber primus V: Brutus PV; «B»rutus C. 27 Heleni PV; Eleni C.

25 Ytaliam CV; Italiam P.

Book

I

Here begins the first book of the Deeds of the Kings of Britain The first [book] exiles Brutus from Italy after the death of his father. A royal

maiden is married to him. He consults Diana, attacks the Moors, and allies himself to Corineus. After various dangers by land and sea he defeats the inhabitants of Poitou and builds Tours. He enters Britain, rejoices, sacrifices, and travels throughout the land. He changes the name of the country and assigns plots to his companions according to their services. He constructs cities, castles, and temples for the gods. He institutes laws, commands that seed be sown on the land, and orders that the settlers be safe. Tell, Calliope, so that I may repeat as you relate, the origin of the British race, the source of its name, whence noble Britain had its kings, who Arthur was, what were his deeds, what his end, and how the unhappy nation lost its kingdom. Let aid be given to these efforts by the bishop of Vannes; if, at leisure after

the serious pursuits of the Holy Scripture, he looks upon the content of this present entertainment and praises the subject proposed, the structure of the poet’s words, and the style of the author, all chill of fear will be driven out and fall from my heart. But if he deems it ludicrous or unprofitable, let him place the whole poem on the fire, or smooth the errors with his file. [$86/7] Brutus, fourth in line from Aeneas, was exiled for the accidental killing of his father. Fleeing from Italy, he journeys to Lacedaemon. There Pandrasus is king, beneath whose sway the descendants of Helenus are held captive; after the burning of Troy and the destruction of its walls, Pyrrhus

LIBER I

Post cineres Troie, post diruta menia secum Adduxit Pyrrus mortemque parentis in illos Ulciscens captos glebe seruire coegit. Interea numerus seruorum crescit in ipsa Anxietate iugi iugique labore. Sed ecce Brutus adest, sapiens, formosus, fortis et audax. Quem reges, quem turba ducum, quem femina, quem uir, Quem diues, quem pauper amant: placet omnibus. Eius Audita fama gaudet captiua caterua. Plebs igitur Troiana uirum de sanguine cretum Dardanio flexis genibus lacrimisque profusis, Passibus aggrediens timidis, sic orsa profatur: *Dedecet ingenuos sub iniquo principe uitam Ducere degenerem. Pudet, ha pudet, esse tot annis Sub domino dominos. Serui sumus et generosi. Dum nos seruimus, partim seruire uideris, Cum sis pars nostri; nostri miserere tuique. Nam potes — et debes — nostros disoluere nexus. Grecia, nunc uictrix, reddet tibi uicta tributum Auxilio nostro. Fortes sumus et legione Maiores numero preter sexum muliebrem Et pueros. Nostre casus ulciscere Troie. Esto dux noster; uincemus te duce regem Grecorum. Grecos credas tibi terga daturos. Nec status hic faciet seruilis condicionis Nos pauidos, memores antique nobilitatis. Nos labor assiduus duros armisque ferendis Aptos, delicie Danaos et pax diuturna Efficiunt molles. Hec pugna uidebitur impar: Cedentes Danaos cedemus; uulnera Grecis In tergo dabimus; uultus ostendere numquam Audebunt nobis fugientque; fugabimus et nos.

Adde quod Assaracus, Troiana matre creatus, Patre tamen Greco, tria munitissima castra, Que sibi legauit moriens genitor, tenet. Illi Hec auferre parat eius frater quia non est Legitime natus. Rex Pandrasus auxiliatur Assaraci fratri. Tibi uult hec opida sponte

30

35

40

45

50

35

60

:

65

29 Pyrrus CP; Pirrus V. 31 ipsa PV; ipsamC. 32 iugique PV; longuoque (sic) C: Sed ecce PV; fretoqueC. 37 sanguine CV; semine P. 39 aggrediens CP; agrediens V: orsa CV; horsa P.

46 reddet CP; reddat V.

49 ulciscere PV; ulscitere C.

52 condicionis CP; condictionis

V. 54 armisque CPV (tampered in V). . 56 Hec PV; Hic C. 60 Assaracus PV (corrected from Asaracus in V); Assaratus C. 61 munitissima PV; inuictissima C (with uel munitissima in margin) 63 auferre PV; aufferre C. 64 Legitime natus PV; Natus legitime C. 65

Assaraci P; Assarati C; Asaraci V.

BOOK I

carried off Helenus with many of the Phrygians and, taking revenge on them for the death of his father, forced his captives to till the soil as slaves. Meanwhile the number of the slaves increases despite the very anxiety of their servitude and their continual labour. But lo, Brutus is at hand, wise, handsome, brave, and bold. Kings, the crowd of dukes, women, men, rich and poor love him; he pleases all. On hearing of his reputation, the band of captives rejoices. Therefore the Trojan people approach the man sprung from the blood of Dardanus with bended knee, flowing tears, and fearful steps, and begin to speak thus: ‘It is unfitting for noble people to live an unworthy life beneath a harsh prince. It shames us, it shames us, who were masters, to be so many years beneath a master. We are both slaves and freeborn men. While we are enslaved, you seem yourself to be partly a slave, since you are a part of us; take pity on us, and on yourself. You can, and you must, break our bonds. With our help, Greece, now triumphant, will be defeated and pay you tribute. We are brave and, in addition to women and children, we are more than a legion in number. Avenge the fall of our Troy. Be our leader; under your command we will defeat the king of the Greeks. Believe us, the Greeks will turn their backs to you in flight. Nor will our present state of servitude make us cowardly, as we shall remember our past nobility. Unremitting labour has made us hard and well able to bear arms, while luxury and continual peace make the Greeks soft. This battle will seem unequal: we will cut down the Greeks as they fly, and inflict wounds on their backs; they will never dare to show us their faces, and will flee as we pursue. Moreover, Assaracus, the son of a Trojan mother but of a Greek father, holds three most defensible castles which his father left him on his death. Because Assaracus was not born legitimately, his brother is preparing to deprive him of these castles. King Pandrasus is aiding Assaracus’s brother. Assaracus wishes voluntarily to *

LIBER I

Tradere seque simul. Hec et nos suscipe. Greci, Qui nunc sunt domini, fient te uindice serui.’ Brutus, ut attendit gemitus fletusque suorum, Frendit et assumit uires et concipit in se Ingentes animos. Uictos seruire Pelasgos Iam sibi mente uidet; curru uictore superbus Iam uehitur; sibi se sublimior esse uidetur. [§8]

70

Annuit ergo suis. Dux erigitur. Tria munit

Castra relicta sibi. Petit Assaracus nemorosa Cum multa turba sexus utriusque suorum. Dux igitur regi Grecorum talia scribit: *Pandrase rex Danaum, Brutus dux Dardaniorum Hec ego mitto tibi premissa uerba salute. Turpe reor regem regum de semine natos Supposuisse iugo. Quare Troiana iuuentus, Quam male tractasti, penitus tua iura resignans Saltus et nemorum tenet abdita more ferarum; Herbis et crudis potius uult carnibus uti Quam male diuiciis honerata subesse tyranno. Elige quod malis, quod sit magis utile: uel tu Permittas Frigios nemus et saltus habitantes Libertate frui uel eos patiaris abire." [$9]

75

80

85

Pandrasus est ob uerba ducis turbatus; et ultra

Quam regem deceat, nimie non imperat ire. Conuocat ergo suos proceres secumque citato Cursu ducit eos ut Troas precipitato Turbine correptos ad uincla relicta reducat. Perpendens acies Sparatinum preterituras, Sub precedentis tetra caligine noctis Ignaris Grecis Brutus se claudit in illo Cum ter mille uiris ad bella gerenda paratis. Postera lux oritur; dux regem pretereuntem Cernit et inuadit, incautum cautus, inermem Armatus. Danay fugiunt Troesque sequuntur. Nunc huc, nunc illuc et quo suus impetus illos

66 Hec PV; Hic C. Pelagos CV.

67 fient CP; fiant V.

69 Frendit V; Frendet CP.

74 Assaracus P; Assaratus C; Asaracus V.

90

95

100

70 Pelasgos P;

77 dux CP; rex V.

78 premissa

CP; premissaque V. 80 Troiana PV; Romana C. 81 resignans CV; resinans P. 85 malis P; mauis CV. 97 oritur CV; aderat P. 98 inermem P; inhermem CV. 104 regis frater CP;

frater regis V: inquit CV; inquid P.

109 nec PV;ne C.

100 inermes P; inhermes CV.

BOOK I

commit both himself and these towns to you. Receive them, and us. The Greeks, who are now masters, will, when your vengeance is accomplished, become Slaves.’ When he hears the groans and lamentations of his people, Brutus roars aloud and, gathering his strength, conceives great boldness within himself. Already in his mind he sees the defeated Greeks as his slaves; already he rides proudly in the triumphal chariot and seems to himself more lofty than he is. [88] He therefore complies with his people and is made their leader. He

fortifies the three castles made over to him. Assaracus goes to the woodlands with a great crowd of his people of either sex. Brutus writes as follows to the king of the Greeks: ‘Pandrasus, king of the Greeks, I Brutus, leader of the Trojans, send you these words, preceded by a greeting. I think it base that a king should have subjected a people born of the seed of kings to the yoke of slavery. For this reason the young men of Troy, whom you have ill-treated, have completely rejected your sway and, like wild beasts, occupy the glades and thickets of the woods. They prefer to eat plants and raw meat than to be ill-laden with riches while obeying a tyrant. Choose which you prefer, which is more profitable: either allow the Phrygians to live in the woods and glades and enjoy their liberty, or permit them to depart.’ [$9] Pandrasus is perturbed by Brutus's words and, beyond what befits a king, does not curb his excessive anger. He summons his nobles and leads them with him in a hurried march to strike the Trojans like a sudden storm and return them to their former chains. Realising that these forces will pass by Sparatinum, Brutus, unbeknown to the Greeks, shuts himself up in that town beneath the thick darkness of the preceding night, along with three thousand men ready to wage war. The next day dawns. The Trojan leader, prepared and armed, sees and attacks the king as he passes by, unready and unarmed. The Greeks flee and the Trojans pursue. Hither and thither they flee, wherever their course takes them;

LIBERI

Ducit, diffugiunt; perimuntur non perimentes; Ceduntur gladiis; moriuntur more bidentum. Ad ripam rapidi fugiunt Achelonis; in illo Ne pereant gladiis pereunt rapientibus undis. Libertate frui sic gaudent agmina Bruti. Antigonus regis frater fugientibus inquit: *Quis furor, o socii, uitam finire sub undis? Stemus et obstemus; lapides iactemus in hostes; Telaque mittamus; nec sic moriamur inulti.'

Sic faciunt nec proficiunt; ceduntur inermes. Antigonus capitur et concors par Anacletus. Uix rex cum paucis hostiles effugit enses. [$10]

[$11]

105

110

At Brutus uictor Sparatini menia munit

Et nemorosa petit, ubi gens Troiana moratur. Antigonum sociumque suum post terga ligatis Adducit manibus et eos includit in antris. Rex uero ob propriamque fugam stragemque suorum Et captum fratrem nimio merore mouetur. Illa nocte tamen dispersas colligit alas Ut ueniente die castrum, spe ductus inani, Obsideat capiatque ducem fratremque ligatum Liberet, et referat uicto uictore trophea. Astra fugante die festinant undique Greci Cingere castellum. Lituis clangentibus echo Ex equo reboat; colles mugire uidentur. Incutitur terror reprobis; audacia crescit Fortibus. Emissis telis obnubitur aer. Inmensam fabricant molem testudinis. Illam Implent militibus ut tali tegmine tuti Dilapident murum. Sed Troes sulphur et ignes Deiciunt in eam; molem rapit ignis et ipsos Dilapidatores. Greci cassumque laborem Et comitum mortem merent; sed meror eorum Leticiam generat clausis. At panis egestas

Desperare facit illos. Legatus eorum Mittitur ad Brutum, qui nunciat ut mora nulla Illum detineat quin ipsis auxilietur.

111 par PV; pars C.

115

120

125

130

135

114 petit CP; capit V. 124 C ingere CPV (corrected from Scingere in

CV): echo P; eucho CV. 127 Emissis V; Obmissis C; Euulsis P. 132 Greci cassumque V; Greci casumque C; Cassum Grecique P. 134 clausis CPV (corrected from clasis in V).

BOOK I

they are killed without killing, cut down by the sword, and die like sheep. They flee to the bank of the swift-flowing Achelon, where, to avoid death by the sword, they perish in its rapid current. Thus Brutus’s troops rejoice in enjoying their liberty. Antigonus, the king’s brother, addresses the fleeing Greeks: ‘What mad impulse is this, comrades, to end your lives beneath the water? Let us make a stand and resist; let us hurl stones against the enemy and throw our weapons, not die unavenged in this manner.’ This they do, but in vain; unarmed, they are cut down. Antigonus and also his comrade Anacletus are captured. The king scarcely escapes his enemies’ swords with a few men. [$10] Brutus, victorious, fortifies the walls of Sparatinum and makes for the

woodlands where the Trojan people awaits. With him he takes Antigonus and his comrade, their hands bound behind their backs, and imprisons them in a cave. The king is moved to great sadness at his flight, the slaughter of his men, and the capture of his brother. But that night he collects his scattered companies in the idle hope that at day-break he can besiege the castle, capture the Trojan leader, free his imprisoned brother, and so win a victory by vanquishing his vanquisher. [$11] As day puts the stars to flight, the Greeks hurry to surround the castle from all sides. When the trumpets sound, the echo rings back in like measure and the hills seem to bellow. The cowardly are terror-stricken, while the brave grow more bold. The weapons they throw blot out the sky. The Greeks construct a huge and massive engine and fill it with soldiers so that they can cast stones at the wall from the safety of its protection. But the Trojans throw down sulphur and flames upon it; the fire consumes both the engine and those who cast stones from it. The Greeks lament their wasted labour and the death of their comrades; but their sorrow brings joy to the besieged. However, lack of bread makes the latter despair. They send a messenger to Brutus to report that he should not

LIBERI

Hiis dux auditis, quia tot tantasque phalanges Non habet ut contra regem committere martem Campestrem ualeat, hostes inuadere nocte Proponit caute; sed ad hoc opus est alicuius Auxilio Greci. Uocat ergo dux Anacletum.

[$12]

[$13]

140

Cum quo fedus init pacis fideique cathena Se simul astringunt. Post oscula mutua Bruti Consilio fretus ad regis castra latenter Nocte fere media properat uigilesque salutat. Quis sit et unde rogant. ‘Ego sum carissimus, 'inquit, * Antigoni socius; uenio de carcere Bruti. Antigonum socium mecum de carcere duxi. Sed quia compedibus grauis est, hucusque uenire Non potuit; tectum nemorosa in ualle reliqui.’ Agnoscunt uigiles Anacletum; creditur illi. Ad uallem ueniunt. Dux est absconditus illic Et Troiana cohors. Presens nox non sinit ultra Ut uigilent illi, properata cede perempti. Post mortem uigilum dux tendit ad obsidionem; Compescuntque pedum strepitus et murmura uocum. Ille suos cuneos sapienter diuidit in tres Turmas, cuique suam partem dans aggrediendam. Edicens inhibet ne degrassentur in hostes Donec, cum fuerit regis tentoria nactus, Det sonitum lituo. Troes se le«n»iter infra Castra gerunt. Brutus tentoria regis adeptus Optatum sociis signum facit. Excitat illos Ensis, quos cogit sompno dormire perenni. Nemo suo parcit gladio. Fas omne nefasque,

155

Cuncta licent ensi. Manus huic, pes ceditur illi. Sanguinis unda ruit; quos strauit uulneris ictus, Hos cruor extinguit et sic leto geminato Exalant animas. Alios gemitus morientum Excitat a sompno; mentes stupor eripit illis; Dum fugiunt alios, alios labuntur in hostes. Nusquam deest hostis, nusquam perimensque cadensque.

170

138 phalanges PV; falanges C.

141 caute CP; tacite V: ad hoc PV; adhuc C.

145

150

160

165

145 fretus ad

regis PV; regis adfretus C. 147 sum CPV (suprascript in V). 151 in PV; om. C: reliqui PV; relinqui C. 155 perempti CP; peremti V. 161 cum CP; dum V: tentoria CP; temptoria V. 162 leniter my emendation (cf. Historia Regum Britannie, $13); leuiter CPV. 163 tentoria CP; temptoria V. 164 Optatum CV; Obtatum P. 165 perenni V; perhenni CP. 166 nefasque CV; nephasque P. 167 ensi PV; ensis C. 173 n usquam CV; numquam P.

10

BOOK I

delay in aiding them. On hearing this, Brutus, because he does not have sufficiently large forces to engage in open combat against the king, decides to attack the enemy with circumspection by night, but to this end he needs the help of a Greek. He therefore summons Anacletus. [$12] With him he makes an agreement of peace; they mutually bind them-

selves with a bond of faith. After they have kissed each other, Anacletus, in accordance with Brutus’s plan, hastens stealthily at almost the middle of the night to the king’s camp and hails the guards. They ask who he is and where he comes from. ‘I am,’ he replies, ‘Antigonus’s dearest comrade; I come from Brutus’s prison. I have brought my comrade Antigonus with me from the prison. But he was not able to come this far, weighed down by his chains; I left him concealed in a wooded valley.’ The guards recognise Anacletus and he is believed. They come to the valley, where Brutus and a Trojan force are hidden. The guards are not allowed to guard longer that night, for they die a swift death. After killing them, Brutus marches to the siege; his men muffle their foot-falls and the sounds of their voices. He wisely divides his troops into three divisions, alloting to each its place of attack. Speaking out, he forbids them to engage the enemy until he gives a trumpet-signal on reaching the king’s tent. [$13] The Trojans nimbly infiltrate the camp. When he reaches the king's tent, Brutus gives the signal his companions long for. The enemy are awakened by the sword, which forces them to sleep the sleep of eternity. No one spares the sword; everything both right and wrong is in its power. One man's hand is cut off, another's foot. A tide of blood flows; those whom a wounding blow has felled are drowned in gore, so breathing their last in a double death. Others are awakened from sleep by the groans of the dying; their amazement takes away their wits and, while they flee one group of the enemy, they fall into the clutches of another. The enemy are everywhere, everywhere slaughterers and slaugh-

11

LIBER I

[$14]

Frustra sepe secant in frusta cadauera; mortem Ictibus inuitant repetitis, que uenit ultro. Inclusi, quos rex obsederat, ocius aura Se simul excludunt. Stragem, que magna uidetur, Maiorem faciunt. Minus hic reputatur iniquus Interfectorum qui plures reddit aceruos. Hunc, si quis gladios euaserat, obruit amnis. At Brutus regem seruat, quem uiuere mauult Quam perimi gladio; processu temporis illum, Qui nunc est hostis, fieri sibi credit amicum. Lucifero retegente diem nocturna ruina Magna patet. Brutus interne gaudia mentis Uix recipit. Gazas Grecorum precipit eque Distribui sociis; sua porcio cuique uidetur Iusta. Iubet tumulis spoliata cadauera tradi. Hiis actis multo castellum milite munit Et repetit nemorum cum capto rege latebras. Maiores natu dux conuocat et quid agendum Sit de rege rogat. Pars est que iudicat illum Esse reum mortis. Dicit pars altera: *Partem Regni rex aliquam nobis assignet habendam." Tercia pars censet magis utile posse reuerti In patriam; causas pars inuenit omnis honestas. Diuersis diuersa placent, cum nobilis astat Membricius sociisque suis dubitantibus inquit: *Quis uestrum nisi mentis inops habitaret in uno Regno cum Grecis? Nullo morientur in euo Hesterne noctis preconia, tristia Grecis, Dulcia Troianis: ex hoc contentio surget Inter nos et eos nec eis obsistere multis Sufficimus pauci; quociens miseranda suorum Fata patrum recolent, tociens seuire parabunt In sibi suspectam sobolem; nec finis eorum

175

180

185

190

195

200

205

Rancori dabitur donec plenaria fiet Ulcio de nostris et cedes cede luatur. Sanius est igitur quod maior filia regis Innogenta duci coniunx a rege petatur.

210

174 in frusta P; frustra in C; in frustra V. 176 obsederat PV; obsedant C: ocius P; occius CV. 177 Stragem que CPV (corrected from Stragemque in V): uidetur PV; uideri C. 178 Minus

CP; Unus V. 180 Hunc PV; Nunc C: euaserat CP; euasit V: amnis V; armis C; ampnis P. 183 amicum PV; amicus C. 184 ruina CPV (corrected from diurna in C). 194 assignet PV;

designet C. 196 pars CPV (preceded by deleted quas in C). 197 cum PV; tum C. 198 Membricius PV; Menbricius C. 201 Hesterne PV (corrected from Esterne in V); Externe C.

210 Innogenta PV; Ennogenta C.

12

BOOK I

tered. Often they needlessly hack the bodies to bits and summon with repeated blows a death which comes immediately. The besieged, penned in by the king, also break out, swifter than the wind, and make the carnage, which seems great, even greater. He who makes the heaps of dead higher is thought the more worthy. And if anyone escapes their swords, he is drowned in the river. [$14] Brutus, however, spares the king, whom he prefers to live than to die by the sword; for he believes that in the passage of time his present enemy can become his friend. When the morning-star reveals the day, the great carnage of the night is plain. Brutus can hardly contain the joy within his mind. He orders that the treasures of the Greeks be divided equally among his companions; each man’s portion seems just. He also commands that the bodies be stripped and given burial. This done, he garrisons the castle with many soldiers and retires with the captured king to his hiding-place in the woods. Brutus summons his elders and asks what should be done with the king. Some judge that he deserves death. Another group says: “Let the king assign a part of his kingdom to our possession.' A third party thinks that it would be more profitable to be able to return to their native land. Each group presents good arguments. Different plans find different supporters, until noble Membricius arises and says to his uncertain companions: ‘Which among you except a madman would live in the same kingdom as the Greeks? The fame of the past night will live on in every age, sweet to Trojan ears, hateful to Greek: because of this there will be rivalry between us and them, nor will our small numbers be able to resist their multitudes; whenever they recall the sad deaths of their fathers, they will make ready to attack our offspring, whom they count as their foes; nor will there be an end to their bitterness until their revenge on our race is complete and slaughter is repayed by slaughter. The safer course, therefore, is to ask the king for his elder daughter Innogenta as a bride for our leader. He will giveus silver and

13

LIBER I

Conferet argentum nobis et conferet aurum

Innumerasque rates et cetera congrua classi. Inde manu forti terram queremus habendam." [$15]

Omnibus ista placet sentencia. Pandrasus illam

Approbat; Innogenta duci conceditur uxor; Naues ter centum uinginti quatuor, auro, Argento, uino, farris speciebus honuste Presentantur eis et cetera commoda nautis. Omnibus hiis sumptis rex est a carcere liber. Ascendunt naues et dant sua lintea uentis. At noua nupta sui ducis inter brachia summa Stans in pupe, suam patriam carosque parentes

215

220

Destituens, spectat terras (et Pandrasus equor).

[$16]

*Me miseram, quid id est? Pater, o pater, auferor.' inquit, *Efferor, ut dicam ueracius. Est michi latum Pro tumulo pelagus; Syrtes michi fata minantur; Predulci me uoce uocant Syrenes; edendam Scilla suis canibus promittit ferre frequenter. Exequias uiue, si recte uita uocari Talis uita potest que peior morte uidetur, Exequias uobis facio; sum mortua uobis, Uosque michi. Lugens nubo; dotata maritor Exilio uitaue breui. Cur matris in aluo Non perii? Pereo monstris seruata marinis." Sic fatur; sed uocis iter singultus et orte Impediunt lacrime, mens effugit et color oris. Uires destituunt corpus; conlabitur amens Coniugis in gremio. Nec uerba minancia dicit Nec demulcet eam Brutus nec basia nectit Donec post lacrimas et sompnum nouerit egram Tractandam melius et uerbis dulcibus aptam. Interea classis uento deducta secundo Post maris ingressum transacta luce secunda

14

225

230

235

240

BOOK I

gold, countless ships, and everything necessary for a fleet. Then with strong forces we will seek a land to occupy.’ [815] This suggestion pleases all. It is approved by Pandrasus and Innogenta is given to Brutus as a bride. Three hundred and twenty-four ships, laden with gold, silver, wine, varieties of corn, and everything else suitable for sailors, are handed over to them. When all is received, the king is freed from prison. They

board the ships and spread their sails to the wind. But the new bride stands on the high stern in Brutus’s arms. As she leaves her country and her dear parents, she stares at the land — and Pandrasus at the sea. ‘Alas! What is this?’ she says, ‘Father, o father, I am being carried off, or, to speak more truly, I am being carried out for burial. The wide sea serves for my tomb; the shallows of the Syrtes threaten my destruction; the Sirens call me with their sweet voices; Scylla promises her dogs that she will repeatedly offer me to them as a meal. I pay to you the last rites of a living woman, if a life which seems worse than death can rightly be called life; I am dead to you, and you to me. I marry in sorrow; I am wed, and exile or a short life is my dowry. Why did I not perish in my mother's womb? I die reserved as prey for sea-monsters.' So she speaks; but her sighs and welling tears stop the passage of her voice, and her spirit and the colour of her

face drains away; her strength leaves her and she faints on her husband's bosom. Brutus neither speaks threatening words, nor soothes, nor kisses her until he sees that after her tears and sleep the troubled girl can better be addressed and is ripe for consoling words. [816] Meanwhile the fleet, borne by a following wind, at the end of the

15

LIBER I

Applicat ad terram quam circuit undique pontus. Est nomen terre Loegencia, gentibus olim, Nunc habitata feris. Armatos destinat illuc Brutus ut explorent si gens habitaret in illa. Nulla uident hominum uestigia; sola ferarum Signa patent. Passim discurrunt; denique muros Inueniunt urbis quam deleuere pyrate. Conspiciunt in ea delubra uetusta Diane, (Credere si fas est) ubi dat responsa petenti. Hiis uisis discedunt inde ferasque ferentes Diuersi generis redeunt ad litus honusti. Uisa duci referunt. Dux cum senioribus urbem Et delubra petit. Gerio comitatur euntes, Doctus in augurio. Uestitus sindone Brutus More suo niueis cingit sua timpora uittis. Edis in ingressu tres aras construit: unam Mercurio, mediamque Ioui, dextramque Diane. Sacrificat bouis exta Ioui, cerueque Diane, Mercurioque canis; tribus hiis tria numina placat. Et noua uota facit et uerba precancia dicit. Ante dee statuam stans tollit ad ethera uultum Et plenum uino mixto cum sanguine cerue In dextra cratera tenens hec uerba profatur: *Diua triplex, cui sunt Proserpina, Luna, Diana, Nomina, claustra Stigis penetras, preclara refulges In celo, iaculo nemorum grassaris in apros. Presens, preteritum circumspicis atque futurum: Dic dea que michi sit tellus habitanda meisque. Illic templa tibi statuam, te semper habebo Pre cunctis gratam, pre cunctis te uenerabor.’ Hiis nouies dictis Triuie ter circuit aram Quodque tenet dextra uinum diffundit in ignes. Iamque super pellem cerue iacet. Eripit illum Dulcis sompnus et — est tempus quasi tercia noctis Hora — uenire deam uisum est ac talia fari:

245

250

255

260

265

270

215

244 Applicat PV; Aplicat C. 245 Loegencia CP; Loegecia V. 250 Inueniunt CV; Inspiciunt P: pyrate CP; pirate V. 251 Diane PV; Dyane (corrected from Dyana) C. 253 ferentes CPV (corrected from ferendas in C). 256 petit V; petunt CP: comitatur CP (corrected from comitantur in P); commitantur V. 257 sindone PV; syndone C. 258 niueis CP; neueis V: timpora CP; tympera V: uittis PV; uictis C. 260 dextramque Diane PV; cerue et Dyane dextramque Dyane (sic) C. 261 Sacrificat PV; Significat C: exta P; esta CV: cerueque PV; cerue et C. 264 dicit CV; dixit P. 266 cratera PV; cratheraC. 267 Diana PV; Dyana C. 268 penetras PV; penetrans C: refulges PV, refulgens C. 269 grassaris CV; gradiaris P. a Dances Vi circonspicit C; tu conspicis P. 275 Quodque PV; Queque C. 278 ac sab

16

BOOK I

second day after setting sail reaches a land surrounded by the sea. It is called Loegencia, once the home of men, now of wild beasts. Brutus sends thither armed men to discover if people live there. They find no trace of men; evidence of beasts alone is to be seen. They explore everywhere and finally find the walls of a city destroyed by pirates. In it they see an ancient temple of Diana, where — if we may so believe — she gives answers to those who consult her. Having seen this, they depart from the place and, carrying beasts of various species, return

laden to the shore. They report their discoveries to their leader. Brutus and his elders set out for the town and the temple, and are accompanied in their journey by Gerio, a skilled augur. Wearing a holy robe, Brutus binds his brow with snow-white fillets according to his custom. At the entrance to the shrine he builds three altars, one to Mercury, another in the middle to Jupiter, and one on the right to Diana. He sacrifices the entrails of an ox to Jupiter, of a hind to Diana, and of a dog to Mercury; with these three gifts he placates the three deities. He makes new prayers and speaks words of entreaty. Standing before the statue of the goddess, he lifts his face to heaven and, holding in his right hand a goblet full of wine mixed with the blood of the hind, he says these words: *Threefold goddess, whose names are Proserpina, the Moon, and Diana, you enter the prisons of the Styx, you shine bright in the sky, and with your javelin you hunt boar in the woods. You survey the present, the past, and the future: tell, goddess, what land I and my followers are to live in. There I shall erect temples to you, always consider you propitious above all others, and worship you above all others.' Saying this nine times, he circles Trivia's altar thrice and pours the wine which he holds in his right hand upon the flames. Then he lies on the skin of the hind. He falls into a sweet slumber and, when it is around the third hour of the night, it seems that the goddess appears and speaks

17

LIBER I

[$17]

*Brute, sub occasu solis trans Gallica regna Insula uasta iacet habitata gigantibus olim, Nunc deserta quidem, quas ducis gentibus apta. Huic terre tua iura dabis, te rege regetur. Regnabit post te tua proles; exiet inde Illustris toto rex qui regnabit in orbe." Excitat a sompno quam uidit uisio Brutum. Miratur uisis dubitansque retractat apud se An uerus sompnus fuerat uel uisio uera. Cuncta suis narrat sociis ex ordine. Gaudent Auditis socii; surgunt repetuntque carinas. Carbasa dant uentis. Decies tribus alta diebus Equora classis arat. Demum patet Affrica nautis. Inde Salinarum petitur lacus; inde secatur Inter Rusicadam Zareamque fretum. Sed ibidem Insurgunt in eos nimia feritate pirate. Quos tamen Hectorei superant; ditantur eorum Diuiciis, abeunt, Malueque fluenta relinqunt. Ad Mauros ueniunt; illic potusque cibique Deffectus cogit illos inuadere Mauros. Deuastant totam patriam. Discedit honusta Classis; ad Herculeas tendit festiua Columpnas. Uix ea Syrenes euadens intrat in equor Tirrenum. Troes illic prope litora plures Inueniunt Troas habitantes. Duxerat illuc Antenor secum fugiens incendia Troie Innumeros de gente sua; qui tempus ad istud Creuerunt numero. Corineus dux presidet illis. Cui sensu, forma, uel uiribus equiperari Nemo potest; si quem manibus tenet ille gygantem, Acsi cum puero contendat, suffocat illum. Hunc habuit Brutus semper, dum uixit, in omni Conflictu socium. Patrie commercia lingue Hos et eos audita iuuant et gentis origo; Sese conciues seseque fatentur amicos.

280

285

290

295

300

305

310

Litoribus domibusque suis ortisque relictis

283 PV only; om. C. 287 uel PV; autC. 290 decies CP; dicies V. 291 classis CP; clasis V. 292 inde secatur P; exiit inde CV. 293 Inter Rusicadam P; Inter Uisitadam C; Ad uisitandam

V: Zareamque CP; Zareeque V. 294 pirate PV; pyrate C... 301 Syrenes CP; Sirenes V.

Tirrenum CP; Turrenum V: litora PV; littora C.

CP; precipit (tampere d?) V.

tem C.

307 equiperari PV; equipperari C.

310 uixit CP; uiuit V. 313 seseque PV; sese C.

18

302

306 Creu erunt PV; Conueniunt C: presidet

308 gygantem PV; gigan-

314 Litoribus V; Littoribus CP.

BOOK I

as follows: ‘Brutus, beneath the setting sun, beyond the kingdom of Gaul, there lies an empty island, once the home of giants, but now deserted and ready for the people whom you lead. To this land you will give your laws, and you will rule it as king. Your descendants will reign after you; and from there will issue a famous king who will reign over the whole world.' The vision which Brutus sees

wakes him from sleep. Amazed at what he has seen, he doubtfully considers to himself whether this was really sleep or a true vision. [$17] He repeats everything in order to his companions; rejoicing at what they hear, they arise and return to the ships. They spread their sails to the wind. For thirty days the fleet ploughs the high seas. At last the sailors see Africa. From there they set their course for the lake of Saline, and then navigate the straits between Rusicada and Zarea. There they are attacked by most ferocious pirates, but the descendants of Hector overcome them and are enriched by their wealth. Leaving behind the river Malva, they reach the land of the Moors, where, short of food and drink, they are forced to attack the inhabitants. They lay the whole country waste. The fleet departs laden, and sails rejoicing towards the Pillars of Hercules. Barely escaping from the Sirens, it enters the Tyrrhenian ocean. There the Trojans discover more Trojans living by the shore. Antenor, when he fled the fires of Troy, had led there many of his nation, and they had

increased in number up to that time. Their leader was Corineus, incomparable in intelligence, appearance, and strength; if he came to grips with any giant, he overwhelmed him as if he was fighting with a child. As long as he lived, Brutus took him as his companion in every battle. Both parties rejoice to hear their shared native language and common origin, and confess themselves to be fellow-citizens and friends. Leaving their shore, their homes and gardens,

19

LIBER I

Dux cum gente sua Brutum comitatur euntem.

[818]

Inde per inmensum mare currens Troica classis Intrat in os Ligeris, per quod descendit in equor. Noctibus hic septem remanent totidemque diebus. A dextris iacet hiis Aquitania. Rex regit illam Gofforius Pictus, a quo Pictauia dicta est. Aduentus ergo causas alienigenarum Rex iubet inquiri: pacem bellumue requirant. Regis legatis Corineus dux obuiat, apros Insectans aliasque feras in montibus altis. Missorum primus Hymbertus nomine clamat: *O stolidi miserique uiri mortique propinqui, Que uos in saltus regis dementia duxit? Numquid non constat uobis in saltibus istis Uenari uetitum sine mandato speciali Regis?' Ad hoc placide dux excipiens ait illi: *Lex ueterum commune facit genus omne ferarum; Sic hic nulla tuo facta est iniuria regi.’ Hymbertus replicat utens pro lege sagitta, Que penetrasset eum nisi se flexisset ab ictu. Dux triplicans concludit ei non lege; sed arcu, Quem tenet in dextra, frangit caput eius eumque Destinat ad Stigios. Hymberti fata uidentes Diffugiunt comites et narrant omnia regi. Rex stupet audita famuli nece. Conuocat ergo Miliciam regni. Ligeris petit hostia, mortem Hymberti cupiens ulcisci cede nocentum. Brutus ut aduentum regis prope nouit adesse, In bene munitis pueros simul et mulieres Nauibus includit et secum ducit in hostes Electos de gente sua. Certamine iuncto Inter Pictauos et Troas regnat Erinis. Aggreditur Brutus Pictum Pictusque resistit. Ceditur et cedit pars utraque; cedere parti

315

320

325

330

335

340

345

315 comitatur PV; commitatur C. 318 septem PV; .vii. C... 323 legatis PV; legatus C. 325 Hymbertus PV; HibertusC. 328 Numquid PV; Numquit C. 330 excipiens PV; concipiens C. 331 omne CV; esse P. 332 nulla tuo facta PV; facta tuo nulla C: est CPV (suprascript in V). 333 Hymbertus PV; Hibertus C: utens CPV (suprascript in V). 335 triplicans PV; duplicans C: ei PV; eun C. 337 Hymberti PV; Hiberti C. 341 Hymberti PV; HibertiC. 345 iuncto PV; iuncta (altered from iunctam) C.

347 Pictusque PV; Pictisque C.

346 Troas PV; Troes C: Erinis P; Erenis C; Herinis V.

20

BOOK I

Corineus and his people join Brutus in his voyage. Sailing on over the vast ocean, the Trojan fleet enters the mouth of the Loire, where the river flows into the sea. They remain there for seven days and nights. [$18] To their right lies Aquitaine. It is ruled by King Gofforius, a Pict, after whom Poitou was named. The king commands that the reasons for the strangers' arrival be sought out, and whether they intend peace or war. Corineus meets the king's messengers while he is hunting boar and other wild beasts in the high mountains. The leader of the messengers, called Hymbertus, shouts out: ‘Foolish, wretched men, your end is near! What madness has drawn you to the king's glades? Do you not know that it is forbidden to hunt in these glades without the express permission of the king?' Receiving these words calmly, Corineus says to him: ‘The law of the ancients makes all wild beasts common property; and so your king has not been slighted in this affair.' Rather than making a legitimate reply, Hymbertus fires an arrow, which would have

wounded Corineus had he not avoided its blow. Corineus replies in turn and finishes with him, not by law but by smashing his head with the bow from Hymbertus's right hand and despatching him to the ghosts in Hell. On witnessing Hymbertus's death, his companions flee and tell all to the king. Amazed by the news of his servant's killing, the king summons the soldiers of his kingdom and marches towards the mouth of the Loire, wishing to avenge Hymbertus's death by slaughtering the guilty men. When he realizes that the arrival of the king is imminent, Brutus places the women and children in the safe protection of the ships and leads the pick of his people with him against the enemy. As battle is joined between the Trojans and the men of Poitou, the Fury rages. Brutus attacks the Pict, and the Pict resists. Each side strikes and is struck in .

21

LIBER I

Altera pars nescit, donec torrentis adinstar

350

Qui de monte cadit, horrendo turbine mentis Irate ductus, sua ducens agmina secum,

[$19]

In dextro cornu Corineus certaminis intrat. Ut lupus inter oues rapit has et dissipat illas, Utque leo sedare uolens ieiunia uisum Fertur in armentum: sic dux se mittit in hostes. Hostibus in mediis frendens quemcumque bipenni Quam tenet assequitur, diuisum in tartara trudit. Miratur Brutus, socii mirantur et hostes Unum posse uirum tot milia tradere morti. Dant hostes sua terga fuge; fugat hic fugientes. *Proh pudor! Ignaui, quo uos timor eripit?' inquit, *Quo fuga uos retrahit? Stantes contendite mecum. Uos tamen excuso uestrumque minoro pudorem; Nam mea uos terret uirtus, que sepe gigantes Tirrenos domuit, quos ternos atque quaternos Ad Stiga direxit.' Comes hec ad uerba Suhardus Stans cum militibus ter centum milibus ipsum Impetit ense ducem. Comitis dux suscipit ictum In clipeo, securus eo, tollensque bipennem Aggreditur comitem; cuius galeamque caputque Et totum corpus medium secat. Hinc reliquorum Corruit in turbam. Callis qui ducit ad Orcum, Quamuis sit latus, strictus tamen esse uidetur Hiis quos occidit Corineus; qui solus in omnes Currit et incurrit exercitus omnis in unum. Brutus ut hec uidit, partem festinat in illam. Tunc ingens oritur clamor, tunc magnus ad astra It fragor armorum, tunc indicat utraque turba Quid queat. Alta ruit diffusi sanguinis unda. Ignoratur cui parti uictoria cedat, Sed tandem sua terga fuge prebent Aquitani. Rex uix euadens cedem cum parte suorum Gallica regna petit ut ibi notos et amicos Postulet auxilium. Bis sex tunc temporis illic Regnabant reges, sine murmure regna regentes Quisque suum. Regem reges uenerantur et omnes

355

360

365

370

375

380

385

354 Utque CV; Ut (with qui added after leo) P: uisum PV; uisu C.

355 CPV; in C, lines

Suhardus CP; Sudardus V.

368 ense PV; ante C.

359-60 appear after 355 (as well as in their proper place) with the note uacat. 357 quam PV; quem C. 361 Pro CP; Proth V. 362 Quo CP; Que V. 365 quaternos PV; cateruos C. 366 367 ter centum P; ter cc. C; trecentum V.

370 Aggreditur PV; Agreditur C: caputque C; capudque PV. 372 Orcum PV; ortum C. exercitus CPV (preceded by deleted ad in C). 376 uidit CV; audit P. 378 It PV; FitC.

Aquitani PV; Aquitanni C.

22

375 381

BOOK I

turn; neither side will yield to the other, until, like a torrent which falls from a mountain, Corineus, led by the terrible passion of his angry mind, takes his troops and enters the battle on the right wing. He hurls himself on the enemy like a wolf upon sheep, which snatches some and tears others to pieces, or as a lion falls on the herd which it sees when it wishes to slake its hunger. Roaring amid the enemy, Corineus cleaves in twain everyone whom he attacks with the axe which he holds, and thrusts them down to Hell. That a single man can put so many thousands to death amazes Brutus, his companions, and the enemy. They turn their backs in flight, and he pursues them as they flee. ‘For shame!’ he shouts, *Cowards, where is your fear taking you? Whither are you fleeing? Make a stand and fight against me. Yet I excuse you and count your shame the less: for you are terrified by my courage, which has often mastered Tyrrhenian giants and sent them to Hell by threes and fours.' At these words, Count Suhardus takes a stand with three hundred thousand soldiers and attacks him with his sword. Corineus takes the count's blow on his shield, which protects him; then he lifts his axe, attacks the count, and splits his helmet, his head, and his body down the middle. Afterwards he falls on the rest of the crowd. Although the path that leads to Hell is broad, it seems crowded to those killed by Corineus. Single-handed, he rushes against all, and the whole army rushes on him. Seeing this, Brutus hurries to that sector. Then a huge shout goes up, a great crash of arms rises to the stars, and each party shows what it can do. The river of spilt blood runs deep. It is uncertain to which side the victory will go until at last the Aquitanians turn their backs in flight. [819] The king, who barely escapes the slaughter with a few of his men, goes to the kingdoms of Gaul to seek the aid of his friends and allies. At that time twelve kings ruled there, each holding his kingdom without complaint. These

23

LIBER I

Eius in auxilium deuota mente feruntur. At Brutus socios spoliis condonat adeptis. Inde cito cursu regionem uastat eandem. Depopulatur agros, uillas incendit et urbes.

390

Plebs cum ciue cadit; perit omnis sexus et etas Et genus et species preter uolucresque ferasque Et si quam sibi uim mater natura reseruat. Totius regni ferrum dominatur et ignis. Effodiuntur opes; animalia, farra feruntur Ad naues. Brutus post hec incendia castra Est sua metatus illic ubi dicitur esse Nobilis urbs Turonis. Fossatis circuit illa, Ut, nisi Gofforii regumque resistere possit Impetui, quos cum turmis prope constat adesse, Se defendat ibi, ualli munimine tutus.

[$20]

395

9

Gofforius noua castra uidens, 'Proh Iupiter!’ inquit, *Quis deus exulibus nostris ostendit in horis Condere castellum? Satrape, prosternite uallum; Ducite semimares aut cesos tradite morti." Armantur Galli uelociter, arma capescunt Troiani cicius; pars utraque tendit ad illum Conflictus campum. Sua spes utrique triumphum Promittit parti, sed non manet exitus idem Omnes. In Gallos concurrunt agmina Bruti, Incurrunt in eum Galli. Uictoria nescit Cui parti faueat, dum Mars sua tela ministrat. In primo belli conflictu Troica turba Preualet agminibus regis; duo milia morti Gallorum data sunt. Crescunt tamen agmina regis, Decrescunt Troes, quamuis maiore prematur Gallica clade cohors et Troica turba minore. Regis in auxilium concurrunt undique Galli; Quod dux prospiciens socios in castra reducit. Incurrunt in eos toto conamine Galli.

405

410

415

420

Se bene defendunt infra munimina ualli Dardanii iuuenes, lapides et preuia mortis Spicula mittentes in eos et mille sagittas.

388 adeptis P; ademptis C; adenptis V. CP; om. V.

390 Depopulatur PV; Depopulantur C.

395 animalia PV; assalia C.

391 cadit

399 Ut CV; Et P: nisi CP; ibi V: regumque

resistere possit PV; posuitque resitere regum C. 400 turmis CV; Turonis P. 401 defendat PV; deffendat C. 402 Pro CP; Proth V. 403 lupiter V; Iubiter C; Iuppiter P. 404 ostendit

CV; est ausus P. 409 Promittit PV; Promittunt C: idem PV;eiusC |419—-21 PV; in C, lines 419-20 follow line 421. 419 reducit PV; reduxit C. 420 conamine P; cognamine CV. 421 defendunt P; deffendunt CN. 422 mortis CV; morti P.

24

BOOK I

kings honour Gofforius and all with committed minds join to help him. Brutus gives his companions the spoils which they have taken. Then, marching swiftly, he lays the country waste, destroying fields, burning villages and towns. Common people and citizens fall alike. Every age, sex, type, and species perishes, save birds and wild beasts and whatever power Mother Nature keeps in reserve. The whole kingdom is given over to fire and sword. Riches are dug up, animals and corn carried to the ships. After these conflagrations, Brutus sets up camp where the noble city of Tours is said to stand. He surrounds the camp with ditches so that, should he not be able to repel the attack of Gofforius and the kings, who are known to be approaching with their troops, he can defend himself there, safe behind the protection of the ramparts. [$20] At the sight of the new camp, Gofforius says: ‘By Jupiter! What deity has guided these exiles to build a castle on our shores? Governors, throw down the rampart! Carry off these effeminates, or slaughter them and put them to death!’ The Gauls arm themselves swiftly, but the Trojans take up their weapons with greater speed; each side marches to the plain of battle. The hopes of both sides promise them victory, but the same fate does not await them all. Brutus’s troops rush against the Gauls, the Gauls rush against him. Victory is unsure which party to favour while Mars supplies his weapons. In the first clash of arms the Trojan band overcomes the king’s troops; two thousand Gauls are killed. However, the king’s ranks are filled up, while the Trojans are depleted in number, even though greater casualties are inflicted on the Gallic army and lesser on the Trojan troops. The Gauls rush from all sides to the king’s aid. Seeing this, Brutus leads his men back to camp. The Gauls attack them with all their might. The Trojan youths defend themselves skilfully behind the protection of the rampart, showering the enemy with stones, javelins which presage

25

LIBER I

In nemus adducens secum tria milia Troum Exit de castris Corineus de nocte latenter. At Brutus, cum iam cepit clarere diei Aurea lux, reserat firmata repagula ualli. Egrediens Troiana cohors se mittit in hostes. Insurgunt in eam Galli: Mars morsque propinquant. Spicula mille uolant, obnubunt mille sagitte Aera, mille simul haste franguntur utrinque; Mille cadunt proceres, sternuntur mille clientes. Occiditur Turnus, de cuius nomine clarum Nomen habet Turonis; quo nec formosior alter Uel probitate prior uel Bruto carior istud Uenerat ad bellum preter mirabile corpus Inuicti Corinei, qui, quanto Lucifer astra Et sol Luciferum, tanto supereminet omnes. Dum dubitat Mauors cui parti pareat impar, Apparet Corineus. Gallos nil tale timentes Occupat a tergo; sternit sternuntque cohortes, Que comitantur eum, Gallos in terga, gerentes In Brutum uultus. Illis audacia crescit Qui stant cum Bruto. Galli nec retro nec ante Cede carent. Cedunt; cedentes Troica cedit Ense cohors nec cessat eos diuersa petentes Usque sequi donec Bruto uictoria cedit. Dux igitur quamuis feliciter accidit illi, Corde tamen teritur quoniam decrescere Troas, Augeri semper Gallos uidet. Eligit ergo Utiliusque putat extranea regna relinqui Promissamque sibi terram per lata requiri Equora. Troianis placet hec sententia. Naues

Confestim repetunt et eas ingentibus implent Diuiciis. Uentis dant lintea. Terra petita

[$21]

425

430

435

445

450

455

Quinta deinde die Frigiis patet; in Totonesi Litore constituunt; infigitur anchora terre. Omnes exsultant, omnes loca grata salutant.

424 adducens CV; educens P: Troum CV; Troium P. 425 PV only; om. C. 428 mittit PV; mittat C. 429 propinquant PV; propinquat C. 433 clarum PV; clarus C. 434 Nomen PV;

Nec probitate caret Nomen (sic) C.

435 Uel PV; Nec C.

437 quanto CP; tanto V.

446

cessat PV; cesat C. 449 Troas CV; Troias P. 450 semper Gallos PV; Gallos semper C. 451-504 PV only; the end of Book I and the beginning of Book II (lines 1—93) are wanting in C because of the loss of two folios between fos 7v and 8r. 456 Quinta P; Quarta V: patet V; paret P. 457 Litore V; Littore P: infigitur P; infingitur V.

26

BOOK I

death, and a thousand arrows. That night Corineus stealthily leaves the camp, taking three thousand Trojans into the woods. When the golden light of day begins to shine, Brutus opens the closed gates of the rampart and the Trojan army sallies forth to assault the enemy; the Gauls attack them. War and death are at hand. A thousand javelins fly, a thousand arrows blot out the sky, a thousand lances are broken together on both sides; a thousand nobles fall, a thousand subjects are laid low. Turnus, from whom Tours derives its famous name, is killed; no one more handsome, of better character, or more dear to Brutus had engaged in that struggle save for Corineus, unvanquished in his admirable strength of body, who outshone all as the morning-star outshines the stars of night, and the sun the morning star. While Mars is uncertain to which side he should show favour, Corineus appears. He attacks the Gauls, who have no such fears, from behind. He and the troops who accompany him deal blows at the backs of the Gauls, while Brutus is before their faces. Those around Brutus grow more bold. The Gauls are slaughtered from in front and behind. They fall back and, as they do so, the Trojan troops cut them down with the sword; nor do they cease from pressing the scattered enemy in pursuit until Brutus gains the victory. Although all has gone well for him, Brutus’s heart is troubled because he sees that the Trojans are constantly decreasing, and the Gauls increasing, in numbers. He therefore decides and thinks it better to leave the foreign kingdom and to seek out on the wide sea the land promised to him. The Trojans are pleased by his decision. Immediately they return to the ships and load them with their great wealth. They spread their sails to the wind. On the fifth day the Phrygians see the land they seek; they land on the shore at Totnes and their anchors are fixed in the soil. [§21] All rejoice, all greet the welcome land and give thanks to Diana. They

27

LIBERI

Grates dant Triuie. De nauibus egrediuntur. Terra uiris nemorosa placet; piscosa fluenta Cernere delectat. Tunc temporis Albion huic Nomen erat terre: nunc dicta Britannia Maior. Illustrant faciem terre sed nulla uirorum Facta uident nullosque uiros, nisi forte gigantes Paucos, qui fugiunt illos adeuntque cauernas. Inde nouus regnum sociis rex diuidit eque, Cuique suam tribuens sortem. Castella domosque Edificant. Miratur humus se uomere lesam, Semine se grauidam, se fetam germine, messe Se canam subito. Tamen est in tempore paruo Dedita culture, quasi sic ab origine mundi Culta foret. Nomen populi terreque nouatur; A Bruto Britones dicuntur siue Britanni Nomine corrupto. Corineo concedit habendam Cornubiam nomenque suum sortitur ab illo. Plaga duci placet hec quoniam prouincia nulla De cunctis aliis tot habet quot et illa gigantes. Inter quos unus, cuius nomen Geomagus, Horridus est fortisque gygas, bis sex cubitorum Corpore; si quercum semel excutit, obruit illam. Ille ducem sociosque ducis diis sacrificantes Inuadit; comitatur eum fera turba gygantum Uinginti. Cedunt crudeli cede Britannos. Undique concurrunt Britones subiteque gygantes

460

465

470

475

480

Omnes dant morti preter solum Geomagum;

485

Quem sibi seruari Corineus iubet ut probet eius Uires luctando. Mirabile prouocat ipse Ad luctam monstrum. Lucte certamen uterque Letus adit. Nacti circum certaminis astant, Hinc dux, inde gygas. Collidunt pectore pectus,

490

Frontem fronte; sibi circumdant brachia; nectnt

Sese. Conatur hic illum sternere; nullus Excedit, nullus cedit; par cum pare certe Certat in incertum. Crebris afflatibus oris Et nimio sudore probant non posse duellum

461 Cernere V; Cernens P: Albion V; Albyon P: huic P; huius V. 464 uident P; uidet V. V only; line omitted from P. 471 ab PV (bis in V with second occurence deleted).

495

465 472

nouatur PV (corrected from nouantur in V). 477 gigantes P; gygantes V. 480 semel PV (corrected from simul in V). 484 subiteque P; subitoque V. 485 Geomagum P; Goemagum V. 487 ipse P; ille V. 489 circum V; certam P. 490 gygas P; om. V (with gygas in margin). 491 Nectunt my emendation; Nectant PV. 493-4 certe / Certat P; certat. | Credit V. 495 Et

28

BOOK I

leave the ships. The wooded country pleases the men, and they delight to see the rivers full of fish. At that time this land was called Albion, but now it is called Greater Britain. They scour the face of the country but find no trace of man’s activity nor any men, except a few giants who flee from them and return to their caves. Then the new king divides his kingdom fairly among his companions, giving each his lot. They build castles and houses. The soil is amazed to be cut by the plough, to be heavy with seed, to bring forth shoots, and be suddenly yellow with corn. However in a short time it is given over to cultivation as if it had been thus tended from the beginning of the world. The name of the people and the land is changed; after Brutus they are called Britones or, by a corruption of the name, Britanni. Upon Corineus is bestowed Cornwall, which takes its name from him. This region pleases Corineus because none of the other provinces has as many giants as it does. One of these, called Geomagus, is a fearful, strong giant, twelve cubits high; he has only to strike an oak tree to uproot it. Geomagus, accompanied by a fierce band of twenty giants, attacks Brutus and his followers while they are making a sacrifice to the gods. They subject the Britons to a cruel slaughter. Other Britons run up from all directions and put to a sudden death all the giants except Geomagus, whom Corineus orders be preserved so that he may try his strength in wrestling. He himself challenges the awesome monster to wrestle. Each gladly enters upon the wrestling bout. On reaching the ring for the struggle, they stand, Corineus on one side, the giant on the other. They clash breast to breast, forehead to forehead; they encircle each other in their arms and grapple. One tries to throw the other; neither triumphs, neither yields; sure that each has met his match, they struggle uncertainly. Their frequently panting mouths and flowing sweat show that the struggle cannot go

29

LIBER I

Stare diu; nec obruat utrum. Nec mora constrictus tota uirtute gygantis Tres costas Corineus sibi frangi percipit, unam In leuo dextroque duas. Succenditur ira; Inde suas uires reuocat tollitque gygantem In collo rupisque petit sublime cacumen. Excutit inde gygen et in altum proicit equor; Qui preceps in frusta cadit. Memorabile nomen Seruat adhuc rupis Geomagi precipitati.

500

496 : constat adhuc uter abruat : myy emendation; ; adhuc uter obruit (om. 3 constat) P ; constat ut sic obruat V. 498 Corineus sibi V; sibi Corineus P: percipit unam P; ea V. 499 In P Unam in V.

502 Excutit P; Excicit V.

503 frusta P; frustra V.

30

BOOK I

on long, but it is not yet clear which can overcome the other. Soon, gripped by the giant with all his strength, Corineus feels three of his ribs being broken, one on the left side and two on the right. He is consumed with anger; and so, summoning his strength, he lifts the giant on his shoulders and makes for the lofty summit of a cliff. From there he throws him, casting him into the deep sea. The giant, falling headlong, is dashed to pieces. The cliff’s name still commemorates Geomagus's fall.

31

Liber Secundus

Incipit secundus liber Lundonias claras condit, tria regna secundus Efficit ex uno. Succedit nupta marito, Filius huic. Frater fratrem laniat, lupus illum. Ebraucus regnat et Gallica regna lacessit.

Expulso patri regnum sua filia reddit. Ense sui fratris frater cadit, ille parentis. Quinque simul regnant. Regnat Domuallo peremptis Collegis; leges statuit pacemque reformat. Brennius in fratrem conuertit prelia; uictus Confugit ad Gallos. Ducis illi filia nubit.

[$22]

10

Hiis ita dispositis Brutus sibi construit urbem Appellatque Nouam ueteris de nomine Troiam; Quam Trinouantum successio nominat urbem Londoniasque uocant mutata uoce moderni.

[823]

Quam faciunt situs ipse loci placidusque Tamensis Prataque et arboribus circumdata litora gratam. Hanc amat, hanc cingit muris; hanc turribus altis Roborat, hanc decorat domibus templisque deorum. Assignatque suas sub certo federe sortes Ciuibus et condit leges pacemque fidemque Firmat et infirmat contraria. Premia iustis, Iniustis penas promittit et utraque soluit. Tunc in Iudea dabat Hely sacra sacerdos Atque Philistei seruabant federis archam. Pandrasidem Brutus cognouit progenuitque Locrinum, Kamber, Albanactum. Moderamen Regni pacifice uingenti quattuor annis Rexit. Tunc demum nature debita soluit, Inque Noua Troia, quam condiderat, tumulatur. Fratribus una tribus regio dissoluitur in tres Partes; Locrinus primam, Kamberque secundam, Albanactus habet primam mediamque sequentem. Locrini pars est Loegria, Kambria Kambri;

15

25

30

Book II, lines 1-93 are wanting in C. Rubric P; Prologus secundi libri V. 1 Lundonias P; Fundonias V.

4 Gallica P; Gaulica V.

7 Domuallo V; Donguallo P:

peremptis P; peremtis V. 11 No rubric in P; Incipit secundus liber V. 13 Trinouantum PV (corrected from Tronouantum in V). 14 Londoniasque P; Lundoniasque V. 16 litora V; littora P. 27 uingenti quattuor P; uinginti iii. V. 33 Loegria P; Loegerria V.

Sr

Book

II

The second book founds the famous city of London and makes three kingdoms out of one. A husband is succeeded by his wife, and she by her son. A brother tears his brother apart, but is similarly killed by a wolf. Ebraucus rules, and harries the kingdoms of Gaul. A daughter restores power to her father when he is driven out. A brother falls victim to his brother’s sword, and he to his mother’s. Five kings rule simultaneously. Having killed his colleagues, Donvallo reigns; he institutes laws and restores peace. Brennius makes war on his brother and flees defeated to the Gauls. The daughter of a duke is married to him. [822] Having made these arrangements, Brutus builds himself a city, which he names New Troy after the old; in time this city is called Trinovantum, while today it is known by the different name of London. It is made pleasant by its geographical setting and the leisurely Thames, with its meadows and banks surrounded by trees. Brutus loves this city, circles it with walls, strengthens it with high towers, decorates it with houses and temples to the gods. To its citizens he grants a lasting agreement of their rights; he institutes laws and promotes peace and order, while weakening their opposites. For the just he promises rewards, for the unjust punishment; and in either case he keeps his

promise. At that time the priest Eli was religious leader in Judea and the Philistines were in possession of the Ark of the Covenant. [823] By his union with the daughter of Pandrasus, Brutus becomes

the

father of Locrinus, Kamber, and Albanactus. He holds sway over the kingdom in peace for twenty-four years before finally paying his debt to nature. He is buried in New Troy, the city he had founded. For the sake of the three brothers the single land is divided into three parts: Locrinus has the first share, Kamber the second, Albanactus that which follows the first and second. Locrinus's portion is called Loegria, Kamber's Kambria, and Albanactus's Albania. Today, how-

33

LIBER II

Albanacti pars Albania dicitur. At nunc Demum Locrini pars Anglia, Uuallia Kambri, Est Albanacti pars Scotia.

[$24]

Tres tria regna Quisque suum sine lite tenent, sine fraude gubernant, Donec in Albanas partes rex applicat Humber. Albanactus ei cum multis obuiat. Humber Tradit eum morti. Fugiens Albana iuuentus Locrini deposcit opem. Locrinus in Humbrum Et Kamber ueniunt; committunt prelia partes. Pars Humbri dat terga fuge; que dum fugit ensem, Mergitur in fluuium. Submerso nomen ab Humbro Humber habet fluuius. Uictoribus omnia uicti Distribuit sociis Locrinus; sed tamen aurum Argentumque sibi proprios conseruat in usus, Et nimium pulchras tres quas in classe puellas Inuenit. Estrildis prior est et pulchrior harum, Filia Germani regis, quam barbarus Humber Abstulerat patri tunc cum Germanica regna Traderet exicio. Regalis forma puelle Uincit Locrinum; connubia cuius inisset, Si licuisset ei, sed facta priora repugnant. Nam postquam Corineus hoc nouit, filia cuius Nubere Locrino premisso federe debet, Indignatus adit regem tollensque bipennem Sic ait: ‘Hocne mihi meritum, Locrine, rependis Pro tot uulneribus que pro te proque parente Sustinui tam sepe tuo: quod Guendoloene, Quam ducturus eras, penitus connubia spernas, Prepositurus ei spernenda cubilia capte? Non inpugne feres; manus hec tibi gaudia uite Eripiet, que sepe tuo dispendia mortis Eripuit patri.' Clamat tollitque bipennem, Percussurus eum. Medios utriusque propinqui Interponunt se; fedus pacemque reformant Inter eos. Ducit Locrinus Guendoloenam. Sed tamen Estrildis non est oblitus amoris Inque Noua Troia fieri iubet esse meatum

35

45

55

65

70

35 Uuallia V; Guallia P. 37 fraude P; lite V. 38 Humber P; Uber V (with Humber in margin). 39 Humber P; Uber V. 41 Humbrum P; Umbrum V. 42 Kamber V; Humber P.

44 Humbro P; Umbro V. 45 Humber P; Umber V. 48 pulchras P; pulcras V. 49 pulchrior P; pulcrior V. 50 Humber P; Umber V. 53 inisset V; inesset P. 54 facta V; fata (7) P. 55 hoc P; hec V. 57 Indignatus P; Hiis iratus V. 61 spernas P; spernens V. 62 cubilia P; cubicula V. 63 Non P; Haut V: inpugne P; impugne V. 64 dispendia V; stipendia P. 70 esse P; ipse V.

34

BOOK II

ever, Locrinus’s part is Anglia, Kamber’s Wales, and Albanactus’s Scotland. [824] The three brothers control each of their three kingdoms without strife,

and rule them without deceit, until King Humber lands in the region of Albania. Albanactus opposes him with a large force, but is killed by Humber. Routed, the youths of Albania ask Locrinus for aid. Locrinus and Kamber march against Humber and battle is joined. Humber’s troops turn in flight and, while they flee the sword, are drowned in a river. This river is called the Humber after the drowning of that king. To his victorious followers Locrinus distributes all the possessions of the vanquished king, save that he reserves the gold and silver for his own use, and also three very beautiful girls whom he discovers in his ships. The first and most attractive of them is Estrildis, the daughter of a German king, whom the barbarous Humber had carried off from her father when devastating the kingdoms of Germany. The beauty of the royal maiden overwhelms Locrinus; he would marry her if he could, but his previous arrangements will not permit it. For after Corineus, whose daughter Locrinus ought to marry under the terms of a prior agreement, hears of it, he visits the king in indignation and, hoisting his axe, says: ‘Is this the favour, Locrinus, that you grant me in return for all the wounds which I have so often borne for you and your father: utterly to spurn marriage with Guendoloena, whom you were to wed, and to prefer to her the contemptible bed of a captive? You will not escape lightly; this hand, which so often snatched your father from imminent death, will deprive you of life’s joys.’ Shouting this, he wielded his axe as if to strike. The relatives of both men separate them and restore their agreement and the harmony between them. Locrinus marries Guendoloena, yet does not forget his love for Estrildis. He orders a subterranean passage to be constructed in New Troy, builds a chamber,

35

LIBER II

[$25]

Sub terra talamumque facit clauditque puellam Illic occulte; non audet habere patenter Illam ne Corinei sedatam suscitet iram. Septem rex annis illam sine teste frequentat Exceptis paucis. Quociens accedit ad illam, Mentitur se sacra deis occulta parare. Concipit interea Germanica; nascitur illi Filia quam patria lingua mater uocat Habren. Et regina simul puerum parit impositumque Est illi nomen Madden; materque docendum Tradit eum Corineo. Processu temporis ipse Decedit Corineus. Locrinus Guendoloenam Deserit, Estrilde regine precipit uti Nomine reque simul. Indignans Guendoloena Patris adit patriam. Populi collecta paterni Agmina deducit in regnum coniugis. Ille Obuiat uxori; sed teli uulnere lesus Occidit. Hinc regni regimen regina regendum Suscipit. Estrildam correptam precipitari In fluuium cum prole sua facit. Inde nouatur Nomen aque, que Stura prius, nunc dicitur Habren; Ast alia lingua fluuius Sabrina uocatur. Post mortem regis regnauit quinque ter annis

Guendoloena; decem Locrinus rexerat ante. Tunc etate uidens Madden sua mater adultum

75

80

85

90

95

Sponte resignat ei regni moderamen eumque Insignit regis diademate. Uera prophetat

[$26]

In Sylo Samuel mirandaque fingit Homerus. Membricium Malymque sua de coniuge Madden Suscipit. Inter eos oritur post funera patris Scisma super regno. Fraterna cuspide Malis Occidit occisus. Se solum gaudet habere Membricius regnum tantaque tyrannide ductus In sibi subiectos bachatur; nobiliores Quosque fere perimit, cognatis insidiatur;

100

105

71Sub V; InP. 78 patria lingua P; patri (with lingua suprascript) V: Habren P; Hanbrem V. 80 Madden V; Madan P. 84 indignans V; indignas P: Guendoloena P; Guendoloenam V.

87 Obuiat P; Et obuiat V. 88 regimen V; regnum P. 89 Estrildam P; Estrildim V. 91 Habren P; Hanbre V. 92 Sabrina P; Sabina V. 93 Lacuna in C ends at this point: quinque PV; vC.

94CPonly; om. V.

95 Madden V; Macden C; MadenP.

96 resignat CV; resinat

P. 96 ei CP; om. V. 97 PV only; om. C: diademate P; dyademate V. 98 Homerus CP: Omerus V. 99 Membricium P; Menbricium CV: Malymque CP; Malynque V: Madden V; Macden C; Maden P. 103 Membricius P; Menbricius CV.

36

BOOK II

and secretly shuts the girl up there; he does not dare to enjoy her openly lest Corineus’s pacified anger be reawakened. For seven years the king visits her, witnessed only by a few. Whenever he goes to her, he pretends to be preparing secret sacrifices to the gods. During this time the German maiden becomes pregnant and gives birth to a daughter, whom the mother calls in her native language Habren. At the same time the queen produces a son, who is given the name Madden. His mother entrusts him to Corineus to be educated. [$25] With the passage of time Corineus dies. Locrinus abandons Guendoloena and commands Estrildis to take both the name and the power of queen. In anger Guendoloena goes to her father's country and, collecting an army of her father's subjects, leads it into her husband's kingdom. He opposes his wife, but is wounded by a missile and dies. Queen Guendoloena therefore assumes control of the government of the kingdom. She has Estrildis seized and flung into a river with her child. So the name of the river was changed: previously the Stura, it is now known as the Habren; but in the other tongue it is called the Severn. After the death of the king, Guendoloena reigns for fifteen years; previously Locrinus had reigned for ten. Then, when Madden's mother sees that he is grown up, she willingly hands over control of the kingdom to him and crowns him with the royal diadem. Samuel makes true prophecies in Shiloh and Homer composes wondrous poems. [$26] Madden's wife gives birth to Membricius and Malis. After the death of their father a quarrel over the kingdom arises between them. Malis dies, slain by his brother's spear. Membricius rejoices to have sole control over the kingdom and, led by his unbridled power, rages against his subjects. He kills almost all the nobles and lays traps for his relatives; he attempts to wipe out his family and

37

LIBER II

Progeniem delere suam conatur et omnes Qui debent illi succedere uiue doloue Opprimit. Uxorem, de qua susceperat ipse Ebraucum iuuenem, uitat uenerique nephande

[$27]

Deditus offendit naturam; prouocat iram Offensamque Dei. Uinginti polluit annis Sceptrum. Dum tandem siluis uenatur, in illum Exercet rabiem seuissima turba luporum Dilaniantque ipsum. Sic mors infanda nephandum Perdit; ab introitu non discrepat exitus eius. Tunc in Iudea primus rex sceptra tenebat. Ebraucus patri succedit, corpore magnus Et fortis. Primus post Brutum Gallica regna Classe petit; ferro regiones uastat et igni. Transfert uictor opes Gallorum; ditat amicos. Uinginti natos habuit natasque decem ter Ex vinginti coniugibus quas ipse tenebat. Siluius in Lacio successerat Alba Latino. Cuius coniugium dedignabatur inire Turba Sabinarum. Quod cum fama referente Constitit Ebrauco, decies tres ille puellas Sic sibi progenitas dilectum misit ad Albam;

[$28]

110

115

120

125

Nobilibus coniunxit eas rex Alba maritis. Filius Ebrauci fratrum cum parte suorum Germanos adit Assaracus multoque cruore Undique diffuso tandem sibi subiugat illos. At Brutus Uiridis Scuti cognomine dictus, Ebrauci primogenitus, succedit eidem. Filius illius Leylus, contemptor iniqui, Iusticie cultor, uenie dator, arbiter equus, In dando largus, constans, et pacis amator, Succedit Bruto. Pacem seruat statuitque Seruarique facit leges et construit urbem Kaerleil; addit ei proprio de nomine nomen. Quinque regit lustris, in uite fine remissus Et nimium tepidus; ideo discordia mota

130

135

140

106 delere PV; debere C: conatur PV; cognatur C. 108 Opprimit CP; Oprimit V. 109 uitat CV; lutat P. 111 Uinginti PV; xx. C. 112 Sceptrum CP; Ceptrum V. 114 infanda CP; inphanda (corrected from nephanda) V.

115 Perdit CP; Prodit V.

116 primus rex sceptra

CP; Saul rex ceptra V. 118 Et PV; Est C. 119 igni PV; igne C. 121 Uinginti PV; xx. C. 122 uinginti V; xx. C; uingenti P. 123 Siluius CP; Siluis V. 124 inire CP; abire V. 125 referente PV; refferente C. 127 Sic PV; Nec C. 130 adit CP; addit V. 131 tandem CP; tadem V.

suscedit V.

132 Scuti P; Scute C; Bruti V: cognomine CP; cognamine V.

135 Leylus P; Leyrus C; Leirus V.

underpointed quoniam) C: addit PV; adit C.

38

133 succedit CP;

139 Kaerleil PV; Kaerleyl (preceded by

BOOK II

by force or trickery destroys all those who ought to succeed him. He shuns the wife who made him the father of young Ebraucus and, by giving himself over to homosexual love, offends against nature and provokes God’s anger and displeasure. He pollutes the throne for twenty years, until at last, while he is hunting in the woods, a fierce pack of wolves vent their savagery on him and tear him to pieces. And so an evil death destroys an evil man and his end befits his beginning. At that time the first king held power in Judea. [§27] Ebraucus succeeds his father. Large in stature and brave, he is the first after Brutus to sail with a fleet against the kingdoms of Gaul and to devastate those regions with fire and sword. Triumphantly he carries back the wealth of the Gauls and enriches his friends. By his twenty wives he has twenty sons and thirty daughters. In Latium Silvius Alba had succeeded Latinus. But the crowd of Sabine women do not see fit to enter into marriage with him. When report of this spreads and becomes known to Ebraucus, he sends the thirty girls thus born to him to his friend Alba, who marries them to noble husbands. Ebraucus’s son Assaracus with some of his brothers attacks the Germans and, after the spilling of much blood on both sides, at last subjugates them. [828] Ebraucus is succeeded by his first-born son Brutus, known by the surname Green Shield. Brutus is succeeded by his son Leylus, a hater of inquity, a promoter of justice, a granter of pardon, a fair judge, generous in giving, true, and a lover of peace. He preserves the peace, institutes laws and sees that they are obeyed, and builds the city of Kaerleil, which he names after himself. He reigns for twenty-five years, although at the end of his life he is too lax and

39

LIBERII

Est inter Britones quia rex non corripit illos. Rex Salomon templum Domini tunc edificauit, Tunc austri regina stetit coram Salomone; Epitus in Latio post Albam sceptra tenebat. [829]

[$30]

[831]

145

Post mortem Leyli Ruhudus diadema paternum

Suscipit et septem lustris et quatuor annis Imperat; et rigide regnat pacemque reformat Inter discordes. Illam quoque construit urbem, Quam proprio Thomas illustrem sanguine fecit, Guintoniamque urbem condit cástrumque Paladur, Quod nunc Scephtoniam dicunt. Ibi cana uetustas, Dum muri fierent, aquilam preclara locutum Uerba refert. Capis Epitides dat iura Latinis; Ageus, Amos, Ieu, Iohel, Azariasque prophetant. Bladudus post fata patris diadema paternum Indignus sumit. Bladonem construit urbem; Balnea condit in hac quibus est prelata Minerua; Cuius in ede uiget qui numquam deficit ignis. Prestigiis intentus auesque imitatus in altum Aera ducit iter; tamen est deiectus ab alto Inque Nouam Troiam liquefactis corruit alis, Confractisque suis amisit gaudia uite Ossibus. Excessum sequitur de iure ruina. Bladudum sequitur Leyr eius filius. Urbem

Construit; appellat constructam Kaerleyr; est nunc A nostris eadem Lerecestria dicta. Puellas Tres genuit. Nomen est Gonorilla prioris, Alterius Regau, nomen Cordilla minoris. Quas pater illarum magno dilexit amore, Cordillam maiore tamen. Uergentibus eius Annis in senium primam sic temptat et inquit: "Dic michi, dic quantum me diligis.’ Illa roganti Respondet: *Nichil esse potest quod carius extet

150

155

160

165

170

143 edificauit PV; edifficauitC. 144 austri CP; Hester V. 145 sceptra CP; ceptra V. 146 Leyli P; Choyli C; Leiri V: Ruhudus P; Iuhudus C; Ruchudus V: diadema P; dyadema CV. 147 septem PV; .vii. C: quatuor PV; iii. C. 150 Thomas PV; om. (erased?) C. 151 Guintoniamque PV; Wyntoniamque (tampered) C: Paladur P; Palundur C; Palunde V. 152 Quod nunc PV; Tunc C: Scephtoniam P; Sephitoiam CV: Ibi CP; ubi V: cana PV; caua C. 153 aquilam CPV (corrected from aliquam in V). 154 Capis PV; Cupis C. 155 Ageus PV; Aggeus (tampered) C: Jeu Iohel P; Leu Yoel C; Ieuices (or Lenices?) V. 156 Bladudus CPV (corrected from Bladulus in V): diadema P; dyadema CV. 158 Balnea CP; Ballea V. 159

deficit P; defficit CV. 163 amisit P; amittit CV. 165 Leyr CP; Leir V. 166 Kaerleyr P; Caerleyr C; Kaerleir V. 167 A nostris P; In nostris linguis C; Nostris V: Lerecestria CP (preceded by an erasure in P); Lerechestria V. 168 Gonorilla P; Gornorilla CV. 169 Regau CP; Ragau V: nomen CP; nomen est V.

174 extet P; extat CV.

40

BOOK II

indifferent; and so the Britons grow quarrelsome because the king does not admonish them. At that time King Solomon was building the Temple of God, and the queen of the South stood before him. In Latium Epitus was ruling in succession to Alba. [$29] After the death of Leylus, Ruhudus assumes his father's crown. He reigns for thirty-nine years, ruling firmly and restoring harmony between the factions. He also constructed the city which Thomas Becket made renowned with his blood, and built the city of Winchester, and Castrum Paladur which is now called Shaftesbury. Ancient tradition maintains that there, while the walls were being raised, an eagle spoke noteworthy sayings. Capis, son of Epitus, was ruling over the Latins, and Haggai, Amos, Jehu, Joel, and Azariah were prophe-

sying. [830] After the death of his father, Bladudus unworthily takes his crown. He builds the city of Bath and in it baths whose patron is Minerva; in her temple burns a flame which never dies. Intent on miracles and imitating the birds, he makes a flight into the lofty sky; but he is hurled down from the heights and falls over New Troy when his wings melt. His bones broken, he loses life's joys: over-ambition is rightly followed by disaster. [831] Bladudus is followed by his son Leyr. He builds a city and, on its completion, names it Kaerleyr; our people now call it Leicester. He has three daughters, the eldest named Gonorilla, the next Regau, and the youngest Cordilla. Their father loves them greatly, but has greater love for Cordilla. When his years begin to enter old age, he tests his first daughter in this way, saying: ‘Tell me, tell me how much you love me.’ She answers his question: “There is

41

LIBER II

Te mihi, care pater.' Responsum rex adulantis Approbat et dicit: ‘Tua sit pars tercia regni, Filia cara, mei generumque michi generosum Tu generosa dabis." Regau quesita roganti Sic respondet ei sicut responderat eius Ante soror; sicut promiserat ante sorori Sic promittit ei. Querenti tercia patri Responsum uarians, quoniam blandire sorores Conspicit, inquit: *Eo, genitor karissime, tantum Diligo te patrem quo filia debet amore. Si non sufficit hoc et si uis cercior esse, Audi; uera loquar. Quantum te constat habere, Tanti te dico, tantum te diligo.' Porro Rex ratus est quod eum sua filia despicit. Unde Sic affatur eam: *Quia patris despicis annos, Te quoque despiciam. Regno decorabo sorores Coniugibusque tuas; tu regni tocius expers Exheresque uiro nubes, si forte maritus Ducere te sine dote uelit.' Quid plura? Puellas Predictas regni media cum parte duobus Coniungit ducibus, alia sibi parte retenta Dum uiuat; totum regnum concedit habendum Post sua fata suis generis, experte minore. Interea celebris Francorum regis ad aures Tendit Aganippi Cordille fama. Puellis Illam preponens cunctis quas insula gestat — Predita namque bonis tam forme quam rationis

175

180

185

190

195

200

Nomen habet clarum - Francorum rex amat illam.

Postulat hanc patrem; solo dotata decore Mittitur ad regem regalis filia coniunx. Rex igitur Britonum senio confectus ab illis Priuatur regno quibus est diuisio facta Regni; deponunt hunc qui prefecerat illos. Inter eos oritur dispar discordia. Toto Priuatur regno; generi, gens impia, regnum Eripiunt socero, Maglaurus Scoticus heros Nec probitate minor Henninus Cornubiensis. Ambo duces tandem procerum mediante fauore

205

210

178 Regau PV; Ragau C. 180 ante CP; Arete V. 181 patri PV; parti C. 183 Eo CV; Ego P: karissime PV; carissime C. 184 amore CV; amare P. 186 Quantum CV; Tantum P. 195

retenta V; retempta C; relicta P. 197 minore CP; sorore (with uel minore suprascript) V. 198-9 regis ad aures | Tendit PV; tendit ad aures | Regis C. 199 Aganippi P; Aganipi CV. 201 quam C; tam PV. 208 discordia CPV (corrected from concordia in C). 212 tandem procerum PV; procerum tandem C.

42

BOOK II

nothing, dear father, that can be more precious to me than you.' Her father approves this flattering answer, saying: *A third of the kingdom is yours, dear daughter, and in your nobility you will get me a noble son-in-law.' When he asks Regau, she answers his question exactly as her sister had already done; and as he had already promised to her sister, so he promises to her. When he asks his third daughter, she gives a different answer to her father, since she realises that her sisters are flattering him. She replies: ‘Dearest father, I love you only as much as a daughter ought to love her father. If this is not enough and you wish to be more sure, listen and I shall tell you the truth: as much as you are known to possess, that is your worth, and truly that much I love you.' The king thinks that his daughter despises him, and so says to her: ‘Since you despise your aged father, so too shall I despise you. I shall ennoble your sisters by a share in the kingdom and by their husbands; you will marry without any share or inheritance in the kingdom at all — if by chance a husband wishes to marry you without a dowry.' Need more be said? He marries the two girls to two dukes and gives them half the kingdom, retaining the other half for himself during his lifetime; and he grants the whole kingdom to his sons-in-law after his death, with no share for his youngest daughter. Meanwhile the renowned fame of Cordilla reaches the ears of Aganippus, King of the Franks. Since she has a fine reputation for being endowed with the gifts of beauty and intelligence, he loves her, preferring her to all the women in the island. He asks her father for her hand and the king's daughter is sent to be his wife, with her beauty as her only dowry. The British king, now worn out by age, is deprived of his power by the dukes with whom he had divided the kingdom; they depose the very man who had raised them up. Grievous strife arises between the two parties and the king loses the whole kingdom; the sons-in-law — a wicked pair, Maglaurus hero of Scotland and Cornish Henninus, his equal in nobility — snatch power from their father-in-law. At length, through

43

LIBER II

Sic sibi pacificant premisso federe regem Quod sit triginta sociis contentus eisque Subsidium uite regali more ministrent. Id placet ac partes firmant. Sua filia maior Prima patrem recipit et eum sociosque procurat. Cumque duos annos sic una preteriissent, Gonorilla suum sic est affata maritum: *Nimirum miror ita te parere parenti, Dux Maglaure, meo. Pueris eadem senibusque Mentis inest leuitas, quoniam discrecio mentis Languescit quociens uires in corpore languent. Nonne meum decuit priuate uiuere patrem Confectum senio? Ducit diffusius agmen Quam cum regnaret; nostre uix sufficit illi Prouentus terre. Contentus debuit esse Uinginti tantum sociis; reliquisque relictis Nos satis offendet.' Maglaurus coniugis usus Consilio regi quod consulit illa reuelat. Rex igitur tristis generum natamque relinquens Tendit ad Henninum, cui regis filia iuncta Est Regau. Regem letato corde receptum Tractat honorifice. Tandem contencio mota Est inter domini famulos utriusque; sed uxor

215

220

225

230

235

Indignata ducis iubet ut rex deserat omnes

Preter quinque suos socios. Rex anxius illam Deserit et repetit primam, quoniam feritatem Deposuisse suam putat hanc. Tamen illa feroci Insistens animo mandat sic impia patri Quod, si non uno contentus milite tantum Esse uelit, querat alium qui colliget illos. Ille suos crebro singultu uerba secante Inuitus socios excepto deserit uno. O rota fortune, que tam cito uolueris, altos Deicis ex alto, deiectos tollis in altum;

240

245

Nusquam stas stabilis, nusquam pede firma tenaci. Ecce Leyr, quem turba ducum circumdabat olim, 214 sit PV; sic C. 215 ministrent CV; ministrant P. 216 ac CV; ad P. 219 Gonorilla P; Gornorilla C; Gorgonorilla V. 220 Nimirum miror CP; Ni miror mirum V. 222 discrecio

CP; discretio V. 228 Uinginti P; xx. C; Uiginti V. 229 offendet CV; offendat P: Maglaurus CPV (corrected from Maglauris in V). 231 Rex igitur CV; Exigitur P. 232 Henninum P; Honninum C; Heninum V. 233 Regau PV; Ragau C: Regem PV; Rege C: receptum CPV (corrected from receptam in C). 236 ducis CPV (but altered to duas in V). 237-310 CV only; these lines are lacking in P because of the loss of a folio between fos 12v and 13r. 238 quinque C; v. V. 239 V only; om. C. 241 contentus V; contemptus V. 242 querat V; queret C. 243 crebro V; cerebro C. 246 ex C; ab V. 248 Leyr C; Leir V

44

BOOK II

the intervention of well-disposed noblemen, the two dukes make peace with the king on the agreed terms that he be content with thirty companions, while they supply the necessary provisions on a regal scale. This proves acceptable and is ratified by both parties. The eldest daughter first receives her father and takes care of him and his men. When they have passed two years together in this way, Gonorilla addresses the following words to her husband: ‘I am exceedingly surprised, Duke Maglaurus, that you are so obsequious to my father. Old men have the same uncertain tempers as children, since the mental faculties fail as bodily strength decreases. Ought not my father to live as a private man now that he is worn out by age? He leads his household about more lavishly than when he reigned; the produce of our land is scarcely enough for him. He ought to be content with only twenty companions; even if he disbands the others, he will still be more than enough trouble to us.’ Adopting his wife’s plan, Maglaurus reveals her decision to the king. The king therefore sadly leaves his son-in-law and daughter and visits Henninus, to whom his royal daughter Regau is married. They receive the king with light hearts and treat him with honour. But eventually a dispute breaks out between the servants of the two masters. The duke’s wife angrily orders that the king give up all but five of his retainers. Fearfully the king leaves her and returns to his eldest daughter, thinking that her harshness will have cooled. But she, her cruel heart hardened, callously tells her father that, if he will not be content with a single knight, he should seek someone else to support them. His words broken by frequent sobs, the king reluctantly disbands all his retainers except one. O wheel of Fortune, how swiftly you turn! Casting down the lofty from on high and raising the abject to the heights, you never stay still, you never stand fixed and firm. See Leyr, who was once surrounded by a crowd of dukes: now he is scarcely consoled by a

45

LIBER II

Uix habet unius solacia militis. Illa, Quam facit heredes, stirps ductu Tesiphoneo

250

Exheredat eum. Rex ergo se sine regno Esse uidens nescit quid sit sibi; quid sit agendum Ignorat penitus. Tamen hec in corde reuoluit:

‘Que se dicebat me cunctis preposituram, Me mea progenies cunctis postponit. Oportet Aut me, dum uiuam, miserandam ducere uitam, Aut, quam despexi, Cordille limen adire: Forte sui miseri miserabitur illa parentis." Nec mora carpit iter. Petit equora; nauigat inde. Uixque duo comitantur eum, quibus ille profusis Sic fatur lacrimis: ‘O quam rata seria fati, Que nemo reuocare potest. Quis crederet umquam Regem mendicum. Contraria sunt in eodem: Pauper, rex; in me concordant hec duo solo. Nec me tam grauiter pondus premit esuriei Quam grauiter cruciat repeticio diuiciarum Quas habui. Minus hunc ledit leuiusque molestat Paupertatis honus qui semper uixit egenus, Quam qui mendicat factus de diuite pauper. Hostes, quos domui dum sub me preside tanta Insula polleret, me deridere iacentem Uidi. Quos habui caros fecique potentes, Terga dedere michi, postquam Ranusia fugit. Eloquium, Cordilla, tuum nunc denique sensi Esse ratum, quoniam quanta est possessio rerum, Tanta fides hominum, tanta est dilectio cordis. Ecquid erit tempus in quo fortuna reuersa Restituet regni michi iura meisque rependam Premia pro meritis ut qui me nosse negarunt Nosse negem, qui me spreuerunt spernere possim?' Interea nauis felici concita uento Euolat ad Gallos. Carnotum rex adit; illic Francorum regina manet. Legatus ad illam Tendit qui patris aduentum nunciat illi. Rex extra muros expectat corde trementi. At simul aduentum cari regina parentis

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

250 heredes CV (corrected from heredem in C): stirps V; stiprs C: ductu C; ducta V: Tesiphoneo C; Thesiphoneo V. 251 Exheredat C; Exheredebat V. 255 cunctis postponit V; postponit cunctis (marked for inversion) C. 261 rata V; sua rataC. 262 Que V; Quam C: crederet C; crederit V. 270 tanta C; tota V. 272 Quos C; Quas V: caros C; caras V. 273 Ranusia C; Ranufia V. 274 tuum C; om. V. 278 regni michi C; michi regni V. 279 Nosse C; No/// V. 281 concita CV (corrected from conscita in V). Gaillos in V): Carnotum V; Francorum C: adit C; addit V.

46

282Gallos CV (corrected from

BOOK II

single knight. The offspring which he made his heirs has at Tisiphone’s bidding disinherited him. The king, seeing he is without a kingdom, does not know how things stand with him; he is completely ignorant of what to do. But in his mind he considers this: ‘My children, who claimed that they would honour me above all others, have made me least of all. Either I must live miserably for the rest of my days or approach the door of Cordilla, whom I despised; perhaps she will have pity on her wretched father.’ He sets out without delay, goes to the coast, and sails from there. He has but two companions, to whom with welling tears he says: *O how fixed is the progress of fate, which no one can undo. Who would ever believe that a king goes begging? In this there are two opposites, pauper and king: they are combined in me alone. I am not oppressed as heavily by the burden of hunger as I am gravely wounded by the memory of the wealth I used to possess. The weight of poverty is less hurtful and less troublesome to the man who has always lived in need than it is to the rich man who must beg after he becomes poor. I have seen my fall mocked by the foes whom I defeated when this great island flourished under my rule; those whom I held dear and made powerful have turned their backs upon me now that Fortune has deserted me. Now at last, Cordilla, I perceive the truth of your words, since the trustworthiness of men and the love in their hearts is commeasurate only with the number of one’s possessions. Will the time ever come when a change of fortune will restore my kingdom to me and I shall reward my subjects according to their deserts, so that I may deny knowledge of those who deny knowledge of me and

spurn those who spurn me?’ Meanwhile the ship is speeded by a favourable wind and reaches Gaul. The king lands at Carnotum, where the queen of the Franks is residing. A messenger is sent to her to announce her father’s arrival, while the king waits with trembling heart outside the walls. But as soon as the

47

LIBER II

Nouit et euentum, cadit amens et flet amare Massamque argenti tradens aurique clienti Sic ait: ‘Hinc cito rex aliam translatus ad urbem Egrum se fingat et se regaliter ornet Associetque sibi socios quos exigit apte

290

Regia maiestas. Tunc demum nuncius eius Dicat Aganipo socerum uenisse.' Leyr rex

[§32]

Iussa sibi letus sine cunctu cuncta peregit. Tocius regni cicius proceresque ducesque Ducit in occursum soceri gener. Excipit illum Et se demittens regni comittit eidem Iura sui donec fuerit decoratus honore Culminis amissi. Confestim conuocat omnem Miliciam regni. Leyrus cum milite multo Inuadit generos; quos extulit, opprimit; aufert Hiis regnum quibus id dederat regnatque duobus Annis. Decedit; succedit ei sua cara Filia, que socerum generis succedere fecit Ordine turbato. Britones Cordilla marito Et patre defunctis regit annis quinque potenter. Interea Britones reputant sibi uile subesse Femineo iuri. Quod cum Cunedagius audit Marganusque, ducum proles quibus abstulit olim Regnum rex Leyrus, memorant obprobria patrum, Reginam infestant, capiunt, in carcere cludunt. Se clausam regina dolet mortemque propinat Ipsa sibi, satagens gladio finire dolorem. Diuiditur regnum dominis sine lite duobus. Pars utriusque ducis sibi gaudet pace bienni Sed quia participum regni dissensio sepe Assolet esse comes, Marganus solus habere Regnum molitur; partem consortis in igne Destruit et gladio. Cunedagius obuiat illi Marteque conserto capitur Marganus et expers Tocius efficitur, quoniam qui plus petit equo A toto de iure cadit. Cunedagius ergo Tocius regni sex lustris rexit habenas. Tunc Ysaias cecinit, tunc condita Roma est.

295

300

305

310

315

320

293 Leyr C; Leir V. 294 cunctu V; cuncta C. 297 dimittens C; demittens (corrected from committens) V. 303 cara V; cura C... 305 marito V; memento marito C. 306 defunctis V;

deffunctis C: potenter CV (corrected from potentes in C). 307 sibi C; om. V (with sibi in margin): uile CV (corrected from uille in C). 309 olim V; illis olim C... 310 The lacuna in P ends at this point. 311 cludunt P; ponunt C; claudunt V. 315 ducis CP; duas V: bienni CP; bijenne V. 318 molitur CP; mollitur V. 320 Cunedagius CP; Tunedagius V. 322 Cunedagius CP; Tunedagius V.

48

BOOK II

queen hears that her dear father has arrived and what has happened to him, she falls amazed and weeps bitterly. Handing over a weight of silver and gold to his servant, she says; ‘Let the king swiftly be conveyed from here to another City; let him pretend to be ill, clothe himself regally, and let him procure the companions which royal majesty rightly requires. Only then let his messenger announce the arrival of his father-in-law to Aganippus.’ King Leyr gladly performs all these instructions without hesitation. His son-in-law swiftly leads the nobles and dukes of his whole kingdom to meet his father-in-law. He receives Leyr and, stepping down, entrusts control of his kingdom to him until he recovers the dignity of his lost position. He quickly summons all the soldiers of the kingdom. Leyr attacks his sons-in-law with a great force; he crushes those whom he raised up, and takes back the kingdom from those to whom he had given it. He reigns for two years before he dies. He is succeeded by his dear daughter, who, contrary to the norm, had made a father-in-law succeed his sons-in-law. After the death of her father and husband Cordilla rules the Britons powerfully for five years. [$32] During this time the Britons think that it is a slight for them to be under

the power of a woman. Hearing this, Cunedagius and Marganus, the children of the dukes whom Leyr had previously deprived of the kingdom, remember the insult to their fathers, attack the queen, capture her, and shut her in prison. The queen bridles at her imprisonment and commits suicide, preferring to end her misery with the sword. The kingdom is amicably divided between its two masters. The portion of each duke enjoys peace for two years. But because strife is often accustomed to be the companion of those who share a kingdom, Marganus plots to gain sole power. He lays waste the territory of his co-ruler with fire and sword. Cunedagius marches against him; and, when battle is joined, Marganus is captured and deprived of the whole kingdom, since he who seeks more than his fair share rightly loses everything. Cunedagius therefore exercises power over the whole kingdom for thirty years. At that time Isaiah prophesied and Rome was founded.

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LIBER II

[$33]

[834]

Postquam decessit Cunedagius, eius eundem

Filius in regno sequitur Riuallo, locuplex, Et pacis custos et iustus; tempore cuius Sanguineas guttas referunt muscasque cadentes De celo subitam cladem ingessisse Britannis. Filius eius eum sequitur Gurgustius; illum Sillius; hunc Iago; Kinmarchus Gorbodugonem Precessit. Successit ei seuissima proles, Ferrux et Porrex; qui cum uidere parentem In senium uergisse suum, quis regnet eorum Contendunt. Porrex maiore cupidine regni Tactus Ferrugem molitur tradere morti. Ille fugit Gallosque petit regisque Suhardi Impetrat auxilium; redit, adducitque cateruas Francorum secum, cui Porrex obuiat. In se Arma ferunt fratres. Ferrux occumbit et omnes Qui comitantur eum; Iudonaque mater eorum, Quam dolor in facinus trahit, anxia facta nouerca Porricem iugulat fraterna cede madentem. Post quorum cedes Britonum cui cedere sceptrum Debeat ambigitur, quia quisque potencior eius Uiribus indulgens uult uti nomine regis. Post uarias lites diuersaque prelia demum Quinque regunt reges regnum cum scismate scissum. Interea Donuallo, probus nullique secundus Uiribus aut forma, post patris funera regis Cornubie Clotenis agit memorabile bellum Contra Pynnerum, cui tota Loegria seruit. Cedere dum nescit, Pynnerus ceditur ense. Hinc rex Cambrorum Rudaldus Stateriusque Rex Albanorum confirmant fedus euntque In Donuallonem. Donuallo congregat omnes

325

330

335

340

345

350

355

324 Ysaias CP; Ysayas V. 325 Cunedagius CP; Tunedagius V: eundem P; eumdem CV. 328 guttas PV; gutas C: referunt PV; refferuntC. 330 Gurgustius PV; GurguiturusC. 331 hunc CV; huic P: lago PV; Tyago C: Kinmarcus P; Kimmarcus C; Kenmarcus V: Gorbodugonem

PV; Gorgobudonem C. 332 successit CP; suscessit V. 333 Ferrux CP; Ferinx V: Porrex P; Porex CV. 335 Porrex P; Porex CV. 336 Tactus PV; Tractus V: F,errugem P; Ferrentem C; Ferrucem V: molitur CP; mollitur V. 337 Suhardi CP; Subhardi V. 339 Porrex P; Porex

CV. 340 occumbit CPV (altered to obcumbit in V). 342 facinus trahit anxia facta nouerca P; facinus trahit anxia facta C; magnum facinus trahit anxia factum V. 343 Porricem PV; Poricem C. 344 sceptrum CP; ceptrum V. 345 potencior CP; potentior V. 348 cum CP; sine V: scismate CV; cismate P: scissum CPV (altered to scisum in V).

349 Donuallo CV;

Donguallo P. 351 Clotenis CV; Clotonis P. 352 Pynnerum CV; Pinnerum P: tota Loegria CP; toto Loegeria V.

354 Rudaldus CP; Rudaudus V.

50

BOOK II

[833] After the death of Cunedagius, he is succeeded as king by his son Rivallo, who is rich, a preserver of peace, and a just man. They say that in his reign drops of blood and a plague of flies falling from the sky inflicted a sudden disaster on the Britons. He is succeeded by his son Gurgustius, he by Sillius, and he by Iago. Kinmarchus precedes Gorbodugo, who is succeeded by his savage offspring, Ferrux and Porrex. When they see that their father has reached old age, they dispute which of them is to be king. Porrex, whose desire to reign is greater, plots to murder Ferrux. But Ferrux flees to the Gauls and secures the aid of King Suhardus. He returns bringing companies of Franks with him, and is opposed by Porrex. The brothers join battle and Ferrux and all his followers are killed. Grief drives their mother Iudona to crime and, transformed into a hysteri-

cal step-mother, she slits the throat of Porrex, who is stained with his brother’s murder. After these killings it is unclear to whom the sceptre of Britain should fall, since all the most powerful men indulge their power and wish to take the name of king. After numerous struggles and various battles, the kingdom is finally torn apart by dissension and ruled by five kings. [$34] Meanwhile Donvallo, a upright man second to none in strength and beauty, after the death of his father Clotenis, King of Cornwall, conducts a memorable campaign against Pynnerus, master of all Loegria. Because he will not yield, Pynnerus dies by the sword. At this Rudaldus, King of the Welsh, and Staterius, King of the Albani, join forces and attack Donvallo, who assembles all

51

LIBER II

[$35]

Cornubie fortes. Ineunt certaminis impar Discrimen partes. Patitur pars utraque passim Dampna sui; calcant defuncta cadauera uiui. Dum manet in dubio cui stet uictoria, fortes Sexcentos iuuenes defunctis hostibus arma Demere Donuallo iubet et sibi sumere dempta; Et sua deponit assumitque hostica. Sicque

360

Inuadunt reges ut amici, sed tamen hostes; Nam perimunt reges. Percussis regibus omnes Qui comitantur eos uertunt sua terga fugeque

365

Indulgent; illos sequitur Donuallo suique. Sed tamen ille suos metuens hostilia demit Arma sibi sumptisque suis non desinit hostes Sternere, donec ei cessit uictoria. Uictor Uictorum terras adit impiger et sibi subdit. Insula seruit ei. Facit ex auro diadema. Dat pacem, statuit leges, edicit ut omnis Qui fugit ad templum uel ad urbes, sit licet ille Uel latro uel predo uel sit quocumque reatu Dampnandus, sit tutus ibi; tutas ut asilum Esse uias, tutos iubet agricolas et aratra. Cessant predones; siccam consumit erugo. Sic regnum lustris octo Donuallo gubernat. Post hunc Belinus et Brennius, inclita proles

370

375

380

Illius, in regno succedere certat uterque.

Diuiditur regnum; sua pars signatur utrique. Ut primogenito, cessit regis diadema Soli Belino; frater quoque subditur illi. Quinque suum fedus seruant non amplius annis. Nam quia misceri discordia prosperitati Sepe solet, quidam, quibus est concordia discors Paxque molesta, suo domino dixisse feruntur: "Brenni, cur fratri subiectus es? At pater idem Uos genuit materque eadem. Qua condicione Es uelut infamis, regis priuatus honore? Adde quod in multis bellis expertus es. Anne

385

390

356 Donuallonem. Donuallo CV; Donguallonem. Donguallo P. 359 defuncta PV; deffuncta C.

361 Sexcentos PV; .vi. centos C: defunctis PV; deffunctis

C. 362 Donuallo CV; Don-

guallo P. 365 Nam CP; Sic V. 366 fugeque PV; fuge C. 367 Donuallo CV; Donguallo P. 369 Arma CPV (corrected from Ille in V). 372 diadema P; dyadema CV. 374 fugit CP; fugiat (with the i underpointed) V: sit licet ille CV (sit altered from sic in C); si licet illi P. 375 sit PV; sic C. 376 asilum PV; asylum C. 377 et aratra CP; ut aretur V. 378 siccam CP; om. V (but space left). 379 octo PV; viii. C: Donuallo CV; Donguallo P. 380 Brennius PV; Reimus C. 383 diadema P; dyadema CN. 387 concordia CPV (corrected from discord-

iain C).

389 At P; An CV.

52

BOOK II

the warriors of Cornwall. Both sides undergo the dangers of unequal battle, and both everywhere suffer losses; the living trample the bodies of the dead. While it remains uncertain whose is the victory, Donvallo orders six hundred brave youths to strip the arms from the enemy dead and don them themselves; he also takes off his own armour and puts on that of the enemy. And thus they approach the kings as though they were their friends, although in fact they are their enemies; for they kill the kings. At their deaths all their followers turn their backs and give themselves over to flight, pursued by Donvallo and his band. Fearing his own men, he removes the enemy armour and resumes his own; nor does he cease from routing the enemy until victory is his. Once victorious, he tirelessly marches on the lands of the defeated and subjugates them. He becomes master of the island. He makes a diadem of gold, establishes peace, and institutes laws: he commands that anyone who flees to a temple or city be safe there, whether he be a thief, a robber, or guilty of any crime; and he orders that the roads be as safe as any asylum, and that farmers and their ploughs also be safe. Robberies cease and the dagger is eaten away by rust. Thus Dunvallo rules the kingdom for forty years. [§35] After him his famous progeny, Belinus and Brennius, each strive to succeed as king. The kingdom is divided, a part being assigned to each. The king’s diadem passes to Belinus alone, since he is the first-born, and his brother is subordinated to him. They keep to this agreement for no longer than five years. For, because prosperity often brings with it dissension, certain men, to whom harmony is discordant and peace irksome, are held to have said to their lord: ‘Brennius, why are you your brother’s subject? The same father and mother gave you birth. For what reason are you deprived of the honour of king as though you were suspect? What is more, you have gained experience in many

53

LIBER II

Dux Morianorum te compellente Reulphus Fugit, dum nostros uellet sibi subdere fines?

Tam fedum fedus rumpendum est. Sit tibi coniunx Norguegici regis Elsini filia; cuius Nactus opem poteris adipisci regis honorem." Talibus atque aliis inductus Brennius illis Annuit. Elsini regnum petit. Uxor eidem Exoptata datur. Frater commotus in eius

[$36]

[$37]

Discurrit sortem; capit oppida, uendicat urbes Munitasque suis tradit custodibus illas. Brennius audito frater quod fecerat eius Congregat innumeram soceri de gente cohortem Nauigiumque parat. Cum coniuge nauigat. Ecce Rex Dacus Guthlacus eum correptus amore Coniugis illius collectis classe uirisque Assequitur; nauale parat pars utraque bellum. Forte ratis capitur in qua predicta puella Fertur, dumque uolant ex omni spicula parte, Ex improuiso perturbant equora uenti Disperseque rates diuersa ad litora tendunt. Rex uero Dacus uentorum turbine raptus Applicat ad litus Norchanhumbrense puellam Adducens. Populus capit hos captosque reducit Ad regem; rex ergo rei serie recitata Letus uix recipit interne gaudia mentis. Brennius interea collectis nauibus amens Amisso regno, rapta quoque coniuge tristis, Transit ad Albanos et fratri talia scribit: *Frater, si fratris es dignus nomine, regnum Redde michi nuptamque meam fedusque fidemque Iuratam serua; quod si non feceris, ense In populum regnumque tuum bachabor et igni Eripiamque tibi uitam, si forte facultas Obtulerit michi se.' Spretis monitisque minisque Perstat in incepto Belinus. Congregat ergo

395

400

405

410

415

420

425

393 Morianorum P; Marianorum CV: te PV; deC: compellente CP; repellente V: Reulphus PV; Raulphus C. 395 Sit CP; Sic V. 396 Norguegici CP; Norgueneci V: Elsini CP; Elfini

(corrected from Elfinici) V. 397 poteris CV; poteras (7) P. 400 Annuit CPV (corrected from Aannuit in V): Elsini CP; Elfini V. 401 oppida P; opida CV. 402 illas CPV (corrected from illis in V). 404 soceri PV; generi C: cohortem CP; chohortem V. 406 Dacus P; Dactus CV: Guthlacus P; Guielatus C, Guilchardus V. 412 Disperseque PV; Diuerseque C: diuersa CV; dispersa P: litora CV; littora P. 413 Dacus P; Dactus CV: raptus CPV (corrected from captus in V). 414 Norchanhumbrense P; Norcahumbrense C; Norchahumbrense V. 419 rapta CP; capta V.

426 Obtulerit CP; Optulerit V.

54

BOOK II

wars. Did you not compel Reulphus, duke of the Moriani, to flee when he wished to conquer our territory? So unfair a treaty should be broken. Let the daughter of the Norwegian king, Elsinus, be your bride; with his help you will be able to attain the honour of king.’ Persuaded by these and other arguments, Brennius gives his assent. He travels to Elsinus’s kingdom, where the bride he wishes is given to him. [$36] His brother, angered, passes into his territory, taking towns, capturing cities, fortifying them, and handing them over to his own garrisons. On hearing of his brother's actions Brennius amasses a great force of his father-in-law's subjects, prepares a fleet and sails with his bride. But lo, the Danish king Guthlacus, who loves Brennius's wife, collects ships and men and pursues him. Both forces prepare for a naval battle. By chance the ship in which the girl is carried is captured and, while arrows fly from every direction, gales suddenly lash the sea; the ships are scattered and make for various shores. The Danish king is driven by the fury of the storm to land on the coast of Northumberland along with the girl. They are captured by the locals and led to the king, who, rejoicing at hearing the turn of events, can scarcely contain the joy within his heart. [837] Meanwhile Brennius collects his ships. Distraught at the loss of his kingdom and saddened by the seizure of his wife, he crosses to the Albani and writes as follows to his brother: ‘Brother — if you are worthy of the name — return to me my kingdom and my bride, and abide by the treaty and the pledge we swore. If you do not, I shall rage against your people and your land with fire and sword, and deprive you of your life if the chance presents itself to me.’ Disregarding these threats and warnings, Belinus remains fixed in his intent. He

55

LIBER II

Miliciam regni, fratrem petit; obuiat illi Brennius in campo quem circuit undique silua Dicta Calaterium. Plusquam ciuilia bella Committunt fratres. Obnubitur eminus aer Grandine telorum; franguntur cominus haste. Accedunt propius; commiscent ensibus enses. Mors cum marte uenit; gladio testante probatur Quis probus aut reprobus, quis fortis, quisue remissus,

430

435

Quis sit amans laudis. Sitit omnis turba cruorem;

[$38]

[$39]

Omnes arma tenent, omnes feriuntue caduntue. Nemo pari parcit; strages iacet alta uirorum. Forte aliquis gladiosue timens modiceue cruentus Labitur in terram; deiecta cadauera lapsum Extingunt fictamque necem mors uera secuta est. st alius letale gerens sub pectore uulnus, Cum prope conspiceret auctorem uulneris, ipsum Impetit et mersis digitis in gutture, fronti Dentibus affixis, ad tartara tendit uterque. Brennius ergo uidens socios in fine diei Defecisse suos et preualuisse Britannos Destituit campum, lacero fugit agmine, litus Et naues repetit. Nox hostibus eripit illum. Uix unam nactus nauem dat lintea uentis Et fugit ad Gallos, ubi sors sua dirigit illum. Fratre triumphato Belinus consulit omnes Primates regni quid agat de rege retento. Conuenit ut liber rex permittatur abire Cum consorte sua sumantque perhenne tributum A Dacis Britones. Firmato federe liber Discedit potiturque sua securus amica. Porro Belinus se solum gaudet honore Ditatum regni; leges iubet inuiolatas Esse sui patris. Proceres tamen ipsa uiarum Iura monent regemque precantur ut indicet illis Quas tutas iubet esse uias regique dicatas. Rex igitur motus procerum prece precipit unum. Extendi callem, qui factus scemate miro Ad mare Cornubicum Catinensi ducat ab urbe.

445

450

455

460

465

430 Calaterium CP; Calasterium V. 433 propius CP; proprius V. 439 aliquis gladiosue CP; aliquisue V. 440 lapsum PV lapsu C. 441 secuta PV: sequta C. 442 Ast my emendation; Est CPV: sub PV; inC. 443 conspiceret P; prospiceret CV. 443 auctorem C; actorem PV. 444 gutture PV; gutureC. 446 in CV; sine P. 447 Defecisse P; Deffecisse CV. 449

repetit CV; repetunt P. 450 nactus nauem CV; nauem nactus P. 452 Fratre PV; «Fratre C. 456 Dacis P; Dactis CV. 462 dicatas P; ditatas C; ditatis V. 464 miro CV; mixto P. 465 Cornubicum V; Conichitum C; Comichicum P: Catinensi P; Cathinensi C; Cathenensi V.

56

BOOK II

assembles the soldiers of his kingdom to attack his brother; Brennius meets him in a plain surrounded on all sides by the wood known as Calaterium. The brothers wage a war worse than civil. From afar the sky is blotted out by a hail of weapons; spears are broken at close quarters. They approach nearer yet and ply sword with sword. With war comes death. The sword is called to witness who is worthy or unworthy, who brave or slack, and who a lover of glory. Every company thirsts for blood; they all grip their weapons, they all either strike or fall. No one spares his opponent; dead men are piled high. Someone, either fearing the swords or lightly wounded, may fall to the ground: the bodies which are cut down crush the fallen man and real death follows a pretended one. Another, mortally wounded in the chest, hurls himself on the man who has wounded him when he sees him come near, digs his fingers into his throat and fastens his teeth into his face; so they descend to Hell together. When he sees at the end of the day that his troops are failing and the Britons have triumphed, Brennius quits the field and flees with his broken army, making for the shore and his ships. Only night saves him from his foes. Taking but one ship, he spreads his sails to the winds and flees where his fate takes him, to the Gauls. [$38] His brother defeated, Belinus asks all the nobles of the kingdom what he should do about the captive Danish king. It is agreed that the king should be allowed to go free with his consort, while the Britons should exact a perpetual tribute from the Danes. The king accepts this agreement, goes free, and so wins his beloved without trouble. [$39] Belinus rejoices to have gained the position of sole king and orders that the laws of his father be observed. However, his nobles are concerned for the privileges of the roads and beg the king to tell them which he commands to be safe and under his protection. Moved by the entreaty of his nobles, the king orders that a road be built which, made in admirable fashion, should lead from the town of Caithness to the sea off Cornwall. Another road goes from the city

57

LIBER II

[$40]

Alter ad Hamonis Portum deductus ab urbe est Meneia callesque duos non absque labore Ducit ab obliquo qui cancellant regionem. Limitat inde uias alias quibus itur ad urbes; Quas omnes ex cementi lapidumque perennat Coniugio iurique suo rex uendicat illas. Brennius est ergo Gallorum ductus in horis, Quem bis sex equites comitantur. Supplicat ergo Francigenis et eos exorat supplice uoce Ut sibi succurrant; non exauditus ab illis, Tendit ad Allobroges, quorum dux suscipit illum Nomine Seginus et digno tractat honore. Nec mora dux illum tanto sibi iungit amore Acsi carnalis foret eius filius, ut cui Uiribus et forma nullus respondet; in omni Obsequio promptus prodest belloque togaque. Unica Segini datur illi filia coniunx.

470

475

480

466 deductus P; ducturus CV: est CP; om. V. 467 Meneia PV; Mencia C. 468 cancellant V: cancellat CP. 470 lapidumque CP; lapidisque V: perennat (corrected from perenmat?) P. perornat C; perhennat V. 471 iurique P; unique C; uirique V. 472 ergo PV; igitur C. 476 Allobroges CP; Alobroges V. 478 iungit CPV (preceded by deleted dux in C). 479 Acsi PV: AtsiC. 481 promptus CP; promtus V. 482 Segini PV; Sagini C.

58

BOOK II

of Menevia to Southampton. Two more are constructed with great effort to criss-cross the region diagonally. From these Belinus marks out other roads to reach his cities. The king builds them all from a lasting marriage of cement and stone and puts them under his protection. [$40] Brennius is carried to the shores of the Gauls, accompanied by twelve

knights. He begs the Franks to aid him, pleading to them with humble voice, but they do not listen. He visits the Allobroges, whose duke, named Seginus, receives him and treats him with due honour. Soon the duke loves him with as great an affection as if he was his son in the flesh; for Brennius has no peer in strength or beauty and, ready for any task, serves the duke in peace and war. Seginus's only daughter is given to him as his bride.

59

Liber Tertius

Incipit tercius liber Tercius armatos fratres exarmat inermis Ammonitu matris. Gallos urbesque Quirini Ui superant; patriam petit unus et imperat alter. Dacia uectigal reddit. Dat Marcia leges. Deuorat immanis crudelem belua regem. Depositum Pius instituens se degradat ipsum; Ter sumit diadema Pius cum regis honore. Iulius occeanum transit uictusque recedit. Que tociens superare suos non desiit hostes Nec solita est uinci, se sola Britannia uincit.

[841]

[$42]

Architenens uix Romuleum compleuerat annum, Cum dux decedit; succedit Brennius illi. Qui de thesauro, quem dux seruauerat et qui Est ab auis atauisque ducis collectus, in omnes Large distribuit; cunctorum adquirit amorem Muneribus. Uigili cura retractat apud se Qualiter in fratrem Belinum uendicet. Unde Agmine collecto transit mare. Currit in illum Belinus Britonumque cohors. Dum frater anhelat In fratris iugulum, mater Tonuenna trementi Se gerit in medium passu pacemque reformat Inter eos. Armis eiectis oscula fratri Innectit frater; omnes sua tela cohortes

Deponunt; hostis fieri se gaudet amicum. Pace reformata fratrem pudet arma tulisse Contra fraternas acies iunctisque cateruis In Trinouantum ueniunt feliciter urbem. Illic proponunt sibi Gallica subdere regna. Inde adeunt Gallos; deuastant Gallica rura.

10

15

25

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Prologus libri .iii. V. 1 Tercius PV; «T»ercius C: fratres CPV (in margin in V): inermis PV; inhermis C. 2 Ammonitu P; Amonitu CV. 4 Dacia P; Daccia CV. 7 diadema P; dyadema V: regis PV; regit C. 9 desiit CP; desinit V. 11 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber tercius V: Architenens PV;

«A»rchitenens C. 14 atauisque CP; athauisque V. 15 Large distribuit PV; Distribuit large C: adquirit P; acquirit CV. 16 Uigili PV; Uigilii C. 19 PV only; om. C: anhelat P; hanelat

V.

20TonuennaPV; Conuenna C.

27 Trinouantum CP; Tronouantum V.

P: Gallica subdere V; subdere Gallica C.

60

28 CV only; om.

Book

III

The third book disarms the armed brothers at the behest of their unarmed mother. They conquer by force the Gauls and the cities of Rome; one returns home, while the other becomes emperor. Denmark pays its tribute. Marcia establishes laws. A terrible beast devours a crüel king. By restoring a deposed man to power, Elidurus the Good surrenders his own position; three times Elidurus takes the crown and rank of king. Julius Caesar crosses the ocean and retires in defeat. Britain, which continued so often to overcome its enemies and was not accustomed to be beaten, alone defeats itself. The sun has scarcely completed a Roman year when the duke dies and is succeeded by Brennius. He liberally distributes to all the treasure which the duke had guarded and which had been amassed by his forefathers and their ancestors; with these gifts he wins over the affection of all. [$41] With unceasing care he considers in his mind how he can have his revenge on his brother Belinus. To this end, he collects an army and crosses the sea. Belinus and the British army rush to meet him. While the brothers are eager to slaughter each other, their mother Tonvenna interposes herself with trembling steps and makes peace between them once more. Throwing off their armour, brother embraces and kisses brother; all the troops lay down their arms, and enemies rejoice to become friends. Once peace is restored, one brother is ashamed to have borne arms against another's forces; combining their armies, they arrive joyfully at the city of Trinovantum. There they plan to M p od the kingdoms of Gaul. [842] They then attack the Gauls and lay waste their lands. The people of t ad

61

LIBER III

Nacio Gallorum currit communis in illos. Prelia committunt partes. Tamen agmina fratrum Excedunt Gallos coguntque relinquere campum Et dare terga fuge; fugientes usque sequuntur Donec dispersis Gallis capiuntur eorum Reges et capti coguntur dedicioni.

[843]

30

35

Inde petunt Romam; percurrunt Ytala regna. Porsenne Gabyoque subest Romana potestas Consulibus. Quibus ut reges uenisse feruntur Cum tot militibus, pacem — non bella — petentes Occurrunt illis, portantes plurima dona; Seque soluturos illis seruile tributum Iurant. Dant fratres ueniam pacemque receptis

Obsidibus. Reges adeunt cum laude triumphi Teutonicos ut eos ingente tyrannide uexent.

Penitet interea Romanos federis: unde Ad Germanorum partem se consul uterque Transfert. Quod postquam fratrum peruenit ad aures, Consilio fretus Belini Brennius urbem Romuleam festinus adit. Romana iuuentus Factum comperiens Germanica castra relinquit Et Romam repetit. Premissa nocte reducens Agmina Belinus in uallem, qua redituri Sunt hostes Lacii, latet hic; expectat eorum Aduentum. Ueniunt ueniente die; ruit omnis

50

55

Cautus in incautos exercitus; agmen inerme

Armati sternunt Britones. Non pugna uidetur Que geritur, quoniam ferit hec pars, pars cadit illa. Dant Lacii sua terga fuge, Belinus eorum Terga secat gladio nulla pietate retentus; Tandem consulibus Laciis nox et fuga prodest. Belinus uero, postquam uictoria tanta Cessit ei, sequitur fratrem qui menia Rome Obsidet et longa muros indagine cingit. Se commisceri gaudent collegia fratrum Impugnantque urbem. Muros Romana coronant Agmina; telorum densus cadit undique nimbus. Dum nil proficiunt fratres, periuria patrum 30 Nacio P; Nascio CV: illos PV; ipsos C.

45

33 sequuntur CP; secuntur V.

65

36 percurrunt CP;

percurrut (sic) V; Ytala PV; Ytalia C. 37 Porsenne CP; Prosemie V: Gabyoque P; Cabio C; Gabroque V. 44 Teutonicos PV; Theutonicos C: ut P; et CV: uexent P; uexant CV. 53 latet CP; iacet V. SS exercitus V; exterritus C; exterritur P: inerme P; inherme CV. 56 Britones CPV (preceded by underpionted homines in C). 57 Que P; Quod CV. 58 Lacii P; Fabii CV.

63 indagine CP; intagine V. pugnantque V.

64 collegia PV; consorcia C.

62

65 Inpugnantque CP; Im-

BOOK III

Gaul rush against them in a body and battle is joined. But the armies of the brothers outmatch the Gauls, forcing them to leave the field and turn in flight. They pursue the fleeing Gauls until they are scattered and their kings are captured and forced to surrender. [843] Then, marching on Rome, they pass through the realm of Italy. Power at Rome is in the hands of the consuls, Porsenna and Gabius. When the arrival of the kings with so many soldiers is reported to them, they meet them bearing many gifts, and seek peace rather than war. The consuls also swear to pay them tribute as their slaves. The brothers take hostages and grant peace and pardon. After this praiseworthy triumph the kings attack the Germans in order to submit them to their mighty sway. Meanwhile the Romans regret the treaty; and so both consuls march to join the Germans. When this news reaches the ears of the brothers, Brennius, according to Belinus's plan, hurries against the city of Rome. Learning this, the Roman youths leave the German camp and return for Rome. On the previous night, Belinus had led his troops to a valley through which his Roman foes must retreat; there he lies in wait for their appearance. They come with the coming of day. The whole army rushes prepared against the surprised enemy; the armed Britons cut down the unarmed force. It does not seem to be a battle which is waged, since one side only strikes, the other only falls. The Romans turn in flight, but Belinus hews at their backs with the sword without any mercy. At last darkness and flight come to the aid of the Roman consuls. After he has gained so great a victory, Belinus follows after his brother, who is blockading the walls of Rome and surrounding its defences with long siege-lines. The brothers' forces rejoice at their reunion and assault the city. The Roman army crowns the walls; a dense cloud of missiles falls on both sides. When the brothers make no progress, the hostages suffer for their fathers’

63

LIBER III

Obsunt obsidibus, quoniam cernentibus ipsis Suspensi laqueis uitam finire pudendo Funere coguntur. Uicta pietate paterna Urbis amor patres stimulat deffendere muros. Dum simul intendunt penitus delere Britanni Seruilique iugo periuram subdere Romam, Ecce ruit scelerata cohors, quam ducit in hostes Consul uterque suos. Norunt uexilla suorum Inclusi; portas reserant prestantque paratum Auxilium sociis. Britones nec retro nec ante Cede carent; uia nulla patet qua cedere possint. At simul attonitis animi rediere Britannis,

[$44]

[$45]

[$46]

Stragem non minimam faciunt; ad milia sternunt Hostes. Porsenna capto Gabioque perempto Diffugiunt Lacii, cedes in terga gerentes, Lugentemque urbem uictores ingrediuntur; Diripiuntur opes quas urbs seruarat auara. Brennius imperii Romani sumit habenas; Seuiciam gerit in ciues populumque Quirinum. Inde suum regnum cum magna laude triumphi Rex Belinus adit tractatque in pace Britannos. Semirutas reficit urbes legesque paternas Confirmat; claram Legionum construit Urbem. Cuius combusti cineres seruantur in auro, Lundoniis in turre noua quam fecerat ipse. Gorhuandus Barbe Rubee, non degener heres Belini, sumit digne diadema paternum: Iusticie custos, cultor pietatis, amator Pacis, deffensor uidue, tutela pupilli, Hostibus hostis, amicus amicis, fortis in armis, Uultu conspicuus, illustri corpore magnus, Consilio cautus, in dando munere largus. Qui, cum uectigal sibi reddere Dacia spernit Iuratum patri, fert egre. Transmeat ergo Ad Dacos et eos sibi subdit; regeque ceso Reddere constringit populum seruile tributum. .

Dumque citis uelis uictor redit, ecce decem ter In medio plenis iuuenum simul et mulierum

72 intendunt CP; intundunt V.

74 scelerata P; falerata C; phalerata V.

70

75

80

85

95

100

105 75 Norunt CV;

Norrunt P. 78 uia nulla CP; nulla uia V. 79 attonitis P; acconitis C; atonitis (tampered?) V. 80 minimam PV; miniam C. 83 Lugentemque CP; Ingentemque V. 92 Lundoniis PV; Londoniis C. 93 Gorhuandus P; Gorhumandus C; Gorhuadus V. 94 Belini CV; Locrini P: diadema P; dyadema CV. 98 illustri PV; illustris C. 100 Dacia CP; Dactia V. 102 Dacos P; Daccos CV: sibi PV; ibi C. 104 Dumque V; Cumque C; Dum P: citis PV; scitis C: redit CPV (corrected from reddit in C): decem P; .x. CV.

64

BOOK III

oath-breaking; they are made to end their lives by a shameful death, hung by the noose before their fathers' eyes. But the fathers are resolved to defend the walls, their paternal feelings stifled by love of their city. While the Britons are intent on both utterly destroying treacherous Rome and submitting it to the yoke of slavery, there suddenly arrives a wicked army, led against the enemy by the two consuls. The besieged recognise the standards of their troops, throw open the gates, and seize upon the aid afforded by their comrades. The Britons are cut down both before and behind; there is no way for them to retreat. But as soon as the astonished Britons regain their spirits, they execute considerable destruction, cutting down the enemy in thousands. Porsenna is captured, Gabius killed, and the Romans flee with slaughter at their backs. The sorrowing city is entered by the victors and despoiled of the wealth it has greedily hoarded. [$44] Brennius takes control of the Roman empire, treating the citizens and

the Roman people without mercy. Afterwards King Belinus returns to his own kingdom having won great praise for his triumph. Ruling the Britons in peace, he restores those cities which need repair, confirms the laws of his father, and builds the famous City of the Legions. He is cremated and his ashes preserved in a gold vessel at London, in the new tower which he had himself constructed. [$45] Gorhuandus Red Beard, no unworthy heir to Belinus, fittingly assumes

his father’s crown. He is a guardian of justice, promoter of goodness, lover of peace, defender of the widow, protector of the orphan, an enemy to his foes, a friend to his friends, brave in battle, handsome in appearance, of notably large stature, prudent in counsel, lavish in the giving of gifts. When Denmark refuses to give him the tribute which it had promised to his father, he will not brook it. Sailing against the Danes, he subjugates them; their king is killed and the people

forced to pay tribute as his slaves. [846] While he is returning victorious with full sails, he aden meets in

65

LIBER III

Obuiat occeano ratibus. Rex querit eorum Aduentus causam. Quorum dux transit ad illum

Et iunctis manibus supplex genibusque reflexis Inquit: ‘Ab Hispanis expulsi finibus anno Elapso mare classe uaga sulcamus, ubi fors Nos agit errantes. Petimus pronique rogamus Ut certam partem sit nobis fas habitare In regione tua.' Precibus ducis annuit. Illis Insula uasta datur, nullis habitata priorum. Cumque dies uite regis supprema ueniret, Ille bonis cedit et in Urbe iacet Legionum. [$47]

110

115

Guizelinus ei succedit; iura benigne

Regni, dum uiuit, tractat. Cui Marcia coniunx Traditur, ingenio pollens, insignis in omni Arte. Nouam legem statuit; de nomine cuius Nomen sortitur. Defuncto rege gubernat Marcia pacifice regnum: nam filius eius, Tantum septennis, Sisillius, ad diadema Portandum non est maturus. Marcia uero Frena regit regni rigide. Postquam sua soluit Debita nature, iuuenis Sisillius illi Succedit regnique decus sibi sumit honusque. Post illum regnat Kinuuarus filius eius; Danius eius ei frater succedit.

[$48]

120

125

At illum In regno sequitur Morindus filius eius, Sed non legitime natus. Quo corpore maior Uel probitate prior uel largior in tribuendis Muneribus nullus toto reperitur in orbe. Sed nimis indulgens feritati suffocat omnes Uirtutes alias quibus est laudabilis ipse.

130

135

In regnum cuius magna comitante caterua

Rex Morianorum seuus uenit. Obuiat illi Innumero Britonum circumdatus agmine. Partes Prelia committunt; stragem facit agmen utrumque. Solus rex Britonum gladio facit in Morianos

140

Maiorem stragem quam cetera turba suorum. 108 supplex CP; suplex V. 109 Hispanis PV; Yspanis C. 114 uasta CV; nacta P. supprema CP; suprema V. 117 Guizelinus P; Guidelinus C; Guithelinus V: benigne begnigne V. 121 Defuncto PV; Deffuncto C. 123 septennis P; septenis CV: Sisillius Sisilius C: diadema P; dyadema CV. 125 regit regni PV; regni regit C. 126 Sisillius

Sisilius C.

127 Succedit PV; Suscedit C.

128 Kinuuurus P; Kaymarus C; Kaimarus V.

129 Danius eius ei frater CV; Danus ei frater eius P: at illum PV; eumque C.

CP; Morundus V.

repertur V.

131 legitime CP; legitenue V.

134 feritati PV; ueritatiC.

115 CP; PV; PV;

137 seuus PV; serius C.

66

130 Morindus

133 nullus PV; om. C: reperitur CP;

141 CV only; om. P.

BOOK III

mid-ocean thirty ships bearing both men and women. The king asks the reason for their arrival. Their leader crosses to the king and, clasping his hand and bending his knees in prayer, says: ‘Driven from the shores of Spain, we have ploughed the sea for a whole year, our fleet roaming wherever fortune directed our wanderings. We ask and eagerly beg that you give us a fixed region in your territory, where we may be allowed to live.’ The king grants their request. They are given an empty island, never before inhabited. When the last day of the king’s life comes, he dies and is buried in the City of the Legions. [$47] He is succeeded by Guizelinus, who rules the kingdom clemently for as long as he lives. Marcia is given to him as wife, a woman of great intellect, noted in all the arts. She instituted a new law, which bears her name. On the death of the king, Marcia rules the realm peacefully, as her son Sisillius is not ready to wear the crown, being only seven years old. Marcia holds the reins of power firmly. After she pays her debt to nature, the youth Sisillius succeeds her, assuming both the title and responsibilities of king. After him reigns his son Kinwarus, who is succeeded by his brother Danius. [$48] The next king is Morindus, his son, but not legitimately born. No one in the whole world could be found of greater stature, more good, or more generous

in giving gifts; but all the virtues which gain him praise are outweighed by his unbridled savagery. When the fierce king of the Moriani, accompanied by a large army, enters his kingdom, he opposes him in the midst of an innumerable force of Britons. Battle is joined on both sides and both armies inflict casualties. The British king alone with his sword does greater execution among the Moriani

67

LIBER III

[$49]

[$50]

Cedit ei tandem uictoria; seuit in hostes Terga fuge dantes gladioque suo iubet omnes Seruari satagensque sue furialiter ire In cunctos fertur; cunctorum funera gaudet Ascribi sibimet. Fera dextera percuciendo Forte fatigatur, sed mens sitibunda cruoris

145

Indefessa manet. Dum cessat dextera lassa, Ipse facit propriis spoliari pellibus omnes Appositoque iubet spoliatos igne cremari. Dum uacat in cunctis intento corde furori, Belua, que regis crudelia uindicet acta,

150

Exit ab occeano; quam cum prope constat adesse Magnanimo regi, poscit certamen inire Solus cum sola. Telis petit exiciale Monstrum; consumptis manet hec sine uulnere telis Et regem oppressum mendico deuorat ore

155

Et quasi pisciculum uentri commendat inani. Gorbonianus ei succedit filius eius Maior, cui fratres sunt quatuor. Equius illo Nemo regnauit: restaurat diruta templa Et noua plura facit; superis impendit honorem; Iusticiam seruat; uires eneruat iniqui; Agricolas reddit tutos et furta prophanat Et fortes ditat iuuenes. Quo preside pollet Insula diuiciis, quantis nec retro nec ante Claruit. Omnis abest predo, pax regnat ubique. Tandem de medio sublatus obit clarisque sepultus

160

165

Londoniis magno tumuli decoratur honore. Archigallo fratri succedit Gorboniano, Fratri dissimilis gestis: ut qui generosos

170

Opprimit, exaltat infames, diuitibusque Diuicias aufert, et opes de rebus eorum Accumulans Britonum sibi querit in omnibus iram. Insurgunt in eum solioque uiriliter illum Priuant et regem priuate uiuere cogunt. Illius frater Elidurus regis honore Post illum potitur, Pius appellatus ob ipsum

175

146 dextera CP; dextra V. 147 sitibunda CP; sibunda V. 148 Indefessa PV; Indeffessa C; lassa PV; laxa C. 150 Appositoque PV; Appositosque C. 153 adesse CPV (preceded by

deleted habere in C). 155 Solus PV, Solum C.

160 quatuor P; .iv. CV.

164 reddit CP; redit

V: furta CP; surca V. 168 clarisque P; talansque C; talarisque V. 169 tumuli CPV (preceded by deleted tumul in C). 170 Archig allo CV; Ardigallo P; fratri P; frater CV. 171 Fratri P; Fratris CV. 173 aufert PV; auffert C. 177 Elidurus CP; Elichirus V. 178 appelatus CV; appelatur P.

68

BOOK III

The British king alone with his sword does greater execution among the Moriani than all the rest of his men. At last victory is his. He rages against the enemy as they turn to flee. Ordering that all be reserved for his sword, and furiously indulging his anger, he attacks them all and rejoices at being counted the killer of each man. It happens that his savage hand is worn out with striking; but his blood-thirsty mind remains insatiable. When his weary hand fails, he has them all stripped of their skins and, after they have been flayed alive, orders that fire be brought to burn them. While all of them hold the attention of his mind filled with fury, a beast comes from the sea to take vengeance on the king’s cruel deeds. When the haughty king learns that it is close at hand, he demands to engage it in single combat and hurls spears at the deadly monster. But when they are used up, the beast remains unwounded; it pounces on the king, devours him with greed maw, and entrusts him to its empty belly like a little fish. [§49] He is succeeded by his eldest son, Gorbonianus, who has four brothers. No one ruled more justly than him: he restores dilapidated temples and builds many new; he pays honour to the gods; he preserves justice and weakens the forces of injustice; he keeps farmers safe, banishes theft, and enriches brave young men. During his reign the island enjoys wealth beyond any for which it has been renowned before or since. Nowhere are there robbers, peace reigns everywhere. At last death removes him from the stage, and his burial-place in the famous city of London is marked by a tomb of great honour. [850] Gorbonianus is succeeded by his brother Archigallo. He acts quite differently from his brother, oppressing the nobles, ennobling the low-born, and depriving the rich of their wealth. Enriching himself on the possessions of the Britons, he invites their anger in all things. They rebel against the king, vigorously deprive him of his throne, and force him to live as a private citizen. After

him the office of king passes to his brother Elidurus. He came to be called ‘the

69

LIBER III

Quod fecit'cum fratre suo signum pietatis. Namque sui regni lustro incipiente secundo,

180

Dum sequitur ceruos, frater suus obuiat illi In nemore Archigallo. Quo uiso frater in eius Se gerit amplexum, repetitaque basia fratris Imprimit «in» faciem, consolaturque gementem, Et secum deducit eum thalamoque reponit, Omnibus ignaris facti. Rex ergo uocatis Regni principibus pacemque fidemque reformat Inter eos fratremque suum fratrique coactos Subdit eos demitque suo diadema suique

[$51]

185

Imponit fratris capiti: Pius inde uocatur. Rex nouus hinc regnat lustris in pace duobus Exercens uite contraria facta priori. Denique decedit populoque fauente Britanno Nomine reque Pius Elidurus frena secundo

190

Assumens regni bene regnat. Sed Paledurus Ingeniusque, duo regis fratres Eliduri, Insurgunt in eum et fratrem deponere temptant; Et tandem capiunt et priuant regis honore. Fratribus est regni diuisio facta duobus. Mors concludit eis; Elydurum tercia regem Sors facit.

195

[852]

200

In regno post illum Gorboniani

Filius erigitur patremque imitatur in actu. Arthigalonis eum Marganus filius ipso In regno sequitur, omni bonitate decorus. Post quem sex annis frater suus Ennius ipsum Regnum detractans regni priuatur honore. Filius Ingenii post hunc Yduallo gubernat Regnum. Succedit Pereduri filius illi Kymo. Pii proles sequitur Gerancius illum. Succedit Castellus ei sequiturque Coillus. Porrex in regno sequitur; post hunc quoque Cherin. Hic habuit natos tres: est Fulgencius uni

205

210

180 regni PV; regem C: secundo PV; .ii. C. 182 Archigallo CV; Ardigallo P. 183 amplexum CP; amplexus V. 184 Imprimit in my emendation; Imprimit CPV. 185 thalamoque CV; talamoque P. 186 facti CP; factis V. 189 diadema P; dyadema CV. 191 hinc PV; hic C. 194 Elidurus CP; Elichurus V. 195 Paledurus CP; Peledurus V. 196 regis fratres PV; fratres regis C: Eliduri CP; Elichuri V. 197 temptant CPV (preceded by deleted negant in C).

199 diuisio P; dominacio CV.

Sors P; Mors CV: illum PV; ipsum V.

200 eis CV; eos P: Elydurum CP; Elichirum V.

202 patremque PV; fratremque C.

201

203 Arthigallonis

C; Ardigallonis P; Arthgollonis V. 205 sex PV; .vi. C: Ennius CP; Emnius V. 207 Yduallo CV; Ytuuallo P. 208 illi PV; illa C. 209 Kymo P; Kinio C; Rymo V: Gerancius P; Granicus

C; Gungerancius (?) V.

210 Coillus PV; Gorilus

70

C. 211-15 P only; om. CV.

BOOK III

Good’ because of a notable act of piety towards his brother. For at the beginning of the sixth year of his reign, while he hunts stag, he is met in the forest by his brother Archigallo. Seeing him, the king throws himself into his arms, printing repeated kisses on his brother’s face and consoling his groans. He takes him with him and hides him in his chamber, unbeknown to all. Summoning the nobles of the kingdom, he reinstates peace and loyalty between them and his brother. Then he forces them to submit to the latter, removes the crown from his head, and places it on that of his brother: hence he is called Elidurus the Good. The new king then reigns in peace for ten years, his actions the opposite of those of his former life. [$51] When at length he dies, Elidurus, good in name and deed, assumes the

reins of power for a second time with the approval of the British people. He reigns well, but the king’s two brothers, Paledurus and Ingenius, rebel in an attempt to depose their brother, and eventually capture and dethrone him. The kingdom is divided between the two brothers. But death puts an end to them, and fate makes Elidurus king for a third time. [$52] He is succeeded by the son of Gorbonianus, whose actions correspond

to those of his father. He is followed as king by Marganus, son of Archigallo, illustrious in every virtue. After him his brother Ennius reigns for six years, but is deprived of his royal status for ruling badly. Ydvallo, Ingenius’s son, reigns after him. He is succeeded by Kymo, Peredurus’s son, then follow Gerancius, son of Elidurus, Castellus, and Coillus, and after them Porrex and Cherin. Cherin had three sons, named Fulgencius, Eldanus and Andragius. Fulgencius,

71

LIBER III

Nomen, et Eldanus aliis est Andragiusque. Hinc primogenitus regnat Fulgencius; inde

215

Eldanus regnum post fratris fata gubernat;

[$53]

[$54]

[$55]

Post hunc Andragius, Urianus, Enos, Eliudus, Rodaldus, Cloteus, Gorhuandus, Merianus, Bledunus, Capius, Sisillius, et Blegabredus; Hic, quoniam cunctos excellit in arte canendi, Est ioculatorum decus et tutela uocatus. Post hunc Archinayl, Rodyon, Roderchius, Eldon; Succedunt Samuil Penisel, Pyr, Capoyrus. Isti succedit Digellus filius eius, Uir iustus, fortis, prudens, pius, atque modestus. Post illum regnat illius filius Hely Et lustris octo tractat sine fraude Britannos. Post obitum cuius Ludh regnat filius eius, Dapsilis et fortis, et iustus, et edificator Murorum; renouat plures et construit urbes. Cassibellanus frater succedit eidem, Quamuis Androgeus, Tenuancius, inclita proles Fratris, regalis attingere culmen honoris Deberent; tamen id fieri minor impedit etas. Iulius interea post Gallica regna subacta Partis in opposite stans litore, nobile regnum Prospiciens Britonum, gentis terreque relato Nomine sic inquit: *Lacios Britonesque fuisse Eiusdem generis memorat ueneranda uetustas; Sed tamen a nobis distant probitate locoque. Hortandi cito sunt nobis prestare tributum Aut ui cogendi." Quod cum scripsisset et ipsi Mandasset regi, rex indignatus eidem Consilio fretus heroum talia scribit: *Roma, manus rodens, thesauri dedita tante Ydropisi, quam nulla phisis tibi tollere nouit, Quid tibi nobiscum? Cur nos tibi subdere temptas?

216 Enos CP; Enoc V: Eliudus PV; Elyudus C.

220

225

230

235

240

245

217 Cloteus CP; Cleteus V: Gorhuandus CP;

Guirgicus V. 218 Sisillius PV; Sisilbius C: Blegabredus P; Blegobredus C; Blegabledus V. 219 Hic P; Hii C; Hinc V. 221 Archinayl P; Archymayl C; Arthimayl V: Rodyon P; Rodion CV: Roderchius V; Rodericus CP.

222 Samuil Penisel V; Sanul Penysel C; Samul Pennisel

P: Pyr CP; Pir V: Capoyrus P; Capoir CV, 223 Digellus CV; Dygoellus P. 227 Ludh PV; Lud C. 228 edificator PV; edifficator C. 230 Cassibellanus V; «C»assibellanus C; Cassibellannus P. 231 Quamuis PV; Et quamuis C: Androgeus CP; Androge V: Tenuancius PV; Tiniarcius C. 232 fratris P; Hely CV. 235 litore PV; littore C: nobile CV; nomine P. 240 Hortandi P; Ortandi CV.

243 scribit CP; scripsit V.

Ydropsi P; Ydropsis CV.

72

244 Roma PV; «R»oma

C.

245

BOOK III

the eldest, reigns first, then after his brother’s death Eldanus, then Andragius, Urianus, Enos, Eliudus, Rodaldus, Cloteus, Gorhuandus, Merianus, Bledunus, Capius, Sisillius, and Blegabredus, who, because he surpasses all in the art of singing, is called the ornament and protection of minstrels. After him succeed Archinayl, Rodyon, Roderchius, Eldon, Samuil Penisel, Pyr, and Capoyrus. This last is succeeded by his son Digellus, a just man, brave, wise, good, and restrained. [$53] After him reigns his son Hely, who rules the Britons without deceit for

forty years. After his death, power passes to his son Ludh, who is generous, brave, and just, and a great builder of walls: he repairs many cities and constructs others. His brother Cassibellanus succeeds him, even though his brother’s illustrious offspring, Androgeus and Tenuancius, ought to enjoy the high title of king; but this is prevented by their lack of years. [854] Meanwhile Julius Caesar, after overcoming the kingdoms of Gaul, stands on the shore of the land opposite looking at the noble realm of the Britons. When he hears the name of the country and its people, he says: ' Venerable tradition tells that Romans and Britons are sprung from the same stock; yet they are inferior to us in both virtue and station. They must swiftly be commanded to pay us tribute, or be compelled to do so by force.’ [855] He writes this and sends it to the king. After consulting his warriors, the

king angrily sends him the following reply: *Rome, you gnaw at the hand, and you are given over to such a thirst for treasure that no medicine can cure you. What business have you with us? Why are you trying to conquer us? The fire of

73

LIBER III

Ardor auaricie, quo naturaliter ardes,

[$56]

Te stimulat census mundique sitire metalla. Laudamus Parthos, et in hoc absoluimus illos Quod Crassus uitam finiuit funere digno, Ore bibens aurum quod corde sitiuit auaro. Attamen Eneas, a quo patre ducimus ortum, Nos facit equales; nulli seruiuimus umquam, Nulli paremus, nulli parere tenemur. Nobilitas eadem nos et uos reddit eosdem, Quos partim superare cupis, partimque subesse. Cesar, qui ceso nomen trahis istud ab hoste, Ne quia cederis sis Cesar, cede Britannis! An quia succumbit tibi Gallia uicta, superbis, Quam tam sepe patres nostri domuisse feruntur? Et quandoque tui nostris soluere tributum." Cesar, ut audiuit regis responsa, leone Seuior irato nimia succenditur ira Nauigiumque parat; uento dat uela; Tamensem Classe petit fluuium. Quem cum uenisse refertur Regi, regni rex armatos conuocat omnes. Princeps milicie regni regisque nepotes Tresque simul reges procerumque ducumque caterue Regis in auxilium properant. Cum Cesare bellum Committunt; hinc inde uolant per litora pila; Cesa cadunt, quorum non est numerus, morientum Corpora; sanguineus altas deducit harenas In pelagus torrens rubeasque facit maris undas. Dum stat in ambiguo cui martis gloria cedat, Nennius innumero stipatus milite, frater Regis, et Androgeus dispergunt Cesaris agmen. Nennius et Cesar arreptis ensibus alter Tendit in alterius iugulum, sed Cesaris ensem

Alter ei demit; cuius natura stupenda est. Nomine Mors Crocea: quod nomen contigit illi Cedis ab euentu, quia, siquem sauciat, illi Nulla medela potest uite conferre salutem.

250

255

260

265

270

275

280

Iulius amisso gladio fugit. Eius in ipsum 248 Te stimulat PV; Te stimulat te C: mundique CP; mondique V. 250 Crassus C; Cresus PV.

partimque PV; partique C. cedaris V.

252 Attamen PV; Atamen C.

257 trahis PV; trahit C.

249 Parthos CV; Partos P.

255 eosdem CP; eodem V.

256

258 Ne CV; Nam P: cederis CP;

259 succumbit C; subcumbit PV: Gallia uicta CP; Gallica uita V. 260 tam CPV

(corrected from team in V). 263 succenditur CP; succeditur V. 265 Quem PV; Quod C: refertur PV; reffertur C. 267 Princeps P; Principes CV: nepotes CPV (preceded by deleted trib in C). 270 Committunt CV; Conmittunt P: litora CP; littora V: pila PV; pylaC. 281 euentu P; inuentu C; euenti V: quia P; quod CV.

74

283 Iulius CP; Sed Iulius V.

BOOK III

greed, with which you burn by nature, drives you to thirst for the taxes and metals of the world. We praise the Parthians and absolve them from blame for making Crassus end his life in a fitting manner — drinking down the gold for which his greedy heart thirsted. Moreover, Aeneas, the ancestor from whom we both spring, makes us equals; we have never been anybody's slaves, we obey no man nor are we bound to do so. Our equal lineage makes our peoples one and the same, yet you wish part to rule and part to serve. Caesar, you derive your name from the slaughter of the enemy: but lest you are called Caesar from your own slaughter, yield to the Britons! Are you made proud because Gaul is defeated and lies at your feet — Gaul which our forefathers are said to have vanquished so many times? And indeed you Romans once payed tribute to our ancestors.’ [$56] When he hears the king’s reply, Caesar burns with fierce indignation, more savagely than an angry lion. He prepares to sail, spreads his canvas to the wind, and makes for the Thames with his fleet. When his coming is reported to the king, he summons all the armed men of his kingdom. There hurry to his aid the commander-in-chief of the realm and the king’s nephews, together with three sub-kings and crowds of nobles and dukes. They join battle with Caesar; spears fly over the shore in both directions; the mutilated bodies of the dead fall, who are beyond number; a torrent of blood sweeps the surface-sand into the sea and dyes its waves red. While it is uncertain to whom the glory of battle will go, Nennius, the king’s brother, in the midst of innumerable soldiers, and Androgeus disorder Caesar’s forces. Drawing their swords, Nennius and Caesar advance, each to kill the other, but Nennius deprives Caesar of his sword: its properties are amazing, being called ‘Yellow Death’ from the doom it deals, because no medicine can save the life of anyone wounded by it. The loss of this weapon makes Caesar flee. Nennius rages against him with his own sword, and

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LIBER III

Nennius ense furit. Conuertunt terga Quirini, Qui Mortis Crocee uim norant. Dum fugientes Insequitur, dum mille cadunt ictuue metuue, Occurrit Labienus ei, ditatus honoris Iure tribunicii; cuius caput amputat ense Nennius. Hinc fugiunt Lacii passim laceratis Agminibus repetuntque suas cum Cesare naues; Ad Gallos remisque rates uelisque feruntur.

[§57]

[$58]

[$59]

Rex igitur uictor, superato Cesare letus, Uictorum dispergit opes uictoribus eque; Uirtutum titulos declarat dextera dantis. Sed quia, dum ridet, deridet gloria mundi, Inter leticie plausus uocesque triumphi Occupat interior luctus precordia regis. Nam uulnus letale gerens in pectore frater Regis presentis amittit gaudia uite. Et Trinouantum conditus conditur urbe; In cuius tumulo tumulatur Cesaris ensis. Constitit ut Gallis Lacios rediisse fugatos, Cesareo sua colla iugo subducere temptant. Namque putant Britones fama referente uenire Romanosque sequi, tectum quoque classibus equor. Cesar, ut agnouit Gallos sibi bella minari, Et se post Britonum certamina debilitatum, Discordes sibi concordat cum plebe potentes, Large distribuens illis aurum quod auare Accumulauerat; exheredatis sua iura Restituit; timet hos Cesar quibus ipse timori est. Quam bona libertas! Quam detestabilis auri Argentique fames! Que libera debuit esse — Et potuit — corrupta datis gens Gallica seruit. Cesar letatur Gallis sibi pacificatis; Corde tamen teritur quociens memoranda retractat Bella Britannorum conuersaque terga suorum. Iulius innumero circumdatus agmine magnum Transmeat occeanum. Quem rex Britonum uenientem Comperiens, urbes et diruta menia munit. Hamatasque sudes prudens affigit in amne,

287 Labienus PV; Habrenus C: ditatus PV; ditaturus C.

caput C; capud PV.

289 passim V; om. CP.

285

290

295

300

305

310

315

320

288 tribunicii PV; tribucinii C:

300 CV only; om. P. 302 Gallis CPV

(corrected from Gallos in C). 303 Cesareo PV; Cessareo C. 307 se post PV; septus C. 315 letatur PV; letatisC. 318 circumdatus PV, circondatus C: magnum CPV (corrected from

magno in C).

319 Transmeat PV; Transfretat (preceded by deleted Comperiens urbes) C.

320 diruta CP; disrupta V.

321 Hamatasque CPV (corrected from Hamatisque in V).

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BOOK III

the Romans turn their backs, knowing the power of Yellow Death. Nennius follows the fugitives. While a thousand fall either by his blows or through fear, Labienus, who enjoys the honour of tribunician power, opposes him, only to be beheaded by Nennius’s sword. At that the Romans flee in all directions, their army shattered, and retire with Caesar to the ships, which carry them by oar and sail to Gaul. [§57] The triumphant king, delighted at Caesar's defeat, distributes fairly the possessions of the vanquished to the victors; the gifts given by his hand signal their praiseworthy merits. However, because the glory of this world mocks us while it smiles, private grief possesses the king’s heart amid the happy cheers and triumphant voices; for, mortally wounded in the chest, the king’s brother loses the joys of this life. He is embalmed and buried in Trinovantum, with Caesar’s sword beside him in his tomb. [858] As soon as the Gauls realise that the Romans have returned in rout, they try to shake Caesar’s yoke from their necks. The report of rumour leads them to believe that the British will come in pursuit of the Romans and that the sea will be hidden beneath their ships. Caesar recognises that the Gauls are threatening him with war and that he is weakened after his struggle with the Britons. He wins over the allegiance of his opponents, both nobles and common people, by freely giving them the gold which he has greedily amassed; to the disinherited he restores their rights. Caesar is frightened of those to whom he is himself a cause of fear. How blessed is liberty! How accursed the hunger for gold and silver! The Gallic people, which should be free — and could have been — is enticed into servitude by gifts. Caesar rejoices at pacifying the Gauls, but is sick at heart whenever he recalls the memorable wars = by the Britons and the backs of his troops turned in flight. [§59] In the midst of an innumerable army Caesar crosses the ocean. Hearing of his sailing, the British king fortifies his cities and crumbling walls. He cunningly places stakes with curved blades in the river where the Roman fleet

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LIBER III

[$60]

[$61]

Quo classis Romana uenit, seruatque marinos Portus ne regnum possint intrare Quirini. Nec mora Cesar adest; fluuium petit. In latitantes Se male fert ignara sudes classis peritura; Lesa receptat aquas; impletam ducit in imum Pondus aque; Lacii mortem paciuntur in undis. Quorum naufragium Cesar cum parte suorum Eminus aspiciens ad terram uela retorquet, Et sic euadit genus hoc miserabile mortis. Rex uero Britonum, quem uisa pericula gentis Romane letum faciunt, pars salua molestat, Irruit in Lacios; Laciorum turba resistit; Uulnera dant capiuntque simul; pars omnis anhelat Partis in interitum. Sed pars Romana minoris Est numeri patiturque sui dispendia passim. Decrescunt Lacii semper, Britonumque cohortes Augentur semper. Quod cum dux ipse uideret, Depuduit dare terga fuge uotoque petitas Ad Morianorum litus subducere naues. At uictor uicto bis Cesare pectore toto Letus diis celi grates impendit et omnes Precipit acciri proceres procerumque maritas. Conueniunt igitur ex omni parte uocati Sacrificantque deis tauros niueasque iuuencas Innumerosque boues; mactant uolucresque ferasque Diuersi generis; adolent quoque thuris odores. Inde uacant epulis; ineunt post seria ludos. Urbs Trinouantum leto tonat undique plausu. Sed quia successus humani stare tenaci Non possunt passu sed eos rota uoluit in orbe, Uertitur in luctum regalis tibia plausus. Namque duos iuuenes forma prestante, nepotes Regis et Androgei, nitida certasse palestra Contigit. Androgeique nepos ferit ense nepotem Regis eumque neci tradit. Tunc concio tota Concita turbatur; regem dolor occupat ingens.

325

330

H3

340

345

350

355

322 amne CV; ampne P. 323 ne regnum CPV (suprascript in V). 325 sudes CPV (after deleted fides in C). 326 in CP; ad V. 329 Eminus CP; Emius V. 334 anhelat P; hanelat CV.

335 Partis in P; Mortis in C; om. V.

336 passim CP; lapsim V.

337 Lacii semper P;

semper Lacii CV. 339 petitas CV; potitum P. 340 litus PV; littus C: subducere PV; deducere C. 341 At uictor CPV (corrected from ex uictore in C). 343 Precipit CPV (in margin in V). 345 niueasque PV; uineasque C. 347 thuris P; turis C; cinis V. 349 Trinouantum PV; Trinouatum C: tonat PV; dat donat (7) C. 350 successus PV; susc essus C... 351 possunt PV; possit C. 354 Androgei PV; Androchei C: certasse PV; certare C. 355 Androgeique P; Androcheique C; Androgei V. 356 neci PV; neti (or ueti?) C: Tunc PV; cum C.

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BOOK III

approaches and guards the sea-ports so that the Romans may not land in his kingdom. [$60] Within a short space of time Caesar is at hand, making for the river. The doomed fleet sails ignorantly and foolishly onto the hidden stakes; the ships are holed, take in water, and, when they fill, the weight of water sends them to the bottom; the Romans die in the waves. Caesar, seeing their shipwreck from a distance, turns his sails toward land with a part of his forces and so avoids this

pitiable death. The British king delights to see the disasters of the Romans, but is sad that some of them are safe. He rushes against them, and they resist in a body; wounds are given and received; each side desires the destruction of the other. But the Romans are fewer in number and are suffering losses on all sides; as they continually grow less, the British forces continually increase. When the Roman leader sees this himself, he overcomes his shame, turns in flight, and retires to the shore of the Moriani with the ships he longed to reach. [$61] The victor, rejoicing with all his heart at having twice defeated Caesar, gives thanks to the gods in heaven and orders that all his nobles and their wives be summoned. The invited come from every quarter and sacrifice to the gods bulls, snow-white heifers, and cows without number; they slaughter birds and wild beasts of various kinds; and they burn sweet smelling incense. Then they are free to feast and hold games after the serious business. The city of Trinovantum rings throughout with joyous applause. But because human successes cannot stand firm and unmoved, and Fortune's wheel turns them full circle, the flute of royal rejoicing is changed to sadness. For it happens that two exceptionally handsome youths, the nephews of the king and Androgeus, contend glistening with oil in the wrestling-ring. Androgeus's nephew strikes the king's nephew with his sword and kills him. Then the whole assembly is excited and perturbed. The king, seized by great grief, has the murderer summoned and

79

LIBER III

[$62]

Acciri faciens homicidam iudicat illum Esse reum mortis, quoniam qui percutit ense, Ense iubet perimi ueteris sacra lectio legis. Hoc uetat Androgeus. Rex indignatus in eius Seuus bachatur igni ferroque ducatum; Nec prece nec precio cepta desistit ab ira. Androgeus nichil esse uidens quod competat illi, Cesaris in partem se transfert. Cesar in eius

360

365

Auxilium confisus adit miserabile regnum. Iam rex Londonias obsederat, oppida, uillas Ruraque uastarat; sed postquam nouit adesse

Cesareas acies, cito deserit obsidionem Armaque conuertit a ciuibus eius in hostes. Sese conspiciunt Lacii Britonesque paratos Ad bellum uotisque petunt committere martem. Disponunt acies hinc inde necemque subire Pugnando cupiunt pocius quam uertere terga. Omnis abest hinc inde timor; grauis esse uidetur Et dampnosa mora turmis pugnare paratis. Concurrunt acies; emittunt preuia mortis Spicula; nulla manus torpescit, dum tenet ensem; Aut cadit aut cedit pars utraque; cedere cede Turpius esse putant; mortem decus esse triumphi, Qui cum laude uenit, reputant; nec uiuere curat Quis, nisi cui dederit celebrem uictoria uitam. Dum Britones Lacios lacerant Laciique Britannos, Irruit Androgeus et milia quinque uirorum Inuaditque ferox regem regisque cohortes A tergo, quibus ante dabat Romana iuuentus Terga; suos fugiunt ciues sua terga prementes. Quid facis, Androgeu? Que te demencia cogit

370

375

380

385

In populum seuire tuum? Seruire laboras, Qui fueras dominus? Tua te uictoria uictum Reddit, dumque tuos superas, te subicis hosti. Non tu, sed Cesar curru uictore uehetur. Quo uultu cernes tabulam Britonesque ligatos? Cesar erit uictor et tota Britannia uicta. Uictor honus pro laude feres, et Cesar honorem.

390

395

364 Androgeus PV; Androcheus C. 365 Cesaris PV; Cessaris C. 367 rex CP; quoque V: oppida P; opida CV. 369 Cesareas PV; Cessareas C. 369-73 cito deserit ... Disponunt acies CV only; om. P. 370 a C; a suprascriptover cum in V. 376 dampnosa CPV (corrected from damponosa in V): turmis CPV (suprascript in V): pugnare CV (corrected from pugnis in V); expugnare P. 382 cui PV; qui C. 383 Britones Lacios PV; Lacios Britones C. 386 dabat PV; dabant C. 388 cogit CPV (preceded by deleted demit in V).

80

BOOK III

sentences him to death, since the holy text of the Old Testament orders that he who strikes with the sword should die by the sword. Androgeus forbids this. The king in anger savagely rages against his duchy with fire and sword, nor will entreaty or money end his anger, once begun. Androgeus, seeing that there is no course open to him, goes over to Caesar. [$62] Caesar puts his trust in his aid and lands in the unfortunate kingdom. By now the king has London under siege and has laid waste towns, villages, and fields; but, after he discovers that Caesar's forces are at hand, he swiftly aban-

dons the siege and turns his weapons from his fellow-citizens to his foes. When the Romans and Britons see each other ready for war, their only wish is to join battle. They draw up their forces on either side and desire to die fighting rather than to turn their backs in flight. Neither side feels any fear; delay seems unbearable and contemptible to the troops who are ready to fight. The armies rush together; they loose arrows that presage death; no hand grows slack as long as it grips the sword; each side either strikes or is cut down; they consider it more shameful to yield than to be slaughtered; they think death an ornament of triumph, since it comes with praise; and no one wishes to live unless his life has been made glorious by victory. While the Britons and the Romans mangle each other, Androgeus and five thousand men charge and fiercely attack the king and his cohorts from the rear; whereas previously the youth of Rome were turning their backs to them, the Britons now flee from their own citizens, who are

pressing their backs. What are you doing, Androgeus? What madness compels you to destroy your own people? Do you, who were a master, struggle in order to become a slave? Your victory brings you defeat, and, while you conquer your own men, you submit yourself to the foe. It is not you but Caesar who will be carried in the triumphal chariot. With what expression will you see there the paifitings [viz. in the triumph] and the Britons in chains? Caesar will be the victor, and all Britain the vanquished. As victor, you will gain a weight of guilt rather than praise, and

81

LIBER III

Ecce tuus frater Tenuancius, hostibus hostis, Pugnat pro patria et pro libertate tuenda; Tu certas ut ferre iugum generosa propago Addiscat Britonum reddatque perhenne tributum. Esto memor Bruti nec agas contraria Bruto, Qui libertatem captiuis patribus olim Reddidit et proprio tribuit de nomine nomen. Mons sublimis erat, cuius prerupta cacumen Saxa coronabant, excelse turris adinstar. Illic ascendunt Britonum cum rege cohortes; Cesar et Androgeus regem Britonesque sequuntur. Sed rex et Britones montis fastigia nacti Fortiter insistunt, iacientes saxa; sequentes Precipitant saxis. Sed totum Cesaris ale Circueunt montem. Nullus patet exitus illis Obsessis; fame Cesar eos consumere gestit. Quod rex intendens scribit mittitque nepoti Talia uerba suo cum precedente salute: ‘Care nepos, miserere mei, miserere tuorum. Parce tue patrie: michi fac cum Cesare pacem. Nos fame deuicti submitti cogimur hosti.’ Androgeus, postquam regalis littera lecta est, Sic ait: ‘In bello pietas, in pace tyrannis: Utraque culpanda est. Quam recte, numina celi, Omnia disponitis! Patruus meus ecce precatur Quam dare contempsit ueniam michi. Cesaris orat Pace frui, cuius pacem prius ipse rogabat Cesar: debuerat igitur me rex reuereri, Qui dare terga fuge dextra uictrice coegi Cesareas acies. Decuit perpendere regem Hos, quos uictores feci, me reddere posse

Uictos, quos uici uersa uice reddere posse Uictores: non ergo fui tractandus inique. Est stolidus princeps qui per quos ipse triumphat Et per quos regnat caros infestat ut hostes. Sed quoniam supplex pacem ueniamque precatur, Tractabo de regis ego cum Cesare pace.’

[$63]

405

410

415

420

425

430

Cesaris inde pedes amplexus postulat illum

396 Tenuancius P; Tenuacius CV. 397 pro (second occurrence) CV; om. P. 403 cacumen PV; tacumen C. 406 sequuntur P; secuntur CV. 407 fastigia PV; fastidia C. 409 totum

CP; tote V.

411 gestit CP; gessit V.

413 suo CPV (preceded by underpointed c in V). 427 428 tractandus CP: ; tristandus V. 430 ut PV; 432 de reg is ego P; de regis eo C; iam de regis V: Cesare

uici PV; uinci C: uersa uice PV; uice uersaC.

inC.

431 supplex PV; simplex C.

PV; Cessare C.

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BOOK III

Caesar the glory. See, your brother Tenuancius, a foe to his foes, fights for his motherland to preserve its liberty. But you are fighting so that the noble race of Britons may learn to endure a yoke and pay tribute for ever. Remember Brutus who once restored liberty to your forefathers in captivity and gave them a name derived from his own: do not act in the opposite way to him. There is a lofty hill, like a high tower, its summit crowned with jagged rocks. Thither climb the British cohorts and their king, followed by Androgeus and Caesar. When they reach the top of the hill, they resist fiercely, hurling down rocks which bowl over their pursuers. But Caesar’s squadrons surround the whole hill and there is no means of escape for the besieged. Caesar means to starve them to death. Realising this, the king writes the following letter and sends it to his nephew preceded by a greeting. ‘Dear nephew, take pity on me, take pity on your people. Spare your native land. Make peace with Caesar for me. Overcome by hunger, we are compelled to surrender to the enemy.’ After the king’s letter has been read, Androgeus says: ‘Softheartedness in war, tyranny in peace, either is reprehensible. How justly you arrange everything, gods in heaven. See, my uncle begs for the mercy which he spurned to give to me. He asks to enjoy peace from Caesar, when previously Caesar himself requested peace from him. My king should have treated me with respect, since I with triumphant hand forced Caesar’s troops to turn in retreat. He should have realised that I could make those whom I made the victors the vanquished, and conversely those whom I defeated victorious. I should not therefore have been unjustly treated. The prince is a fool who attacks like enemies those friends through whom he himself triumphs and rules. But since he humbly asks for peace and pardon, I will consult Caesar about peace for the king.’ [863] Then, clutching Caesar's feet, he asks him to pardon the king and exact

83

LIBER III

Ut tribuat regi ueniam sumatque tributum.

Cesar uix motus precibus ducis annuit illi.

[$64]

O rex infelix, quid agis? Pax Cesaris omni Est nece deterior et peste molestior omni. Hanc tua posteritas pacem merebit in euum; Imponet pax ista iugum seruile futuris. Cesaris et regis firmata pace, tributi Taxato numero, cuius tria milia summa est Marcharum argenti, tunc nostra Britannia primum Addidicit portare iugum dominumque timere. Uere nouo Cesar collectis undique turmis Tendit in Ytaliam. Confundit fasque nefasque; Contra communem bellum gerit utilitatem; Pompeio fugiente sibi ius uendicat omne. At postquam Tytan septem compleuerat annos, Cassibellanus nature debita soluit. Succedit dux Cornubie Tenuancius illi; Nam dux Androgeus ierat cum Cesare Romam. Kybelinus ei succedit filius eius, Quem pius Augustus Rome nutriuerat, armis Munierat, donis ditauerat; unde Quirinos Diligit in tantum quod, cum retinere tributum Nec dare Romanis possit, sine murmure reddit.

435

445

450

455

436 O rex PV; ex C: pax PV; cum C. 440 re gis CPV (corrected from reges in C). 442 primum PV; iugum C. 443 Addidicit V; Addidisc it C; Addiscit P. 445 nefasque CP; nephasque V. 447 Pompeio V; Pompeyo CP: fugiente CP; surgente V. 448 Tytan PV; Titan C: septem PV; .vii. C. 450 Tenuancius CP; Tenuacius V. 451 Cesare PV; Cessare C. 452 Kybelinus P; Cambellinus C; Canbelinus V. 453 pius CP; prius V. 454 Munierat CP; Munerat et V.

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BOOK III

tribute from him. Caesar is with difficulty persuaded by the duke's prayers to grant this request. Unhappy king, what are you doing? Peace with Caesar is worse than any death and more deadly than any plague. Your descendants will rue this peace forever; it will place the yoke of servitude upon your successors. Caesar and the king ratify the peace, fixing the amount of the tribute at a sum of three thousand marks of silver. Then for the first time our Britain learned to bear a yoke and fear a master. At the beginning of spring Caesar collects his troops from all sides and marches on Italy. He confounds right and wrong by waging a war against the common good; and, on the flight of Pompey, absolute power passes into his hands. After the sun has travelled through seven years, Cassibellanus pays the debt of nature. [$64] Tenuancius, Duke of Cornwall, succeeds him, because Duke Androgeus had gone to Rome with Caesar. He is succeeded by his son Kibelinus, whom pious Augustus had brought up at Rome, had endowed with arms, and had laden with gifts. For this reason Kibelinus so loved the Romans that, although he could have kept back the tribute rather than giving it to them, he paid it without a murmur.

85

Liber Quartus Incipit quartus liber

Quartus ab Augusto cepit factoque per orbem Edicto natoque sacra de uirgine Christo. Pacificat noua nupta suum cum patre maritum. Lucius in Christum credit Christoque dicatas Ecclesias dotat; distinctas ordinat urbes. Rusticus intrusus ui regnat rege perempto.

Rex Constantinus sceptrum tenet imperiale. Iura bis assumit Octauius; et gener eius Armoricam superat terram mutatque ducatum In regnum; regnat Conanus primus in illo.

Dum Kibelino subiecta Britannia seruit, Augustus Cesar sceptrum gerit imperiale, Edictoque dato totus describitur orbis. Christus homo natus cepit carnaliter esse, Qui sine principio, qui principium sine fine, Et tamen est finis ad quem spes omnis anhelat.

10

15

Quem uirgo peperit, genitorem filia, florem

Arida uirga nouum, qui contulit ariditati Nostre fructiferum florem; partus tamen eius Unde fuit partus, nescit natura stupetque Angelus inferni, quoniam nil inuenit illic Mortali simile, nil quod corrumpere possit. Quo ueniente uenit complecio temporis. Hic est Sanctus sanctorum, regum rex; unctio cessat Eius in aduentum quem sanctus spiritus unxit; Hic est messias quem predixere prophete, Sol sub nube nitens, eclipsis nescius, et lux In tenebris lucens, nullis obscura latebris, Ignis non urens, ignisque in nocte columpna; Hic uerus Moyses sicco pede per mare rubrum

20

25

30

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Prologus libri .iiii. V. 1 Quartus PV; «Qu»artus C. 4-6 V; line 6 precedes lines 4-5 in CP. 4 dicatas PV; ditatas C. 7 sceptrum CP; ceptrum V. 8 Octauius CV; Octonius P. 10 regnum CP; regno V: illo

PV; ipso C.

11 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber quartus V: Dum PV; «D»um C: Kibelino P;

Cambellino CV.

12 sceptrum CPV (corrected from ceptrum in V): gerit PV; tenet C.

16

anhelat P; hanelat CV. 20 fuit CP; sui V. 23 complecio PV; compleccio C: Hic CPV (corrected from huic in C). 26 messias CP; messyas V. 27 nitens P; latens CV. 28 latebris CV; tenebris P.

86

Book

IV

The fourth book begins with Augustus, his edict made throughout the whole world, and the birth of Christ from the Holy Virgin. A new bride makes peace between her husband and her father. Lucius believes in Christ, endows churches dedicated to Him, and consecrates various cities. A low-born usurper kills a king and reigns by force. King Constantine holds the sceptre of empire. Octavius assumes the office of king twice. His son-in-law conquers the land of Armorica and changes a duchy into a kingdom; Conan is its first king. While Britain serves under king Kibelinus, Augustus Caesar wields the imperial sceptre and, at his command, the whole world is subjected to census. Christ takes on flesh in human form, He Who is without beginning, Who is beginning without end, yet is the end to which all hope aspires. A virgin gave birth to him, a daughter to her father, a dry branch to a fresh flower which bestows a fertile bloom upon our sterility. And yet how his birth came about is unknown to nature, and the angel of Hell is awe-struck because he finds there nothing similar to mortality, nothing which he can corrupt. At His coming comes the fulfillment of time. He is the holy of holies, the king of kings; anointing ceases at His coming, since He has been anointed by the Holy Spirit. He is the Messiah foretold by the prophets, the sun shining through the clouds which is never eclipsed, the light blazing in the darkness which no hiding-place can quench, the fire that does not burn, and the fiery column in the night. He is the true Moses who led the way dry-shod through the Red Sea by undergoing

87

LIBER IV

[$65]

[$66]

Duxit iter; subiens crucis aram sanguine fuso; Iordanem primus Moyses non transiit, iste In Iordanis aqua nostrum scelus abluit; ille Egyptum populo Domini spoliauit, at iste Infernum penetrans inferni federa rupit; Ille Dei seruos ad terram melle fluentem Ducere non potuit preuentus morte, fideles Iste suos duxit secum fecitque perhenni Pace frui faciemque Dei sine fine uidere. At Kibelino lustris regnante duobus Insula diuiciis et larga pace resultat. Iamque duos iuuenes generarat, nomina quorum Guider et Aruiragus. Guider post funera patris Frena regit regni rigide prohibetque tributum Reddi Romanis. Confestim Claudius illuc Cesar ducit iter; cum quo uenit impiger Hamo, Milicie princeps. Britones uexare parati Cesaris aduentum fama referente, Britannos Ducit in occursum Laciorum Guider eosque Strennus inuadit. Rex solus uulnera plura Infert Romanis quam maxima pars sociorum. Claudius ergo uidens non posse resistere regi Romanas acies naues in litore stantes Uictus adit. Dispersa fugit Romana iuuentus, Cum sua uersutus deponit Lelius Hamo Arma sibi sumitque Britannica cumque Britannis Insequitur Lacios; demum mucrone soluto Interimit regem; partem petit inde suorum. Protinus Aruiragus regis celer induit arma Hortaturque suos prosternere fortiter hostes. Fortiter insistunt credentes uiuere regem;

35

45

50

55

Sternuntur Lacii. Cesar cum parte suorum Litus adit nauesque suas. At Lelius Hamo Ad nemorum secreta fugit; sequitur fugientem Turba Britannorum. Ruit huc illucque; ruentem Occupat Aruiragus eiusque in margine ripe

65

33 scelus CP; celus V. 34 Egyptum CP; Egiptum V: Domini CP; Domino V. 38 perhenni CP; perhemni V. 40 Kibelino P; Cambellino CV. 41 larga P; laudata C; longa V. 42 generarat PV, generat C. 43 Aruiragus CP; Aruitigus V. 44 Frena CP; Regna V. 48 referente PV; refferente C:

53 litore PV; littore C.

Aruiragus CP; Aruitigus V: celer PV; sceler C. CP; pre deleted, with parte in margin V.

55 Lelius P; Belius C; bellicus V.

60 Hortaturque P; Ortaturque V.

63 Lelius P; Belius C; lenius V.

Aruitigus V: ripe CV; rippeP. 67 caput CP; capud V. 88

59

62 parte

66 Aruiragus CP;

BOOK IV

sacrifice on the cross and shedding His blood. The first Moses did not cross the Jordan, but He washed away our sin in its waters; the first deprived Egypt of the people of the Lord, but He entered Hell to break its hold; the first was prevented by death from bringing the servants of God to the land which flowed with honey, but He led his faithful with him and made them enjoy eternal peace, seeing the face of God for ever. [565] For the ten years of Kibelinus’s reign the island glories in riches and

general peace. He had become the father of two youths, named Guider and Arviragus. After his father’s death, Guider takes a strong grip on the reins of

power and refuses to pay the tribute to the Romans. Immediately Claudius Caesar sets out for Britain, accompanied by Hamo, his tireless commander-inchief. [$66] When the rumour spreads that Caesar has come to harass the Britons, Guider leads them against the Romans, whom he attacks energetically. Singlehanded the king inflicts more wounds on the Romans than the majority of his men. Recognising that the Roman forces cannot stand up to the king, Claudius retires defeated to his ships, which are beached on the shore. The Roman troops are scattered in flight, when Laelius Hamo cunningly removes his armour, dons that of the British, and joins the Britons pursuing the Romans. At last, drawing his sword, he kills the British king and then returns to his own forces. At once Arviragus swiftly puts on the king's armour and exhorts his men boldly to slay the enemy; boldly they attack, thinking that the king lives, and the Romans are

cut down. Caesar reaches the shore and the ships with part of his force. But Hamo flees for the safety of the woods, followed by a crowd of Britons. As he rushes here and there, Arviragus attacks him and with his sword cuts off his

89

LIBER IV

Amputat ense caput; nomen tenet inde perempti Hamonis Portus longumque tenebit in euum. [$67]

Claudius interea renouatis uiribus urbem

Obsidet atque capit, cuius Porcestria nomen; Aruiragumque citis uestigat gressibus urbem Guintoniam ingressum; quem circumstantibus alis Obsidet. Innumeras iaciunt hinc inde sagittas; Grandine plura uolant mortis prenuncia pila; Bellica securos impellit machina muros. Quod rex intuitus equitum peditumque cateruas Diuidit in turmas et apertis undique portis Egressi Britones Romanis bella minantur. Claudius ergo timens regem gentemque ferocem Estimat utilius sibi pacem regis habere

[868]

Quam subiti dubium belli certamen inire. Unde sub hac forma discordes unio pacis Alligat: efficitur subiecta Britannia Rome. Aruirago Genuissa datur sata Cesare coniunx.

[$69]

Claudius inde redit Romam potiturque triumpho. Condidit ecclesiam tunc temporis Antiochenam Petrus; deinde petens Romam decoratur honore Pontificis decoratque suam se presule sedem; Destinat ad Pharios Marcum qui predicat illis Uoce leonina post mortem uiuere Christum. Aruiragus uero regnum regnique propinquas

70

75

80

85

90

Pacifice terras regit et pollere uigore Et sensu cepit; urbes, castella, domosque Edificat legesque nouas et principe dignas Condit. Cuncta uidens sibi successisse superbit Iuratumque negat Romanis soluere censum. Claudius audita re gesta Uespasianum Dirigit in Britones. Missus cum milite multo

95

Applicat in Portu Rutupi. Rex ocius aura Hostibus occurrens collatis denegat armis Introitum regni Laciis Laciique repulsi Carbasa dant Euro; qui classem flamine recto.

100

69 renouatis CP; reuocatis V. 70 atque capit PV; ense caput C: Porcestria P; Procestria CV: nomen CV; nomen est P. 71 Aruiragumque CP; Auuigarumque V. 72 Guintoniam P; Wintoniam C; Guitoniam V. 74 pila PV; pyla C. 80 Estimat CP; Extimat V. 81 subiti dubium PV; dubium subiti C. 84 Aruirago CP; Auuirago V: Genuissa PV; Genuisa C: sata CV; sacra P: Cesare PV; Cessare C.

86 Antiochenam P; Anthiocenam C; Antyochenam V.

87

deinde CP; et inde V: Romam PV; regis C. 89 Marcum PV; Marchum C. 91 Aruiragus CP; Auuiragus V. 94 Edificat PV; Edifficat C. 95 successisse C; subcessisse P; succedisse V. 96 censum CP; densum V. 97 Uespasianum CP; Uaspasianum V. 99 ocius P; occius CV.

90

BOOK IV

head on a river-bank. Hence the port of Southampton takes the name of the dead Hamo, and will retain it for ages to come. [$67] Meanwhile Claudius with renewed strength besieges and captures the city called Porchester. By forced marches he follows Arviragus, who has entered the city of Winchester, and, encircling it with his army, submits him to a siege. Innumerable arrows are fired by both sides; javelins that presage death fall thicker than hail, siege-engines batter the stout walls. Seeing this, the king divides his forces of cavalry and infantry into companies; the gates are opened on every side and the Britons sally forth, threatening battle to the Romans.

Fearful of the king and his fierce people, Claudius thinks it more expedient to seek peace with the king than to risk the uncertainties of an immediate engagement. And so the enemies are reconciled by a peace-treaty on the following terms: that Britain be made subject to Rome, and that Caesar's daughter Genuissa be given to Arviragus as his wife. [$68] Claudius then returns to Rome and gains his triumph. At that time Peter founded the church of Antioch; he then travelled to Rome and was honoured with the office of bishop, ennobling the bishopric by his own tenure of it; and he

sent Mark to Egypt, where he preached with the voice of a lion that Christ lives after death. [869] Arviragus rules his kingdom and the neighbouring lands in peace and begins to thrive in strength and wit; he builds cities, castles, and homes, and enacts new laws worthy of his reign. When he sees that everything is in his power, he grows proud and refuses to pay the tribute which he has sworn to the Romans. Hearing of this deed, Claudius sends Vespasian against the Britons. Dispatched with many soldiers, he lands at Richborough. Swifter than the wind, the king meets the enemy, joins battle, and denies the Romans entry into his

kingdom. The Romans are repulsed and spread their sails to the east wind,

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LIBER IV

Ad litus Totonense trahit. Tunc Uespasianus Obsidet Exoniam. Rex Aruiragus cuneique Innumeri Britonum tendunt illuc Laciosque Fortiter inuadunt; Laciorum turba repugnat. Nemo referre potest quot corpora sunt in eodem Interfecta die. Nulli uictoria parti Cessit ibi donec exorta luce sequenti In medium Genuissa stetit, pacis mediatrix, Cum Laciis Britones sedans, cum patre maritum. Hinc repetunt Lacium Lacii regnumque gubernat Aruiragus sine lite suum, sine fraude senatum Tractat Romanum. Cana ueniente senecta Mens regis uiget interior, quam serior etas Non premit; apparet in cano uis iuuenilis. [$70]

105

110

115

Post obitum cuius Marius diadema paterni

Regni suscipiens Romanos cepit amare, Illis exactum soluens sine lite tributum. [$71]

[$72]

Filius eius ei Coilus succedit et actus

Illius innocuos imitans sine crimine regnat. Inde patri Coilo succedit Lucius, orto Lucifero prelucidior: nam lucet in eius Tempore uera fides errorum nube fugata. Qui simul audierat Christi uulgasse clientes Uerbum incarnatum, regem de uirgine natum, In cruce defunctum, uita post funera functum, Scribit Eleutherio dictamina talia pape:

"Sancte pater, patrum me turbant tradiciones, Qui plures fecere deos pluresque penates, Quique creatori res preposuere creatas. Idola plena dolo reor esse: potencia celi Non est in lignis; demon respondet in illis Uana suis membris. Deus est et trinus et unus A quo, per quem, in quo sunt omnia. Gloria, uirtus Laus et honor sit ei soli per secula cuncta. Uniat ergo Deo Christi nos unio, tamquam Membra suo capiti. Sacri baptismatis unda

120

125

130

155

103 litus PV; littus C: Totonense CPV (underlined in C): Uespasianus CP; Uaspesianus V.

104 V. CV; eius PV; PV;

Aruiragus CP; Anuiragus V. 110 Genuissa PV; Genuisa C. 112 repetunt PV; repetant 113 Aruiragus CP; Auuiragus V. 115 serior CP; segnior (tampered) V. 116 iuuenilis iuuenalis P. 117 diadema P; dyadema CN. 120 ei CPV (preceded by a second, deleted in V): Coillus succedit PV; succedit Coylus C. 121 imitans CV; mitans P. 122 Coilo Coylo C. 125 Qui CP; Quod V. 127 defunctum PV; deffunctum C. 128 Eleutherio Eleutherius C: dictamina CP; ditamina V: pape CP; om. V. 130 Qui CP; Que V. 132

Idola P; Ydola CV.

134 et PV; om. C.

baptismatis CP; babtismatis V.

137 Deo CV; Dei P: tamquam CP; tanquam V.

92

138

BOOK IV

whose unwavering gusts carry them to the shore of Totnes. When Vespasian besieges Exeter, King Arviragus and innumerable British war-bands march there and boldly attack the Romans, who resist in a body. No one can relate how many men were slain on that day. Neither side gains victory there until, at the dawn of the following day, Genuissa stands between them, as mediator for peace, reconciling the Britons with the Romans and her husband with her father. The Romans return home; Arviragus rules his kingdom without dispute and treats the Roman senate without deceit. With the arrival of hoary old age the king’s mind within flourishes, unaffected by advanced years; although whitehaired, his energy seems that of a young man. [$70] After his death, Marius takes his father’s crown. He begins to love the

Romans and pays them the due tribute without complaint. [$71] He is succeeded by his son Coilus, who rules blamelessly, imitating the mild actions of his father. [$72] Coilus is followed as king by his son Lucius, who is more splendid than

the morning-star at its rising: for in his reign the clouds of error were dispersed and the true faith shone forth. As soon as he hears the followers of Christ telling of the Word made flesh, and the King born of a virgin, Who died on the cross, yet enjoyed life after death, Lucius writes the following letter to Pope Eleutherius: *Holy father, I am troubled by the traditions of my ancestors, who recognised many gods and many household deities, and who attached more

importance to created things than to their Creator. I think that idols are trickery. The power of heaven is not vested in wooden statues; their responses are those of the Devil to his members. God is threefold and from Whom, through Whom, and in Whom are all things. Let glory,

full of empty single, virtue,

praise and honour be His alone for all the ages. Let the union of Christ unite us with God, like limbs to their head. I ask to be cleansed by the water of holy

93

LIBER IV

Postulo mundari conformarique creatum Plasma creatori. Male pars committitur omnis A toto diuisa suo. Te deprecor ergo Ut mittas aliquos in Christi lege peritos Ad partes nostras, qui me populumque Britannum Informent mundentque sacri baptismate fontis." Est igitur regis audita peticio digna.

140

145

Namque duos mittit presul sanctissimus illuc Doctores fidei qui sacri gurgitis unda

[873]

[$74]

Deuotum mundant regem regisque ministros. Exemplo uerboque uocant ad premia uite Tocius regni populum uerique lauacri Unda purificant; et fana prophana deorum Sancta Deo sanctisque dicant traduntque probatis Illa colenda uiris Christumque fidemque professis. Assignant urbes uinginti et octo sacratis Presulibus totidem; sed submittunt tribus illos Archipresulibus. Pars subiacet Eboracensi Cum sibi commissis populis, pars Londoniensi, Pars Legionensi. Sic disposita regione Doctores Romam repetunt. Confirmat eorum Dictus apostolicus factum. Sunt inde reuersi Cum sanctis aliis quorum doctrina fideles Reddit et informat in Christi lege Britannos. Lucius interea regnum lucere corusca Luce noue fidei gaudens conuertit in usus Ecclesie que templa prius tenuere deorum. «Octoginta bis» subductis quatuor annis Post incarnatum celesti semine uerbum, Lucius ethereas letus secessit in auras. Et, quia decessit sine prole, Britannia Maior Rege carens spernit Romanis soluere censum. Curia magnanimum mittit Romana Seuerum In Britones pariterque duas equitum legiones. Qui partem regni capiunt. Fulgencius illis Magnaque pars procerum pro libertate resistunt

150

155

160

165

170

139 mundari CP; mondari V. 141 diuisa V; diuersa CP. 142 in CPV (preceded by deleted nos in V). 148 mundant PV; mundent C: regem CP; populum V. 149 uocant CPV (corrected from notant in V). 151 fana V; phana CP. 152 dicant C; ditant PV: traduntque PV; tradantqueC. 151 professis PV; prophessis C. 154 uinginti et octo PV; .xxviii.que C. 157 commissis P; submissis CV. 158 disposita CV; disiuncta P. 159 repetunt PV: repetant C. 163 Lucius PV; Luscius C: corusa CP; chorusca V. 166 Octoginta bis my emendation; Ex octoginta CPV: quatuor P; .iiii. CV. 168 ethereas PV; interea C. 170 soluere PV; reddere

C.

94

BOOK IV

baptism and, as a created object, to be harmonized with my Creator. It goes ill for any part when it is divided from its whole. Therefore I beg you to send to our kingdom men skilled in the law of Christ to instruct me and the British people and wash us with the font of holy baptism.’ The king’s worthy request is heard. The most holy pontiff sends thither two doctors of the faith who cleanse the devout king and his servants with the water of the holy baptism. By word and example they summon the population of the whole kingdom to the rewards of eternal life and purify them with the liquid, of true baptism; and they declare the unholy temples of the gods sacred to God and His saints, and entrust them to the care of tried men, who have professed Christ and his faith. They assign the twenty-eight cities to the same number of bishops, who are in turn subordinate to three archbishops. Part becomes the diocese of the Archbishop of York with the people under his protection, part the diocese of London, and part that of the City of the Legions. Having so organised the country, the doctors repair to Rome. When their acts have received papal sanction, they return with other holy men, whose learning makes the Britons faithful and schools them in Christ's law. [$73] Meanwhile Lucius, rejoicing that the bright light of the new faith is illuminating his realm, makes over to the use of the Church the temples previously dedicated to the gods. One hundred and fifty-six years after the Incarnation of the Word by holy seed, Lucius departs happily into the breezes of heaven. Because he died without issue, Greater Britain has no king and disdains to pay the Romans their tribute. [874] The Roman senate sends noble-spirited Severus against the Britons

with two legions of cavalry. They capture part of the kingdom, but Fulgentius and a large proportion of the nobles resist for the sake of their liberty. Some-

95

LIBER IV

[$75]

Et quandoque fugant Britones, quandoque fugantur; Nunc perimunt Lacios, nunc et perimuntur ab illis. Tandem dux nequiens Fulgencius arma Seueri Ferre, Scitas Pictosque adiens implorat eorum Auxilium; quod et impetrat. Inde reuersus in hostes Innumeras ducit acies castrisque locatis Obsidet Eboracum. Uelox petit obsidionem Turba Quirinorum. Comitatus dux utriusque Disponit cuneos; ineunt certamina partes. Nullus arare stilo quot reddidit agmen utrumque Exicio posset. Dux occidit ense Seuerus Et letale gerit uulnus Fulgencius in se. Inde super regni lis est dyademate mota. Namque duo iuuenes, proles preclara Seueri, Quorum nomina sunt Basianus matre Britanna Et Geta Romana geniti, quis regnet eorum Certant. Basianum Britones, Romana laborat Turba Getam toti regno preponere regem. Cum frater fratri contempnat cedere cumque Sic paris impaciens subeunt examina martis, Proponunt gladiis Lacii Britonesque cruentis Ensibus excipiunt. Laciis concluditur armis Et pro Basiano Mauors sentenciat ipsum Condempnando Getam, quoniam cum parte suorum Occumbit Geta dux, potitur diademate frater. Quo regnante uirum media de plebe creatum, Magnanimum fortemque tamen, fortuna leuauit. Nam circumueniens simulato corde senatum Impetrat ut Britonum fines et litora tuta Reddat ab incursu uicinorumque rapina. Congregat innumeras naues; sociat sibi regni Electos iuuenes et bella piratica toto Exercet pelago uicinaque litora uastat Et loca litoribus contermina. Nulla pauore Axe sub occiduo caret insula, nulla tueri

175

180

185

190

195

200

205

175 Et CP; Nunc V: Britones CPV (corrected from nunc in V): quandoque P; et quandoque C; quando V. 176 nunc et CP; et nunc (et suprascript) V. 178 Scitas C; Citas PV: Pictosque CPV (preceded by underpointed c in V). 181 petit CPV (corrected from pedit in V). 184 stilo PV; stilloC. 187 est dyademate mota CV; diademate mota est P. 188 duo V; duos CP. 192 toti regno CP; tota regni V. 195 gladiis PV; gladii C. 196 ensibus CP; om. V. 198 Condempnando C; Contempnendo P; Contempnando V. 199 Occumbit PV; Occurrit C: diademate P; dyademate CV. 200 regnante CP; regente (with regnante suprascript) V. 203

Impetrat CP; om. V; litora PV; littora C: tuta CP; cuncta V.

piratica P; pyratica C; piratida V. litoribus PV; littoribus C.

207 litora V; littora CP.

96

206 Electos PV; Eiectos C:

208 et loca CP; Patria V:

BOOK IV

times the Britons pursue, sometimes they are pursued; now they slaughter the Romans, now they are slaughtered by them. When at last Duke Fulgentius cannot face the arms of Severus, he visits the Scythians and Picts, asking for their aid, which is granted. Then, turning on the enemy at the head of innumer-

able forces, he pitches camp and invests York. The Roman army swiftly marches for the siege. Both leaders draw up the ranks of their retinues, and both sides join battle. No pen can write how many were slain by each army. Duke Severus is killed by a sword-blow, and Fulgentius suffers a mortal wound.

[$75] There ensues a quarrel over the crown of the kingdom. Two youths, the

noble progeny of Severus, dispute which of them will rule. They are called Basianus and Geta, the former the son of a British mother, the latter of a Roman. The Britons wish to make Basianus king over the whole kingdom, the Roman party favours Geta. Neither brother will yield to the other, and, not brooking an equal, they enter the lists of Mars; the Romans make a proposal with the sword, which the British accept with bloody blades. For the Roman arms it ends when Mars decides for Basianus by condemning Geta: for Duke Geta and many of his men are killed, and his brother gains the crown. In his reign fortune elevates a man born of common stock, but high-spirited and bold. With false heart he wins over the senate to allow him to guard the frontiers and shore of Britain against raids and the depredations of its neighbours. Collecting innumerable ships, he takes as his companions all the choice warriors of the realm. Then he wages war over the whole sea as a pirate and devastates the neighbouring shores and their hinterlands. No western isle is exempt from fear, nor is strong enough to protect

97

LIBER IV

[$76]

210

Eius ab incursu se sufficit. Oppida, uillas Urbes, rura suis opibus spoliat spoliisque Conspoliatores ditat ditesque manipli Inuitant álios quorum mens res alienas Usurpare sibi est. Tot habet tantasque phalanges Quod cunctos superans superari a nemine possit. Est illi nomen Carausius, inclitus actis. Inde tumet fastusque parit sociumque recusat Mens elata uiri quod originis inmemor unde Extiterat natus ad regni culmen anhelat. Namque leues animos Britonum corrumpit ut ipsum Instituant regem Basiano rege perempto. Intrusus regnat se regnum rege prophanans. Que simul agnouit Romanus gesta senatus, Destinat Allectum committens tres legiones

215

220

225

Illi, qui mortem Basiani morte tyranni

Uindicet et Rome posita feritate Britannos Restituat cogatque uetus prestare tributum. Inde Britannorum lactanti seuior ursa Inuehitur populis; obstantes demetit ense Regemque intrusum perimens intrudit in Orcum. Hinc regni regimen sibi suscipit; opprimit omnes Sub pedibus Britones. Qui tacti felle doloris Asclepiodotum decorant diademate regis Innumeraque acie procerum stipatus in arma Allicit Allectum patriis diis sacrificantem Londoniis. Audita noui collegia regis Admirans exit infectaque sacra relinquit. Ecce duo regni reges unius adinstar Fulminis occurrunt; it tantus ad astra boatus Et fragor armorum quales quantosque tumultus Collise nubes emisso fulmine reddunt.

230

235

240

Pluribus occisis hinc inde Quirina pudende Pars sua terga fuge committit; sed fugientem

210 oppida P; opida CV.

217 tumet PV; timet C.

211 rura CPV (in margin in C).

213 Inuitant CP; Inmittunt V.

219 Extiterat CV; Existat P: anhelat P; hanelat CV.

220 Namque

CV; lamque P. 221 Instituant PV (corrected from Instituunt in V); Instituunt C. 222 PV only; om. C. 224 Allectum CV (corrected from Alectum in C); Alectum P. 226 Uindicet CP;

Uendicet V.

227 Restituat CP; Prestituat (?) V.

229 populis V; populos CP: demetit C;

demetat P; dimicat (deleted, with diuidit suprascript) V.

230 Orcum P; Ortum C; Orchum V.

233 Asclepiodotum CPV (corrected fromi Asclepeodotum in V): diademate P; dyademate CV. 236 Londoniis CP; Lundoniis V. 237 infectaque CV; infestaque P. 238 reges PV; regis C.

239 Fulminis CP; Fluminis V: it PV; om. C. pudente C.

241 Collise PV; Collisse C.

98

242 pudende PV;

BOOK IV

itself from his attack. He deprives towns and villages, cities and fields of their wealth and enriches his fellow pirates with the spoils. The richness of his bands attracts more men who have a mind to make others’ possessions their own. His forces are so many and so large that he overcomes all and fears defeat at nobody’s hands. His name is Carausius, and his deeds are renowned. And so he grows arrogant and over-confident; his haughty mind disdains to have an equal, because, forgetting the origins of his birth, he longs for the position of king. For he twists the inconstant minds of the British into killing Basianus and making him king. He rules as a usurper, polluting the kingdom with his reign. [$76] When the Roman senate learns of these events, it entrusts three legions

to Allectus and sends him to avenge Basianus's death by killing the tyrant, to make the Britons renounce their savagery and restore them to Rome, and to force them to pay the old tribute. He attacks the British people more fiercely than a she-bear with young, cutting down all in his path, killing the usurper, and sending him down to Hell. Then he takes control of the kingdom and grinds the Britons under his heel. Filled with bitter resentment, they raise Asclepiodotus to the rank of king. Surrounded by a huge force of nobles he challenges Allectus to battle while the latter is in London, sacrificing to his native gods; amazed at the news that he shares the kingdom with a new colleague, Allectus leaves the rites uncompleted. Lo, the two kings of a single realm clash like thunderbolts; the roar and crash of arms which rise to the stars are like the thunderclaps produced when clouds dash together and dart out lightening. After many have been killed on both sides, the Romans turn their backs in shameful flight, and the Britons

99

LIBER IV

Turba fugat Britonum. Gladiis pars magna Quiritum Occumbit cum rege suo; pars uero superstes Gallo college defuncti regis adherens Intrat Londonias; muros premunit et arces. Asclepiodotus rex clausam circuit urbem; Allectique necem, quesitum marte triumphum, Obsessos Lacios ducibus populisque remotis Nunciat utque sibi succurrant uoce precatur Supplice. Demetici, Deiri, Scoti, Uenedoti Et plures alii ueniunt ad bella uocati. Tot tantasque uidens rex confluxisse cateruas Reddit eis grates et talia uerba profatur: *O ueteris Priami proles Brutique nepotes, Este, precor, memores qua sitis stirpe creati: Libera nobilitas genuit uos. Conditione Seruitis misera. Libertas uestra petatur Ex hac urbe; manus disrumpent uincula uestre

245

250

255

260

Que uos innodant; obstantes sternite muros!"

[$77]

Plura locuturum prohibent uocesque tubeque Et clangor lituum. Totam uelociter urbem Circueunt; iaciunt Romani pila, Britanni Tela; sagittarum nimbo fit nubilus aer. Nec magonelli desunt nec machina belli Diuersi generis; mortem balista propinat; Talpa fodit muros quos crebro uerberat ictu Dissoluitque ares. Lacii nil proficientes Iamque urbem captam, iam menia strata uidentes Ignorant quid eis sit agendum. Denique poscunt Indigni ueniam; quam dum poscunt, Uenedoti Intrantes urbem gladiis ultoribus omnes Obsessos perimunt et in amne cadauera iactant. Interea Christi laniante Diocletiano Membra, fere Petri nauis submergitur infra Occeani claustrum, quam Lucius atque sequaces Eius reddiderant in eorum tempore tutam. Illius imperio cunctas quas insula sanctas Ecclesias habuit subuertit Maximianus Scripturasque sacras posito combussit in igne

265

270

275

280

246 Gallo PV; Callo C: defuncti PV; deffuncti C: adherens CP; inherens V. 247 Londoniis CP; Lundoniis V. 252 Supplice PV; Suplice C: Demetici CV; DemedetiP. 255 profatur PV; loquatur profatur C. 269 aries my emendation; arces CPV. 273 ultoribus PV; uictoribus C.

274 amne CV; ampneP.

bra C.

275 Diocletiano PV; Dyocleciano C.

278 tutam CPV (corrected from tutas in V).

posito CV; positas P: combussit P; combuxit C; comburit V.

100

276 Membra PV; Meni-

280 Scripturasque CP; Scripturas V:

BOOK IV

pursue them as they flee. To their swords fall the majority of the Romans along with their king. The survivors with Gallus, the lieutenant of the dead king, enter London, where they fortify the walls and towers. King Asclepiodotus blockades and surrounds the city; announcing to his dukes and the distant peoples that Allectus is slain, a victory won in battle, and the Romans invested, he humbly requests them to aid him. The Demetici, Deiri, Scoti, Venedoti and many others answer the call to battle. Viewing the great numbers of the forces assembled, the king thanks them and makes the following speech: ‘O stock of ancient Priam and descendants of Brutus, remember, I beg, the race from which you spring. Free nobility created you. Yet now you are slaves in a pitiable condition. Let your liberty be gained from this city; let your hands break the chains which bind you; throw down the walls which stand in your path!’ He is prevented from saying more by their shouts, the trumpets, and the calls of bugles. They quickly surround the entire city; the Romans throw their pila, the British their javelins; the sky is darkened by a cloud of arrows. Nor are mangonels and various types of siege-engines lacking: the ballista hurls forth death; the mole burrows under walls beaten and broken by the repeated blows of the ram. For the Romans the struggle is vain; seeing the city already captured and its walls already battered down, they do not know what to do. Finally they ask for mercy — although they do not deserve it. But as they make their request, the Venedoti burst into the city, slaughter all the besieged with avenging swords, and throw their corpses in the river. [877] Meanwhile, the ship of Peter, which Lucius and his successors had kept

safe in their time, is nearly sunk beneath the fastness of the sea, when Diocletian tears at the limbs of Christ. At his command, Maximianus demolishes all the holy churches in the island, has the sacred scriptures burned in fires ready

101

LIBER IV

[$78]

Et totum regni clerum populumque fidelem Occidit; petit ipsa tamen pars dignior astra. Guttura suffocans hominem non suffocat illum Qui uiget interius; paciuntur corpora penas, Nomina sanctorum uiuunt in pace perhenni. Cum quibus Albanus, Aaron et Iulius, Urbis Preclari ciues Legionum, corpora ferro Et celis animas reddentes ense tyranni Supplicium passi celesti pace fruuntur. Inde Goel, cui clara duci Colocestria paret, Asclepiodotum commisso marte peremit Assumpsitque sibi regni diadematis usum. Letificat regis mors hec audita senatum Et totum imperium. Constancius ergo senator Mittitur in Britones ut iura resarciat urbi Perdita Romulee, sicut subiecerat ante Esperios Rome. Cuius narrante Goeli Aduentum fama rex pugnaturus in eius Se gerit occursum non armis sed prece, non ui Sed pacis signo; ramum uirid«a»ntis oliue In dextra gestans Romano subicit illum Imperio regnum. Sic pacis munere fretus Uno mense regit. Tandem mors diuidit illum; Ossa premit tellus, petit ethera spiritus eius. Defuncti patris Helene sanctissima, proles Unica, prestanti facie prelata puellis Occidue plage, sapiens, facunda, corusca Artibus ingenuis, signata caractere Christi, Grata Deo seruisque Dei data grata ministris Contulit altaris. Hec est que dicitur olim Inuenisse crucem Domini, tradentibus illi Iudeis Iudam qui factum nouerat. Illam Duxit in uxorem Constancius et diadema Assumpsit regale simul lustrisque duobus Rexit et unius spacio non amplius anni De medio sublatus obit. Suus inclitus heres Constantinus ei succedit. Qui, puer annis,

285

290

295

300

305

310

315

284 Guttura PV; Gutura C. 285 interius CP; internis V. 286 Nomina CP; Corpora V: uiuunt CP; uiriunt V. 287 Albanus PV; Albon C. 291 Colocestria PV (altered to Collecestria in V); Collecestria C: Asclepiodotum CP; Aclepiodotum V: diadematis P; dyadematis CV. 294 CV only; om. P. 296 ut PV; sic C. 297 subiecerat CPV (corrected from subiacerat in

C). 298 Esperios P; Experies C; Experios V. 301 uiridantis my correction; uiridentis CV; uirentis P. 302 ipsum P; illum CV. 306 Defuncti patris Helene PV; Deff' patris Helene deffuncti C. 308 corusca C; chorusca PV. 309 ingenuis P; ingeniis CV. 314 Duxit CM Ducit P: diadema P; dyadema CV. 316 anni PV; annis C.

102

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prepared, and slaughters all the clergy and christian population of the realm. However, their worthier part goes up to the stars. Stopping a man’s breathing does not affect those who are alive within; the bodies of saints’ suffer punishment, but their names live on in eternal peace. Among them are Alban, and Aaron and Julius, inhabitants of the famous City of the Legions, who give up their bodies to the sword and their spirits to heaven; by enduring punishment under the tyrant’s blade, they enjoy celestial peace. [$78] Next Duke Goel, who rules noble Colchester, joins battle with Asclepiodotus and, having killed him, begins to exercise regal power. News of this death cheers the senate and the whole empire. The senator Constancius is sent against the British to reassert Rome’s lost power, just as he had previously subjugated the Spanish. When report tells Goel of his coming, the king goes out to overcome him, but by supplication rather than arms, and with the sign of peace rather than by force; bearing a branch of green olive in his right hand, he submits his realm to Roman rule. Having thus gained the gift of peace, he reigns for one month. Then death divides him: the earth presses his bones, while his spirit flies to heaven. The dead man has only a single daughter, the most devout Helen, endowed above all the girls of the western regions with beauty of face, wise, eloquent, noted for the liberal arts, and stamped with the mark of Christ. Beloved of God and his servants, she gives welcome gifts to those who tend His altars. It is she who is said once to have found the Cross of the Lord, when the Jews handed over to her Judas who knew what had been done with it. Constancius takes her for his wife and assumes the crown with her. He rules for no longer than eleven years before death removes him from the stage. His illustrious heir Constantine succeeds him. He is a boy in years, but has the

103

LIBER IV

[$79]

Mente senex, hostes eneruat, ditat amicos. Pax secura uiget pacisque domestica iura; Predo, latro, fur illo regnante quiescunt. Presidet imperio Maxencius, hostis amicis, In ciues predo, siccarius in generosos, In commune malus, peior sibi, pessimus illi Cui nichil occultum. Ius naturale per illum Et ciuile perit; sua predia, tecta, laresque Aufert nobilibus. Exheredata iuuentus Ad Constantini fugit auxilium; fugientem Rex recipit, ueneratur, amat, preponit amicis. Quamuis diuicias melioraque predia primis Possideant teneantque gradus a rege secundos, Ipsa tamen patrii dulcedo cespitis illos Tangit et angit amor ut dicant talia regi: “Inclite rex, cuius totum uulgata per orbem Fama uolat, cui se totus subponere mundus Expetit, imperium princeps detractat iniquus Sicque uacat; tibi sume uacans, tibi sume uouentem

320

325

330

335

Te dominum Romam. Nec bella mouere necesse est:

[$80]

Gratus ades gratis. Sceptrum cape quod tibi grates Ut capiatur agit; populo gratare Quirino Qui tibi gratatur tibi mundi iura daturus. Uxores, pueros, fratres, carosque parentes Restituas nobis.' Precibus deuictus eorum Romam adiens illam sibi subiugat; hinc sibi mundi Primatum subicit et eodem principe gaudet. Iamque Iohelinum, Marium, fortemque Trahernum, Quorum neptis erat Helene sanctissima mater, Ipse senatores Romane fecerat urbis. Interea Rome dum tota Britannia seruit, Consilio procerum dux est Octauius usus Tocius regni diademate. Roma Trahernum Destinat huc et tres legiones ad reprinendum Seuiciam regis et regnum restituendum Romano iuri. Mira uirtute Trahernus Insignis Britones adit; urbes, oppida, rura

322 Maxencius CP; Mauxentius (tampered?) V.

340

345

350

355

323 siccarius CP; sucarius V: generosos PV;

generosas C. 324 sibi CP; tibi V: pessimus CV; peximus P. 325 illum PV; istum C. 327 Aufert PV; Auffert C. 330 primis CV; primi P. 332 cespitis CP; respicit V. 334 uulgata PV; wlgata C. 336 iniquus V; iniqus C; iniquis P. 339 Sceptrum cape C; Cape sceptrum P; Ceptrum cape V. 340 gratare P; gratante CV. 341 Qui CP; Quod V. 342 parentes P; penates CV. Octouius P.

344 mundi P; mondi CV. 346 Iohelinum CP; Ioelinum V. 350 Octauius CV; 351 diademate P; dyademate CV. 355 oppida P; opida CV.

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understanding of an elder. He weakens his enemies, enriches his friends; peace and its domestic rights flourish unmolested, and robbery, theft, and stealing cease during his reign. [$79] The empire is ruled by Maxencius, a foe to his friends; plundering his Citizens, assassinating the nobles, he is a common evil, worse to himself, and worst in the eyes of Him from Whom nothing is hidden. He flouts natural and civil law, and deprives the well-born of their farms, houses, and homes. The disinherited youths flee to Constantine for aid; he receives the fugitives, and honours and loves them above his friends. But although they are given wealth and better estates than before, and are second in rank only to the king, the very sweetness of their native country and their longing for it touches and tortures them with the result that they say to the king: ‘Noble king, whose fame is spread and recognised throughout the entire earth, and to whom the whole world wishes to be subject, the empire is dishonoured by an evil prince, and so is as good as unoccupied. Take it while it is open to you; take Rome, which wishes to have you as its lord. There is no need to make war: you are as welcome to them as they to you. Grasp a sceptre which will thank you for seizing it. Gratify the people of Rome, who will gratify you by giving you control over the world. Restore to us our wives, sons, brothers and dear parents.’ Overcome by their entreaties, he marches on Rome and conquers it. So he becomes master of the world, which rejoices under his rule. He creates Johelinus, Marius, and brave Trahern, the uncles of his most holy mother Helen, senators of Rome. [880] Meanwhile, as the whole of Britain is subject to Rome, Duke Octavius

on the advice of his nobles assumes control of the entire realm. Rome dispatches thither Trahern with three legions to check the king’s savagery and restore the kingdom to Roman rule. Trahern, famed for his marvelous virtue, attacks the Britons, taking cities, towns, and meadows. Octavius hurries against him and .

105

LIBER IV

,

[$81]

Occupat. Occurrit properans Octauius illi. Prelia committunt; Romana fugata recedunt Agmina de campo; litus nauesque requirunt. Albanos adeunt; Albanica rura domosque Deuastant. Tendit illuc Octauius; illic Succumbit regnumque simul diademaque perdit. Norguegia admittit expulsum frigida regem Et rex Hubertus. Sumit diadema Trahernus. Nec mora depositi regis non fictus amicus Securum perimit inopina cede Trahernum. Ad regni regimen rediens Octauius idem Est successoris successor more nouato. Excludit Lacios, cepit probitate uigere; Tantas argenti massas coaceruat et auri Quod nullos metuens fit cunctis ipse timori. Et populo de rege uolens interrogat omnes Quem sibi preferri cupiant. Pars una nepotem Regis Conanum dignum diademate censent,

Altera pars illum cui nupserit unica regis Filia - namque caret rex sexus prole uirilis — Cum dux Cornubie Caradocus Maximianum

[$82]

Patre Iohelino Romana matre creatum, Qui regale genus a stipite tangit utroque, Asserit utilius ad regni amplustre uocari. Filius inde ducis Caradoci, corpore magnus, Mente tamen maior, facundo maximus ore, Mauricius nutu patris Romam petit. Ipsum Demulcens uerbis adducit Maximianum Ad regnum Britonum stipatus milite multo. Gallorum sibi sumit opes diuesque recedens

Applicat ad Portum Hamonis; mordet harenas Anchora; litus adit; illic tentoria tendit Et reficit socios. Conani rumor ad aures Euolat aduentum referens alienigenarum.

360

365

370

375

380

385

390

Congregat ergo duces regionis rege iubente 356 properans CP; comperans V. 361 Succumbit CV; Subcumbit P: regnumque CP; regimenque V; diademate P; dyademate CV. 363 diadema P; dyadema CV. 364 non CE nec V; fictus CPV (corrected from fidus in C). 366 rediens Octauius idem PV; Octauius rediens ii C. 369 coaceruat CPV (corrected from coaceruerat in V). 370 fit P; sit C; est V. 373 Quem CP; Quod V. 374 diademate P; dyademate CV. 375 nupserit CP; nubserit V: unica regis PV; regis unica C. 377 Caradocus CP; Caradoctus V. 380 amplustre CPV (corrected from amplestre in V): uocari PV; uocatiC. 381 Caradoci CP; Caradocti V. 384 adducit C; adduxit PV.

387 ad Portum Hamonis PV; Hamonis ad Portum C.

littus C: tentoria CP; temptoria V. 389 PV only; om. C. alienigenarum CPV (corrected from alienegenarum in V).

106

388 litus PV;

390 referens PV; refferens C:

BOOK IV

they join battle. The Roman army quits the field in rout and retires to its ships on the shore. Sailing against the Albani, they lay waste their fields and houses. Octavius marches there, only to be defeated and lose both his kingdom and his crown. Chill Norway and Hubertus, its king, give shelter to the king in exile. Trahern assumes the crown, but immediately a loyal friend of the deposed king takes him unawares and assassinates him when he least expects it. Thus Octavius, returning to take control of the kingdom, in a strange fashion succeeds his successor. He drives out the Romans and begins to flourish in virtue. He amasses such heaps of silver and gold that he fears none and is feared by all. [$81] Finally, worn out by old age, and wishing to provide his realm and subjects with a successor, he asks them as a body whom they wish to rule them. Some think that his nephew Conan is worthy of the crown, others whoever marries the king’s only daughter — for he lacks male issue. Caradocus, Duke of Cornwall, asserts that it will be more advantageous to summon to the helm of the kingdom Maximianus, the son of Johelinus by a Roman mother, as he is regally born on both sides of his family. And so the son of Duke Caradocus, Mauricius, great in stature, greater in intelligence, and greatest of all in eloquent speech, goes to Rome at his father’s bidding. Winning Maximianus over with his words, he conducts him to the kingdom of Britain, accompanied by many soldiers. [882] He takes the wealth of the Gauls and sets sail enriched, landing at

Southampton. The anchor bites the his tents and rests his men. Rumour of the arrival of foreigners. At the dukes of the region and the nobles

sand, and he disembarks; there he pitches reaches the ears of Conan, bearing tidings king’s orders, therefore, he assembles the of the kingdom. They come ready to fight

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LIBER IV

Et regni proceres. Ueniunt pugnare parati Romanasque acies adeunt. Quos Maximianus Prospiciens metuit quoniam numerumque uirorum Seuiciamque timens dubitat sibi quid sit agendum, Cum sic Mauricius: *Non armis hic opus esse Sed uerbis uideo nec ad arma gerenda uenimus; Blandiciis non marte decet temptare Britannos. Dulcibus ergo ducem uerbis, si precipis, utens Aggrediar cauteque animum sedabo ferocem.’ Dixit et assumit secum bis sex seniores Pacifereque manu ramum pretendit oliue Agminibusque graui processu turba senilis Obuiat armatis. Uenerantes agmen inerme Armati causaque uie patrieque relato Nomine credentes fictis sermonibus illos Ante ducem statuunt quem ficta uoce salutant. Dux affatur eos: *Quis uos huc attulit error? Aut que uos duxit demencia? Creditis istud Rege carere solum? Non est sine preside presens Insula. Nos Rome submittere uultis auare?’ Sic ait et uultus pretendit principe dignos. Nec mora Mauricius suppressa silencia rumpens Explicat hec paucis — nec abest fiducia fictis: *Regia progenies Romanis Maximianus Parens principibus partes peruenit ad istas Ut nostro regi mandatum narret eorum." Contra Conanus sic excipit: * Hunc ducis esse Constat castrensis ritum tot habere maniplos Et non legati; Romani fraude doloque, Cum nequeunt armis, didicerunt uincere semper.’ Mauricius replicat: ‘Nulli dubitabile Gallos

395

400

405

410

415

420

Suspectos Laciis a tempore Cesaris esse Suspicor. Unde timens merito dux noster eorum Insidias secum socios, in pace quietos, In bello fortes, duxit; nec debuit ire Tante fame uir inglorius. Adde quod ex quo Nauibus egressi partes intrauimus istas, Nullis obfuimus, nullis molimur obesse.

425

392 Et PV; Que C. 393 Quos PV; Quas C. 394 Prospiciens P; Aspiciens C; Respiciens V. 399 si precipis PV; sed precibus C. 403 Agminibusque CV; Agminibus P. 404 inerme P; inherme CV. 405 causaque V; causeque CP. 407 Ante PV; Cum C. 408 attulit CP; atulit V. 417 mandatum CP; madatum V. 420 legati Romani PV; Romani legati C. 421 didicerunt PV; didiscerunt C.

C.

424 unde PV; inde C.

425 socios PV; socias C.

426 nec PV; non

429 Oppida P; Opida CV: molimur CPV (corrected from mollimur in V).

108

BOOK IV

and approach the Roman forces. Seeing them, Maximianus is afraid, because he fears their numbers and ferocity and is in doubt as to what course to take. Mauricius speaks: ‘I perceive that this situation calls not for arms but words, nor have we come to wage war. We must make trial of the Britons by flattery, not in battle. Therefore, if you command it, I shall approach the duke with sweet words and take care to soothe his fierce spirit.’ So he speaks and, taking with him twelve elders, he holds before him in his hand an olive branch as a sign of peace. In stately procession the crowd of old men encounters the ranks of warriors. The armed men treat the defenceless band with respect and, hearing the reason for their journey and the name of their homeland, believe their lying words and bring them before their leader, whom they pretend to greet. Conan addresses them: ‘What wanderings have led you here, what madness has brought you to us? Do you think that this land has no king? This island does not lack a ruler. Or do you wish to make us submit to greedy Rome?’ So he says, his looks showing him to be a worthy prince. Without delay Mauricius breaks the uneasy silence and makes a brief speech — nor do his inventions lack conviction: *Maximianus, the offspring of kings, has come to this region in obedience to the Roman emperors in order to repeat their command to our king.' Conan replies thus: ‘But it is clear that with so many men he comes as commander of a expedition, not an ambassador; when they cannot conquer by arms, the Romans have learned always to use trickery and deception.' Mauricius replies: *No one doubts, I think, that the Gauls have been untrustworthy to the Romans since the time of Caesar. And so, understandably fearful of their machinations, our leader has brought with him these companions, who are brave in war, yet tranquil in peace; nor was it fitting for a man of such reputation to travel without a mark of honour. Indeed, since we disembarked from our ships and entered this region, we have troubled no one, nor do we intend to. Therefore our leader, who is of

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LIBER IV

Dux igitur noster uestro de sanguine natus Pacificus ueniens pacem non prelia poscit.’ Inductu procerum quamuis inuitus eundi Ad regem dat iter Laciis Conanus eosque Ducit Londonias.

[§83]

[$84]

[$85]

Caradoci Mauriciique Consilio regisque assensu Maximiano Filia regalis cum regno traditur uxor. Conanus turbatus ob id turbare laborat Regem cum regno. Ferro supponit et igni Oppida, rura, domos, cum rex incurrit in illum Non minimam stragem faciens paciensque uicissim. Tandem candida pax celi descendit ab arce Concordesque facit quos fecerat ambitus hostes. Inde suos rex quinque regens feliciter annis Inmensas auri gazas cumulauit et eris: Unde superbiuit. De regni partibus omnes Naues collegit. Omnes armisque uirisque Fortibus impleuit uelisque tumentibus Euro Uenit ad Armoricam terram quam tunc habitabat Gallica gens; Minor est nunc dicta Britannia. Gallos Inuadunt Britones; dux et ter quinque uirorum Milia cesa iacent. Galli post prelia multa Nudati propriis fugiunt aliena sequentes. Rex igitur tot stagna uidens, tot prata, tot amnes, Tot saltus, tot agros, tot litora, tot nemorosa Robora, tot frutices, tot fontes, omnia laudat. Cernere delectat loca Conanoque seorsum Ducto subridens inquit: ‘Bello superata Presens terra dabit nobis iter ad superandum Gallorum fines. Tellus fecundior ista Nulla sub axe iacet aut fortibus apcior. Istud Trado tibi regnum quod te regnante regetur.' Dux caput inclinat regi gratesque rependit Et fidum se iurat ei dum uiuat uterque. Inde petit Redonim quam iam custode carentem Intrat; nam ciues Britonum feritate relata Terga fuge dederant. Sic hanc et cetera castra.

430 uestro PV; nostro C.

432 Inductu PV; Inductus C.

438 supponit CP; subponit V.

439 Oppida P; Opida CV.

naues V.

453 amnes CV; ampnes P.

448 ad P; in CV.

430

435

445

450

455

460

465

433 Caradoci PV; Karadoci C.

446 Naues collegit CP; Collegit 454 litora PV; littora C.

456

Conanoque CPV (corrected from Cananoque in C). 460 iacet CP; gap left with patet added V. 461 Trado CV; Istud trado P. 462 caput CP; capud V. 464 Redonim CP: Redonym VW. 466 hanc CPV (preceded by deleted et in C).

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BOOK IV

your blood, comes peacefully, seeking not war but peace.’ Conan is unwillingly persuaded by his nobles to grant the Romans passage to the king and conducts

them to London. [883] At the suggestion of Caradocus and Mauricius, the king’s daughter is with his consent given as bride to Maximianus, who also receives the kingdom. Conan, perturbed at this, works to throw king and kingdom into confusion. He is subjecting towns, fields, and homes to fire and sword, when King Maximianus attacks him, inflicting considerable casualties, but also suffering them in turn. At length sincere peace descends from the heights of heaven and reconciles those whom ambition had made enemies. [§84] Then the king reigns prosperously for five years, accumulating vast treasures of gold and bronze. This makes him overproud. He assembles all the ships which his kingdom contains and fills them all with weapons and brave men. His sails swollen by the east wind, he comes to the land of Armorica, which was at that time inhabited by the population of Gaul; now it is called Lesser Britain. The Britons attack the Gauls; the Gallic leader and fifteen thousand of his men lie slain. After many battles, the Gauls are stripped of their possessions and flee to other territories. When he sees so many lakes, meadows, rivers, pastures, fields, shores, wooded forests, glades, and springs, the king praises them all. He delights to see the region and, calling Conan aside, says with a smile: ‘This territory which we have won in war will provide us with an avenue to the conquest of the lands of Gaul. There is no country under heaven which is more fertile or more fitting for brave men. I present you with this kingdom to be ruled by you as king.’ The duke bows his head to the king, gives thanks, and swears allegiance to him as long as both shall live. [§85] Then Maximianus

marches on Rennes, which he enters since it is

unguarded; for, on hearing of the savagery of the Britons, its citizens had turned tail and fled. And so they capture this and other castles, cities, and villages

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LIBER IV

[$86]

Urbesque et uillas sine ui, sine lite capescunt. Rex iubet occidi sexus quoscumque uirilis Dependant socii conseruarique puellas. Occisis Gallis regionis tocius urbes Et castella suis tradit seruanda maniplis. Interea Maior mandante Britannia rege Centum milia plebanorum equitumque decem ter Milia mittit ad has partes cultore carentes Ut tueantur eas habitentque regantque colantque. Rex igitur regnum populo pollere Britanno Gaudens Armoricum Conano tradit eumque Promouet in regem nomenque nouat regionis Respectuque Minor est dicta Britannia magne. O regnum minime felix! O sanguine fuso Optentum regale decus! Conane, resigna Hoc ius iniustum! Prescripcio nulla tueri Te poterit quoniam dum uixeris intus habebis Accusatricem que teque tuosque nepotes Semper mordebit. Non debet predo reatum Dum tenet ablatum? Res semper erit uiciosa Que uenit ex rapto, dum raptam predo tenebit; Predonisque heres, postquam rem nouit ademptam, In uicium succedit ei. Tecum tua proles Uerget in interitum penam luitura perhennem, Dum sic possideat iniuste res alienas; In sobolem peccata patrum de iure redundant, Dum soboles effrena patrum peccata sequatur. Quis putet intrusos Britones uel semen eorum In male quesitis cum pace quiescere terris? Euentus quis habere bonos se credat in illis Que male parta tenet? Meritis Deus equa rependit. Stirps homicidarum totis homicidia uotis Perpatrare studens reputat dispendia pacem. Cortinam cortina trahit, sanguisque cruorem. Inconstans Britonum populus constanter in ipsa

470

475

480

485

490

495

500

467 Urbesque PV; Urbes C. 468 uirilis CP; uiriles V. 469 Deprendant my emendation; Dependant CPV: conseruarique CPV (corrected from conseruatique in C). 471 seruanda CP; obseruanda V: maniplis PV: ministris C. 473 milia CPV (corrected from millia in C). 475 tueantur PV; tueatur C: habitentque CP; habitantque V: regantque V; regentque C; regnentque P: colantque PV; colentque C. 479 dicta PV; om. C. 480 O (second occurrence) PV; Cum C. 481 Conane CPV (tampered in V): resigna CV; resina P. 483 quoniam PV; quem C: habebis CP; hebis V. 484 teque CV; te P. 485 debet P; delet CV. 490 Uerget CP; Urget V. 491 iniuste CV; iniucte P. 495 male PV; mala C. 496 Euentus CPV (corrected from Eeuentus in V). 498 homicidia CV; homicidaque P. 499 Perpatrare PV; Per-

petrare C.

112

BOOK IV

without force or strife. The king orders his troops to kill all male Captives, but to spare all young women. Having slaughtered the Gauls, he entrusts the cities and castles of the entire region to the care of his soldiers. [$86] Meanwhile at the king’s command Greater Britain sends a hundred thousand common people and thirty thousand knights to the deserted territory to

protect, inhabit, rule, and cultivate it. The king, pleased that the Armorican kingdom is flourishing with its British population, hands it over to Conan and

elevates him to the position of king. The name of the land is changed, it being called Lesser Britain out of respect for the Great. O unhappy kingdom! O regal power gained by the spilling of blood! Conan, surrender your illegal position! No prescription will protect you, for, while you live, you will carry within you an accuser which will always gnaw at you and your descendants. Is punishment not due to a robber as long as he keeps what he has stolen? A possession gained by theft is always sinful while the thief retains

his spoils, and his heir, after he discovers that his possession is the result of theft, succeeds him in his sin. Your descendants will fall to destruction with you, and will suffer eternal punishment while thus they unjustly hold the property of others; the sins of the fathers will rightly be visited on their children for as long as they unrestrainedly repeat their fathers' sins. Who could believe that the usurping Britons and their seed may rest at peace in their ill-gotten lands? Who can expect to enjoy good fortune in respect of things he has gained illegally? God will give him his just deserts. The progeny of murderers, thirsting to do murders with all its heart, counts peace as less than nothing. A curtain draws a curtain, blood draws blood. The fickle Breton people flourishes constantly in its

113

LIBER IV

Mobilitate uiget; numquam Ranusia uirgo Mobiliore rota fertur quam spiritus eius. O regio, tibi nunc rex presidet; ante ducatus Aut comitatus eras. Non regnum siue ducatus Sed comitatus eris; tu, que ducibus dominaris, Cum seruis domino continget te dominari. Ecce dies uenient quibus ad sua iura reducti Tristia sub pedibus Galli tua colla tenebunt.

505

502 numquam PV; nusquam C: Ranusia CV; Ranussia P. 504 regio CPV (corrected from regia in C) tibi CP; cui V: nunc rex P; rex nunc CV. 505-6 CPV; line 505 follows 506 in V. but the lines are marked for transposition. S05 eras PV; etas C: Non PV; Nunc C. 506 tu

que P; nunc que C; tuque V.

507-8 PV only; om. C.

114

BOOK IV

own inconstancy. Its spirit ever changes direction as inevitably as the wheel of the Rhamnusian maid. O region, now a king rules you; before you were a duchy or a county. However, in the future you will be neither a kingdom nor a duchy, but a county; it will come to pass that you, who are ruled by dukes, will serve a master along with his slaves. The day will come when the Gauls will recover their rights, and trample your sad neck beneath their feet.

115

Liber Quintus i

Incipit quintus liber Quintus ad imperium subhmat Maximianum. Regnum rege carens deuastat barbarus hostis. Missus ab Armorica rex regnum saluat ab hoste. Contra ius regnat monachus. Successit eidem Proditor. Armoricam fratres adeunt duo. Regem Dux adit Hengistus; quem suscipit ille. Triumphat, Castellum condit, regi sua filia nubit.

Filius excludit patrem. Perit ille ueneno. Regnat item genitor. Socer hunc incarcerat. Ille Condere castellum captat frustraque laborat. Innumeris uero collectis Maximianus Militibus cursu Gallos adit et sibi subdit Germanosque cito. Romanis inde minatur Prelia principibus. Romano nam duo presunt Imperio, quorum sunt nomina dissona metro. Marteque commisso fugit unus et occidit alter. [$87]

5

10

15

Interea Galli nimia feritate feruntur

Contra Conanum. Conanus mente feroci Armoricum regnum deffendit et effugat hostes; Cumque carere suos uxoribus ipse uideret, Regi Cornubie, cui tota Britannia Maior Commissa est, scribens Dyonoto mandat ut ipse Armoricis nimphas generosas et mediocres Destinet uxores. [$88]

20

Paret, classem parat, illam

Implet uirginibus; dat nauita carbasa uentis, Litus ad Armoricum tendit. Contrarius Euro Missus ab Eoliis equor mouet utribus Auster; Obruit unda rates, pereunt cum classe puelle. Pars tamen illarum rabie rapiente procelle —

25

Fertur in hostiles agmen miserabile terras.

30

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Prologus libri .v. V.

1 Quintus PV; uintusC. 9 Socer V; Gener CP.

5 Armoricam CV; Armoricum P.

6 Hengistus P; Engistus CV.

11 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber .v. V: Innumeris PV; «I»nnumeris C.

12 cursu CP; om. V: subdit PV; iungit C. 13 Germanosque CP; Germanisque NV. 22 Commissa CV; Comissa P: Dyonoto P; Dyodoco C; Diodoto V. 23 nimphas PV (corrected from nimphis in V); nimphis C. 25 nauita CV; nauticaP. 26 Eoliis P; Ecoliis CV (or Etoliis in V?): utribus C; turbidus P; imbribus V.

29 rapiente CV; rabiente P.

116

Book

V

The fifth book raises Maximianus to emperor. The kingdom, lacking a king, is laid waste by a barbarian enemy. A king sent from Armorica saves the realm from its foes. A monk rules illegally and is succeeded by his betrayer; his two brothers go to Armorica. Duke Hengist comes to the king, who receives him. Hengist triumphs, builds a castle, and marries his daughter to the king. A son drives out his father, but dies by poison. His father reigns a second time. He is imprisoned by his father-in-law. He attempts to build a castle, but labours in vain. Assembling countless soldiers, Maximianus hurries to attack the Gauls and swiftly conquers the Germans. Then he threatens war on the Roman emperors. Two men rule the Roman empire; their names [viz. Gratianus and Valentinianus] cannot be expressed in metrical poetry. When battle is joined, one is put to flight, and the other killed. [$87] Meanwhile the Gauls attack Conan with great savagery. Conan defends the kingdom of Armorica with fierce determination and routs the enemy. When he sees that his men lack wives, he writes to Dyonotus, King of Cornwall, to whom the whole of Greater Britain has been entrusted, instructing him to send girls, both noble and humble, as brides for the men of Armorica. [§88] He obeys, prepares a fleet, and fills it with maidens. The sailors spread the sails to the wind and make for the shore of Armorica. But from the bags of Aeolus a south wind is sent against the eastern, and churns the sea; the waves

overwhelm the ships, and the girls perish with their fleet. However, a part of them — unfortunate band! — are carried by the driving force of the storm to

117

LIBERV

Guanius has et Melga neci uel forte pudendo Tradunt seruicio, qui toto corde fauentes Principibus Laciis fautores Maximiani Acriter infestant. Hiis tota Britannia Maior Subcumbit, quoniam uires subtraxerat illi Armoricos adiens iam pridem Maximianus, Qui iam Romano magna probitate subacto Presidet imperio. Sed postquam dira suorum Est audita lues, propriam uix sustinet iram. Destinat ergo uirum, dederat cui gratia nomen, Ad Britonum fines equitumque duas legiones. Collatis igitur armis de finibus illis Excludunt hostes et firma pace Britannos Letari faciunt; pax est et plausus ubique. [§89]

40

Idem legatus post mortem Maximiani, Quem fera Romani laniarat turba senatus, In regno succedit ei tractatque maligne Subiectum populum. Populus subtristis anhelat In mortem regis; tandem cadit ense suorum.

45

Guanius et Melga redeunt urbesque Britannas

50

Igne cremant; delere uacant lacrimabile regnum. Insula Romulee deuote supplicat urbi Ut sibi mittat opem. Legionem Roma Britannis Mittit in auxilium. Lacii Britonumque cohortes Expellunt hostes cedes in terga gerentes Inter et Albanos Deirosque labore stupendo Extendunt murum facilis ne forte pateret Hostibus introitus regni.

[§§90/91]

35

55

Romana recedit Et Romam repetit legio. Redit ante fugata Hostilis rabies; murotenus omnia uastat. Rustica plebs Britonum murum defendere temptat Sed quia formido semper comitatur agrestes, Ascendendo pigri, defendendo pigriores, Cum possent telis hostes expellere, ponunt In sola sua uota fuga. Timor et tremor illos Desperare probat: uultus pallere uideres Et trepidare manus — certa argumenta pauoris.

60

65

31 Guanius PV; Uannius C; Melga PV; Malga C; neci PV; uetiC. 34 Acriter PV; Accriter C. 35 subtraxerat CP (corrected from subtraherat in P); subtexerat V: illi CPV (tampered in P). 40 cui CPV (suprascript in V). 43 Excludunt CPV (corrected from Excludit in V). 46 CV only; om. P. 48 Subiectum populum P; Subiectus populus C; Populus subiectus V. 49 anhelat P; anelat C; hanelat V. 50 Guanius PV; Uanius C. 51 uacant PV; uacat C. 52 supplicat PV; suplicat C. 54 Mittit PV; Mittat C. 61 defendere P; deffendere CV. 63 defendendo P; deffendendo CV. 65 uota CV; terga P.

118

BOOK V

hostile lands. They are subjected to death or sometimes to shameful servitude by Guanius and Melga, who, favouring wholeheartedly the Roman emperors, are fiercely harrying Maximianus’s supporters. The whole of Greater Britain yields to them, since its strength had previously been drained by the Armorican expedition of Maximianus, who now rules the Roman empire, subjugated by his energy. But after Maximianus hears of the dire plague afflicting his people, he can scarcely restrain his anger. To the shores of Britain he despatches two legions of cavalry under the command of a man to whom grace gives its name [viz. Gratianus Municeps]. Joining battle, Gratianus drives the enemy from the land and allows the Britons to rejoice in a firm peace; everywhere there is harmony and merrymaking. [$89] After the death of Maximianus, whom a crowd of Roman senators had

pitilessly murdered, the same lieutenant succeeds him as king of Britain, but treats his subject people badly. Aggrieved, the population is eager for the death of the king, who eventually falls by the sword of his own men. Guanius and Melga return and burn with fire the cities of Britain; they destroy the pitiful kingdom at their leisure. The island dutifully asks the city of Rome to send aid. She despatches a legion to help the British. The Romans and the British troops

expel their foes with slaughter at their backs, and with impressive effort build a wall to separate the Albani from the Deiri so that the enemy may not have too easy access to the kingdom. [8890-91] The legion withdraws, retiring to Rome. The furious enemy, who had previously been put to flight, return and lay waste to everything as far as the wall. The common people of the Britons try to defend the wall. But since fear is always a trait of rustics, they are slow to mount the wall, and slower to defend it; when they could repel the foe with missiles, they put all their hopes in flight alone. Their fear and trembling show that they are in despair; one can see their faces pale and their hands shaking — sure signs of fear. Without ado, they show

119

LIBERV

Nec mora terga fuge prebent terreque cauernas Aut nemorum querunt latebras. Hostilia murum Agmina deiciunt; per mille foramina regnum Incurrunt tutore carens. Furit ignis et ensis. Rura suis cum ruricolis, cum ciuibus urbes Una depereunt. Nulli sua proficit etas; Lactantes matresque simul, iuuenesque senesque Occumbunt gladio; nulli sua munera prosunt Ecclesie, clerum reuerencia nulla tuetur. Agracius, consul Romanus, ferre recusat Auxilium positis in tanta strage Britannis. [892]

70

75

Cum Guizelinus, antistes Londoniensis,

Transmeat occeanum, regni petit Armoricani

80

Androenum regem, qui regno presidet illi Quartus post primum Conanum, suppliciterque Orat opem presul ut regni rege carentis Suscipiat regimen quod barbarus occupat hostis.

Aldroenus sic inquit ei: “Nos undique Galli Assidue uexant; nostrum defendere regnum Sanius esse reor dubio quam querere marte Per mare, per terras regnum quod possidet hostis. Sed ne subiaceat illud sine uindice regnum Barbarico iuri, duo milia sume uirorum

85

90

Quos cum fratre meo Constantino tibi trado.’

Presul agit grates Constantinoque uocato Subridens inquit: 'Salue, iuuenis! Tibi uirtus Christi — qui superat, qui regnat et imperat — adsit. Ecce decus nostri spes et defensio regni.' [$93]

Carbasa dat Zephiro; litus Totonense repente Nauigio tegitur. Egressi nauibus hostes Impugnare parant, Britonum tamen ante uocato Qui superest populo. Conserto marte fugata Barbara gens dat terga fuge regnumque relinquit. Undique conueniunt Britones quos barbarus hostis Sparserat et capiti Constantini diadema Regale imponunt. Uxor quoque traditur illi Ex Romanorum generoso sanguine nata, 69 Hostilia PV; Hastilia C. V.

95

Nec mora classe uiris impleta nauta «t»epenti

75 Occumbunt PV; Obcumbunt C.

100

105

77 Agracius CP; Agnicius

79 Guizelinus P; Guicellinus C; Guitellinus V: Londoniensis CPV (corrected from Londo-

neensis in V). 81 Androenum C; Aldrogeum P; Auxilium V. 82 Conanum PV; Conanus C. 85 Aldroenus C; Aldrogeus P; Audrenus'V. 86 defendere V; deffendere CP. 93 Salue CPV (corrected from Saluetur in C). 95 defensio P; deffensio CV. 96 tepenti my emendation; repenti CPV.

97 Zephiro CP; Zephyro V: litus PV; littus C.

103 diadema P; dyadema CV.

120

100 conserto PV; Britonum C.

BOOK V

their backs in flight, making for caverns in the earth or hiding-places in the woods. The enemy troops throw down the wall and enter the defenceless kingdom through a thousand gaps. Fire and sword rage. Fields are destroyed together with their tillers, cities with their citizens. Age protects no one: mothers and the babes at their breasts, youths and old men, all perish together. The churches’ privileges do not protect them; there is no respect afforded to the clergy. And, although the Britons are subjected to such slaughter, Agracius, the Roman consul, refuses to assist them. [§92] Then Guizelinus, Archbishop of London, sails across the ocean to

Aldroenus, King of Armorica, who is the fourth to rule that kingdom after its founder Conan. The archbishop humbly asks his aid and that he take control of the kingdom without a king, occupied by the barbarian enemy. Aldroenus replies to him: ‘The Gauls continually harass us on all sides; I think it more sound to defend our own realm than to seek in uncertain warfare by land and sea a kingdom which an enemy possesses. But so that that kingdom is not subject to barbarian sway without revenge, take two thousand men whom I entrust to you

with my brother Constantine.’ The archbishop thanks him and, when Constantine has been summoned, says with a smile: ‘Greetings, young man! May you be accompanied by the strength of Christ, Who conquers, Who rules and commands. Behold the ornament, hope, and shield of our kingdom.’ [§93] Without delay the soldiers man a fleet and the sailors spread their canvas to the warm west wind. The shore of Totnes is swiftly covered with ships. Disembarking, they prepare to engage the enemy, first calling together the remnants of the British population. When battle is joined, the barbarians are routed, turn their backs in flight, and quit the kingdom. The Britons, who had been scattered by the barbarous foe, assemble from all sides and place the royal crown on Constantine's head. He is given a wife of noble Roman blood, whom

121

LIBER V

[§94]

Quam Guizelinus nutriuerat. Hinc oriuntur Tres pueri quorum Constans, Ambrosius, Uther Nomina sunt. Constans monachatur patre iubente. Interea quidam Pictus mucrone soluto Interimit regem famulus nil tale timentem. Conueniunt igitur proceres; de substituendo Rege simul tractant, cum Uortigernus ad ipsum Constantem tendit monachum mortemque parentis Nunciat eius ei, dicens: ‘Cur ueste sub atra Hic latitas? Regnum uacat et succedere patri Te faciam si forte meis parere paratus

110

115

Consiliis augere uelis mea iura tibique Sim propior cunctis nostrum dum uiuat uterque." Sic fore constanter Constans promittit idemque Promissum iurat. Monachali ueste remota

120

Induitur regale decus. Uix dante Britanno Assensum populo regni diademate fulget, Quod Uortigernus spreto moderamine iuris Illius imposuit capiti. Nam Londoniensis Presul, cuius erat hoc ius, decesserat; alter Pontificum non audet eum diademate regis Insignire quia monachus uotumque professus In regem contra uotum non debet inungi. O puer inconstans, qui falso nomine Constans Diceris, ad claustrum redeas habitumque resumas Et sanctum uotum teneas. Regalia demas Ornamenta tibi; nam te decet hispida uestis, Non regale decus. Dicens psalmista, *uouete',

[$95]

130

*Reddite' continuo dixit. Nec te resilire A uoto decuit propria leuitate reductum. Ecce dies instat quo te uiciasse pigebit Sanctum propositum dum te preponere regno Proditor intendit: nam te deponere temptat. Rex igitur Constans, quem non constantia mentis Erigit in regem nec uires corporis, ipsum

106 Guizelinus P; Guicellinus C; Guithelinus V: nutriuerat CV; nutrierat P.

Uter CV.

125

111 igitur proceres CV; proceres igitur P.

135

140

107 Uther P;

112 Uortigernus P; Uotigernus CV.

115 succedere PV; suscedere C. 116 parere PV; parare C. 118 Sim CP; Sum V. diademate P; dyademate CV. 123 Quod CP; Quem V: Uortigernus P; Uotigernus CV.

imposuit CP; imponit V.

126 diademate P; dyademate CV:

122 124

132 hispida C; hyspida PV.

136 quo PV; quod C: uiciasse P; remisse (corrected from remissa) C; renuisse V: pigebit PV; pipigebitC. 137 preponere P; deponere CV. 138 Proditor P; Conditor C; Traditor V.

22

BOOK V

Guizelinus had brought up. By her he has three sons, named Constans, Ambrosius, and Uther. At his father’s orders Constans becomes a monk. Meanwhile a

certain Pictish servant draws a sword and kills the unsuspecting king. [$94] The nobles therefore assemble and discuss together who should succeed the king. But Vortigern visits the monk Constans and, having told him of his father’s death, says: ‘Why are you hiding here beneath a black robe? The throne is empty, and I shall make you succeed your father if by chance you are ready to comply with my advice. If you are willing to increase my power, I shall be your staunchest supporter for as long as we both shall live.' Constans

promises to abide by this and seals his promise with an oath. He removes his monk's habit and dons regal robes. Although the British people scarcely consent, he wears the shining crown of king, which Vortigern in contempt for the observance of law places on his head. For the Archbishop of London, whose right this was, is dead, and none of the other prelates dares to crown him king because a monk who has professed his vow ought not to be anointed as king against that vow. O inconstant boy, who are falsely called Constans, return to the cloister, resume your habit, and keep your holy vow. Remove your royal regalia, for a

rough garment befits you, not regal finery. When the psalmist said ‘vow’, he immediately added 'render up'. Nor is it fitting for you to break your promise at the instigation of your inconstancy. The day is at hand when you will regret abandoning your sacred vocation because a traitor meant to set you over the kingdom: for he is trying to depose you. [895] Because neither the constancy of his mind nor the strength of his body

raised him to the throne, King Constans rules badly. He entrusts power over the

123

LIBERV

Detractat regnum. Regni tocius habenas Dat Uortigerno, tantum sibi regis inani Nomine seruato, sed et hoc amittere dignus. Traditor ergo uidens monachalem simplicitatem In uultu regis ad regni culmen anhelat. Sed prius argentum fisci regalis et aurum Abscondit sub claue sua; custodibus urbes Et regni castella suis committit. Operta Fraude metum simulans regi mentitur in eius Regnum uenturos tam Pictos quam Uenedotos. Proditor ut satagat concepte prodicioni, Hiis uerbis bibulas Constantis inebriat aures: ‘Rex illustris, ait, ‘Picti tibi bella minantur. De quibus optato poteris gaudere triumpho Pictorum auxiliis; famulos tibi sume fideles Ex Pictis aliquos qui fraudem fraude repellant.’ Palliat ergo dolum fidei sub nube uocatque Regis in obsequium centum Pictos famulosque Et commensales eius facit, hac tamen arte Ut quorum instabiles animos auidosque cruoris Nouerat, instimulet in regis fata clientes. Allicit inde leues diuerso munere mentes Et sibi connectit et eorum inuitat amorem. Potibus assiduis uersutus inebriat illos.

Ebria turba ducem commendans psallit et inquit: *Est Uortigernus dignus diademate, sceptro Dignus et imperio, Constans indignus honore."

145

150

155

160

165

Quadam nocte uiros imbutos munere Bachi

Sic dux alloquitur lacrimis super ora profusis: *Marcia gens, cuius probitas uulgata per orbem Hostibus est terror, cuius nichil obuiat ausis, Cui fas omne nefas, ad cuius nitor honorem, Cuius opes augere meum semper fuit — estque — Propositum, si forte meis fecunda facultas Par esset uotis — sed ego, quia sumptibus impar Est mea bursa meis, patriam famulosque relinquo.'

170

175

Et simulans fletum dicit: ‘Discedo. Ualete!'

141 regnum PV; in regnum C: regni tocius CPV (corrected from tocius regni in C). 142 Uortigerno P; Uotigerno CV. 143 amittere CPV (preceded by deleted tuin C). 145 anhelat

P; anelat C; hanelat V. 148 Operta CP; Aperta V. 150 Uenedotos CV; Uenedotes P. 153 illustris PV; igitur C. 158 obsequium CV; auxilium P. 159 commensales PV; commessales

C. 163 inuitat P; mutat CV. 165 psallit PV; pallit C. 166 Uortigernus CP (corrected from Uotigernus in C); Uotigernus V; diademate P; dyademate CV: sceptro CP; ceptro V. 172

nefas CV; nephas P: nitor CPV (corrected from uictor in V).

124

175 esset PV; erat C.

BOOK V

entire kingdom to Vortigern, retaining for himself only the empty title of king — although he deserves to lose that too. The traitor, observing the simplicity of a monk in the face of the king, longs to assume power over the kingdom. But first he hides away the silver and gold of the royal treasury under his own lock and key, and hands over the cities and castles of the realm to his garrisons. By covert trickery he lies to the king, pretending to be afraid that both the Picts and Venedoti will invade his kingdom. In order to further the treachery he has begun, the traitor intoxicates Constans's thirsty ears with the following words: ‘Noble king, the Picts threaten you with war, but you will be able to enjoy a longed-for victory over them by the very aid of the Picts: engage some of them as your faithful servants so that they can rebuff trickery with trickery.' So cloaking his deceit beneath a veil of loyalty, he summons a hundred Picts into the king's service and makes them his servants and table-mates, with, however, the intention of inciting these retainers to murder the king, since he knows that their minds are unreliable and eager for blood. With various gifts he seduces their fickle hearts, binds them to him, and courts their affections. He cunningly inebriates them with continual drinking. The drunken crowd praise the duke, lauding him and saying: ' Vortigern is worthy of crown, sceptre, and kingdom; Constans deserves no honour.' One night, when they have imbibed the gifts of Bacchus, the duke addresses them with tears streaming down his cheeks: ‘Warlike race, your excellence is known worldwide and is a terror to your enemies; nothing can check your boldness; you may commit any outrage. I strive to win you honour. To increase your wealth has always been my aim — and still is, if only I had rich resources equal to my wishes; but, because my purse cannot meet my expenses, I am leaving my country and my servants.' And with feigned tears he adds: ‘I go. Farewell!’ Then the Picts are impelled to kill the king by their

125

LIBER V

[$96]

Tunc furor innatus uino triplicatus et ira Regis in interitum Pictos trahit. Arma capescunt, Irrumpunt cameram, dicentes: ‘Proh pudor! Ut quid Occupat hic monachus regnum, mendicat et ipse Dux Uortigernus pocius diademate dignus; Rex miser occumbat, regnet dux.’ Impia mitem Insontemque nocens occidit dextera regem Et caput abscisum regis — miserabile uisu! — Ad Uortigernum referunt. Sed dux quasi tristis, Quamuis leticia latitanti fluctuet intus, Lumina detergens ueluti lacrimancia clamat: *Me miserum! Quid id est? Cur te manus impia nobis Eripuit, Constans? Ciues accurrite; uinctos

180

185

190

Auctores sceleris adducite; fasce cruenta Colla cruentorum cicius resecate clientum.

[$97]

[$98]

Quam male mors eadem rapit insontemque reosque!' Accusat pars una ducem, pars altera purgat De nece Constantis; constat tamen esse peremptum. Ne leto simili pereant regis duo fratres Armorici regni regi mittuntur alendi Budicio qui nutrit eos et tractat honeste. At Uortigernus sumens sibi regis honorem Sumit honoris honus, sumit cum scismate sceptrum. Nam Picti, Scoti, Uenedoti, Norguegicique Arma gerunt in eum nec ab ipsis ciuibus eius Diligitur; patitur pressuras intus et extra. Interea plenas armisque uirisque ciullas Cancia tres recipit; fratres Hengistus et Horsus Omnibus hiis presunt. Rex Uortigernus eorum Aduentus causam, qui sint, patriamque requirit.

195

200

205

180 Proh pudor P; Pro dolor C; Proth dolor V. 182 Uortigernus CP; Uotigernus V: diademate P; dyademate CV. 183 occumbat C; occubat P; occumbit V: regnet CPV (altered to regnat in V): mitem P; mittem CV. 184 Insontemque CP; Insomptemque V. 185 caput CP; capud V. 186 Uortigernum CP; Uotigernum V: referunt PV; refferunt C. 187 latitanti CPV (corrected from lactanti in V). 191 adducite PV; adduscite C: fasce P; face C; falce V. 191 male mors CPV (corrected from mors male in V): insontemque reosque CP; insomptemque reumque V. 196 leto PV; loco C: pereant regis PV; regis pereant C. 198 eos CP; om. V. 199 Uortigernus CP; Uotigernus V.

200 scismate V; scysmate C; cismate P: sceptrum P;

regnum C; ceptrum V. 204 ciullas P; carinas C; cuillas V. 205 recipit CV; habuit P: Hengistus V; Engistus CP: Horsus PV; OrsusC. 206 Uortigernus CP; Uotigernus V.

126

BOOK V

natural fury, which is increased threefold by the wine and their anger. They seize their weapons and burst into his chamber, saying: ‘For shame! Is this monk to occupy the throne, while Duke Vortigern, who is more worthy of the crown, goes begging? Let the wretched king die, and the duke rule.’ [$96] Their wicked, guilty hands slay the gentle, innocent king and — a ghastly sight — they bring the severed head to Vortigern. Although he gloats inwardly with hidden joy, the duke feigns sorrow and, wiping his eyes as though

they wept, cries: ‘Woe is me! What is this? Why has you from us, Constans? Hurry, citizens, and bring me chains; quickly sever the heads of the blood-stained How unfitting that the innocent and the guilty should death!’ One party accuses the duke, another absolves

an impious hand snatched the authors of this crime in retainers with bloody axe. suffer the same manner of him of guilt for Constans's death; it is, however, clear that he has been murdered. Lest the king's two brothers suffer a similar fate, they are sent to be nurtured by Budicius, King of Armorica, who brings them up and treats them with respect. [897] When Vortigern takes the position of king, he assumes a burden as well

as an honour, discord as well as the sceptre. For the Picts, Scots, Venedoti, and Norwegians wage war against him, nor does he have the love of his own subjects; he endures troubles from without and within. [898] Meanwhile Kent receives three keels filled with armed warriors, all under the command of the brothers Hengist and Horsa. King Vortigern asks why they have come, who they are, and what is their native land. Hengist

127

LIBERV

[$99]

Cui sic Hengistus: ‘Germania patria nostra est, Cuius mos‘hic est - quem non tamen approbo: cum sit Uel uictu tenuis uel multa gente grauata, Sorte data, quem sors condempnat iniqua, relegat. Sorte relegati remis sulcauimus equor Uel tibi uel cuiquam domino parere parati; Quos dux Mercurius partes perduxit ad istas." Rex stupet et uultus extollens nomine dicto Mercurii querit legemque fidemque uirorum. Respondens Hengistus ait: ‘Nos numina celi, Cum Ioue Iunonem, colimus, cum Pallade Martem Saturnumque senem, Satyros, Faunosque, Laresque Innumerosque alios; preponimus omnibus illis Mercurium qui nos et nostros dirigit actus." Rex ait Hengisto: 'Personas diligo uestras, Errorem uestramque fidem detestor et odi. Sed tamen aula patet mea uobis. Undique turbant Nos hostes. Presens regnum defendite mecum Et, cum uestra meos uirtus superauerit hostes, Deliciis opibusque meis in pace fruemur; Si uos contigerit consortes esse laborum, Participes eritis me iudice semper honorum.’ Dixit; Saxonibus placet hoc regique fidele Obsequium semper se iurant exhibituros. Nec mora Pictorum ruit impetus; ensis et ignis Bacchantur passim. Confestim ducit in hostes Rex Britones cum Saxonibus. Dat terga pudende Barbara turba fuge; fugienti Saxones instant; Mille neci tradunt et mille in uincula trudunt; Nec multum Britones hic desudare necesse est. Rex igitur uictor grates impendit eisdem Per quos uicta fugit que uictrix esse solebat Hostilis rabies. Uestes, encennia, terras Donat eis; pociora datis se dona daturum Pollicitatur eis, si forti mente resistant Hostibus et regnum uicto tueantur ab hoste.

208 Hengistus V; Engistus CP.

210

215

220

225

230

235

240

211 condempnat CP; condampnat V: relegat PV; relegatur C.

213 cuiquam V; cuique CP: parere CPV (corrected from parare in V).

217 Hengistus V;

Engistus CP. 219 Satyros P; Satiros C; Saciros V: Laresque P; F.anesque C; Panesque V. 223 Hengisto V; Engisto CP. 225 defendite PV; deffendite C. 228 contigerit consortes PV; consortes contigerit C. 231 exhibituros P; exibituros CV. 233 Bacchantur V; Bacantur CP.

236 CP only; om. V: tradunt P; tribuunt C. 237 desudare P; dissuadere CV. 240 enncenia P; exannia C; exennia V. 242 Pollicitatur CV; Pollicitat P; forti CP; forte V. 243 tueantur

PV; tueatur C.

128

BOOK V

replies: “Our motherland is Germany, whose custom — which I do not approve — is this: whenever food is scarce or it is overburdened with too many inhabitants, lots are drawn, and whomever the unlucky choice condemns, it exiles. Exiled by this lot, we have churned the sea with our oars, ready to serve you or any lord; Mercury as leader brought us to this land.’ The king is amazed and, lifting his face at the name of Mercury, asks what is the mens’ law and religion. In reply Hengist says: ‘We worship the deities of heaven: Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Pallas, old Saturn, the Satyrs, the Fauns, the Lares, and others without number; above all of them we value Mercury, who guides us and our actions.’ The king says to Hengist: “Yourselves I love, your misguided religion I hate and loathe. But my court is open to you. Enemies harass us on all sides. Defend this kingdom with me, and, when your courage has overcome my foes, we shall enjoy my luxuries and my wealth in peace; if you become partners in my labours, I shall always consider you worthy of a share in my honours.’ What he says is approved by the Saxons, who swear always to show loyal obedience to the king. Without delay the Picts rush to attack; fire and sword rage everywhere. Immediately the king leads the Britons and the Saxons against the enemy. The barbarian crowd turns its back in shameful flight, and the Saxons press them as they retreat; a thousand they put to death, a thousand they bind in chains; nor do the British have to toil much on this occasion. [§99] The triumphant king gives thanks to those through whom the savage barbarians, who used to be victorious, are flying in defeat. He gives them clothes, banquets, and land; and he promises that he will grant them greater gifts if they resist his enemies with brave spirit and protect the kingdom from

129

LIBERV

Dum sibi rex in Saxonibus bene complacet et dum Illorum uox pondus habet, sibi cuncta licere Illicitumque nichil sperans Hengistus operta Fraude sub optentu fidei seducere regem Molitur, dum dicit ei: “Tibi bella minantur Finitimi nullumque latus tibi cessat ab hoste. Aurelium Zephirus, populum qui subiacet Artho Destinat huc Boreas, huc dirigit Auster Hybernos, Et Dacos Eurus. Odio quoque ciuibus esse Nos uestris constat. Nostris queremus ab horis, Si placet, auxilium." ‘Placet id michi,’ rex ait. Ille Preterea regi, ‘Rex illustrissime,’ dicit, ‘Nos generosa ducum genuit regumque propago. Debueras igitur nobis dare castra uel urbes Ut capiamus in hiis tutam post bella quietem." Responsisse duci sic rex perhibetur: 'Auorum Lex alienigenis prohibet uetus opida nostro In regno tradi, quam nostri nunc quoque seruant. Nec satis exacta est uestre constancia mentis, Cum sit uestra fides fidei contraria nostre." Dicit. At Hengistus uersutus sic ait illi: *Da saltem quantum terre precingere possim Una corrigia.' Quantum petit, impetrat ille. Unam corrigiam de toto tergore tauri

245

250

255

260

265

Scindit; cingit ea montis sublime cacumen.

[$100]

Turrim condit ibi cui nullo turbine belli Hostis obesse potest: defenditur arte situque Montis. Corrigie Castrum nunc usque uocatur. Ecce uiris plene uento rapiente carine Octodecim ueniunt, quas iam Germania flaua Miserat Hengisto. Cuius quoque filia Ronuen Uirgo uenit, facie regni prelata puellis. Dux igitur letus nata sociisque receptis Inuitat regem natam sociosque nouumque Castrum uisurum. Ueniens cum milite pauco Omnia uisa probat; miratur opusque locumque Applauditque uiris et eis donaria donat.

246 Hengistus V; Engistus CP.

247 optentu CP; aptentu V.

270

215

280

248 Molitur P; Mollitur CV.

250 Aurelium CV; Auxilium P: Artho PV; Archo C. 251 Hybernos PV; Ybernos C: Dacos; Daccos C; Dactos V: esse CP; ense V. 254 Ille P; illi CV. 255 dicit PV; dixit C. 257 Debueras CP; Deberes V. 261 quam PV; quemC. 262 uestre CV; nostreP. 264 Dicit PV; Dixit C; At PV; Ac C: Hengistus V; Engistus CP. 265 quantum terre CPV (corrected from

terre quantum in C). 268 Scindit PV; Cindit C. 270 defenditur P; deffenditur CV. 271 nunc CP; huc V. 273 quas iam P; illas CV. 274 Hengisto V; Engisto CP: 277 nouumque

P; nauumque C; nouum V.

278 uisurum CPV (corrected from uideri in V).

130

BOOK V

the defeated foe. Since the king is well pleased with the Saxons and their opinions carry weight with him, Hengist hopes that he can accomplish anything and that nothing is barred. Concealing treachery beneath a cloak of loyalty, he attempts to mislead the king, saying; ‘Your neighbours threaten you with war, and enemies swarm on your every side: the west wind may send hither Aurelius, the north wind the people who live beneath the pole-star; the south wind may send here the Irish, the east wind the Danes. It is clear too that we are hated by your citizens. If you agree, let us summon aid from our shores.’ ‘I agree.’ says the king. Hengist replies: ‘Most illustrious king, the noble progeny of dukes and kings gave us birth. You ought therefore to give us castles or cities where we may rest safe after battle.’ The king is said to have made this reply to the duke: "The ancient law of our ancestors, which we even now observe, forbids that towns in our kingdom be handed over to foreigners. Nor am I sufficiently sure of your reliability of mind, since your religion is opposed to ours.’ So he speaks, but crafty Hengist says to him: ‘At least give me as much land as I can surround with a single leather thong.’ This request is granted. Hengist cuts a thong from a full bull’s hide and with it encircles the lofty summit of a hill. There he builds a tower immune from the foe in any storm of war, since it is protected by defensive skill and by its position on the hill. To this day it is called the ‘Castle of the Thong’. [$100] Lo, carried by the wind, come eighteen ships, full of men, which blond Germany has sent to Hengist. With them comes his daughter, the maiden Ronwen, superior to her countrywomen in beauty. The duke, rejoicing to receive his daughter and comrades, invites the king to see them and the new castle. Arriving without many soldiers, he approves all he sees, admiring the fortification and its position, praising the men and giving them gifts. When he has

131

LIBERV

[$101]

Cumque cibis esset et Bachi munere functus, De thalamo prodit Hengisti filia, uino Impletum cratera tenens, genibusque reflexis Inquit: ‘Lauerd king, wasail.' Rex ergo puelle Conspecta facie stupet et calet eius amore Et querit quid id est et quid responderit. Illi Interpres dicit: Responde drincheil.’ Ille, *Drinchayl,' inquit ei. Primo potare puellam Precipit; illa bibit primo, bibit ille secundo. Anglia deinde bibax hunc ritum seruat ut illi Qui potus potant equales sic sibi dicant. Rex ergo uise correptus amore puelle Postulat hanc patrem; fratris pater et sapientum Consilio fretus dilectam tradit amanti. Quid facis, o demens? Quid id est, stultissime regum? Cur caperis facie? Quid inis connubia contra Preceptum Domini? Nam mas et femina cultus Disparis esse pares diuina lege uetantur. Non tibi sed regno uirgo Germanica nubit. Hoc tibi pro facto uenient incommoda: perdes Infelicem animam, regno priuaberis, in te Insurgent ciues, quibus hostes preposuisti; Te tua, quam spolias, solio proles spoliabit. Sceptrum quod cede cepisti, cede relinques. : Exclusis igitur ducibus famulisque Britannis Regis tota patet solis gentilibus aula. Excitat ira duces; iuuenes tres, quos generarat Rex, irascuntur ob turpia facta parentis, Dicti Uortimerus, Pascencius et Catigernus. Interea Germanus adest et par Lupus, almi Pontifices, quorum uirtutibus acta coruscant. Hii reuocant Britones ad Christi cognicionem, Quos iam deliros dederant contagia gentis Atque error cuius datur esse Pelagius auctor. Dum rex Hengisto pareret in omnibus, illi

285

290

295

300

305

310

315

282 Hengisti V; Engisti CP: Lauerd king wasail P; laurenchine warseil C; laurenchine wsalle

V. 287 drincheil P; drincayl C; dreichail V. 288 Drinchayl P; Drincayl C; Dricail V. 291 sibi CP; ibi V. 292 correptus CP; corruptus V 293 fratris PV; patris C. 295 id CPV (suprascript in V). 298 Disparis PV; Disparit C. 300 Hoc CP; Hec V: incommoda CY: incomoda P. 304 Sceptrum CP; Ceptrum V: relinques PV; relinquas C. 305 igitur ducibus CV; ducibus igitur P. 307 tres quos PV; quos tres C. 309 Catigernus PV; Gatigernus C.

311 acta PV; alma C: coruscant CP; choruscant V.

auctor CP; actor V.

314 Pelagius V; Pelagus C; Pelasgius P:

315 Hengisto V; Engistus C; Engisto P.

132

BOOK V

indulged in food and the fruits of Bacchus, Hengist’s daughter emerges from her chamber carrying a goblet full of wine, and, bending her knee, says: ‘Wassail, Lord King.’ On beholding the girl’s face, the king is awestruck and burns with love for her; he asks what this is and what he should reply. His interpreter says to him: ‘Reply Drinkhail.’ ‘Drinkhail.’ says the king to her, and commands the girl to drink first; she does so, and he drinks second. Since then thirsty England has observed this practice: that those who drink equal draughts repeat these words. Seized with desire for the girl he has seen, the king asks her father for her; he, on the advice of his brother and his elders, hands over his beloved daughter to her admirer. What are you doing, madman? What is this, most foolish of kings? Why are you captivated by a face? Why do you enter marriage against the Lord’s command? A man and a woman of different religions are forbidden to become mates by the Sacred Law. It is not you but your kingdom which the German maiden weds. For this act you will not prosper: you will lose your unhappy soul, you will be deposed from your kingdom, and your subjects, to whom you have preferred their enemies, will rise up against you. Your offspring, whom you despoil, will deprive you of your throne. The sceptre which you gained by slaughter, you will relinquish in slaughter. The king’s entire court is barred to his dukes and British servants, receiving only the pagans. Anger stirs the dukes; three young men, named Vortimer, Pascentius, and Catigernus, the king’s sons, are angered by their father’s shameful deeds. Meanwhile there arrive the blessed bishops Germanus and his companion Lupus, whose acts shine with miracles. They summon back to the recognition of Christ the British, who had by now been made heretical by pagan corruption and by the error which is held to have been promoted by Pelagius. [§101] Hengist addresses the king, who is his servant in all things, thus: ‘I see

133

LIBERV

Sic ait Hengistus: ‘Uideo quod tota mouetur Insula contra te, proles tua te quoque uexat; Si simul huc ueniat frater meus Octa meoque Fratre satus, cui nomen Abissa, — uiri sapientes, In bello fortes — qui, si preceperis, omnes Occius excludent hostes de finibus istis." Rex ait: ‘Huc ueniant.' Ueniunt Cheldricus, Abissa, Octaque, qui plenas armata gente carinas Adducunt secum. Rex letus suscipit illos Et donat donis; quorum uirtute triumphos Optinet innumeros. Hengistus semper eorum

320

325

Augmentat numerum. Quod cum uidere Britanni, Saxonice gentis metuentes prodicionem

Regi sic aiunt oculis prodentibus iram: *O rex, mirandum est te coniunxisse puellam Sic tibi gentilem: nulla est conuencio Christi Ad Belial. Multo magis est mirabile regni Te dare frena tui populo sine lege regenda; Te regni expertem gens reddere nititur exlex. Saxones amoueas qui te deponere temptant." Rex tamen hoc fieri renuit. Communiter illum Destituunt Britones. Proceres, plebs, clerus adherent Uortimero patrisque sui diadema relicti Imponunt eius capiti. Nouus ergo uocatis Nil ibi Mercurius, nil prodest Iupiter aut Mars; Christus uincit, Christus regnat et imperat illic. Terga dat Hengistus minima cum parte suorum Et uix euadens cum paucis nauibus exit De regno generoque suo nataque relictis Saxoniam repetit nil dignum laude reportans. Uortimerus uero, postquam uictoria tanta Cessit ei, dispergit opes; dat larga maniplis Dona suis; urbes, uillas, castella, domosque Illis restituit quibus has subtraxerat ante Effera gens; Christique fidem preceptaque seruat.

316 Hengistus V; Engistus CP. P;om. V.

317 Te tua quam PV; quoque te tuaC.

326 Hengistus V; Engistus CP:

mirabile CP; miserabile

345

350

318 ueniat C; ueniet

328 metuentes PV; metuentis C.

(corrected from igitur in V): conuencio CP; conueniencia V.

V. 336 Communiter PV; Comuniter C.

335

340

Rex exercitibus exleges fertur in hostes.

[$102]

330

331 tibi CPV

332 Belial CV; Belyal P: 338 diadema P; dyadema

CV. 339 Nouus ergo PV; non sulgus C. 340 exercitibus PV; excertitibus C. 341 prodest PV; om. C. 343 Hengistus V; Engistus CP: minima CP; nimia V. 344 nauibus CPV (corrected from manibus in C). 348 dispergit CV; dispersit P. 349 castella PV;castra C. 350 has CP; om. V.

351 Effera CP; Effrena V.

134

BOOK V

that the whole island is turned against you, and that your sons harass you too. If only my brother Octa and his son, named Abissa, could come here: they are wise men, brave in war, and, if you ordered, they would swiftly drive all your enemies from these shores.’ The king says: ‘Let them come.’ Cheldricus, Abissa, and Octa come, bringing ships full of armed men. The king happily receives them and gives them gifts; and through their bravery he wins many victories. Hengist continually increases their numbers. When the Britons perceive this, they fear betrayal by the Saxon people and, with anger flashing in their eyes, address the king: ‘O king, we are amazed that you have married a pagan girl in this way: there can be no alliance between Christ and Belial. It is even more astounding that you have given the reins of power into the hands of a lawless race. This ungovernable people is working to deprive you of your realm. Banish the Saxons who are trying to depose you.’ But the king refuses to sanction this. The Britons reject him in a body. Nobles, commoners and clergy transfer their allegiance to Vortimer and place upon his head the crown of his rejected father. The new king summons his armies and attacks the lawless foe. Then neither Mercury, Jupiter, nor Mars can help them; then Christ conquers, Christ rules and commands. Hengist turns tail with the few remnants of his men and, escaping only with difficulty, leaves the kingdom in a small number of ships. He abandons his daughter and son-in-law and retires to Saxony, bringing back nothing worthy of praise. [§102] After he has won so great a victory, Vortimer distributes wealth; he gives generous gifts to his men; he returns villages, castles, and homes to those who had been deprived of them by the savage pagans; he maintains Christ’s

135

LIBERV

[$103]

Dum bene disponit regno, dum regnat ubique Pax et amor, dum fur nusquam, dum predo quiescit, Humani generis hostis, quem cuncta molestant Que recte fiunt, regis preiudicat annis. Instinctu cuius miscens aconita nouerca Priuigni tradit famulo famulusque propinat Illa suo domino; dominus mortale uenenum Assumit potatque suam cum nectare mortem. Cum fore uicinam mortem sibi sentit, amicos Conuocat et socios. Large dispergit in omnes Quas cumularat opes. Monet illos ut bene pugnent Pro patria ponantque suum super ardua montis Culmina sarcophagum fabricatum ex ere micanti, Hic ubi Saxonibus portus suus esse solebat. Dicit enim: ‘Si forte meam Germanica tumbam Agmina prospicient, prebencia terga recedent.’ At Trinouantum tamen est tumulatus in urbe. Inde sibi natoque pater succedit honoris Ordine turbato. Regem regina precatur Ut reuocet socerum; reuocat prohibetque uenire Agmina cum socero, Britonum ne suscitet iram Si plures ducat socios. Tamen ille parata Classe armatorum ter centum milia ducit. Arma mouent Britones. Fallax regina parenti Intimat hoc. Regem et proceres sub tegmine pacis Prodere molitur Hengistus. Nunciat illis Dicens: *Non nos bella iuuant, non arma mouemus In uestrum regnum: pacem, non prelia posco. Ne formidetis classem numerumque uirorum; Uiuere Uortimerum credentes, arma timentes Eius — ut experti — nos tot tantasque cateruas Duximus ut qui nos bello superauerat ante, Illum possemus uersa uice reddere uictum. Sed quia dii nostri nobis sine cede triumphum

355 aconita CP; acognita V.

morte CV.

357 Priuigni C; Pirigni P; Priuini V.

359 potatque PV; portatque C.

355

360

365

370

375

380

385

358 mortale P; cum

364 sarcophagum P; sarcofagum CV.

365

micanti PV; micati C. 366 Germanica CP; Germania V. 367 prebencia CPV (corrected from prancia in C). 368 At PV; Ut C: Trinouantum CP; Tritouantum V. 372 suscitet CP;

succitet V.

374 ter centum CP; trecentum V.

P;Nosnon CV.

380 CPonly; om. V.

377 Hengistus V; Engistus CP.

382 cateruas PV; catheruas C.

136

378 Non nos

385 quia PV; om. C.

BOOK V

faith and commands. He orders the kingdom well; peace and harmony reign everywhere, nowhere is there stealing, and robberies cease. But the enemy of the human race, who is antagonized by everything which goes well, judges against the king’s life. At his prompting, Vortimer’s stepmother mixes aconite and gives it to her stepson’s servant. He pours it out for his master, who takes up the deadly poison and drinks down death with his wine. When he realises that his end is near, he summons his friends and comrades. Generously he divides amongst all of them the wealth which he has amassed. He instructs them to fight bravely for their country and to place his tomb of shining bronze on the lofty peak of a hill, where the Saxons used to make their landing. For he says: ‘If by chance the German troops see my tomb, they will show their backs in retreat.’ He is, however, buried in the city of Trinovantum. [$103] Then in confused order of succession the father becomes king after himself and his son. The queen begs the king to recall his father-in-law; he does, but forbids troops to accompany him, lest he arouse the anger of the Britons by bringing too many companions. However, Hengist prepares a fleet and brings three hundred thousand men. The Britons prepare for war. The treacherous queen sends her father word of this. Hengist takes steps to betray the king and

his nobles by a show of peace. He sends them this message: ‘War is not our purpose, we do not intend to attack your kingdom; peace, not battle, is my request. Do not fear this fleet or the number of my men; in the belief that Vortimer still lived, and dreading his arms, which we have already faced, we brought such great forces in order to defeat in our turn the man who had previously overcome us in war. But because our gods have seen fit to grant us

137

LIBER V

[$104]

[$105]

[$106]

Sunt dare dignati, non est opus agmine tanto. In patriam, nisi quot regi retinere placebit, Dirigimus socios, uel, si rex iusserit, omnes. Si placet, assignet nobis tempusque locumque Ut tractaturi de pacis federe, pulsa Suspicione doli, bene conueniamus inermes." Prima dies mensis maiorum nomine dicti Assignatur eis certusque locus. Uenit illuc Sediciosa cohors cultros sub crure recondens. Et Britones ueniunt, nimie gens credulitatis. Dum de communi tractarent utilitate, Hengistus sociis dat signum prodicionis. Protinus extractis cultris gens perfida Christi Impedit incautos nullo discrimine seruos. Pars tamen illorum percepta sedicione Fustibus et saxis toto conamine missis Nonnullos perimit. Consul fortissimus Eldon Claudiocestrensis tigno quod gestat honusto Quemcumque attingit confractum in tartara trudit; Huic humerum, illi crus, latus huic, caput obruit illi. Sed quia perfida gens numero precellit et armis, Diffugiunt sparsi per deuia rura Britanni Quos uel mors uel plaga sinit. Uictoria plaudit Saxonibus regemque tenent seruantque ligatum Donec reddat eis urbes et opida regni. Hostibus ille suis, quamuis inuitus, obedit; Tradit eis omnes regni cum turribus urbes. Cum uero nullum muri munimen habere Se rex conspiceret, nimie non imperat ire. Consulit ergo magos regni quis competat illi In regione locus ut in illo construat urbem. ‘Mons,’ aiunt, *Herir tibi congruit ut tibi muros Edifices illic et turrim nubibus equam." Id placet et missis legatis congregat omnes Artifices regni. Murus fundatur et ecce — Res horrenda nimis! — quicquid lucente lucerna Phebi fundatur, Phebes confunditur hora;

391 Suspicione CP; Suspectone V: inermes PV; inhermes C.

390

395

405

410

415

420

392 maiorum PV; mayorum C.

393 eis CPV (suprascript in V). 395 nimie CV; minime P: credulitatis CV; crudelitatis P. 396 communi CV; comuni P. 397 Hengistus V; Engistus CP. 401 conamine P; cognamine CV. 403 tigno CP; tygno V. 404 Quemcumque P; Quem tamen CV: trudit P; mittit CV.

406 PV only; om. C.

410 et P;ac CV.

407 rura CP; rara V.

413 munimen CV; muninenP.

408 sinit PV; finit C: plaudit C; plaudet PV.

Hetis?) V.

138

417 Herir P; Ethyr C; Hetir (corrected from

BOOK V

victory without slaughter, we no longer need so great an army. We shall send back our companions to our country, except those whom the king wishes to retain: or, if the king commands, all of them. If this is pleasing, let him allot us a time and place, so that we may fittingly meet to discuss a peace-treaty, unarmed and without any suspicion of deceit.’ The first day of May, the month named after the *maiores', and a fixed location are allotted to them. [$104] The treacherous band come there with knives hidden by their thighs; there too come the Britons, too trusting a people! While they discuss the common good, Hengist gives his companions the sign for treason. Immediately the treacherous pagans draw their knives and without danger attack the unprepared servants of Christ. [$105] However,

some

of the latter, realising that they are betrayed, kill

several of their attackers with clubs and stones hurled with all their strength. The mighty Eldon, consul of Gloucester, disables anyone whom he touches with the heavy beam he wields, and sends him to Hell; one man’s shoulder is crushed, another’s leg, one man’s side, another’s head. But, as the treacherous pagans are more numerous and better armed, those Britons who are not dead or maimed flee, scattered over the trackless fields. On winning this victory, the Saxons capture the king and keep him in chains until he surrenders to them the cities and towns of his realm. Unwillingly he obeys his enemies and hands over to them all the fortified cities of the kingdom. When he sees that he has not the protection of a single wall, the king cannot master his excessive anger. [$106] He asks the magicians of his kingdom what place in the land is suitable for the building of a city. They reply: ‘Mount Erir fits your purpose: there you may build walls and a tower which touches the clouds.’ This course pleases the king and, sending messengers, he assembles all the craftsmen of the

kingdom. The foundations of the wall are laid, but — most horrible event! — whatever work is done while the lamp of Phoebus burns, is undone in the hours

139

LIBERV

Molesque absortas tellus abscondit in aluo Et nichil ‘apparet de precedente labore Adueniente die. Multis labor ille diebus Apparet cassus; ideo stupor occupat omnes Artifices operum. Tum rex responsa magorum Exquirit, dicens: ‘Michi, uos quos cura laborque Mundi sollicitant, exponite quid sit agendum Ut presens consistat opus quod sorbet abyssus." Respondent murum consistere posse cruore Aspersum pueri geniti sine semine patris. Rex iubet exquiri per regni climata si quis Talis haberetur. Missi, dum forte redirent Ad regem tristes inuento nemine tali, Ad quandam ueniunt urbem lassique sedentes Conspiciunt pueros ludentes insimul; unus Quorum Merlinus et Dinabucius alter Dicitur. Inter eos, dum ludunt, rixa mouetur. Dicit Merlino sic Dinabucius: ‘Ut quid

425

430

435

Contendis mecum, cum sis me nobilitate

[$107]

Inferior? Nam sum genitus de semine regum; Tu uero quis sis nescitur, cum tibi nullus Extiterit genitor. Dispar discordia nostra est.’ Qui missi fuerant animis letantibus aures Hiis adhibent uerbis dicuntque: *Quis est puer iste, Qui sine patre satus fertur — res mira relatu?" Astantes aiunt: ‘Nullus pater extitit illi; Filia Demecie regis, que sub monachali Ueste latet, coitus maris expers edidit illum.’ Inde adeunt urbis prefectum iussaque regis Exponunt illi. Prefectus tradit eisdem Merlinum cum matre sua; quos protinus illi Ad uultum regis referunt. Rex ergo puelle Uultum conspiciens ex ipso percipit illam Ortam nobilibus. Querit quo filius eius Patre satus fuerit. Respondet: *Uiuere caste Uirginibus sociata sacris a uirgine cepi. Interea thalamis clausis portisque seratis

445

450

455

424 Molesque CP; Moles V. 426 stupor CV; stupet P. 427 Tum P; cum CV. 428 uos quos PV; quos uos C. 429 Mundi CP; Mondi V: sollicitant C; sollicitat PV. 433 exquiri PV; inquiri C. 435 nemine V; nomine CP. 437 Conspiciunt P; Aspiciunt CV. 38 Dinabucius CP; Dinabulcius V. 440 Dicit PV; Dixit C: Dinabucius CP; Dinabulcius V. 442 genitus PV;

natus C. 443 sis nescitur CV; nescitur sis P. 444 Extiterit CP; Extiterat V. 447 mira P; miranda CV: relatu PV; relata C. 448 extitit PV; astitit C. 449 monachali PV; monacali C.

450 expers PV; expars C. 451 urbis CPV (corrected from urbes in V). (suprascript in V). 454 uultum PV; witum C: referunt CP; deferunt V.

140

453 sua CPV

BOOK V

of night; the earth swallows the masonry and hides it in its womb; and nothing can be seen of the previous day’s toil on that which follows. For many days work appears to be vain, and so all the workmen are amazed. Then the king seeks the response of his magicians, saying: ‘You who are devoted to the careful investigation of nature, tell me what must be done in order that this work, which is swallowed by the abyss, may stand.’ They reply that the wall can stand if it is sprinkled with the blood of a boy born without a father’s seed. The king orders a search for such an individual throughout the length of his kingdom. The envoys, when by chance they are returning to the king, sad at finding no one of this sort, come to a Certain city and, as they sit to rest, they see two boys playing together,

one of whom is called Merlin and the other Dinabucius. As they play, they begin to quarrel. Dinabucius says to Merlin: ‘Why are you arguing with me when you are my inferior in rank? I am born of the seed of kings, while no one knows who you are, since you had no father. Our strife is therefore one-sided.’ With joyous hearts the envoys fasten their ears on these words and say: ‘Who is this boy, who is said to have been born withoui a father — a event strange to relate?’ The bystanders reply: ‘He has no father; the daughter of the King of Demetia, who lives under the seclusion of a nun's habit, gave birth to him without intercourse with a man.' [8107] Then they go to the chief of the city and reveal the king's orders to him. He hands over to them Merlin and his mother. They immediately bring them into the king's presence. Looking at the woman's face, he divines from it that she is of noble stock. He asks of what father her son is born. She replies: *From my girlhood I began to live chastely in the company of the holy virgins. Meanwhile, when the chambers were closed and the gates bolted, someone used

141

LIBERV

Quidam sub specie iuuenis, pulcherrimus ore, In cunctis placidus, coram me stare solebat Et repetita michi dare basia, deinde iocose Luctari mecum; cuius michi lucta placebat. Uicta — nec inuite — subcumbens uim paciebar, Sed gratam passe uiolate non uiolatam. Inde recedebat tenues dilapsus in auras, More reuersurus solito, sed tardus amanti. Aut hec causa mei partus fuit aut sine causa Hunc peperi puerum: meus est, ignoro parentem. Dixerat. Inde magos rex consulit et sapientes

460

465

>

470

Qui de naturis rerum discernere norunt.

E quibus unus adest Magancius, omnibus illis Doctior. Alloquitur hunc rex et querit an illud Quod narrat mater pueri natura creatrix Permittat fieri. Cui sic Magancius inquit: *Luna subest soli distantque loco; locus ille Demonibus datus est, qui sumpta sepe uirili Forma decipiunt fatuas grauidantque puellas. Huius forte fuit pueri pater incubo talis."

475

464 bis in P: inuite V; inuicte CP. 472 Magancius P; Magnancius CV. 474 mater pueri CP; pueri mater V. 475 Permittat (corrected from Permittit in V) CV; Permittit P: Maganciu s P; Magnancius CV.

142

BOOK V

to stand before me in the form of a youth, beautiful of face and comely in all things; he used to give me repeated kisses and playfully to wrestle with me; his wrestling gave me pleasure. Beaten, but not unwilling, I submitted and endured ravishment, but enjoyed what I suffered, which was not rape nor violation. Then he retreated, melting into the thin breezes. He would return in his usual way, although too tardily for his lover. Either this was the cause of my pregnancy, or I gave birth to this boy without cause: he is my son, but I do not know his father.’ When she has finished, the king consults his magicians and the wise men who can understand the workings of nature. One of those present is Magancius, who is more learned than all of them. The king addresses him and asks whether Mother Nature allows what the boy’s mother relates to happen. Magancius replies: ‘The moon is below the sun, and they are separated by a space; this space is allotted to demons, who often assume the shape of men and so deceive and impregnate foolish girls. Perhaps an incubus of that sort was this boy’s

father.’

143

Liber Sextus t

Incipit sextus liber Sextus ab augurio Merlini cepit. Inungit Aurelium; regem comburit. Dilaniatur Hengistus. Parcit rex Octe, ditat amicos,

Et nouat ecclesias. Spoliatur Hybernia saxis; Rex sollempnizat. Sumit Pascencius arma. Rex perit; Uther ei succedit, uincit; in illum Octa mouet bellum, superatur. Cornubiensis Nupta ducis regi datur uxor; nascitur inde Arturus. Languensque diu rex fertur in hostes In feretro; superat; sumpto perit inde ueneno. [$108]

5

10

Omnia Merlinus intenta colligit aure

Indignansque rogat: ‘Cur, rex, hucusque uenire

Me matremque meam distractos more reorum Impie iussisti? Non sum tractandus inique." Rex ait: ‘Effusus sanguis tuus, ut michi docti Asseruere magi, murum, qui — nescio quare — Stare nequit, stabili faciet consistere fundo." Cui puer arridens: *Mendaces esse probabo Fallacesque magos. Ueniant te precipiente.’ Dixit et ecce magi ueniunt, quos cana senectus Longaque barba facit et uerba diserta uerendos. Quos puer ut uidit, insultans sic ait illis: *O quorum mens est incautos fallere, quorum Uita nociua, quibus prebent mendacia uictum, Quid muro conferre potest ut sistere possit Sanguinis humani diffusio? Non bene nostis Quid fundamento subsit quod dissipet illud. Sub fundamento stagnum latet. Effodiatur Terra; patebit aqua.’ Foditur, stagnum patet; illud Impediebat opus nec murum stare sinebat. — Ile magos iterum temptat dicitque: * Magistri,

15

20

25

30

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Incipit liber .vi. V.

1 Sextus PV; extus C. 3 Hengistus V; Engistus CP. 4 Hybernia PV; Ybernia C. 6 Uther PV; Uter C. 10 feretro CP; pheretro V. 12 hucusque CPV (corrected from hucque in C). 13 distractos PV; distractorum C. 14 Non CP; cum non V. 18 Cui PV: Qui C. 21 diserta PV; disserta C: uerendos PV; ferendos C. 25 conferre CV; preferre P. 28 stagnum CPV (tampered in V): 29 Foditur PV; Effoditur C. 30 PV only; om. C.

144

Book

VI

The sixth book begins with the prophecy of Merlin. It anoints Aurelius, who burns the king. Hengist is dismembered. The king spares Octa, rewards his friends, and renews the churches. Ireland is deprived of its stones, which the king consecrates. Pascentius takes up arms. The king dies and is succeeded by Uther, who triumphs. Octa makes war on him, but is defeated. The wife of the Duke of Cornwall becomes the king’s bride; Arthur is his son. In the grip of a long illness, the king is carried against his enemies in a litter; he is victorious, but dies after drinking poison. [$108] Merlin hears all this with eager ear and asks in indignation: ‘Why, my king, have you wickedly ordered myself and my mother to come here, dragged like criminals? I am not to be treated badly.’ The king says: ‘My learned magicians assure me that the sprinkling of your blood will make the wall, which — I know not why — cannot stand, rest on firm foundation.’ With a smile the boy replies: ‘I shall show that your magicians are liars and deceivers. Order them to come.’ So he speaks, and lo, the magicians come, venerable for their hoary age, their long beards, and their learned words. When he sees them, the boy addresses them insultingly: ‘You whose intention is to trick the unwary, whose existence is harmful, who earn your living by falsehood, how can the sprinkling of human blood help a wall to stand? You do not properly understand what is beneath the foundation to impede it. A pool lies hidden beneath the foundation. If the earth is dug away, you will see the water.’ The pool is exposed by digging; it is this which hindered the work and prevented the wall from standing. He makes trial of the magicians a second time, saying: “Tell me, teachers of deceit,

145

LIBER VI

Dicite, perfidie, sub stagno quid latet isto.’ Erubuere:magi nec ad hoc certum potuere Reddere responsum, cum sic Ambrosius inquit: ‘Sub stagno presente latent duo concaua saxa, In quibus abdita sunt duo corpora magna draconum." In riuos aqua diuiditur; duo saxa uideri Incipiunt. [$111]

Saxis auulsis inde coloris

Diuersi — uisu res admiranda — dracones Exiliunt stagnumque petunt bellumque minantur Ambo sibi: quorum ruber unus, candidus alter. Dirum committunt certamen; hanelitus ignem Euomit amborum. Tandem ruber effugit album. Conuerso rubeo uersa uice terga dat albus. Rex igitur, postquam stupefacto pectore bellum Uidit inauditum, dixit: ‘Merline, stupendum Quid tibi significet presens michi pande duellum." Ille silet totusque tremit dum spirituales Concipit afflatus lacrimisque rigantibus ora Conqueritur uates. [$112]

AS

"Serpens tibi ue ruber’, inquit,

*Ecce tuas caueas expulso te tenet albus. Presignat Britones rubeus draco, Saxones albus, Quos coniunxisti, quibus in «te» tela dedisti. In rubeum niueus conuertet prelia; montes Uallibus equabit, fedabit sanguine rura; Diruet ecclesias, cultores ecclesiarum Interimet; Christi nomen delere studebit, Donec fulmineus, obliquo dente timendus, Cornubiensis aper rictu spumante feretur In niueum; sternet niueum, cedetque flagellis. Ille caput niuei pede conteret, ille rubenti Restituet stagnum. Subiectus seruiet ipsi Occeanus; subdet sibi Gallica regna; timebit Hunc Romanus apex. Anceps erit exitus eius; In populis celeber erit et narrantibus eius

Actus causa cibi; cuius preconia fine Nullo claudentur, quem semper uiuere credet Simplex posteritas, quamuis natura repugnet.’

40

45

50

55

60

65

34 Ambrosius CPV (glossed Merlinus in V). 36 abdita PV; additur C. 42 anhelitus PV; anelitus C. 43 effugit CV; effugat P. .47 tibi P; sibi CV. 53 te my emendation; se CPV.

58 fulmineus PV; flumineus C. 59 aper CPV (glossed id est Arturus in C): rictu PV; ritu C. 60 CP only; om. V. 61 caput CP; capud V. 62 Restituet CP; Destituet V: ipsi P; illi CV. 65 celeber CV; celebris P: narrantibus PV; ennarrantibus C.

146

66 cibi PV; tibi C.

BOOK VI

what is concealed beneath this pool.’ The magicians blush and can give no sure answer to this. Merlin Ambrosius says: ‘Beneath this lake are concealed two hollow stones, in which are hidden the mighty bodies of two dragons.’ As the water is drained into channels, two stones begin to appear. [$111] When the stones are broken open, dragons of different colours — a

thing amazing to see — leap forth, seek out the pool, and threaten to fight each other. One of them is red, the other white. They begin a dreadful struggle; the breath of both pours forth fire. At last the red dragon flees before the white. But the red rallies, and the white shows its back in turn. After the king has watched this unheard-of strife with heart aghast, he says: ‘Merlin, reveal to me what this wondrous duel means to you.’ The prophet is silent, trembling in every limb as he gathers the breath of inspiration. Then with tears streaming down his face he laments. [$112] “Woe to you, red dragon.” he says, ‘See, the white will drive you out and occupy your lairs. The red dragon signifies the Britons, the white the Saxons, with whom you have allied yourself, to whom you have given arms against yourself. The white will turn its weapons on the red; it will level mountains with valleys, stain the fields with blood, destroy churches and kill

their ministers; it will attempt to wipe out the name of Christ, until the Boar of Cornwall, terrifying with his curved tusks and foaming jaws, will attack the white like a lightening bolt, overthrow it, and cut it with whips. He will grind the head of the white dragon beneath his heel, and will restore the pool to the red dragon. The ocean will be defeated and will serve him; he will conquer the realms of Gaul; the head of Rome will fear him. His end will be uncertain; he will be famous among the peoples, and his deeds will provide food for those who tell of them; his praises will be bounded by no limit, and trusting later ages will believe that he lives for ever, although this is contrary to the laws of nature.’

147

LIBER VI

[$118]

[8119]

Postquam Merlinus hec pluraque uaticinauit, Quorum difficile est seriem committere metro, Etas narrantis et uerba obscura prophete Mirari faciunt regem regisque sodales, Cum sic alloquitur rex illum: *Nescio quis te Spiritus instigat uentura euoluere fata, Siue malo sis siue bono spiramine plenus: Ipse tamen mea fata michi finemque reuela.’ Sic respondet ei Merlinus: 'Si potes, ignem Effuge natorum Constantini. Duo fratres De portu ducunt classem litusque relinquunt Armoricum; uentis iam uela per equora pandunt, Iam litus Totonense tenent, iam Saxones armis Inuadunt, subduntque sibi, iam uindice flamma Ureris inclusus in turri. Fratris eorum Te cruor accusat fusus te conciliante. Ue tibi, rex, quoniam nullum latus est tibi tutum; In te concurrunt hinc fratres, Saxones inde. Occidet Hengistus. Dabitur diadema paternum Aurelio; pacem populo dabit, ecclesiarum Restituet dampnum; sumpto regnare ueneno Desinet. Uther ei succedet; qui morietur Fratris consimili leto. Sed prodicionum Auctores digna multabit morte scelestos Cornubiensis aper." Soli cedentibus astris Crastina lux oritur; cum fratribus Armoricani Iam litus Totonense tegunt, iam rumor adesse

Publicat Armoricos. Britones quos sparserat hostis Conueniunt dominosque suos ciuesque uidentes Illis se sociant, decorant diademate regni Aurelium; decoratus eo iam mente feroci Fertur in Hengistum. Tamen eligit ante peremptum Ulcisci fratrem. Collectis ergo cateruis In Uortigernum rapitur, qui nomine regis

70

75

80

85

95

100

Territus audito fugit ad castrum Geneorum.

69 $8113-17 are not present in the poem. 71 obscura CP; diserta V. 74 euoluere PV; inuoluere C. 79 relinquunt PV; relinqunt C. 82 subduntque C; subeuntque PV: flamma PV; flama C. 86 Inde PV; In te C: hinc fratres PV; fratres hinc C... 87 Hengistus V; Engistus CP: diadema P; dyadema CV. 89 Restituet CPV (corrected from Restituit in V). 90 Uther PV; Uter C: succedet CPV (corrected from succedit in V). 92 multabit P; mulctabit C; cruciabit

V: scelestos PV; celestes C. 95 tegunt PV; petunt C. 96 Publicat C; Pupplicat P; Supplicat V. 98 Illis se sociant P; Illum pontifices CV: diademate P; dyademate CV. 100 Hengistum V; Engistum CP: peremptum PV; parentum C. 102 Uortigernum CP; Uotigernum V.

148

BOOK VI

[$118] After Merlin has made these predictions, and many more whose

content is difficult to set down in verse, the king and his courtiers are astounded by the youth of the speaker and the arcane words of his prophecies. The king addresses him: *I do not know what spirit prompts you to disclose what is fated to be, nor whether you are filled with good or evil inspiration: however, reveal to me my fated end.’ Merlin replies: ‘Avoid the fire of the sons of Constantine, if you can. The two brothers are leading their fleet from port and leaving the shore of Armorica; now over the sea they spread their sails to the wind, now they reach the shore of Totnes, now they attack the Saxons with their weapons and subdue them, now you are trapped in your tower and burned by the avenging flames. The blood of their brother accuses you, which was shed with your connivence. Woe to you, o king, for there is safety for you on no side: from one direction the brothers rush upon you, from the other the Saxons. Hengist will be killed. Aurelius will be given his father's crown; he will grant the people peace and make good the destruction of the churches, but will cease to reign when poison is administered to him. Uther will succeed him, and will die the same death as his brother. However, the Boar of Cornwall will punish the wicked perpetrators of this crime with a fitting end.’ [$119] The next day dawns, the stars fading before the sun, and the Armori-

cans with the brothers now cover the shore at Totnes. The news of their arrival spreads. The Britons, who had been scattered by the enemy, assemble and, seeing their lords and fellow-citizens, ally themselves with them. With the diadem they crown Aurelius king. Once crowned, he is already marching against Hengist with fierce intention. However, he chooses first to avenge his murdered brother. Collecting his forces, he attacks Vortigern, who, terrified by the sound of the king's name, flees to the castle of Genei. The king pursues,

149

LIBER VI

Quem rex insequitur inclusumque obsidet; igni Concremat obsessum. Quamuis consumptus in igne

105

Proditor expiret, infamia prodicionis

[$120]

[$121]

Extat adhuc, quam non flammarum incendia delent. Quod simul attonitas Hengisti perculit aures, Aurelium, Christi famulum, pietatis amicum, Cultorem fidei, custodem religionum, Pacis amatorem, casti rectique magistrum, Nestora consilio, sed uiribus Hectora, fratrem Hectoris aspectu, membrorum lege gygantem, Agnum simplicibus, mansuetum mitibus, hostem Hostibus, attonitus populus gentilis obhorret. Collectis igitur sexus utriusque cateruis, Iam querens loca tuta sibi communiter Humbrum Transmeat effera gens, urbes ac menia munit; Ex aquilonali plaga Dacos, Uenedotos Congregat et Scotos; ueniunt ad bella caterue Diuersi cultus, uarie collegia lingue. Aurelius uero sequitur uestigia gentis Pagane fugientis eum. Qui, dum regionis

Ecclesias, urbes et menia diruta mestus Cerneret, exclamat dicens: *Rex Christe, triumphum Si michi contuleris, deuictis hostibus omnes Ecclesias reparabo tuas, quas barbarus hostis Diruit, et larga dotabo dote refectas.’ At simul Hengistus regem prope nouit adesse, Disponens socios in turmas obuiat illi. Campus erat Beli de nomine nomen adeptus; Illuc Hengistus socios deducere furtim Nititur ut Britones ineat non premeditatos. Quod tamen Aurelium minime latet. Ocius ergo Anticipat campum statuitque ex ordine turmas Dum ueniunt hostes.

[$122]

110

115

120

125

130

133

Quos cum prope conspicit, inquit: *O socii, quorum uirtus michi cognita, quorum Non dubitata fides, quorum constancia certa est,

107 flammarum PV; flamarum C. 108 attonitas CP; atonitas V: Hengisti V; Engisti CP: perculit P; pertulit C; percutit V. 112 consilio CV; consilii P. 113 gygantem CP; signantem V.

114 mitibus C; mittibus PV:

115 obhorret CP; oborret V.

117 communiter CV; comu-

niter P. 119 aquilonali P; aquilonari CV: Dacos P; Daccos C; Datos V: Uenedotos CV; Uenedotes P. 120 Congregat PV; Aggregat C. 121 uarie PV; uaria C. 124 diruta CP: dirrupta V. 125 Christe PV; ipse C. 129 Hengistus V; Engistus CP. 131 Beli P; belli CV. 132 Illuc CP; Illic V: Hengistus V; Engistus CP: deducere CP; adducere V.

occius C.

136 conspicit P; prospicit CV.

150

134 ocius PV;

BOOK VI

traps, and besieges him, then burns him there with fire. But although the traitor dies consumed in the blaze, the ill-repute of his treachery, which the heat of flames cannot destroy, lives on still. [§120] As soon as this news reaches Hengist’s astonished ears, the astounded pagans are aghast at Aurelius: he is the servant of Christ, friend of righteousness, promoter of faith, protector of religion, lover of peace, teacher of the pure and good; a Nestor in counsel, but a Hector in strength, and a Troilus in beauty;

a giant in the proportion of his limbs; a lamb to the innocent, gentle to the meek, but a foe to his foes. In the search for a safe refuge, the savage race gathers crowds of both sexes and together they cross the Humber, where they fortify Cities and walls. From the northern regions they assemble Danes, Venedoti, and Scoti; troops of varying appearance, a conglomeration of different languages, gather for battle. Aurelius dogs the footsteps of the pagans as they flee before him. When with sadness he sees the churches, cities, and walls of the region destroyed, he shouts out: ‘Christ my King, if You grant me victory over the defeated foe, I will restore all Your churches, which the barbarian enemy has destroyed, and, when they have been repaired, bestow generous gifts on them.’ [8121] As soon as Hengist hears that the king is close at hand, he deploys his

troops in their divisions and meets him. There is a plain which takes its name from Beli; Hengist strives to lead his troops there by stealth so that he can attack

the Britons unprepared. But this does not escape Aurelius's vigilance. He occupies the field more swiftly and draws up his companies in order, ready for the enemy's arrival. [8122] When he sees that they are near, he says: ‘Comrades, I know your bravery, I do not doubt your loyalty, I am sure of your steadiness. Conquer the

151

LIBER VI

Uincite iam uictos, captos uincite, uel ense

Uindice deiectos mature tradite morti. Ne formidetis numerum uiresque uirorum, Quos in:castra trahit iniusta occasio belli. Uos pia causa mouet patriam deffendere uestram. Illos Mercurius fallit, nos Christus ab hoste Protegit; in Christo tantum spem ponite uestram." Dixit, et ille suos cuneos precedit et ire Non iubet, immo sequi. Regem deuota sequuntur Agmina; nullus abit trepitanti corde retrorsum. [$123]

140

145

Econtra pagana cohors, quam ducit in arma

Dux Hengistus, adest, Britonum sitibunda cruoris. Quam dux dispositis turmis ex ordine bello Preparat et dicit: *O stirps generosa deorum, Robusti iuuenes, quibus idola nostra triumphum Prestant continuum, uotis deposcite bellum. Ecce greges Britonum cum paucis Armoricanis, Quos innata trahit stolide uesania mentis In bellum, uotis, etsi non uoce, precantur Ut capiamus eos; minima est laus ista triumphi Hic ubi semimares bello superamus.' Et ecce Occurrunt acies ad missi fulminis instar. Tunc clangor lituum, uoces, hinnitus equorum Armorumque fragor impellunt aera tanto Concussu quantus fieret si machina rerum In chaos antiquum rueret conpage soluta. Atropos occat ibi tot forcia fila sororum, Quot messes messor defalcat falce recurua. Aurelius uero gladio ductore per hostes Ducit iter sternitque uiros; sternuntque Britanni, Sternunt Armorici, sternit fortissimus Eldon. Sed recolens tempus antique prodicionis, Tendit in Hengistum, quem prospicit ense furentem In Britones. Sed cum paganos cedere regi Cerneret Hengistus, lacerato flebile bellum Agmine destituit uicinaque menia castri Conani festinus adit; non esttamen ausus —

Cum tot militibus castri se credere muro,

139 PV only; om. C. 142 Quos CV; Quas P. 143 mouet CV; monet deffendite C. 147 immo CP; imo V. 148 retrorsum PV; recursum C. Engistus CP. 152 CV only; om. P: stirps V; styrpsC. 153 idola P; ydola PV; uexania C. 157 uoce CV; prece P. 158 laus ista V; pars ista C; Occurrunt PV; Concurrunt C. 161 hinnitus C; hynitus P; hinitus V. Attropos C. 171 Hengistum V; Engistum CP. 173 Hengistus V; Engistus

152

150

155

160

165

170

175

P: deffendere PV; 150 Hengistus V; CV. 156 uesania laus ipsa P. 160 165 Atropos PV; CP.

BOOK VI

foe who is already defeated, capture and bind him, or overthrow him with

avenging sword and consign him to a death too long postponed. Do not fear the number or strength of his men, since no just reason for fighting has brought them into camp, while we are inspired by the righteous cause of defending our country. They are deceived by Mercury, while we are protected from the enemy by Christ; place your hope in Him alone.’ With these words, he goes before his troops and orders them not to advance, but to follow him. The devoted army follows its king; no one faint-heartedly falls back. [$123] Opposite, the pagan army, led into battle by Duke Hengist, is at hand, thirsting for British blood. The duke prepares them for battle by drawing up their companies in order. He says: ‘Noble descendants of the gods, strong youths, to whom our idols always grant victory, request this engagement in your prayers. Lo, the herds of Britons in the company of a few Armoricans, led to war by the madness innate in their foolish minds, invite us with their hopes, if not

their voices, to take them prisoners. There is little praise in this victory, since we will in battle be defeating effeminates.’ At once the two armies clash like bolts of lightening. Then the fanfare of trumpets, shouting, the neighing of horses, and the crash of arms rend the air with a blow as if the edifice of the world, its fabric shattered, were slipping into the ancient abyss. There Atropos shears as many of her sisters’ strong threads as if she were a harvester cutting corn with curved scythe. Aurelius, his sword before him, leads the way through his foes and slaughters the enemy, as do the Britons, the Armoricans, and mighty Eldon. Mindful of the occasion of Hengist’s old treachery, Eldon seeks him out where he spies him raging with his sword against the Britons. But when Hengist sees the pagans falling back before the king, he abandons the sad fight with his decimated army and swiftly reaches the nearby walls of the camp of Conan. But with so many troops he does not dare to entrust himself to the protection of its

153

LIBER VI

[§124]

Ne rex, qui sequitur, qui plurima milia uinclis Mancipat aut perimit, obsessum dedicioni Cogat et ignauus leto moriatur inerti. Pulchrius esse putat mortem pugnando subire Quam fame depressum uitam ueniamque precari. Dispositis igitur turmis prope menia regem Expectans inquit: ‘Fortissima stirps superorum, State, precor, mecum mentesque resumite uestras. Dii nostri, qui nos superari sustinuerunt, Iam uigilant, iam stant pro nobis, iam pudet illos, Dum superaremur, sompni grauitate teneri. In manibus nostris dant hostes. Christus eorum Iam dormit; uincamus eos dum dormiat ille." Rex igitur cernens positas ex ordine turmas, Ponit et ipse suas et eas hortatur et inquit: *Gloria sit patri, nato sit gloria, sancto Gloria spiritui, qui nostros tradidit hostes In manibus nostris. Desperant, longius ire Lassati nequeunt, nimio sudore soluti; Nemine eos pulsante cadunt, sine cede cadentes. Cedite semineces, gladiis dissoluite nodos Seruicii: minimus labor hic et maxima merces." Dixerat, appropiant acies sibi; grandine plura Tela hinc inde uolant; post tela uenitur ad enses. Ense liquet cui laudis amor, cui dextera fortis, Regnum cui mens est acquirere siue tueri. Mutua dampna sui patitur pars utraque passim; Cesaque uel cedens pars omnis cedere cedi Turpe putat cedique priusquam cedere gaudet. Rex facit ense uiam. Fortem fortissimus Eldon Impetit Hengistum; parili uirtute resistit Dux Hengistus ei. Quis eorum forcior aut quis Sit maior dubium est. Crebros dant ensibus ictus Compulsusque graues. Sed stans immotus uterque Cum pare par certat. Sed adhuc non est bene certum Quis cedat uel quis excedat. Promicat ignis Ex collisura gladiorum. Pallada, Martem, Cum Iunone Iouem, Saturnum, Mercuriumque

180

185

190

195

200

205

210

177 milia uinclis CV; uincula uictis P. 178 Mancipat C; Mancipit PV. 179 Cogat PV; Cogunt C: inerti P; inhertiCV. 180 Pulchrius P; Pulcrius CV: putat PV; putant C: pugnando subire PV; subire pugnando C. 184 State CP; Stato V. 187 sompni PV; superum C. 195

Lassati PV; Laxati C. 201 Ense CP; Ecce V: amor CV; honor P: dextera CP; dextra

V. 207

Hengistum V; Engistum CP. 208 Hengistus V; Engistus CP. 211 certat CV; constat P. Pallada PV; pallida C; Martem CPV (preceded by deleted fortem in C).

154

213

BOOK VI

defences, lest the king, pursuing and putting many thousands in chains or killing them, besiege him and force him to surrender and ignobly to die a coward’s death. He thinks it more fine to meet his fate in battle than to be starved into begging for his life and for mercy. He therefore draws up his troops by the walls to await the king and says: ‘Mighty progeny of the gods, make a stand with me, I beg, and recover your determination. Our gods, who permitted us to be beaten, are now awake; now they stand before us, and are ashamed to be in grip of dulling sleep while we are defeated. They put our enemy in our grasp. Now it is their Christ Who sleeps; let us conquer them while He slumbers.’ The king, seeing their forces draw up in ranks, deploys his own and to encourage them says: “Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Who have delivered the enemy into our hands. They have given up hope; tired and exhausted by their great toil, they can go no further. They need no blow to be overthrown, falling without slaughter. Cut them down, half-dead as they are, and with your swords break the bonds of your slavery: the effort will be trifling and the reward most great.’ So he speaks, and the armies close; missiles fly hither and thither, thicker than hail; after that, they engage with the sword, which shows who has love for praise, who a strong right hand, who the spirit to gain or to protect a kingdom. Everywhere both forces mutually suffer casualties; whether slaughtered or slaughtering, each side thinks it base to yield to slaughter and is happy to be cut down rather than to surrender. [$124] The king hews a path with his sword. Mighty Eldon attacks Duke Hengist, who resists him with equal bravery. It is doubtful which of them is the stronger or the better man. With their swords they deal frequent strokes and heavy blows. Yet each stands immovable, equal matched with equal. Nor is it yet clear who will yield, who will triumph. Sparks fly when their swords clash. Hengist calls on Pallas, Mars, Juno, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury; Eldon entrusts

155

LIBER VI

[$125]

[$126]

Inuocat Hengistus; Christo se deputat Eldon. Sed neque Christus adhuc isti, nec muta triumphum Idola dant illi. In dubio uictoria pendet, Donec Cornubie dux se Gorlosius illam Transtulit in partem stipatus milite multo. Quo uisu uirtus Eldonis crescit, et ipsum Abstrahit Hengistum dextra nasale capescens Cassidis ipsius uictumque per agmina ducit. Saxones Hengistum uictum captumque uidentes Attoniti fugiunt; fugientes Armoricorum Agmen equestre sequens non cessat sternere donec Aurelio cedit uictoria. Uictor ad urbem capit. Hinc sepeliri eam et tendit Conani Precipit occisos, curari uulnera, lassa Membra quiete frui, discerni quis cruciatus Hengistum maneat, cum sic uir religiosus, Eldonis frater, Eldonus episcopus inquit: *O si forte uirum mendacem, sediciosum, Sacrilegum, furem uellent absoluere ducti Iniusta pietate duces examine nullo, Ipse meis manibus membratim dilaniabo Iniustum iuste Samuelis more prophete, Qui cum cepisset Aga captumque ligasset, Extra castra trahens membratim dilaniauit.’ Omnibus ista placet sentencia presulis. Eldon Extra castra trahens Hengistum demetit eius Ense caput; corpus sepelitur more suorum. Filius Hengisti de bello fugerat Octa. Eboracum ueniens rex obsidet ocius Octam. Ille uidens urbem non posse resistere regi, Egreditur regemque petit manibusque cathenam Sablonemque gerens in uertice sic ait illi: *Dii pereant nostri, ualeat deus Israel; ille

215 Hengistus V; Engistus CP.

215

220

225

230

235

240

245

216 Sed CPV (preceded by deleted Impetit Engistum in C).

217 Idola P; Ydola CV: In CV; om. P.

219 in CV; ad P.

220 uisu PV; uiso C: Eldonis PV;

Heldonis C. 221 Hengistum V; Engistum CP: nasale PV; uassale C. 222 uictumque CV; uinctumque P. 223 Hengistum V; Engistum CP: uictum CV; uinctum P. 227 Hinc PV; Hic C.

228 uulnera PV; wineraC.

228—9 lassa |Membra P; membra | Laxa C; membra | Lassa

V. 230 Hengistum V; Engistum CP. 237 Agag my correction; Agap CV; Agaz P: ligasset CPV (followed by deleted Extra in C). 239-40 PV only; om. C. 240 Hengistum V; Engistum P. 241 caput CP; capud V. 242 Hengisti V; Engisti CP. 243 Eboracum CP; Heboracum V: ocius PV; occius C.

246 in uertice PV; euertice C.

156

BOOK VI

himself to Christ. But Christ does not yet give success to the one, nor the dumb idols to the other. Victory hangs in the balance, until Gorlosius, Duke of Cornwall, crosses to that part with many soldiers. At the sight of him Eldon’s valour grows; grasping the nasal of Hengist’s helmet in his hand, he drags him off and leads him vanquished through the British ranks. When they see Hengist defeated and captured, the Saxons flee in amazement, pursued by the mounted troop of Armoricans, who do not cease to slaughter them until Aurelius has triumphed. [§125] Victorious, he marches to the city of Conan and takes it. Then he orders that the dead be buried, that wounds be healed, that tired limbs enjoy rest, and that it be decided what punishment awaits Hengist. Bishop Eldonus, a holy man and the brother of Eldon, says this: ‘Should the dukes be led by false mercy to wish without due consideration to spare this lying, treacherous, sacrilegious, thieving man, myself with my own hands I will justly tear this criminal

limb from limb after the manner of the prophet Samuel, who, when he had taken Agag and bound him as his prisoner, dragged him outside the camp and completely dismembered him.’ The bishop’s judgement pleases all. Eldon drags Hengist outside the camp and lops off his head with his sword; his body is buried after the fashion of his people. [$126] Hengist's son Octa had fled from the battle. Arriving at York, the king quickly besieges him there. Realising that the city cannot resist him, Octa comes forth to seek the king. With a chain on his wrists and gravel in his hair, he addresses him thus: ‘May our gods perish; may the God of Israel be strong and

157

LIBER VI

Regnet in eternum. Uitam ueniamque petentes, Rex, tibi subicimur; serua seruire uolentes." Dixit, et exurgens Eldonus episcopus inquit:

*Cum Gabaonite submissa fronte uenirent Ad populum Domini, uitam ueniamque tulerunt. Nos uero, qui propicio gens dedita Christo Et deuota sumus, pocius miseris misereri Supplicibusque decet.' Miserens miseretur eorum Aurelius. Certa regionis pars habitanda Assignatur eis, immundis proxima Scotis.

[$127]

[$128]

250

255

Deuictis igitur rex hostibus Eboracenses

Ecclesias refici necnon et Londonienses Uicinasque iubet demolirique deorum Templa. Nouas condit leges renouatque uetustas. Iudicium cum iusticia rectumque fidemque Seruat et eneruat contraria: predo quiescit, Fur cessat, uis nulla rapit, pax regnat amorque. Oppida, rura, domos, urbes cum menibus altis Exheredatis reddit, quos efferus hostis Exheredarat; plagas herede carentes Illis assignat bene qui meruere maniplis. Ne quid inexpertum desolatumque relinquat, Eradicando uicia et plantando bonorum Radices operum regionis circuit urbes Guintoniamque uenit. Eldonus episcopus ipsum Ad montem ducit ubi proditor ille Britannos Hengistus proceres cultris iugulauerat olim. Conspectis igitur tumulis suspiria ducit Pectoris ex imo lacrimisque fluentibus inquit: *O procerum generosa cohors, o digna perhenni Extolli laudum titulo, tua mors preciosa Est in conspectu Domini. Tua uile sepulchrum Ossa tegit, meliorque tui pars fulget in astris. Si mea forte meis uotis suffecerit etas, Hunc ego perpetuo montem uenerabor honore, In quo cesa iaces pro libertate tuenda." Dixit et artifices de regni partibus omnes

260

265

270

215

280

250 exurgens CP; asurgens V: Eldonus CP; Eldonius V. 251 Gabaonite PV; Gabaonice C. 255 Miserens C; Miserans PV: miseretur CV; miseratur P. 259 PV only; om. C. 261 Nouas

PV; naues C. 263 eneruat PV; enaruat C. 265 Oppida P; Opida CV. 269 relinquat PV; relinquit C: 270 Eradicando PV; Erandicando C: et PV; om. C. 271 urbes CP; orbem V. 272 Guintoniamque V; Uintoniamque C; Wintoniamque P: Eldonus CP; Eldonius V. 274 Hengistus V; Engistus CP. 278 laudum CP; laudis V. 279 conspectu PV; aspectu C. 280

fulget CPV (corrected from tegit in C). PV; iacet C.

282 ego CPV (corrected from esto in C).

158

283 iaces

BOOK VI

reign for ever. We submit ourselves to you, o king, and request our lives and your mercy; preserve us, since we are willing to be your slaves.’ At these words

Bishop Eldonus rises and says: “When the Gibeonites came before the People of

the Lord with humble brows, they gained both life and pardon. Since we are a race dedicated and devoted to the merciful Christ, it is fitting that we should take pity on wretches and supplicants.’ Aurelius in sympathy takes pity on them. A fixed area of the kingdom, closest to the unclean Scoti, is assigned as their home. [$127] Having defeated his enemies, the king orders that the churches of York be rebuilt and those of London and its neighbourhood, and that the pagan temples be demolished. He promulgates new laws and reinstitutes the old. He preserves judgement with justice, right, and faith, and weakens their counterparts. Robbery ceases, stealing ends, there is no violent thieving; peace and harmony reign. Towns, fields, houses, and cities with lofty walls he returns to the disinherited, who had been deprived of their rights by the savage foe; the regions which have no heirs he grants to those of his troops who have well deserved them. So as to leave nothing untried or untended, he goes round the cities of the land eradicating malpractices and setting the roots of good works. When he comes to Winchester, Bishop Eldonus leads him to the hill where the daggers of the traitor Hengist had once butchered the British elders. On seeing their tombs, he heaves a sigh from the depths of his chest and says with flowing tears: ‘Noble band of elders, worthy of being extolled with an everlasting paean of praise, your death is precious in the sight of the Lord. A mean tomb covers your bones, while your better part shines among the stars. If I live long enough to fulfill my wishes, I shall consecrate with perpetual honour this hill on which you lie, cut down while you protected our liberty.’ [§128] So he says, and, gathering all the craftsmen from the expanse of his

159

LIBER VI

Congregat ingeniisque iubet uelocius uti Ut felix et perpes opus dignumque relatu Edificent in honore patrum. Dubitant aiuntque

285

Artifices, *Quis posset opus fabricare perhenne Preter eum qui cuncta suo produxit ad esse Ingenio, qui congeriem diuisit et inde Omne quod est, quod erit, et quod fuit ordine sumpsit?’, Cum Legionensis Tremorinus episcopus inquit: *Merlinum uatem, cui fas est scire futura, Consule; consultus tibi consulet. Utere docti, Rex bone, consilio uatis.' Rex ergo prophetam Presentem presens affatus sic ait illi: *Tu cui nosse datur abscondita, uaticinare Casus uenturos.' Cui uates, 'Spiritus ille

290

295

Qui uates uentura docet non est sine causa

[$129]

Alliciendus’, ait, ‘nec frustra fata reuelat.’ ‘Dic saltem, Merline, michi quis posset honore Perpetuo proceres extollere, corpora quorum Pro patria bene cesa iacent in montibus istis.’ Cui sic respondet Merlinus: ‘Hibernia seruat Inmensos lapides, quos adduxere gigantes Ex Affris olim, positos ex ordine; quorum Circumstans series est dicta Corea Gygantum. Illos huc adduc et eos hic stare iubeto Sicut stant illic; et sic quod queris habebis." Hiis rex auditis ridet dicitque prophete: ‘Tam magnos lapides de tam regione remota Huc impossibile est afferri posse; nec illis Saxa mei regni precii reor esse minoris.' Cui Merlinus ait: ‘Non est ita: maxima uirtus Est in eis. Cum terrigene languore grauatos Se fore sentirent, limphis ea saxa lauabant; Limphas seruabant et eis sua membra rigabant Sanaque reddebant. Hec saxa nec arte nec astu Ingenii nec ui tolli sed carmine possunt." Protinus Aurelius Uthri ter quinque uirorum

300

305

310

315

320

285 iubet V; suis CP: 286 perpes CP; properes V: opus CPV (corrected from opes in C). 287 Edificent PV; Edifficent C. 290 congeriem PV; cumgeriem C. 291 quod PV; et C: ordine CP; ordia V. 295 ergo CP; uero V. 296 Presentem PV; Presentis C. 297 nosse CN: nosce P. 298 PV only; om. C. 302 corpora CPV (corrected from nomina in C). 304 Hibernia P; Ybernia CV. 305 Inmensos CP; Immensos V. 306 Affris P; castris C; antris V. 307 dicta CP; ante V: Gygantum PV; Gigantum C. 308 adduc PV; adhuc C: hic PV; sic C. 311 Tam PV; Eam C. 312 auferri PV; aufferriC. 317 Limphas PV; Lymphas C... 318 astu

CV;astraP.

320 Uthri P; Utri CV.

160

BOOK VI

kingdom, orders them swiftly to use their skills to build in honour of the elders an appropriate and lasting work, worthy of remark. The craftsmen hesitate, saying: “Who can make an immortal work except He Who produced everything by His skill, divided the confusion, and from it selected in order everything which is, which will be, and which has been?’ Then Tremorinus, Bishop of Caerleon, says: ‘Consult the prophet Merlin, who is permitted to know the future. Consulted, he will advise you; heed the advice of the wise prophet, good king.’ The king therefore speaks to the prophet face to face, saying: ‘To you it is granted to know what is hidden: prophesy events to come.’ The prophet replies: ‘The spirit which teaches prophets what will come is not to be summoned without cause, nor does it reveal fate in vain.’ ‘At least, Merlin, tell me who can extol with eternal praise the nobles whose bodies rest in these hills, honourably slain for their motherland.’ Merlin replies: ‘Ireland has huge stones placed in order, which the giants once brought from Africa; set in a circle, they are called the Giants’ Dance. Bring them here and have them set up just as they are there; thus you will have what you wish.’ [$129] On hearing the prophet’s words, the king laughs and says to him: ‘It is impossible to bring such large stones here from so far a place; nor do I consider the stones of my own kingdom to be of any less worth.’ Merlin says: ‘Not so: they have very great power. Whenever the giants felt that they were heavy with fever, they washed these stones with water; saving the water, they bathed their limbs with it and restored them to health. The stones may be moved by neither art, nor skill of mind, nor force, only by incantation.’ Immediately Aurelius

161

LIBER VI

[$130]

Milia committit et eos uatemque disertum Destinat armatos. Uento rapiente carinas Ad regni litus in quo stat dicta Corea, Rex Gillominus, qui regno presidet illi, Aduentum Britonum fama referente relatu, Quid querant querit. ‘Lapides aufferre gygantum Ad regem nostrum uel te nolente uenimus. ' Dicunt. Rex respondet eis: ‘Cognomine bruti Et re sunt Britones, quos propria uita molestat, Dum nostros lapides nobis aufferre laborant, Acsi non habeat meliora Britannia saxa. Haut inpune ferent!’ Tunc congregat armipotentes Tocius regni Britonesque inuadit, et illum Inuadunt Britones. Conserto marte fugatur Rex cum gente sua, multis tamen ante peremptis. Inde Gyganteam cursu ueloce Coream Turba petit Britonum. Quos sic temptando propheta Alloquitur dicens: ‘Iuuenes, prosternite moles Astantes lapidum regique per equora ferte." Restibus et sudibus et nisibus omnibus unum Infestant lapidem; sed stans immotus eorum Uires nil prodesse probat. Sudore soluti Infecto cessant annullatoque labore. Tunc ridens Merlinus ait: ‘Discedite, segnes.’ Discedunt. Dicit uates sine murmure carmen. Quo dicto sociis inquit: ‘Deponite saxa.’ Deponunt sine ui ducuntque ad litora, ducta Nauibus imponunt. Dant uento lintea, regi Presentant lapides; gaudet presentibus. Omnes Regni pontifices, abbates, archileuitas Conuocat et proceres pentecostenque diebus Continuis celebrans tribus imponit diadema More suo capiti. Regis patet omnibus aula, Quam non ornat ebur, quam non testudo decorat, Sed nemus et frondes. Quis enim tot milia cleri, Agmina tot procerum, tot uulgi, tot mulierum

324 Gillominus P; Guillominus CV.

325 referente PV; refferente C.

225

330

335

340

345

350

355

326 aufferre PV; a

turre C: gygantum PV; gigantum C. 332 Haut PV; Hanc C: inpune P; inpugne C; impugne V: armipotentes CP; omnipotentes V. 335 ante CPV (suprascript in V). 336 Gyganteam PV; Giganteam C. 337 Quos CPV (preceded by deleted fama refferente relatu in C). 340

sudibus PV; subdibus C.

341 inmotus PV; inmorum C...

343 annullatoque PV; anullatoque

C. 345 dicit PV; dixit C. 347 litora V; littora CP. 351 Conuocat CP; Euocat V: pentecostenque PV; penthecostenque C. 352 diadema P: dyadema CV. 353 Regis PV; Regi C. 356 procerum CP; proceres V.

162

BOOK VI

entrusts fifteen thousand men to Uther and sends them off well-armed along

with the learned prophet. [$130] The wind carries their ships to the shore of the kingdom in which stands the Dance. When report brings news of the arrival of the Britons to King Gillominus, who rules that land, he asks what they want. They say: ‘We have come to take away to our king the giants’ stones, even if you do not wish it.’ The

king replies to them: ‘The Britons, foolish in deed as well as name, must be tired of their lives to try to take our stones from us, as if Britain did not have better ones. They will pay the penalty!’ Then he gathers the warriors of his whole kingdom and attacks the Britons, who reciprocate. Once battle is joined, the king and his people are routed after suffering many losses. Then the British army marches swiftly to the Giants’ Dance. Making trial of the men, the prophet addresses them as follows: ‘Young men, pull down the standing stone masses and take them over the sea to the king.’ They attack a single stone with ropes, beams, and all their might, but standing unmoved it shows that their strength cannot avail them. They cease, exhausted by their vain attempts and wasted labour. Then Merlin says smiling: ‘Stand back, sluggards.’ They fall back, and Merlin silently repeats an incantation. When it is complete, he says to his

companions: ‘Pull down the stones.’ They pull them down without effort, take them to the shore, and load them on the ships. Spreading their canvas to the winds, they present the stones to the king, who rejoices in their presence. He summons all the bishops, abbots, archdeacons and nobles of the realm and, celebrating Pentecost for three whole days, he places the crown on his head according to custom. All may enter the king’s court, which is not ornamented by ivory nor by tortoise-shell, but by trees and leaves; for who could have enclosed

163

LIBER VI

[$131]

[$132]

Inclusisse simul aula potuisset in una? Eboracensis apex uacat archipresule necnon Et Legionensis. Sampson datur Eboracensi Et Legionensi Dubricius, ambo beati Pontifices, quos uita probat moresque perornant. Hinc iussu regis Merlinus saxa Coree Ad montem procerum transfert et collocat illic Ordine quo quondam stabant in monte Kilaro. Post Uortigerni mortem Pascencius eius Filius Aurelium dispersis fugerat alis. Quem male deiectum Germania flaua recepit. Inde recollectos audacter ducit in ipsum Saxones Aurelium; sed eos de finibus eius Fortiter excludit. Dant uentis uela fugata Ut repetant patriam; sed eos contrarius Austro In Gillomini regnum rapit inuidus Eurus. Ad regis uultum ueniunt eiusque precantur Auxilium contra regis fera castra Britanni. Ille memor probri proprii lapidumque Coree Fedus init cum Saxonibus regnique phalanges Ducit in Aurelium; loca proxima subicit igni. Cuius fama rei postquam peruenit ad Uthrem, Congregat electos Britonum: nam febre grauatus Guintonie iacet Aurelius; cuius dolor hosti Dat spem uincendi. Largo corruptus Eopa Munere se phisicum fingit doctusque Britannum Eloquium monachique nigro uelatus amictu Guintoniam tendit et pissidas innumerasque Radicum species exponens suscipit egri

Curam. Nec curat morbum, sed currit in eius Mortem; nam mixtum cum dulci melle uenenum Porrigit egroto, porrectum suscipit eger, Susceptum mortis potum cum nectare potat. Inde fugit phisicus. Conditus more suorum

359 Sampson CP; Sanpson V.

360 Dubricius CP; Dibricius V.

360

365

370

375

380

385

390

364 stabant PV; stabat C:

Kilaro P; Talaro C; Colare V. 365 Pascencius CP; Pascecius (corrected from Pascecicius) V. 368 audacter CPV (corrected from acdacter in V). 371 Ut repetant CP; Et repetunt V:

austro CP; haustro V. 372 Gillomini P; Guillomini CV. 376 phalanges PV; falanges C. 378 fama P; forma CV: Uthrem P; Utrem CV. 380 Guintonie V; Wintonie CP. 381 Eopa PV;CapaC. 382 phisicum PV; phisius C. 384 Guintoniam V; Wintoniam CP: pissidas PV; pisidas C. 387 mixtum CPV (corrected from mixtam in V). 389 potum cum nectare potat CP; potat cum nectare potum V.

164

BOOK VI

together in a single hall so many thousands of clergy, such crowds of nobles, commoners, and women? The sees of York and Caerleon lack archbishops. York

is endowed with Samson, and Caerleon with Dubricius, both blessed prelates, of approved life and distinguished characters. Then at the king’s command Merlin transports the stones of the Dance to the hill of the nobles and places them there in the same positions as they once stood on Mount Kilaro. [§131] After Vortigern’s death, his son Pascencius had fled before Aurelius with scattered forces and had been received, sadly cast down, by blond Germany. Rallying the Saxons there, he boldly leads them against Aurelius. But the latter vigourously excludes them from the kingdom. [$132] When in flight they spread their sails to the wind, intending to return home, instead of the south wind, the envious east wind sweeps them to the realm of Gillominus. They come before the king and ask for his aid against the fierce camps of the British ruler. He, mindful of the slight inflicted on him and

of the stones of the Dance, allies himself with the Saxons. He leads the warriors of Ireland against Aurelius, subjecting the neighbouring parts to fire. When news of this reaches Uther, he assembles the picked troops of the Britons, for Aurelius is confined in Winchester with a heavy fever. His illness gives the enemy hope of victory. Induced by a large bribe, Eopa pretends to be a doctor. He is familiar with the British language and travels to Winchester disguised in the black habit of a monk. Showing his sample-boxes and innumerable types of root, he undertakes the care of the invalid. He does not cure his affliction, but hastens to murder him; for he offers poison mixed with sweet honey to his patient, who takes it and drinks down the deadly poison with the honeyed draught. Then the doctor flees. The king’s body is embalmed after the manner of

165

LIBER VI ^

[$133]

Conditus in tumulo rex est sub monte Coree. Ecce nouum sidus, cunctis fulgentius astris Mirandumque magis, in eadem nocte coruscat. Horriferi speciem profert noua stella draconis Et duo procedunt radii serpentis ab ore Et diuersa petunt: unus trans Gallica regna

395

Tendit; ad australes extenditur alter Hybernos.

Sideris aspectus — monstrum mirabile uisu — Incutit horrorem spectantibus. Inclitus Uther Augurium uatis Merlini, quid sibi sidus, Quid draco, quid radii, diuisio quid radiorum Uult iubet inquiri. Uates, dum spiritus intrat, Suspirat, fremit et trepidat, flet, clamat et inquit: *O regis casus, o publica pena, ruina Communis, nullo reparabile tempore dampnum! Aurelius periit, sub quo pereunte perimus. Sed bene consuluit nostro Deus ipse periclo Quod uiuis dignusque potes succedere fratri.

405

Festines igitur hostes inuadere ferro. Pugna pro patria; prope stat uictoria tecum. Te draco significat; radii duo sunt tua proles,

[$134]

[$135]

Que tibi nascetur. Radius qui tendit ad Alpes Rex erit illustris cui regum seruiet agmen. Unica nascetur tibi filia; regis Hyberni Uxor erit, prolem producet. Significatur Illa per hunc radium qui plagam prospicit austri. Amonitu uatis obstantes fertur in hostes. Utraque pars in parte cadit. Cadit ille rebellis Rex Gillominus et dux Pascencius; inde Saxones ostendunt et Hyberni terga Britannis Et repetunt naues, cedes in terga gerentes. Guintoniam dux uictor adit cleroque fauente Et procerum cetu regis decoratur honore. Fabricat ex auro duo rex uexilla draconis Illius ad formam quem nuper in aere uidit; Unum deponit sedis cathedralis in ede

391 sub P; inCV. mostrum V.

410

415 >

392 sidus CP; sydus V: fulgentius PV; fulgentibus C.

399 Incutit CP; Incucit V: Uther PV; Uter C.

pena CPV (corrected from pene in V).

420

425

398 monstrum CP:

400 sidus CP; sydus V.

405 reparabile CV; repedabile P.

404

408 succedere

CV; sucedere P. 410 stat CP; est V. 411 radii CPV (corrected from gladii in C): tua CP; dua V. 412-14 nascetur . . . Unica PV only; om. C. 413 cui regum P; ei regnum V. 414

Hyberni PV; Yberni C.

419 Gillominus P; Guillominus CV.

by deleted inuadunt in C): Hyberni P; Yberni C; Hybernos V. CP. 423PV only, om. C. 425 quem V; quam CP.

166

420 ostendunt CPV (preceded

422 Guintoniam V; Wintoniam

BOOK VI

his people and buried in a tomb beneath the hill of the Dance. [$133] Lo, on the same night there shines forth a new star, brighter than the rest and more astounding. It has the form of a terrible dragon, with two rays coming from its mouth in different directions: one stretches across the kingdoms of Gaul; the other reaches to southern Ireland. The appearance of the star — a phenomenon amazing to behold — strikes fear into all who see it. Noble Uther commands that the augury of the prophet Merlin should be consulted as to the meaning of the star, the dragon, the rays, and their division. When the spirit enters him, the prophet sighs, groans and trembles, weeps, and shouts out: ‘O the fall of the king, o punishment of the people, o common ruin, o loss never to be made good! Aurelius has died, at whose death we all perish. But God himself has taken good care of our danger, since you still live and will be a worthy successor to your brother. Hurry, then, to attack the enemy with your sword. Fight for your country; victory stands within your grasp. The dragon means yourself, the two rays the offspring to be born to you. The ray which stretches to the Alps will be a noble king with a crowd of kings to serve him. You will have a single daughter, who will marry the king of Ireland and will bear him children. She is meant by the ray which overlooks the southern region.’ [$134] At the prophet's bidding, Uther attacks the resisting foe. Both sides suffer losses. When the rebellious King Gillominus and Duke Pascencius are killed, the Saxons and Irish turn tail before the British and retreat to their ships, enduring slaughter at their backs. [$135] The triumphant commander goes to Winchester and, with the agreement of the clergy and assembly of nobles, is raised to the position of king. He has two standards made from gold in the shape of the dragon which he has recently seen in the sky. One he places in the church of the bishop’s see, and the

167

LIBER VI

Et reliquum precedit ei cum fertur in hostes. Uther Pendragon uulgaliter inde uocatur, Quod Britones dicunt — stupidum! — caput esse draconis.

[$136]

Interea dum tota nouo fauet insula regi,

Ecce duces, quibus Aurelius donauerat olim In regno partem, contra rectumque fidemque Quam dederant dispersa uocant collegia gentis Saxonice regemque nouum regnumque molestant. At rex magnanimus collectis uiribus hostes Impetit; impetui cuius periura resistunt Agmina. Nulla manus torpescit dum tenet ensem. Omnes arma tenent, omnes prosternere temptant. Arua cruore rubent, occumbunt strata per agros Corpora. Dampna sue patitur pars utraque gentis. Ambigitur que sit pars gauisura triumpho, Donec rex campum retro ducens frena relinquit. Mons sublimis erat circumdatus undique saxis; In medio frutices. Illuc cum rege Britanni Ascendunt hostesque suos sua terga sequentes Expectant illic, tali munimine tuti. Iam nocti cedente die sua sub pede montis Castra locant hostes. Rex uero quid sit agendum Querit. Querenti sic dux Gorlosius inquit: *Quis pudor armatis includi more bidentum? Iam dormit pagana cohors sompnoque grauatos Nos rata consimili fruitur secura sopore. Nocte soporatos hostes inuadite ferro.’ Id placet. Armantur, descendunt, inque sopitos Bachantur gladiis; de sompno suscitat ensis Illos quos cogit sompno dormire perhenni. Effusi per castra uage ruit unda cruoris De cliuo ruitans in ualle. Iacentibus ictu Uulneris ingeminat mortem cum uulnere sanguis. Corpora cesorum coaceruat sanguinis unda Uallis in extremo; defuncta cadauera firmo Obice diffusum faciunt stagnare cruorem. O pietas dampnosa tuis! Nimium pius hosti, Impius ipse suis, capit Octam rex et Eosam. Diffugit effera gens, regi uictoria cedit.

430

435

445

450

455

460

465

427 ei cum PV; eum quem C. 428 Uther Pendragon PV; Uter Pendraugon C. 429 Quod P; Quem CV: caput CP; capud V. 433 Quam PV; Quod C. 434 molestant PV; molestat C. 438 temptant P; certant CV. 439 occumbunt PV; obcumbunt C. 440 sua CPV (suprascript in V). 443 circumdatus PV; circumdatis C. 447 nocti CPV (corrected from nocte in V): die CPV (suprascript in V). 450 armatis CV; armatos P. 452 PV only; om. C. 453 inuadite CV; inuadere P. 454 inque V; inde CP. 461 defuncta PV; deffuncta C.

168

BOOK VI

other goes before him when he marches against the enemy. Hence he is commonly called Uther Pendragon, which the Britons foolishly interpret as *dragon's head’. [$136] Meanwhile, although the new king enjoys the favour of the whole island, lo, the dukes, to whom Aurelius had once given a share in the kingdom, contrary to what is right and against the undertaking they had given, call together the scattered bands of the Saxon people and harry the new king and his kingdom. But the great-spirited king collects his army and attacks his foes, whose perjured ranks resist his attack. No hand is slack while it grasps a sword. All grip their weapons, all try to cut down the enemy. The meadows are red with blood, and the bodies of the slain lie on the fields. Each side suffers losses of its men. It is uncertain which will enjoy the victory until the king pulls back on his reins and leaves the field. There is a lofty hill everywhere surrounded by stones, with bushes at its centre. There climb the British and their king, and there in the safety of so sure a defence await the enemy at their heels. As day is now turning to night, the enemy make camp at the foot of the hill. When the king asks what course should be taken, Duke Gorlosius replies thus: ‘Is it not shameful for armed men to be shut up like sheep? The pagan army is now asleep; thinking that we are deep in slumber, they too are improvidently indulging in sleep. Attack the enemy with the sword tonight while they slumber.' His speech finds favour. They arm themselves, descend from the hill, and slaughter the sleepers with their swords; they are woken from their slumber by a blade which makes them sleep for ever. A river of spilt blood flows wide through the camp, cascading from the height into the valley. Those lying stricken by blows die a double death: killed by their wounds and drowned in blood. The stream of gore piles up the bodies of the dead at the end of the valley, where a dense barrier of corpses turns the flowing blood into a pool. O act of mercy injurious to your own men! The king, too kind to his foes, and thus unkind to his own people, merely takes Octa and Eosa prisoner. The savage pagans flee and the king wins the victory.

169

LIBER VI

[8137]

Uictor de regno uictos exterminat hostes.

Pacificat regnum, ius dictat iusticiamque Seruari metuique iubet penasque nocentum Taxat; taxatas nulla pietate relaxat. Rege iubente duces, clerus, reliquique potentes Londonias ueniunt pasche sollempnia rite Concelebraturi. Uenit et dux Cornubiensis Cum consorte thori, que quanto Cincia stellis Et Phebus lune tanto preest illa puellis. Rex igitur uisis oculis facieque ducisse Eius amore calet. Nusquam declinat ab illa Lumina; suspirat, torquetur mente, suique Oblitus decoris fieri Gorlosius optat. Percipit errorem regis Gorlosius; unde Clam redit ad patriam cum coniuge. Tangitur intus Felle doloris amans. Ferro deuastat et igni Cornubiam. Sed dux duo munitissima seruat Oppida: Tyntagolum, quod circuit undique pontus, — Hic Ygerna latet — necnon et Dimiliocum, Quod dux ingreditur; ingressumque obsidet Uther. Dumque animo recolit cultum uultumque ducisse, In regis rapide serpunt precordia flamme. Cumque suum celare diu non posset amorem, Ulphino mala que patitur sub amore reuelat. Ulphinus Merlinon adit poscitque dolenti Auxilium regi. Merlinus carmine dicto Mutat in effigiem regem ducis, addit et ipsi Ulphino speciem Iordani Tyntagolensis, Assumitque ducis famuli Britelis ydeam; Tyntagolumque petunt. Admittit portitor illos. Rex subit optatum thalamum uotoque potitus Tres noctes totidemque dies dux creditus illic Continuat, quoniam non est nox unica tanti Ut tantus generetur homo quantus sit in illo

470

475

480

485

490

495

467 dictat V; ditat C; dicat P. 471 pasche CPV (corrected from pace in V): sollempnia CP; solempnia V. 472 Concelebraturi CPV (corrected from Conscelebraturi V). 480 redit CV;

uenit P: ad PV; inC. 482 Cornubiam CPV (corrected from Cornibiam in V). 483 Oppida P; Opida CV: Tyntagolum P; Tyndagalum C; Tyntagalum V. 484 Ygerna P; Ingerna CV: Dimiliocum P; Dimiliotum C; Dimilioccum V. 485 Quod CP; Quem V: Uther PV; Uter C. 487 flamme PV; flame C. 490 Ulphinus PV; Ulfinus C. 492 ducis CPV (corrected from ducit in V): ipsi PV; ipse C. 493 Iordani PV; Iordanis C; Tyntagolensis P; Tintagalensis C; Tyntagalensis V. 494 ducis PV; regis C: Britelis PV; Britellis C. 495 Tyntagolumque P; Tintagalumque C; Tyntagalumque V. 496 thalamum V; talamum CP.

170

BOOK VI

[§137] The victor drives the defeated enemy from the kingdom. He pacifies the realm, gives judgement, and commands that justice be maintained and feared; he establishes penalties for the guilty, which no feelings of mercy can make him waive once established. At the king’s command his dukes, clergy, and the other nobles come to London duly to observe the festival of Easter. There too comes Duke Gorlosius of Cornwall with the partner of his bed, who outshines other girls as Cynthia does the stars and Phoebus the moon. When he sees the eyes and face of the duchess, the king burns with love for her. Nowhere does he turn his eyes from her; he sighs, his mind is racked, and, forgetting his position, he wishes to become Gorlosius. Gorlosius notices the king’s fault, and secretly retires to his homeland with his wife. Her lover is touched within by bitter pain. With fire and sword he lays Cornwall waste. But the duke possesses two heavily defended towns: Tintagel, completely surrounded by sea, where Igerna lies hidden, and Dimilioc, which the duke occupies. There Uther besieges him. But when the king’s mind recalls the beauty and face of the duchess, swift flames creep into his heart. Since he cannot long hide his love, he reveals the pain it makes him suffer to Ulphinus. He approaches Merlin and asks his aid for the sorrowing king. By repeating a spell, Merlin transforms the king into the likeness of the duke, gives Ulphinus the shape of Jordanus of Tintagel, and himself takes that of Britel, the duke’s servant. They go to Tintagel, where the gate-keeper admits them. The king enters the bedchamber for which he longs and, gaining his desires, remains there for three days and nights, while all believe he is Gorlosius. One night was not enough for the generation of so great

171

LIBER VI

[$138]

500

Tempore conceptus: nam dum quadrangulus orbis Manserit; Arturus eternum nomen habebit. Interea nota est clausis absencia regis. Dux igitur portis Gorlosius exit apertis Et gladio faciente uiam se mittit in hostes

[8139]

[$140]

[$141]

[$142]

505

Cum ter mille uiris. In primo marte peremptus Dux cadit. Occisi casum ducis intimat eius Nuncius uxori, sed forma sophistica regis Contradicit ei. Regis fallace remota Uera redit facies. Quam rex cognouit adulter, Cognoscit coniunx, prolem quoque suscipit inde; Nobilis Arturus hinc nascitur et soror Anna. Inde diu placida gauisa est insula pace. Sed quia sepe solent misceri tristia letis, Tocius in luctum uertuntur gaudia regni. Nam simul egressi de carcere regis Eosa Octaque sunt; bellis regem regnumque lacescunt. Nam rex egrotus obsistere non ualet illis. Loth tamen egregio regni committit habenas. Ille uices regis supplet pro posse. Britannos Ducit in aduersas acies; quandoque fugatur Et quandoque fugat. Sed rex, qui uincere semper Est solitus, uincique suo conquestus ab hoste, Se facit in feretro Germanica in agmina ferri. Saxones in feretro deuectum conspicientes Seminecem renuunt armis incessere regem. Excitat ille tamen acies in Saxones. Octa Dux et Eosa cadunt cum magna parte suorum; Diffugiunt alii. Regem sentire dolorem Languoris prohibent cantus plaususque triumphi. Uis tamen illa mali post tanta molestius ipsum Gaudia facta grauat regem grauiusque fatigat. Purior argento regali subditus aule Fons manat. Rex inde solet sua membra lauare Et releuare sitim. Fons est de nocte ueneno Infectus; rex inde bibit cum morte uenenum.

510

515

520

525

530

535

512 placida CV; placita P. 513 quia CP; que V. 514 regni PV; regis C. 516 regnumque CPV (-que suprascript in V). 523 feretro PV; pheretroC. 524 Saxones CPV (in margin in P and partially cut away): deuectum CP (as before in P); deuictum V; conspicientes PV; prospi-

cientes C.

525 incessere PV; incesare C.

529 cantus PV; tantus C.

530 Uis PV Ue:

531 grauat CV; grauant P: fatigat CV; fatigant P. 532 Purior V; Purius CP.

nro

BOOK VI

a man as was conceived then: as long as the four corners of the world remain, Arthur’s name will be immortal. [$138] Meanwhile the besieged learn of the king’s absence. Duke Gorlosius

therefore sallies out from the open gates with three thousand men and attacks the enemy, carving a path with his sword. He falls, killed at the head of his men. A messenger reports the fate of the duke to his wife, but the king’s pretended form gives him the lie. The king abandons his false shape and resumes his true appearance. The woman whom he has taken as an adulterer he now takes as a husband, and conceives a child by her; so are born noble Arthur and his sister Anna. Then for a long time the island enjoys the pleasures of peace. [$139] But because it often happens that joy is mixed with sorrow, the mirth of the whole kingdom is turned to grief. Eosa and Octa together escape from the king’s prison and harry him and his kingdom with war. The king is too ill to oppose them, but entrusts the reins of power to a distinguished man, Loth, who takes the king’s place as far as he is able. He leads the Britons against the enemy forces and is sometimes defeated, sometimes victorious. [$140] The king, who is accustomed always to triumph, complains at being beaten by his foes and has himself carried against the German army in a litter. [$141] When the Saxons see him brought in the litter, they refuse to employ their weapons against a king who is already half-dead. But he launches his troops against them. Duke Octa and Eosa fall with the majority of their men, the rest fleeing. The paeans and cheers of victory make the king forget the pain of his illness. [$142] After such celebrations, however, the symptoms of his affliction affect him more seriously and badly weaken him. Near the king’s court flows a spring clearer than silver, where he is accustomed to bathe his limbs and relieve his thirst. This spring is poisoned during the night; the king drinks the poison from it and dies. ]

173

Liber Septimus Incipit septimus liber

Septimus Arturum decorat diademate regis. Infestat Colgrinus eum. Rex obsidet hostes; Cheldrico ueniente fugit, sed tutus Hoeli Auxilio dispergit eos. Deuincit Hybernos, Scotos diuertit. Festum colit et tria donat Regna tribus; ducit uxorem. Regna propinqua Subiugat, occeanum sibi subdit, Gallica regna Ui superat; diuersa suis dat dona maniplis. Eboracum repetit et sollempnizat ibidem Cum sibi subiectis; ineunt post fercula ludos. Candida Caliope, cetu comitante sororum Ex Elicone ueni pectusque arentis inane Sacro fonte riga: neque enim describere gesta Arturi metrice ne detractare uiderer Presumo sine te. Nil hic prodesset Homerus, Nil Naso, nil Uirgilius, nil Tullius ipse Absque tuo nutu, quia quantis fortis Achilles Tersitem excedit, tantis prefertur Achilli Laudibus Arturus. Cuius preconia uatis Meonii condigna modis Eneidos auctor Hystorie ueteris Anchise preposuisset, Lucanusque grauis tacuisset Cesaris actus, Et ueteres Thebe caruissent perpete fama, Si precessissent Arturi gesta poetas. Sed ne depereat tantus sine laudibus heros Principis inuicti laudes extollere conor. Officium tamen esse meum uirtutibus eius Inferius constat; sed pauper gratus ad aram Acceptusque uenit, nec in eius munere numen Estimat effectum precii, sed sacrificantis

10

15

ES

30

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Prologus libri .vii. V.

1 Septimus PV; «Septimus C: diademate P; dyademate CV. 2 Colgrinus P; Coldrinus C; Coldinus V. 4 Dispergit CV; dispersit P: Hybernos CV; Ybernos C: 5 diuertit P; conuertit CV. 7 Subiugat CPV (corrected from Subiugit in V): sibi subdit P; subdit sibi CV. 9 sollempnizat PV; sollenizat C. 11 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber .vii. V: Candida PV; «C»andida C. 15 Homerus PV; Omerus C. 16 Tullius PV; Tulius C. 20 modis PV; modum C:

Eneidos CV; Eneydos CV.

21 Hystorie PV; Ystorie C: Anchise P; Anchisse CV.

sissent C; precedissent PV.

26 conor PV; cognor C.

174

24 preces-

Book

VII

The seventh book ennobles Arthur with the crown of king. Colgrinus attacks him. The king besieges his enemies; he retreats on the arrival of Cheldricus, but, when reliant on the aid of Hoel, scatters them. He defeats the Irish and turns back the Scoti. He observes a festival and gives three kingdoms to three men; he takes a wife. He conquers the neighbouring kingdoms, subdues the ocean, and overcomes the realms of Gaul by force; he gives various rewards to his troops. He returns to York and there holds a celebration with his subjects; after the feast they indulge in games.

Bright Calliope, come from Helicon in the company of your band of sisters and moisten my hollow, thirsty breast from your sacred spring; for I do not presume to describe Arthur’s deeds in verse without you, lest I seem to demean them. Without your blessing Homer, Ovid, Vergil, and Cicero himself would fail in this task, since Arthur’s glory exceeds that of Achilles by as much as Achilles’s glory outstrips that of Thersites. The author of the Aeneid would have preferred Arthur’s praises, which are worthy of the poetry of the Maeonian bard, to the story of old Anchises, weighty Lucan would have passed over Caesar’s doings, and ancient Thebes would have lacked eternal fame, if only Arthur’s deeds had preceded these poets. But, lest so great a hero perish without due recognition, I shall try to raise a paean to the invincible prince. It is obvious that my service is unworthy of his merits; yet the pauper finds a ready welcome at the altar, nor does the Deity judge his gift by its cost in money, but by the

175

LIBER VII

Affectum. Non est acceptior hostia Cresi Mactato uitulo quam ceso pauperis agno. [$143]

Conueniunt igitur defuncto rege Britanni

Arturumque patris dignum diademate censent: Ut quem commendat mentis constantia, Christi Gratia, larga manus, uirtus inuicta, diserta Lingua, decor uultus, discrecio, dextera fortis. Iam ter quinquennem populo plaudente Britanno Archipresul eum Dubricius associatis Presulibus regni diademate regis honorat. Rex nouus ergo, nouo non deprauatus honore,

35

40

More colit Christum consueto. Largus in omnes

Spargit opes Britonumque datis adquirit amorem Muneribus; munit munito milite regnum. Interea subitum regis Germania casum Audierat fortesque suos transmiserat illuc Sub duce Colgrino. Qui regnum depopulantes In populum populique domos bachantur in igne Et gladio. Passim perimunt iuuenesque senesque; Et lactans lactensque simul insonsque nocensque Morte pari pereunt. In templa nefanda deorum Ecclesias uertunt; nulla est reuerencia sacri Ordinis et Christi nomen deletur; ab Humbro

45

50

Ad Cathinense fretum cedunt diuina prophanis. Rex fremit audita miseranda strage suorum. Congregat ergo suas acies et fertur in hostes; Ut leo ieiunus sicienti fauce cruorem Fertur in armentum, sic Saxones impetit heros Martius. Eboracum tendens, ubi Saxones esse Fama refert, cum gente sua rex obuiat illis. Perpetuo cursu rapitur Doulasius amnis; Illuc concurrunt, hinc perfidus, inde fidelis. Quantus amor regni communis tangat utrumque Ictu teste probat; par est utriusque uoluntas Partis et affectus adquirere sanguine regnum.

55

60

65

31 PV only; om. C. 33 defuncto PV; deffuncto C. 34 diademate P; dyademate CV. uirtus PV; uictis C. 38 plaudente PV; gaudente C. 39 associatis PV associatus C. adquirit P; accquirit CV.

46 fortesque CPV (corrected from forteque in C).

36 43

47 Colgrino P;

Coldrino CV. 48 bachantur PV; bachatur C. 49 Et PV; Ac C. 50 insonsque CP; insompsque V. 51 nefanda C; nephanda PV. 53 Humbro PV; Umbro C. 54 Cathinenese CP; Chachinense V. 57 sicienti CP; siciente V. 58 impetit CP; impedit V. 60 rex P; dux CV: illis P; illi CV. 61 Doulasius PV (with the o suprascript in V); Donalasius C: amnis CV; ampnis P. 65 adquirere P; acquirere CV.

176

BOOK VII

sincerity of the sacrificer. The calf slaughtered by Croesus is no more welcome an offering than the lamb killed by a poor man. [$143] On the king’s death, the British assemble and judge Arthur worthy of his father’s crown. He is recommended by his steady mind, grace in Christ, generous hand, unconquerable valour, learned tongue, handsome face, clear judgement, and strong right hand. To the cheers of the British people Archbishop Dubricius in the company of the bishops of the realm crowns the fifteenyear-old boy with the diadem of king. The new king is not corrupted by his new-found honour, but revers Christ as he always has. He lavishly scatters his wealth among all the British and wins their love with the gifts he bestows; he protects the kingdom with well-armed soldiers. Germany had meanwhile heard of the sudden death of Uther, and sent thither strong men under the leadership of Colgrinus. They plunder the kingdom, raging against the people and their homes with fire and sword. Everywhere perish young men and old; babies at the breast and the mothers giving them suck, innocent and guilty, all die the same death. They make the churches into foul pagan temples; there is no respect for the order of the clergy and the name of Christ is destroyed; paganism triumphs over christianity from the Humber to the sea off Caithness. The king groans on hearing of the dreadful carnage among his people. He therefore gathers his forces and sets off against the enemy. The martial hero attacks the Saxons just as a hungry lion with jaws thirsty for blood pounces on the herd. Marching to York, where the Saxons are reported to be, he encounters them with his people. The river Doulasius flows in a swift, straight course; there they clash, pagan on one side, Christian on the other. Their blows show how great is the desire to rule which touches either side equally; both similarly wish and long to win the

177

LIBER VII

Utraque pars in parte perit: pars mergitur amne, Pars cadit ense fero. Post factas undique cedas Pars pagana fugit; cedentem uerbere cedens Arturus sequitur. Ingressos obsidet urbem Eboracum; per inane uolant utrimque sagitte. Nec mora Baldulphus, Colgrini frater, ad urbem Obsessam tendit, statuens de nocte Britannos Securos armis inuadere. Comperit eius Arturus fraudem; quam fraude repellere caute Premeditans, equites sexcentos mittit in eius Occursum peditumque simul tria milia nocte Sub duce Cornubie. Quem dum Baldulphus et eius Agmina pretereunt, inuadunt agmen inerme Armati Britones. Bellum committitur impar: Nam nudos armata cohors non percucientes Interimit; dat terga fuge Germanica turba. At cum Baldulphus clausi non posset habere Colloquium fratris tuto, radi sibi barbam Cesariemque facit contra pagana statuta Et posito uultu pagani se cytharedum Assumpta fingit cythara gentisque fidelis Castra subit; timidus muris approximat urbis. Agnoscit fratrem frater iactoque rudente Tollit eum; frater letatur fratre reperto. Denique dum clausi desperant dumque triumphi Spem gerit Arturus, dum muri concuciuntur, Ecce fere naues sexcente milite plene Adueniunt, quas iam Germania miserat illuc Cum duce Cheldrico. [$144]

[$145]

70

75

80

85

90

Quas cum rex nouit adesse,

Ne sibi deterius contigeret, obsidionem Deserit et laxis ducto petit agmine frenis Londonias. Rex Armorice regionis Hoelus Ducit in auxilium regis ter quinque uirorum Milia. De quorum numero confisus in hostes Se gerit obsessum cingentes Lindecolinum. Perfida christicolis gens firma mente resistit

95

100

66 parte perit PV; morte cadit C: amne CV; ampne P. 67 cadit ense fero CPV (corrected from pagana fugit [see line 68] in C). 69 Ingressos PV; ingressosque C. 70 utrimque P; utrinque CV. 71 Baldulphus PV; Radulphus C: Colgrini P; Coldrini CV. 74 quam CV; quem P. 77 Baldulphus PV; Radulphus C. 78 inerme P; inherme CV. 79 impar PV; inpar C. 82Baldulphus PV; Badulphus C. 85 cytharedum CV; cithared um P. 86 fingit PV; fugit C: cythara V; cithara CP. 87 approximat CP; aproximat V. 90 dum CV; cum P 95

obsidionem PV; obsidioni C. 97 Londonias CP; Lundonias V. 178

BOOK VII

kingdom at the cost of their blood. Both lose some of their men, either drowned in the river or falling to the pitiless blade. After slaughter on both sides, the pagans flee; Arthur pursues, dealing blows as they retreat. They enter the city of York, where he blockades them; arrows fly through the void this way and that. Soon Baldulphus, Colgrinus’s brother, marches to the besieged city, intending to attack the unsuspecting Britons by night with his forces. Learning of this stratagem, Arthur carefully prepares to repulse it by another: that night he sends six hundred knights and three thousand foot under the duke of Cornwall to counter him. As Baldulphus and his army pass, the well-armed Britons ambush the unarmed troops. An unequal struggle is joined, for the armed force slaughters unequipped men who cannot strike back; the German company turns tail in flight. Since Baldulphus cannot parley safely with his besieged brother, he has his beard and hair shaved off contrary to his people’s custom; laying aside his pagan guise, he takes a harp and, pretending to be a harper, enters the Christian camp. Fearfully he approaches the city walls. He is recognised by his brother, who throws down a rope and drags him up; so brother rejoices to find brother. At length, when the besieged are giving up hope, when Arthur is hopeful of victory, when the walls begin to give way, there suddenly arrive almost six hundred ships filled with men, which Germany had despatched there under the command of Cheldricus. [§144] On hearing of their arrival, the king abandons the siege lest he suffer a reverse and takes his army with all speed to London. Hoel, King of Armorica, brings fifteen thousand men to the king’s aid. [8145] Trusting in their numbers, he attacks the enemy, who are holding Lincoln under siege. The treacherous pagans obstinately resist the christians,

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[§146]

Datque capitque graues constrictis ensibus ictus. Et clipeo Christi protecta caterua fidelis Tradit pagane gentis sex milia morti. Cumque sibi prodesse nichil uidet ydola, campum Deserit effera gens fugiensque relaxat habenas. Stat nemus arboreo Calidonis robore densum, In quo se recipit fera gens et mente resumpta Stans illic iactis telis saxisque resistit Impetui Britonum. Britones sua tela uidentes Nil prodesse sibi quoniam nemus excipit ictus, Arboribus cesis includunt Saxones. Ipsi Cum sibi preclusum cernunt iter egrediendi, Ne fame depereant uitam tantummodo regem Poscunt et iurant quod uectigalia soluet Annua christicolis Germania serua Britannis; Quicquid habent regi concedunt eris et auri. Hec audita placet res regi; liberat hostes, Obsidibusque datis ad propria dirigit illos. Ingressique rates expandunt lintea uentis. Iamque maris medium nacti, iam litora regni Cernentes patrii, cum se sine laude redire Conspiciunt, rediisse piget; pugnando perire Quam sic degeneres inhonestam ducere uitam Pulchrius esse putant. Retroducunt ergo carinas Et litus Totonense petunt et litus adepti Discurrunt per rura uage. Furit ignis in edes, Ensis in agricolas. Nichil est a litore dicto Ad mare Sabrinum quod non sit tempore paruo Subpositum exicio. Ueniunt Badonis ad urbem Obsessamque suo conantur subdere iuri. Postquam fama rei regis peruenit ad aures, Obsidibus cesis obsessam tendit in urbem. Corde tamen teritur quia rex iacet eger Hoelus. Indignans igitur uisa procul obsidione Sic ait: *O socii, quorum probitate subactus Solis ab occasu — uiuam modo! - solis ad ortum Uertice subposito totus michi seruiet orbis,

103 Et CP; Sed V.

104 morti CPV (preceded by deleted forti in C).

105

110

115

120

125

130

135

112-423 CP only; lines

112-423 are wanting in V because of the loss of two leaves between 74r and 75 v.

115

soluet P; soluat C. 116 christicolis P; maricolis C. 117 Quicquid C; Quidquid P. 120 lintea P; lintheaC. 121 nacti P; nactos C: litora P; littora C. 125 Pulchrius P; Pulcrius C. 128 litore P; littore C. 129 tempore C; sub tempore P. 130 Subpositum P; Suppositum C. 131 conantur P; cognantur C. 133 Obsidibus cesis obsessam tendit in urbem C; Horum perfidiam miratus tendit in hostes P. 137 uiuam P; uariam C. 138 subposito P; supposito

G.

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drawing their swords to exchange mighty blows. Protected by the shield of Christ, the army of the faithful kills six thousand unbelievers. When they realise that their idols are no help to them, the savage pagans quit the field and give rein to flight. The forest of Calidon stands thick with leafy boughs. In it the fierce pagans recover themselves and, taking a stand there with renewed courage, resist the British attack by hurling spears and stones. The Britons see that their own missiles are useless because the wood wards off their blows. They cut down trees to trap the Saxons. When they realise that their means of escape has been cut off, to avoid death by starvation the Saxons ask the king for their lives alone, and swear that Germany will pay an annual tribute as servant to the christian British; all the bronze and gold they have they surrender to the king. On hearing these terms, the king agrees; he frees his enemies and, after taking hostages, sends them home. They board their ships and spread their canvas to the winds. [$146] Once they reach mid-ocean and the shore of their native land is in

sight, they regret their return, since they recognise that they come without glory; they think it more noble to die fighting than to live a base life in such dishonour. Turning back their ships, they sail for the shore of Totnes. When they have landed, they roam indiscriminately over the fields. Fire rages against houses, the sword against farmers. In a short time everthing from that shore to the Bristol Channel has been laid waste. They come to the city of Bath, which they try to subjugate by siege. After news of these events comes to the ears of the king, he executes the hostages and marches on the besieged city. His heart is troubled because King Hoel lies sick. When he views their siege-lines in the distance, he says with indignation: ‘Comrades, by your valour — if only I live — the whole world, conquered from the setting to the rising of the sun, will serve me with

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[$147]

Ecce maligna cohors, fidei quam credimus hostis, Spretis que dederat iuramentoque fideque, In nostrum regnum ferro bachantur et igni. Periuros igitur inuadite, sternite forti Dextra mendaces. Fieri periuria debent Noxia periuris. Miles, cui uincere mens est, Arturi regis actus imitetur in armis. Siquis cedentem nec Martis in agmine primum Uiderit Arturum — quod nullo tempore fiet! — , A simili fugiat et iners imitetur inertem." Antistes uero Dubricius astat in alto Expositoque sacre scripture teumate clamat: *Lectio sacra docei Christum posuisse sub hoste Pro nobis animam: pro Christi ponite uestras Membris, que laniat furiis inuecta tyrannis Saxonice gentis; patriam defendite uestram Ecclesiasque Dei, quas destruit hosticus ignis. Presentis uite est spacium breue; uita futura Morte caret. Iusti mors gloria, pena perhennis Mors peccatoris; seruatur mortibus iste. Prima grauat corpus, animam necat altera. Primam Inducit natura necem, premissa secundam Accio. Prima perit cum corpore, durat in euum Spiritus et sua mors. Non posse perire periclum Talibus est; non posse mori mors tristior omni Morte. Moram mortis accusant qui paciuntur. Cum iudex iustus hominum discusserit acta, Diffinitiuam precise proferet, a qua Appellare nefas, reprobis **Discedite!" dicens Atque **Uenite!" probis. Tunc post diuorcia primi Coniugii nubet iterum caro lege perhenni Spiritui uitaque simul uel morte fruentur, Felices uita, presciti morte. Merendum est In mundi campo quis qua gaudebit earum Aut flebit semper: flebit qui tempus in actus Expendit prauos; gaudebit qui bene uixit. Qui bene certauit, donabitur inde corona. Ergo pro fratrum, fratres, pugnate salute. Si uos contigerit mortem pugnando subire, Perpetuum regnum capietis pro perituro.

142 igitur C; ergo P.

C.

148 iners P; inhers C: inertem P; inhertem C.

153 tyrannis CP (glossed id est crudelitas in P).

mortibus CP (corrected from morsibus in C).

182

145

150

155

160

165

170

175

150 teumate P; themate

154 defendite P; deffendite C.

159 Primam C; Prima P.

uere iudex C: acta P; actor C. 167 nefas C; nephas P. om.C. 177 contigerit P; contingit C.

140

158

165 iudex iustus P;

170 uitaque C; uitaue P.

171 est P;

BOOK VII

head bowed. Lo, this evil band, hostile to the faith in which we believe, in despite of their sworn undertaking are ravaging our realm with fire and sword. Attack these perjurers, lay the liars low with your strong hands. Perjury ought to bring ruin on those who practice it. Let the soldier whose intention is to conquer imitate the deeds of Arthur in this battle. If anyone sees Arthur retreating, and not fighting in the front rank — which will never be —, let him fly as I do and match my cowardice with his own.’ [$147] Bishop Dubricius stands on a knoll and, expounding the content of

the Holy Scripture, shouts out: ‘The sacred text teaches that Christ laid down His soul at His enemy’s feet for our sake: lay down your souls for Christ's limbs, which are being torn by the insanely motivated tyranny of the Saxon people. Defend your motherland and the churches of God, which are being destroyed by hostile fire. The span of life on earth is short; but the life to come is without death. To the just man death brings glory, to the sinner eternal punishment, where he is preserved amid the pains of death. The good man's death destroys the body, while the sinner's kills the soul. The former death is caused by nature, the latter by a man's previous deeds. The former death perishes with the body, while death of the soul lasts forever. For such sinners the danger is to be unable to perish; their inability to die is a death more harsh than any other. Those who suffer this stay of death curse it. When the Just Judge examines mens’ deeds, he will starkly pass the final sentence, from which there is no appeal, saying to the wicked ''Depart'"' and to the good “‘Come’’. Then after the sundering of their first marriage, the flesh will again be wedded to the soul under eternal law; together they will enjoy life or death, life for the blessed, death for the damned. Our merits in the field that is this world decide who will either eternally rejoice in the one, or forever lament the other: he who has spent his time in wicked deeds will lament; he who has lived well will rejoice. He who has fought the good fight will be given a crown in recompense. So, brothers, fight for the safety of your brothers. If it happens that you die in battle, you will receive the Eternal Kingdom in return for one that is transient. The purple of martyrdom, precious

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[$148]

Purpura martirii, precio preciosior omni, Preminet in celo cunctosque excellit honores: Martiribus debetur honos cum martire Christo, Cui laus et uirtus et honor per secula cuncta." Uix ea finierat presul, cum tota capescit Arma cohors uotisque petunt certamen inire. Induit Arturus loricam principe dignam; Assumit galeam cuius draco fulgidus auro Irradiat conum, clipeum quoque nomine Priduen Fert humeris, in quo Christi genetricis ymago Fulget; fert gladium, cuius nomen Caliburnus; Hastam dextra gerit Ron dictam, cladibus aptam. Dispositis igitur cuneis hinc inde, Britanni Saxones inuadunt. Aduersa fronte resistit Tota turba die Germanica; sole latente Axe sub occiduo montis sublime cacumen Occupat, hic credens tutum munimen habere. At postquam Tytan hebetauit crastinus astra, Montis in ascensum uelocius alite tendunt Inuicti Britones. Cuius uix culmen adepti Ensibus incurrunt in Saxones; ensibus illis Saxones obsistunt. Sed cum pars magna diei «Nequiquam» consumpta foret nec cederet isti Aut illi parti uictoria, concitus ira Impiger Arturus obstantes fertur in hostes. Ut leo, quem stimulant ieiunia uentris inanis, In pecudes fertur sternitque et diripit illas, Nec stratis sedare famem sed sternere curat, Dum quas stare uidet: sic heros marcius hostes Impetit et sternit et dissipat; ad Stiga solus Quingentos mittit. Campum Celdricus et eius Agmina destituunt; potitur rex laudis honore. Inde Cador dux Cornubie sequitur fugientes Saxones et naues illorum perpete cursu Anticipat reditusque sui spem subripit illis. Nam rex, audito Scotos Pictosque nepotem Obsedisse suum, ualido languore grauatum, Tendit eo ne forte fero capiatur ab hoste. Nauibus ergo Cador captis sua ducit in hostes

187 Priduen C; Pruden P.

196 Tytan P; Titan C...

180

185

190

195

200

205

210

215

200 obsistunt CP (corrected from esistunt

in C). 201 Nequiquam my emendation; Nec quicquam C; Nec quidquam P: cederet P; crederet C. 203 Impiger P; Inpiger C. 205 sternitque et diripit P; sternit quoque dirigit C. 213 reditusque P; redditusque C. 215 languore P; langore C.

184

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beyond all price, is foremost in heaven, excelling all honours: reverence is owed to martyrs along with Christ, Himself a martyr, to Whom be glory, power, and honour for all time.’ The prelate has hardly finished, when the whole army snatches its weapons and eagerly demands to enter the fray. Arthur dons a hauberk worthy of a prince; he puts on a helmet, on whose crest shines a dragon bright with gold; on his shoulder he bears a shield named Pridwen, on which the image of the Mother of Christ blazes forth; he wears a sword, whose name is Caliburnus; in his right hand he carries a spear called Ron, an apt instrument of slaughter. When the armies are drawn up opposite each other, the Britons attack the Saxons. The German ranks fight back face to face throughout the whole day, but when the sun disappears in the west, they occupy the peak of a high hill, thinking that they will be safely defended by it. However, when the following day’s sun eclipses the stars, the unconquerable Britons hasten to mount the hill more swiftly than birds. Scarcely have they reached its crest, when they rush on the Saxons with their swords, who resist with theirs. But when a great part of the day has passed without result and neither side has gained victory, tireless Arthur is moved by anger to assault the resisting enemy. As a lion, driven by the hunger in its empty belly, leaps on sheep to overpower and tear them, and does not wish to slake its hunger on the fallen, but rather to pull down those it sees still standing: so the martial hero attacks, slaughters, and destroys the foe, single-handedly sending five hundred men to Hell. Cheldricus and his army abandon the field, while the king wins glorious praise. [$148] Then Cador, Duke of Cornwall, pursues the retreating Saxons; by a

forced march he reaches their ships before them, and deprives them of the hope of returning home. The king, having heard that the Scoti and Picts are besieging his nephew, who is stricken by a serious illness, is marching thither lest he be captured by the savage enemy. Once he has captured the ships, Cador leads his

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LIBER VII

Agmina. Bella gerunt hinc Saxones, inde Britanni. Quot ferro cecidere uiri concludere certo

[§149]

Difficile est numero. Tandem dat terga pudende Gens periura fuge; fugiens terreue cauernas Aut nemorum latebras querit. Thanet insula magno Eminus occeano: se fert Germanicus illuc Qui superest hostis. Cador hostem forcior hoste Insequitur. Cheldricus obit perimente Cadore. Quo ceso reliqui coguntur dedicioni. Inde Cador sequitur Arturum, qui uice uersa Pictos et Scotos inclusos obsidet infra Limonos stagnum, quod plures continet in se Insululas, ubi nidificant aquile et regionis Excidium horrisonis predicunt uocibus. Illic Obsidet Arturus hostes ter quinque diebus. Perpessique famem pereunt ad milia Scoti, Cum Gillominus de finibus exit Ybernis Electosque uiros regni cum classe parata Ducit in Arturum. Rex deserit obsidionem Atque in Hybernenses ferrum conuertit eosque Cedibus affectos retro dare carbasa cogit. Inde redit Scotosque petit, cum turba fidelis Pontificum clerique, sacro uelamine tecta, Nuda pedes, puro portans abscondita in auro Corpora sanctorum, simplex humilisque furenti Obuiat et flexis genibus lacrimisque profusis Sic ait: *'O iuuenum fortissime, maxime regum, Quem uirtus inuicta probum, quem gratia Christi Mitem, quem facies placidum, quem lingua disertum Roborat, exaudi gemitus fletusque precantum Christi seruorum. Miseris miserere precamur. Quam meruere pati, penam subiere nocentes. Pena doli tenuit auctores, nec licet ultra Uindictam extendi quam sint delicta reperta.

220

225

230

235

240

245

250

Subicimus tibi nos, tua sit prouincia presens;

Et tua te pietas uincat, qui cetera uincis.’ Fletibus hiis motus flet et ipse, piisque piorum

222 Thanet C; Manet P.

229 Limonos P; Limoni C.

230 Insululas P; Insulas C.

231

Excidium P; Exicium C: horrisonis P; hortisonis C. 234 Gillominus P; Guillominis C. 237 Atque P; Ac C: Hybernenses P; Ybernenses C. 240 clerique P; clerisque C: tecta P; tectis C. 242 furenti C; fauenti P. 246 Mitem P; Mittem C: placidum C; placitum P: disertum P; dissertum C. 247 Roborat P; Reprobat C: gemitus C; gemitum P. 249 pati penam CP (corrected from penam pati in C). 251 sint P; ubi sunt C.

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BOOK VII

troops against the foe. Here fight the Saxons, there the Britons. It is difficult to give the exact total of men who fall by the sword. At last the perjured pagans turn their backs in shameful rout, seeking out as they flee caverns in the earth and hiding-places in the woods. Thanet lies far off, an island of the great ocean; there the remnants of the German foe retreat. Cador, who is stronger than the enemy, pursues them there. Cheldricus dies by Cador’s hand, and at his death the remainder are forced to surrender. [§149] Then Cador follows after Arthur, who has reversed the situation and is

blockading the trapped Picts and Scoti around Loch Lomond. This loch contains several islands, where nest eagles which foretell disasters to the region with their piercing screams. There Arthur besieges his enemies for fifteen days. Weakened by hunger the Scoti are dying in thousands, but Gillominus prepares a fleet, leaves the shore of Ireland, and leads the best warriors of his kingdom against Arthur. The king abandons the siege and, turning his sword against the Irish, forces them to sail back with many casualties. Then he returns to attack the Scoti, but a crowd of christian bishops and clerics, dressed in their sacred robes, barefoot, and carrying the relics of their saints in reliquaries of pure gold, openly and meekly meet him in his anger and address him with bended knee and flowing tears: ‘Bravest of youths, greatest of kings, you are made good by your unconquerable valour, merciful by your grace in Christ, pleasing by your appearance, wise by your speech: hear the groans and lamentations of the servants of Christ when they beg you. We ask you to have mercy on these wretches. The guilty have suffered the penalty which they deserved; the instigators of deceit have undergone their punishment. Vengeance should not be allowed to go beyond the extent of the sin. We submit ourselves to you; let this province be yours. Let your mercy overcome you, who conquer all else.’ Moved by their tears, he weeps himself and is persuaded by the pious prayers of the pious men to agree to their wishes.

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[$150]

[$151]

Deuictus precibus uotis indulget eorum. Inde nepos regis dux Armoricanus Hoelus Predicti stagni rupes, nidos aquilarum, Insululas, fluuios cernens miratur. At illi Sic ait Arturus: ‘Magis est mirabile stagnum Haut procul hinc distans, cuius natura stupenda est. Dispositum in quadro est. Non longius esse uidetur Longum eius lato: uiginti constat utrumque Esse pedum. Sed quinque pedum non amplius altum est. Pisces in stagno generum sunt quatuor illo. Unum quodque sibi partem tenet appropriatam; Nec metam excedens istud genus inuidet illi, Sed contentum sorte sua, quam lege perhenni Mater ei natura dedit, non se gerit ultra. Est aliud stagnum magis hiis mirabile iuxta Sabrinum litus, quod, cum mare fluctuat in se, Abdit aquas pelagi uelut insaciata uorago; Cum mare se retrahit, uomit undas montis ad instar. Si uersa facie stagni quis prospicit undam, Dum sic ebullit, modicaque aspergine stantis Irrorat uestes, stantem rapit impetus unde Ut uix aut numquam uim fluctus uincere possit. Sed uerso dorso cernenti non nocet unda.’ Inde data Scotis uenia, cum laude triumphi Rex uenit Eboracum. Cuius cum strata uideret Menia et ecclesias, contritus corde dolori Condolet oppresse et uiduate ciuibus urbis, Compatiturque apici proprio pastore carenti. Nam sanctus Sampson de sede fugatus eadem Fugerat hostiles gladios, populumque Dolensem Exemplo uerboque docet, prelatus eidem. Rex igitur uidue pastorem prouidet urbi, Piramon insignem meritis, uirtute coruscum. Ecce dies instat in qua de uirgine nasci Christus homo uoluit; cuius sollempne diei Rex celebraturus festum clerum proceresque Conuocat huc et more suo dyademate sumpto Post sacra missarum sollempnia, post epularum

255

260

265

270

275

280

285

290

255 Deuictus P; Deuitus C. 256 dux C; rex P. 260 Haut P; Aut C. 261 quadro P; cadro (altered from castro?) C. 264 quatuor P, .iiii. C. 266 istud genus P; genus istud C. 275 rapit C; petit P. 276 Ut C; Aut P. 280 contritus P; contrictus C. 286 pastorem P; prelatus

C.

287 PiramonP; Pyramon C.

solemne C.

289 uoluit CP (preceded by deleted sol in C): sollempne P;

188

BOOK VII

[$150] The king’s nephew, Hoel Duke of Armorica, stares in amazement at the rocks, eagles’ nests, islands, and rivers of Loch Lomond. But Arthur says to him: “There is a more amazing lake not far from here, whose formation is astounding. It is square, and its length is no greater than its width, both being twenty feet; but its depth is no more than five feet. There are fish of four types in the lake, each type remaining in the part apportioned to it; nor does one kind exceed its bounds in envy of another, but, content with the lot given to it by the eternal law of Mother Nature, abides within it. There is another pool, more marvelous than these, near the mouth of the Severn. When the tide flows into it, it swallows the sea-water like a bottomless whirlpool; but when the sea ebbs, it pours forth the water like a mountain. If anyone turns his face to look at the water of the pool while it rushes out in this manner and it splashes the clothes of the bystander with a light spray, then the current of the water carries him off as he stands, so that he can only escape the force of the wave with difficulty if at all; but if the onlooker turns his back, the water does not harm him.’ [$151] Then, having pardoned the Scoti, the king comes to York in glorious triumph. When he sees its ruined walls and churches, with pain in his heart he sympathises with the inhabitants of the oppressed and emptied city, and shares the grief of the diocese, which has lost its prelate. For Saint Samson had been driven from the see in flight before the swords of the enemy, and was now by his example and his word instructing the people of Dol as their bishop. The king therefore provides the widowed city with a pastor, Piramon, of noted merit and shining virtue. Now the day is near on which Christ once wished to be born of a virgin as a man. In order to celebrate the holy festival of this day, Arthur summons the clergy and nobles to York and wears the crown as was his custom.

After holding the holy service of Mass and a feast of dishes of various kinds, he

189

LIBER VII

[$152]

[$153]

[$154]

Diuersi generis data fercula, dona maniplis Larga suis tribuit et quas destruxerat hostis Ecclesias reficit et dotat dote perhenni. Dat tria regna tribus regali stirpe creatis Fratribus: Auguseli pars Scocia, pars Uriani Muresia est, pars Loth Lodonesia; cui soror Anna Arturi nupta est, de qua susceperat ipse Illustres iuuenes, appellauitque Modredum Galganumque pater, mire probitatis utrumque. Inde Guenhomaram Lacia de gente creatam Ducit in uxorem; cuius preclara decorem Sidera mirantur, cui solis lumina cedunt. Hiis ita dispositis in regnum tendit Hybernum Impiger Arturus regnoque et rege subactis Irlandrense petit regnum iurique Britanno Uendicat et subdit. Regis uulgata propinquis Fama metum generat regnis et sponte tributum Pollicitantur ei ne ui superentur ab illo. Partibus occiduis tam ui tam sponte Britanno Subpositis iuri, populo clamante triumphum, In patriam rex regreditur regnumque quieta Pace facit gaudere fere ter quatuor annis. Nobilium interea de quantumcumque remotis Partibus adueniunt iuuenes. Rex letus honorat Neoptolomosque facit et equis armisque decorat Muneribusque datis ditat. Uenientibus eius Omnibus aula patet nec queritur unde uel ad quid Quis ueniat. Nichil proprium, communia cuncta: Rex regis tantum seruat sibi nominis usum. Incutit Arturi regnis uulgata remotis Fama metum: metuit Germania, menia munit Gallia, Roma tremit, non est Hyspania tuta. Rex simul agnouit se regibus esse timori, Concipit ingentes animos classemque refectam Armatis ualidisque uiris in litora ducit Norguegie, quam Loth Sichelis, auunculus eius,

295

300

305

310

315

320

325

294 destruxerat P; detraxeratC. 295 reficit P; refficitC. 297 Auguseli P; AugulesiC. 302 Guenhomaram P; Guenhomalam C: Lacia P; Laciam C. 305 Hybernum P; Ybernum C.

306 Impiger P; Inpiger C: et P; om. C. . 307 Irlandrense P; Yrlandrense C.

312 Subpositis

P; SuppositisC. 313 patriam C; patria P: regreditur P; egreditur C. 314 quatuor P; .iiii. C. 317 Neoptolomosque P; Neptolomosque C. 320 Nichil P; Nichil est (preceded by deleted uel quis est) C. 321 regis C; regum P: seruat sibi P; sibi seruat C. 324 Hyspania P; Yspania C. 326 refectam P; reffectam C. 327 Armatis ualidisque uiris C; Armatisque uiris ualidis P: litora P; littora C. 328 Sichelis P; Sychelis C.

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gives generous gifts to his troops and, repairing the churches destroyed by the enemy, bestows perennial endowments on them. [$152] He gives three kingdoms to three brothers of royal lineage: Scotia is the lot of Auguselus, Muresia of Urianus, Lodonesia of Loth. To Loth is married Arthur’s sister Anna; by her he becomes the father of two illustrious youths, each of marvelous worth, whom he calls Modred and Gawain. Then Arthur marries Guenhomara, who is of Roman descent; the bright stars marvel at her beauty and the sun’s rays yield before her. [$153] Once these matters are set in order, Arthur energetically sails for Ireland and subdues the king and his kingdom. Then he proceeds to the realm of Iceland, conquers it, and brings it under British control. The spreading fame of the king alarms the neighbouring kingdoms, which voluntarily promise to pay him tribute to avoid being subjugated by force. When the western regions have, either through coercion or willingly, submitted to British rule, the king returns home, where the people acclaim his triumph, and he allows the kingdom to enjoy complete peace for almost twelve years. [$154] During that time the youthful sons of noble families come to him from the remotest parts; gladly the king honours them and makes them his young warriors, ennobling them with horses and armour and enriching them with gifts. His court is open to all, without question of whence or with what motive they come. There is no private property, all possessions are shared; Arthur retains for himself only the use of the title of king. The spread of Arthur's renown strikes fear into distant kingdoms: Germany is alarmed, Gaul fortifies its walls, Rome trembles, Spain is not safe. As soon as Arthur realises that kings fear him, he conceives great ambitions. Refurbishing his fleet with strong, well-armed men, he leads it to the shores of Norway, which had been left to Loth in the will of King Sichelis, his uncle. But the nobles of the region take as their leader

191

LIBER VII

[$155]

In testamento dederat rex. Sed regionis Eiusdem proceres sibi preposuere Riculphum, Qui cum Norguegicis aduersa fronte resistit Arturo. Tamen ille cadit cum parte suorum. Norguegicos Dacosque regit diademate sumpto Rege sub Arturo rex Loth, probitate coruscus. Uiribus inde petit collectis bellicus heros Litora Gallorum; Lacio commissa tribuno Gallica Frolloni seruit prouincia Rome. Hic sibi subiectos Gallos ad bella paratos Ducit in Arturum. Pars parti cedere nescit: Utraque fulmineis telis infestat utramque; Utraque fraxineis hastis impugnat utramque; Utraque mortiferis gladiis detruncat utramque; Utraque sanguineis torrentibus inficit equor. Utraque dampna sui patitur pars; dampna minora Pars subit Arturi, sed pars maiora tribuni. Frollo suos nil posse uidens dat terga Britannis Parisiusque fugit et munit menibus urbem. Obsidet Arturus munitam milite multo. Impellit muros; defendunt menia Galli.

Mense fere elapso Gallos fame depereuntes Frollo conspiciens, Arturo talia scribit: ‘Rex,’ ait, ‘illustris, cuius preconia laudum

330

335

340

345

350

Solis ab occasu solis uulgantur ad ortum,

Ne mea depereat gens et tua, marte sub uno Cum solo solus ineas Frollone duellum, Et uicti uictor habeat sine scysmate regnum." Id placet, id firmo firmatur federe. Sumunt Arma, uehuntur equis. Quisnam sit maior eorum Aut minor ambigitur aut quis sit uiribus impar. Haut procul a muro, Secane circumdata fluctu, Insula amena iacet; pugil illuc tendit uterque. Distantes spacio mannos calcaribus urgent, Erectisque adeunt sese uelociter hastis Dantque graues ictus. Regis felicior hasta Deicit a sella Frollonem. Frollo, leone Seuior irato, pretenta cuspide regem 330 Eiusdem P; Quisdem C: Riculphum P; triumphum C.

355

360

365

333 Dacosque P; Daccosque C:

diademate P; dyademate C. 334 coruscus C; choruscus P. 336 Litora P; Littora C. 337 Frolloni P; Folloni C. 342-3 P; line 343 precedes line 342 in C. 346 Frollo P; Follo C:

posse P; prodesse C. 351 Frollo P; Follo C: conspiciens P; suspiciens C. 355 Frollone P; Follone C. 356 scysmate C; cismate P. 358 Quisnam sit P; Quis C. 359 quis P; qui C. 360 Haut P; AutC.

362 mannos P; manos C.

Frollo P; Follonem Follo C.

192

364 uelociter P; uelocior C.

365 Frollonem

BOOK VII

Riculphus, who with the Norwegians resists Arthur with a bold front; but he falls with many of his men. Loth, of noted valour, takes the crown and rules the Norwegians and Danes as sub-king under Arthur. [§155] Assembling his forces, the warlike hero sails for the shores of the Gauls. The province of Gaul is subject to Rome, being ruled by the Roman tribune Frollo. He prepares his Gallic subjects for battle and leads them against Arthur. Neither side will yield: each attacks the other with weapons like thunderbolts; each engages the other with spears of ash; each hacks the other with deadly swords; each dyes the plain réd with torrents of blood. Both sides suffer casualties, but Arthur’s are lighter than those of the tribune. Frollo, seeing that his men can do no more, turns tail before the British, retreats to Paris, and fortifies the city with walls. Arthur surrounds the fortifications with many troops; he attacks the walls, which the Gauls defend. After almost a month, Frollo, seeing that the Gauls are dying of hunger, writes the following to Arthur: ‘Illustrious king, paeans in whose praise are sung from the sun’s rising to its setting: lest both our peoples perish, in single-combat engage in a duel with Frollo man to man, and let the victor take the kingdom of the vanquished without strife.’ Arthur consents, and a binding agreement is made. They take their weapons and are mounted on their horses. Which of them is the greater, which the lesser, which of unequal strength is uncertain. Near the city wall there

lies a pleasant island surrounded by the river Seine; thither go both warriors. When they are a certain distance apart, they spur on their chargers, approach each other swiftly with lances levelled, and deal heavy blows. The king’s spear

proves the more effective, throwing Frollo from his saddle. He, fiercer than an angry lion, attacks the king with spear held before him and overthrows him. On

193

LIBER VII

Impetit et sternit. Britones, cecidisse uidentes Ad terram regem, festinant ferre iacenti Auxilium domino, premisso federe rupto, Cum subito cernunt armatum surgere regem. Iamque ambo pedites gladios clipeosque tenentes Dissoluunt gladiis clipeos. In tempore paruo In paris exicio par est intentus, et ictu Teste probant quante sit eis uictoria cure. Dant crebros ictus. Toto conamine Frollo Allidit regis terebrata casside frontem; Purpurat arma cruor. Quo uiso flagrat in ira Utherides heros et uulneris impete miro Impetit auctorem; strictumque tenens Caliburnum Adquirit uires extenso corpore toto Astantisque uiri galeamque caputque bipertit. Frollo cadit; rex uictor abit plauduntque Britanni, Et ciues portis regem uenerantur apertis. In partes rex inde duas sua diuidit eque Agmina: magnanimo partem committit Hoelo; Et partem retinet reliquam sibi, qua regiones Uicinas superat. Pictauos uincit Hoelus Cum duce Guitardo, solitosque sitire cruorem Uascones humanum posita feritate Britanno Subdere collo iugo cogit, legemque subactis Indicit ritusque nouos inducit, et uti Nunc primum dapibus communibus edocet illos. Delius undecies longum compleuerat annum, Cum rex regreditur cum magna laude triumphi Parisius. Bene pro meritis dat dona maniplis Larga suis: picerna, tibi Normannia tota In sortem, Beduer, cessit; concedit habendam Andegauim Keyo; dat plures pluribus urbes Oppidaque et uillas et opes. Sua iura suosque Inducit ritus; firmat pacemque fidemque.

370

375

380

385

390

395

Uere nouo zephiris dat carbasa; transmeat equor Occeani regnumque suum cum plausibus intrat.

375 conamine Frollo P; cognamine Follo C.

376 terebrata P; crebratum C; casside C;

cuspide P. 378 Utherides P; Uterides C. 380 Adquirit P; Acquirit C. 381 caputque C; capudque P: bipertit P; bibertit C. 382 Frollo P; Follo C. 386 reliquam P; aliam C. 389 Uascones C; Wascones P. 394 regreditur P; egreditur C. 396 pincerna tibi my correction; dapifer cedit C; picerna tibi P (cf. Historia Regum Britunnie, $155). 397 Beduer cessit P: loquere tibi C (for Beduere tibi?). 398 Keyo P; Cayo C. 399 Oppida P; Opida C: suosque

P; domosque C.

401 zephiris (corrected from zephirus) C; zephirus P.

194

402 plausibus C;

BOOK VII

seeing the king fall to the ground, the Britons, in contravention of the prior agreement, are hurrying to aid their sprawling lord, when suddenly they observe the king to rise with his weapons. Now both are on foot grasping their shields and swords and hacking the one to pieces with the other. For a short while each is bent on the other’s execution; their blows bear witness to how much they care for victory. They smite each other frequently. Using all his might, Frollo pierces the king’s helmet and strikes his forehead. At the sight of his blood red on his armour, the heroic son of Uther blazes with anger and subjects the author of his wound to a terrific onslaught; he grasps the naked Caliburnus, and, his whole body poised to summon his strength, he splits his opponent’s helmet and his head. Frollo falls, the king departs the victor, the Britons cheer, and the citizens throw open their gates to do him honour. Then the king divides his forces into two equal parts, entrusting one to great-spirited Hoel, and retaining the other himself; with it he conquers the neighbouring regions. Hoel defeats the men of Poitou and their leader Guitardus. He forces the Vascones, who are accustomed to thirst for human blood, to lay down their savagery and submit their necks to the British yoke; once they are subdued, he gives them laws, introduces new customs, and teaches them for the first time to eat the same food as other men. The sun has eleven times completed the course of the long year when the king returns to Paris with great praise for his triumph. Fittingly he gives generous gifts to his troops according to their merit: the lot of Beduer, his butler, is the whole of Normandy; Anjou he gives to Keyus; to many others he grants more cities, towns, villages, and riches. He institutes his own laws and customs, protecting peace and faith. At the beginning of spring he spreads his sails to the zephyrs, crosses the water of the ocean, and re-enters his kingdom amid its , cheers.

195

LIBER VII

[$156]

[$157]

Ecce dies instat qua pectora discipulorum Tristia consolans solidauit celitus ignis.

Illa rite die festum sollempne uocatis

405

Regibus et ducibus sibi subiectis celebrare Rex cupit Arturus ut, siquid litigiosum Inciderit, uel iudicio uel pace secundet. Inuitata cohors regum clerique ducumque Conuenit ad regem. Quorum si singula metro Nomina commendem, nimium prolixus habebor. Nobilis urbs et amena situ, quam labilis Osca Irrigat, Eboracum capiendis apta uidetur Tot populis. Illuc ueniunt regemque salutant

410

Centum pontifices, prelati mille, bis octo Reges, uiginti fasces, comitesque ducesque Et proceres, quorum numerum depromere non est In promptu, multo minus enumerare minores. Rex igitur regni sumpto diademate limen Ecclesie cathedralis adit, quod turba uerenda Pontificum stipat regumque ducumque caterue. Quatuor incedunt reges et quatuor enses Ante ferunt auri puri fulgore micantes. Precedens alios cleri processio regem Regum collaudat et dulces personat hymnos. Regineque gerens insignia regia coniunx, Presulibus stipata sacris matrumque cateruis, Tendit ad ecclesiam, Iuli, tibi, sancte, dicatam. Quam precedentes precedunt bis duo reges Portantes manibus albas de more columbas; Uirgineique chori subtili uoce canentes Precedunt uocisque mouent dulcedine cunctos. Hic audit regina sacre sollempnia misse, Illic Arturus; hic dulci uoce puelle, Illic organica pueri dulcedine cantant. Quamuis magna foret pars sic consumpta diei, Pars tamen illa breuis presentibus esse uidetur. Inde petunt epulas. Cum rege mares epulantur, Et cum regina mulieres, more uetusto

415

420

425

430

435

409 regum P; procerum C. 412 Osca P; Osta C. 416 uiginti P; xx. C. 419 diademate P; dyademate C. 422 quatuor P; .iiii.C. 424 CPV; the lacuna in V (from VII.112) ends at this point. 425 collaudat CPV (corrected from laudat in C): hymnos PV; hympnos C. 427 sacris CPV (preceded by deleted suis in C).

428 dicatam CP; ditatam V.

429 procedunt

PV; prece C. 432 uocisque PV; uotisque C. 434 puelle CPV (preceded by deleted canentes in C). 435 CPV; line 432 is repeated before line 435 in C. 437 Pars CP; Par V.

196

BOOK VII

[§156] And now the day is at hand on which fire from heaven once consoled

and encouraged the sad hearts of the Disciples. King Arthur wishes to summon his subject kings and dukes duly to celebrate a solemn feast on that day, so that, if any dispute has arisen, it can justly and peacably be resolved. The invited band of kings, clergy, and dukes assembles before the king. Were I to set down all their names in verse, I would be considered too verbose. York, a noble and pleasantly situated city watered by the flowing Osca, seems suitable to house all these people. Thither to greet the king come a hundred bishops, a thousand priests, sixteen kings, and twenty consuls, in addition to counts, dukes, and nobles whose number is difficult to tell, and much more so that of the lesser nobility. [$157] Wearing the crown of the kingdom, the king approaches the threshold of the cathedral church, which is thronged by a venerable band of bishops and crowds of kings and dukes. He is preceded by four kings, who bear before him four shining swords, blazing with pure gold. In front of the rest, a procession of clergy praises the King of Kings and sings sweet hymns. Arthur's royal wife, wearing the regalia of queen and surrounded by holy bishops and throngs of matrons, goes to the church dedicated to St Julius. Before her walk four kings carrying, according to custom, white doves in their hands; they are preceded by choirs of virgins singing with delicate voices and moving all by the sweetness of their song. The queen attends the service of holy mass in that church, Arthur in the other; here girls sing with soft voices, there boys to the harmonious organ. Although all this takes up a great part of the day, yet it seems short to those who are present. Then they go off to banquet. The men feast with the king, the women with the queen, according to the ancient custom of the Trojan people.

197

LIBER VII

Troiane gentis. Keiusque et mille potentes Herminio tecti, clarissima turba, ministrant Diuersas epulas; Beduerus totque ministri Induti uario nectar uinumque propinant. Tirones leti, uinoque ciboque refecti, Diuersos ineunt ludos: pars una palestram, Pars tirocinium, taxillos tercia querit; Pars lucte certamen init, pars uincere cursu Certat. Uictores largo rex munere ditat. Edita murorum mulierum turba coronat; Cui faueat, pro quo timeat, pro cuius amore Langueat, omnis habet mulier specialiter illic; Nulla puella tamen alicui se reddit amicam Qui ter non fuerit bello superasse probatus.

440

445

450

440 Keiusque P;; Cayus C C;; Kariusque V.dh 441 ministrant PV; ; mini. ministrent C. 443 Induti 1 CP; Inducti V. 444 Tirones V; Tyrones CP: leti PV: lecti C: refecti PV; reffectiC. 446 Re, C; tyrocinium PV: taxillos CP; taxillas V. 448 lar . Lg .

198

BOOK VII

Keyus and a thousand nobles, an illustrious troop clad in ermine, serve diverse dishes; Beduer with as many servants, all dressed in vair, pour out nectar and wine. Having had their fill of wine and food, the joyous knights engage in various sports: some prefer athletics, some war-training, others dice; some participate in wrestling-bouts, others strive to win races. The king bestows large rewards on the victors. A crowd of women crowns the topmost walls. Each has there a favourite whom she supports, for whom she fears, and for whose love she languishes; but no maiden permits herself to be the beloved of anyone unless he has shown himself triumphant in war three times.

199

Liber Octauus

Incipit octauus liber Destinat octauus legatos. Participato Consilio procerum dat rex responsa. Mouetur Lucius. Eoos reges iubet arma mouere. Congregat occeani reges Arturus. Ad Albam Utraque pars properat. Galganus Quintilianum Interimit. Refugit; fugientem mille sequuntur. Obstat Y dernus eis; capit hos, regique ligatos Tradit. Parisius mittuntur. Lucius illis Mittit in occursum fortes; missi capiuntur. Cesar abit pede retrogrado; rex preuenit illum.

[$158]

Continuis sollempne tribus celebrare diebus Conlibuit festum. Sed gratos seria ludos Interruperunt, letas mutancia mentes. Namque senes bis sex moderatis passibus adsunt, Qui coram rege astantes hec uerba profantur: *Lucius Augustus, cui totus subiacet orbis, Miratur qua fronte tuas excedere metas Ausus es et nostrum ius, iuris federe rupto, Usurpare tibi. Cur in messes alienas Inmittis falcem? Metis hic ubi semina nulla Sparsisti; spargis ubi spicas, colliget alter! Quid tibi cum Gallis, quos nostro Iulius olim Subdidit imperio? Cur uectigalia nobis Reddere contempnit subiecta Britannia nostris?

Sis tantum contentus eo quod iure paterno, Rex Arture, tenes; Rome sua iura remitte. Brutica stirps, misere tui, miserere tuorum, Ne tua forte tuis noceat temeraria uirtus. Romanus princeps te iussit adire senatum Conspectumque suum prefixo tempore certo

10

15

25

30

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Prologus libri .viii. V.

1 Destinat PV; estinatC. 3 Eoos CPV (preceded by deleted Augustus cui totus subiacet orbis [cf. line 16 below] in C): mouere PV; mo (remainder cut away) C. 6 sequuntur CP;

secuntur V.

10 retrogrado PV; retrograda C.

11 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber .viii. V:

Continuis PV, «C»ontinuis C; sollempne tribus celebrare PV; celebrare tribus sollemne C.

12 Conlibuit P; Collibuit CV.

14 Namque PV; lamque C.

15 astantes PV; stantes C...

18

ius PV; uis C. 19 alienas CPV (corrected from alianas in V). 24 contempnit V; contendit CP. 25 contentus CP (corrected from contemptus in C); contemptus V. 28 tuis P; tibi CV.

200

Book VIII The eighth book sends envoys. Taking the advice of his nobles, the king gives his response. Lucius is angered and orders the kings of the East to prepare war. Arthur assembles the kings of the ocean. Each side hastens to the Aube. Gawain kills Quintilianus, flees, and is pursued by a thousand men. Ydernus meets them, captures some, and hands them over to the king in chains; they are sent to Paris. Lucius sends warriors to intercept them, but they are captured. Caesar makes off in retreat; the king anticipates him. [$158] It pleases them to celebrate the holy festival for three whole days. But serious matters interrupt their pleasurable sport and distract their minds from gladness. Twelve old men arrive with measured steps, who stand before the king and make the following speech: ‘Lucius Augustus, master of the whole world, marvels at the audacity with which you have dared to exceed your limits and, having broken the terms of law, to usurp our rights for yourself. Why do you apply your sickle to the crops of others? You reap where you have sown no seed; but where you sow, another will gather the ears of corn. What business of yours are the Gauls, whom Julius once made subject to our empire? Why does Britain, which our men have conquered, disdain to pay its tribute to us? You ought, King Arthur, to be content with the possessions you hold by ancestral right; surrender to Rome her legal dues. Descendant of Brutus, take pity on yourself, take pity on your subjects, lest perhaps your rash boldness bring ruin on them. The Roman emperor commands you to come before the senate in his own presence at a

201

LIBER VIII

Ut pena doctrice scias quam perniciosum, Quam graue Romanum fuit offendisse senatum. Quodsi distuleris, scelus hoc manet ultio: dira Cede flagellatus proprio priuabere regno; Omnibus amissis si sit tibi uita relicta, Principis existet clemencia micior equo.’ Uix bene desierant, cum rex in turre gygantum Congregat electos proceres ut consulat illos Quid sit in hoc casu faciendum. Dumque gradatim Ascendunt turrim, letanti corde solutus

35

Dux Cador in risum sociis coeuntibus inquit: *Hoc solum metui ne pax diuturna Britannos Redderet ignauos, delerent occia nostre Milicie famam, qua cunctis gentibus armis Preferimur, si pace diu frueremur inertes.

45

Lustrum transactum est postquam non gessimus arma: Inde sumus facti iam desuetudine segnes. Sed ne depereant nostre preconia fame, Ecce Dei uirtus Romanos suscitat in nos.’

[$159]

Rex igitur septus regum procerumque corona Sic ait: ‘O quorum mentes belloque togaque Expertus noui, michi pandite quid sit agendum, Quid respondendum. Temeraria Roma tributum Exigit a nobis, pretendens premeditatam Erroris causam, quia ui perceperit olim A nostris Cesar uectigal Iulius. Ex hoc Ius non adquirit successio Cesaris; immo Turpiter allegat dum sic auctoris iniquum Pretendit titulum, quoniam uiolencia nullo Iure facit dominum, nec ei prescripcio prodest. Ex inconcessis procedere si licet ultra, Si Rome adquirit uiolentus predo tributum, A simili causa nobis est subdita Roma: Annon Belinus et Brennius, ambo Britanni, Imperiale decus Roma tenuere subacta? Et Constantinus, Helene clarissima proles, Prefuit imperio necnon et Maximianus;

31 doctrice CV; discente P. 33 dira CP; digna V. PV; gigantum C.

51 belloque PV; bellaque C.

65

45 inertes P; inhertes CV.

55 perceperit V; perceperat

CP. 57 adquirit P; acquirit CV: immo CP; imo V. 58 auctoris CP; actoris V. Non V. 62 Si CPV (corrected from A simili in V): adquirit P; acquirit CV. Belinus PV; At non Bellinus C. 66 clarissima PV; sanctissima C.

202

55

37 desierant CP; desierat V: gygantum

39 Dumque CPV (corrected from Cum in C).

49 Dei uirtus PV; uirtus Dei C.

50

61 Si CP; 63 Annon

BOOK VII

certain prescribed date so that retribution may teach you how dangerous, how serious it is to have offended the Roman senate. If you prevaricate, punishment awaits your crime: you will be scourged by dreadful slaughter and deprived of your own kingdom; if after the loss of all your possessions your life is spared, then the emperor in his mercy will have been less harsh than you deserve.’ They have scarcely managed to finish when the king summons his chosen nobles to the Giants’ Tower to ask their view of what should be done in this situation. While they are climbing the steps of the tower, Duke Cador, breaking into a smile at the joy in his heart, says to his comrades as they all proceed: ‘My one fear was that continual peace would make the Britons cowardly, and that, if we sluggishly enjoyed peace for too long, inactivity would destroy our reputation as soldiers, by which we are considered superior in arms to all peoples. Five years have passed since we last waged war: and through this lack of action we have now become soft. But lest our reputation for glory fade, see, God in His goodness has stirred up the Romans against us.’ [$159] Surrounded by a circle of kings and nobles, Arthur says: ‘Your minds are known to me by experience in war and peace: tell me what is to be done, what answer to be made. Rome rashly demands tribute from us on the pretext of the premeditated but specious argument that Julius Caesar once imposed tribute on our people by force. But this does not give any rights to the house of Caesar; indeed, it is a shameful argument to press the unjust claim of its instigator in this way, because under no law does violence make a master, nor does this prescription avail him. If we may press this case without legal basis further, then, seeing that a violent freebooter gains tribute for Rome, she is by the same reasoning subject to us: did not Belinus and Brennius, both Britons, conquer Rome and hold the office of emperor? And Constantine, the most famous son of Helena,

203

LIBER VIII

In quorum succedo locum, non degener heres. Si placet, idque michi, socii, prodesse uidetis, Precedessorum michi reddere iura meorum Mandabo Rome, que priuat honore meo me.’

[$160]

[8161]

70

Uox erat in cursu dicentis talia regis, Cum sic excepit rex Armoricanus Hoelus: *Fluctuo leticia quia te, clarissime regum, Magnanimum uideo et tante uirtutis habere Indicium. Tua iura petens, sua iura petendi Ius tibi Roma dedit: concesso iure fruaris. Ecce Sibillinum carmen complebitur in te, Quo cautum est regem uenturum ex axe Britanno Qui sibi subiciet ferro flamma fame Romam. Utere iure dato tibi fatis, utere sceptro Imperii quod Roma tibi ius fecit habendi. Cum decies tibi mille uiris ad bella paratis Obsequium faciam; solum hoc specialiter opto, Ut tibi subiectam reddas me milite Romam.’ Hiis dictis postquam uocem suppressit Hoelus, Explicat Auguselus rex talia: ‘Maxime regum, Quantam leticiam concepi lingua referre Nulla potest, postquam percepi te dare dignum Principe responsum nec te mutare rigoris Propositum nulloque quati terrore minarum. Roma tumet fastusque parit sociamque recusat, Fasque nefasque sibi licitum facit; omnia credit Que iubet aut statuit uim sacre legis habere, Omniaque esse putat Romani propria fisci, Seruiciumque sibi partes debere remotas. Nonne ueretur in hiis nature offendere legem, Que proprium, que seruicium condempnat et odit? Annon ipsa suam legem de iure subire, Quam statuit, meruit? Pro legibus indicat esse Uiribus utendum, pociorque in iure uidetur

68 succedo PV; suscedo C.

73 excepit PV; incepit C.

95

80

85

95

100

78 Sibillinum CP; Sibilinum V.

ferro CP; feu V: flamma V; flama CP. 81 sceptro CP; ceptro V. 82tibi CP; om. V. 83 P;ter CV. 87 Auguselus PV; Augulesus C: talia maxime CV; maxime taliaP. 88 referre refferre C. 89 percepi CV; conc epi P. 91 quati CPV (corrected from quanti in C). nefasque CV; nephasque P. 94Q ue P; Quod CV. 96 debere CP; delere V. occurrence) CV; aut P.

99 Annon P; At non CV.

204

98

100 indicat P; iudicat CV.

80

tibi PV; 93

que (second ion

BOOK VII

and also Maximianus ruled the empire; I am their successor, no unworthy heir. If you agree, comrades, and think it to my advantage, I shall command Rome to restore to me the rights of my predecessors, since she is depriving me of my honour.’ [§160] The king’s voice is still completing this speech, when Hoel, King of Armorica, replies: ‘I am overwhelmed by joy, most noble of kings, at seeing you to be of great spirit and with such powers of judgement. By claiming what is rightfully yours, Rome gives you the right to claim what is rightfully hers: use the right she has granted you. Lo, in you will be fulfilled the prophecy of the Sibyl, which predicts that a king will come from British regions to conquer Rome by sword, flame, and famine. Seize the rights bestowed on you by fate, take the imperial sceptre which Rome has given you the right to wield. With ten thousand men ready for war I shall do my duty to you; my one particular wish is to be among your soldiers when you conquer Rome.’ [$161] After Hoel finishes his speech with these words, King Auguselus says:

‘Greatest of kings, no tongue can tell the extent of the joy I felt when I heard you give a reply worthy of a prince, and that your firm resolve was not changed or shaken by any fear of threats. Haughty Rome grows proud, refuses to recognise an equal, and assumes she may do anything, right or wrong; she believes that whatever she commands or enacts has the power of holy law, thinking that everything is the property of the Roman treasury and that distant regions owe her servitude. In these assumptions does she not fear to transgress the laws of Nature, to whom property and servitude are reprehensible and hateful? Has she not justly deserved to endure herself the law which she has promulgated? She declares that might should be employed instead of law, and, in Rome’s opinion,

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Qui quocumque modo rem possidet, indice Roma. Ergo suas leges, quas condidit ordo senatus, Senciat; et princeps, qui te seruile tributum Flagitat inflatus, fleat id, similique flagello Uapulet, et feriat sentencia, quam tulit, ipsum. Si nos cum Laciis sub eodem marte uenire Contigerit — quod precipuis desidero uotis — , Quam michi libertas placeat, quam triste subire Sit seruile iugum gladio testante probabo. Aggrediamur eos ne nos prius aggrediantur. Assumas pariter equitum duo milia mecum Et totidem pedites, qui tecum castra sequantur.

105

110

>

[$162]

[$163]

Finierat rex Auguselus, cum cetera regum

Turba ducumque cohors uotis et uocibus ipsum Arma mouere monent pro libertate tuenda Utheriden. Quot quisque potest equites peditesque Regis in obsequium secum deducere taxat: Gallia promittit equitum bis sex legiones; Excedit numerum peditum promissio certum. Rex igitur gaudens tot fortes esse paratos Eius in obsequium grates impendit eisdem Regibus et ducibus et eos ad propria mittit; Et iubet ut ueniant cicius terraque marique Ad Barbam fluuium cum turbis prenumeratis Assignatque diem uenturis cetibus illam In qua de manibus Petri cecidere cathene. Hiis dictis proceres propere de turre gygantum Descendunt patriasque petunt, cum rex duodenis Respondens senibus quos princeps miserat inquit: *Dicite Romanis qui uos misere Britannos Romano iuri nullo de iure subesse; Nosque sciant in marte feros, in pace quietos. Romam munitus ueniam non ere sed armis Ut rapiam aut reddam uictor uictusue tributum." Inde senes Romam redeunt responsaque regis Romanis referunt; auditis Roma mouetur. Lucius audito responso regis ab axe

115

120

125

130

135

102 rem PV; reus C: indice P; iudice CV. 104 Senciat CPV (tampered in V). 111 Aggrediamur PV; Agrediamur C. 113 pedites PV petitesC. 114 Auguselu s PV; Augulesus C: cum PV; eum C. 115 uotis CP; uotisque V. 125 turbis CP; turmus V. 128 gygantum PV: gigantum C. 129 patriasque petunt PV; patrias repetunt C. 136 PV only; om. C. 137 referunt PV; refferunt C.

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he who holds a possession, no matter by what means, is thought to have the better claim in law. Let the senatorial order, then, experience the laws which it has laid down; and let the emperor, who arrogantly demands servile tribute from you, lament it, when he is beaten by the selfsame whip and himself suffers the sentence which he has passed. If it happens — as I desire with all my heart — that we meet the Romans on the same field of battle, with my sword as witness I shall prove how much I love liberty, and how sad it is to bear the yoke of slavery. Let us attack them before they attack us. Take, with me, two thousand cavalry and the same number of foot soldiers to participate in your campaign.’ [$162] When Auguselus finishes, the remaining crowd of kings and the band of dukes with words and wishes encourage Uther's son to wage war to protect their freedom. Each one undertakes to bring with him in the king's service as many horse and foot as he can muster: Gaul pledges twelve legions of cavalry; the total of infantry promised exceeds all numbers. Rejoicing that so many warriors are ready to obey him, Arthur thanks the kings and dukes and sends them to their own lands; he commands them to come swiftly with the agreed numbers of troops to Barfleur, and as the day for the assembly of the army fixes that on which the chains once fell from Peter's hands. At his words the nobles

quickly descend from the Giants' Tower and return to their homes, while the king replies thus to the twelve old men despatched by the emperor: ‘Tell the Romans who sent you that according to no law are the Britons subject to Roman power; let them know that we are fiece in war, but tranquil in peace. I shall come to Rome equipped not with money but with arms, either to receive tribute as the victor or to pay it as the vanquished.' Then the old men return to Rome and repeat the king's reply to the Romans; at the news, Rome is angered. [8163] On hearing the king's reply, Lucius summons kings and crowds of

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Conuocat eoo reges procerumque cateruas. Egyptus, Libie, Babilonia, Grecia, Crete Merent discessum regum procerumque suorum. Rex Frigie Teuther, Medie rex Boccus, Echion Persarum, Euander Syrie, rex Ytureorum Xerses, regnorumque duces equitum legiones Bis sex adducunt Romam. Romana potestas Arma capit, sua castra mouet, ciuesque Quirini

Flentes prospiciunt Romam, non prospiciendam Amplius; et sponsam flentem flens ipse relinquit Sponsus; in amplexus uxor pia coniugis heret. Filius in patris breuibus ceruice lacertis Pendens exclamat: *Quo te, pater, eripis, aut cui Deseris uxorem? Cui me fratresque relinquis? Deserimur fratres uiuo genitore pupilli." Ecce puellarum pulcherrima credita uirgo, Tacta tamen tecto pulchri tyronis amore, Egreditur thalamis et quem celauerat ignem Detegit insano ueneris stimulata furore. Namque uelut bache stimulis exercita Bachi In furias rapitur sparsis in terga capillis, Sic ea mentis inops, uultu prodente furorem, Se iacit in turbas, iuuenisque retentat habenas, Et clamans, *Meus es, meus es! Quo te rapis?' inquit,

140

145

150

155

160

*Quid tibi cum bellis, solitis inducere mortem?

Quid cum Normannis, quid cum feritate Britanna, Quid tibi cum Scotis, cum Pictis et Uenedotis? Arturum timeo, qui cum Frollone duellum Commisit mortique dedit rex ipse tribunum. Loth, Cador, Auguselus, Keius, Galganus, Hoelus — Hec audita sono solo me nomina terrent." Nulla domus plangore caret, uia nulla querelis: Feminei planctus et uoces aera pulsant;

165

170

139 eoo PV; eos C. 140 Libie CP; Lybie V: Crete PV; certe C. 142 Teuther P; Theuter CV: Medie CV; medio P. 142 Boccus C; Bocus P; Boctus V: Echion PV; Ethion C. 143 Euander PV; Euuander C: Ytureorum C; Ytireorum P; Ytareorum V. 144 Xerses C; Herses P; Rerses V. 153 Deserimur PV; Deserimus C: uiuo C; uno P; uino (or uiuo?) V. 155 pulchri CP; pulcri V. 156 thalamis C; talamis PV: celauerat CPV (corrected from celauerit in C). 158 uelut CP; uelud V. 161 iuuenisque CV; iuuenis P: retentat P; receptat CV. 166 Frollone P;

Follone CV.

167 tribunum CV; triumphans P.

Cayus C; Karius V.

168 Auguselus P; Augulesus CV: Keius P;

169 sono solo CPV (corrected from solo sono in V).

208

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nobles from the East. Egypt, Libya, Babylon, Greece, and Crete lament the departure of their kings and nobility. Teuther King of Phrygia, Boccus of Media, Echion of the Persians, Evander of Syria, Xerses of the Yturei, and the dukes of their kingdoms bring to Rome twelve legions of cavalry. The might of Rome arms itself in preparation for the campaign; the Roman citizens weep to behold Rome, which they will never see again; the bridegroom, himself in tears, leaves his betrothed weeping; the faithful wife clings to her husband’s embrace. Hanging from his father’s neck by his little arms, a son cries out: ‘Where are you rushing, father? For whom are you deserting your wife? For whom are you abandoning myself and my brothers? We brothers are left as orphans even though our father lives.' Lo, a virgin, believed to be the most beautiful of maidens, but who is nurturing concealed love for a handsome warrior, leaves her chambers and, urged on by the mad passion of desire, discloses the fires which she had hidden. As a maenad driven by the frenzy of Bacchus is excited into fury, her hair loose at her back, so she, out of her senses and her passion plain upon her face, throws herself into the crowd, grasps the young man's reins, and cries: ‘You are mine, mine! Where are you rushing? What have you to do with wars, which always bring death? What have you to do with the Normans, the savage Britons, the Scoti, the Picts, and the Venedoti? I am frightened of Arthur, who engaged the tribune Frollo in single-combat and killed him. Loth, Cador, Auguselus, Keyus, Gawain, Hoel — the mere sound of these names terrifies me.’ There is weeping in every home, lamentation in every street. The wailing voices

LIBER VIII

[$164]

[$165]

Horrisonos tonitrus reboat resonabilis eucho; Exequias uiui facit uxor mesta mariti. Interea occeani sulcatur classibus equor, In quibus occasus reges proceresque feruntur Ad Barbam fluuium cum turmis prenumeratis. At rex regine curam regnique Modredo Committit portumque petit qui dicitur Hamon. Occius ascendunt classem, dant lintea uento. Nocte fere media rex sompniat. Ut sibi uisum est, Ursus ab Hyspana plaga uenit et draco dirus Surgit ab australi; bellum committitur ingens Inter eos; tandem dirus draco preualet urso. Euigilans recolit sua sompnia; uisa reuelat Auguribus. Quorum Gerio doctissimus inquit: "Te draco presignat, bone rex, ursusque gygantem Quem conculcabis, gladio ceruice recisa.’ Crastina lux oritur. Optati litora portus Tota tenet classis; de nauibus egrediuntur Et sua castra locant. Arturo fama gygantem Aduenisse refert et neptem regis Hoeli Surripuisse Helenam montisque tenere cacumen Haut procul inde siti: qui, cum maris estuat unda, Insula fit; cum se retrahit, facilis datur illuc Ingressus pedibus. Rex illuc rite duobus Contentus sociis, Keyo simul et Beduero, Ducit iter montesque duos, quorum minor alter, Conspiciunt magnosque focos in utroque micantes. Ignorant in quo maneat cum uirgine raptor. In parua uehitur Beduer pi«n»cerna phaselo Solus ut exploret quis mons sit mansio monstri, Et uenit ad montem casu ducente minorem. Ascendensque audit uocem mulieris. Ad ignem Accedit tumulumque uidet iuxtaque sedentem

172 Horrisonos PV; Horrisonus C: reboat CPV (preceded by deleted resonat in C).

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180

185

190

195

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175

feruntur CPV (preceded by deleted secuntur in C). 179 lintea PV; linthea C: uento PV; uentis C. 180 Ut CV; et P: est PV; om. C. 181 Hyspana PV; Yspana C: draco CV; dracho

P. 183 draco CV; dracho P. 185 doctissimus CPV (corrected from fortissimus in C). 186 draco CV; dracho P: presignat PV; designat C: gygantem PV; gigantem (altered to gigantum) C. 188 litora PV; littora C. 189 tenet P; tangit CV. 190 gygantem PV; gigantemC. 191 refert PV; reffertC. 192 Surripuisse C; Subripuisse PV: Helenam PV; Elenam C. 193 Haut PV; Aut C: siti P, sui CV. 194 fit PV; sit C: datur CPV (bis in C). 195 Ingressus PV; Egressus C. 196 Keyo P; Cayo C; Kario V. 198 montesque CPV (-que suprascript in V). 200 parua CPV (tampered in P; corrected from paruo in V): pincerna my correction; piscerna CV; picerna P. 203 Ascendensque P; Accedensque CV.

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of women strike the sky; the reverberating echo repeats the pitiful uproar; the distraught wife pays the last rites to her husband, though he yet lives. [$164] Meanwhile the waves of the ocean are ploughed by the fleets in which

the kings and nobles of the West are carried to Barfleur with the prearranged forces. The king entrusts his queen and kingdom to the care of Modred and makes for the port called Southampton. They swiftly embark on the ships and spread their sails to the wind. At about the middle of the night, the king has a dream: it seems to him that a bear comes from the regions of Spain and a terrible dragon rises from the south; a mighty battle is fought between them, the terrible dragon at length overcoming the bear. When he awakes, he still remembers the dream and reveals what he saw to his augurs. Gerio, the most learned of them, says: “The dragon signifies you, good king, and the bear a giant whom you will trample, having severed his head with your sword.’ The next day dawns. The entire fleet reaches the shore of the port they long for; they disembark from the ships and pitch their camp. [$165] Arthur hears news that a giant has made off with Helena, the niece of

King Hoel, and is occupying the summit of a nearby mountain: this becomes an island when the sea-tide rises; but when it ebbs, it is easily accessible on foot. The king duly journeys there, content with two companions, Keyus and Beduer. They see two mountains, one of which is smaller, and great fires blazing on both. They cannot tell on which the girl and her abductor may be found. Beduer, the butler, sails alone in a small skiff to discover which mount is the home of the monster. Chance brings him to the smaller mount, and, as he climbs it, he hears a woman’s voice. Approaching the fire, he sees a grave with an old woman

211

LIBER VIII

Cernit anum flentem, plangentem pectus inane, Talia dicentem singultu uerba sequente: *Seue Deus, cur me post care funus alumpne Uiuere permittis — si fas est dicere uitam Que nece fit grauior et pena seuior omni? O quam, uirgo, tue genus est miserabile mortis! Hoc tamen ipsa michi solacia mortua prebes Quod tumulata iaces sine dampno uirginitatis." Uox erat in cursu, subito cum sustulit ora Conspectoque uiro, ‘Que te dementia,’ dixit, *Duxit in hunc montem? Miseranda morte peribis Hoste sub infando presenti nocte. Recede, Dum licet. Ille gygas, monstrum deforme, cruorem Humanum siciens ueniet iam fauce cruenta Et male dispersum uacuo te condet in aluo. Cuius in amplexu forma perterrita monstri, Non corrupta tamen, uitam finiuit Hoeli Neptis, quam proprio nutriui lacte; dedique Defunctam tumulo, quem sic custodio lugens. At postquam fedo coitu fedare nequiuit Ille gygas Helenam preuentam morte, furoris In me conuertit rabiem mecumque coiuit. Sed celum testor et celi iura, michi uim Intulit inuite. Miser, hinc fuge, iam uenit ille Ad solitum coitum. Si nos inuenerit una, Tam fame, quam zelo duplicata seuiet ira.’ Hiis uerbis commotus ait: ‘Dimitte querelas, Pone metus; ueniet qui te de carcere monstri Eripiet, uindex oppresse neptis Hoeli.' Inde redit regique refert que uidit. At ille Uirginis interitum male fert sociosque precatur Ut sibi cum solo soli certare gygante Concedant nec opem prestent nisi forte subesse Conspiciunt ipsum nec posse resistere monstro. Hinc ad maioris tendunt fastigia montis. Ecce pudor matris, nature dedecus, horror

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230

235

240

206 singultu PV; singulatus C: sequente PV; sequentem C. 209 fit PV; sit C. 211 Hoc P; Hec CV. 213 ora PV; hora C. 217 gygas PV; gigas C. 218 iam CV; cum P. 219 condet CP (suprascript after deleted cam in C); ponet V. 220 perterrita PV; perterita C. 223 Defunctam PV; Deffunctam C: quem P; quam CV. 224 coitu CP; choitu V. 225 gygas Helenam preuentam PV; gigas Elenam pereuntem C. 229 coitum CP; choitum V: nos CPV (corrected from mos in C). 230 Tam CV; Quam P; zelo CV; telo P; duplicata CP; dupplicata zt E. ^ CPV ionis from opressise in V). 234 Inde P; Ille CV: refert PV; reffert He creaih C. gygante Coie PV;ks gigante g C. 238 Conspiciun nsp t PV;PV: Conspicien ici t C. 239 Hinc 1 PV;;

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weeping beside it, beating her weak breast, and saying with sighs following her words: *Pitiless God, why do You permit me to go on living after the death of my dear charge — if a fate which is worse than dying and crueller than any punishment may rightly be called life? O maiden, how pitiful was the manner of your death. Yet I take this solace in your death, that you lie buried without the loss of your chastity.' She is still speaking when she raises her eyes and sees the man. She says: ‘What madness has brought you to this mountain? You will die a miserable death at the hands of an unspeakable foe this very night. Retreat while you can. The giant, an ugly monster who thirsts for human gore, will soon come with bloody jaws, mangle you horribly, and bury you in his empty belly. Hoel's niece, whom I nourished with my own milk, ended her life in his embrace, terrified by the monster's appearance, but not violated; I buried her corpse in this grave, which I guard with these lamentations. But after the giant was prevented by Helena's death from corrupting her with his foul lust, turning the fury of his passion on me, he had intercourse with me. But I call to witness heaven and its laws that he forced me against my will. Poor wretch, flee from here; he is coming even now to enjoy his accustomed intercourse. If he finds us together, his fierce anger will be doubled by hunger and jealousy.' Moved by her words, Beduer says: ‘Cease your laments, lay aside your fears; an avenger of Hoel's outraged niece is coming, who will free you from the giant’s captivity.’ Then he returns and reports what he has seen to the king. Arthur is indignant at the virgin's death and begs his companions to allow him to fight the giant man to man and not to aid him unless they see him being beaten and unable to stand up to the monster. Then they make for the summit of the larger mount. Lo, there he is, an object of shame to his mother, a disgrace to Nature, a terror and an

213

LIBER VIII

Opprobriumque hominum, porcorum tabe cruenta Ora gerens, barbam concretam sanguine fedo, Distortum nasum, dentes non ordine iusto Dispositos, fauces patulas Acherontis ad instar, Obliquos oculos, caput admirabile uisu, Innatas setas in toto corpore gestans, Non alias uestes, ardenti presidet igni. Qui simul aspexit regem regisque sodales, Clauam, quam duo uix iuuenes extollere possent, Extollit manibus. Denudat rex Caliburnum Pretensoque gygen clipeo petit. Ille trinodem Extollens clauam clipeum ferit; et sonus ictus Litora tota replet. Rex impetit ense gygantem Et ferit in frontem. Sanguis de fronte redundat; Sanguinis unda fluens excecat lumina monstri. Non tamen est lesus letali uulnere: namque Opposita gladio claua fit parcior ictus. Acrior effectus post uulnus, fertur in ipsum Uulneris auctorem mediumque amplectitur hostem Et genua ad terram constrictum flectere cogit. Uiribus exurgens reuocatis marcius heros Terque quaterque ferum gladio ferit; imprimit ensem Terrigene cerebro. Clamat, cadit; ingemit eius Et trepidat mater; metuit uicinia motum. Rex igitur cernens corpus exsangue iacentis Soluitur in risum sociisque stupentibus inquit: "Inter terrigenas monstro, quod cernitis, isto Nullum depressi truculencius ense Ritone Excepto, qui peliciam sibi fecerat atrox Ex barbis regum quos interfecerat ipse. Excoriare meam barbam michi iussit, honoris Tantum promittens quod eam barbis aliorum Consutam uenerans in summa parte locaret.

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255

Cumque recusarem dare quod quesiuerat ille, Arauio monte commisimus ambo duellum. Quem domui mortique dedi.' Caput ergo gygantis

260

265

270

215

241 Opprobriumque PV ; Obprobriumque C: hominum CP; homini (7) V. 245 caput CP; capud V. 248 Qui CV; Quo P. 251 gygen P; gigen CV: trinodem V; trinodam C; triuodem P. 253 Litora PV; Littora C: gygantem PV; gigantem C. 258 Acrior PV; Accrior C. 259 auctorem CP; actorem V. 260 constrictum CV; obstrictum P. 262 imprimit PV; inprimit C. 264 metuit CV; uetuit P. 265 exsangue P; exangue CV. 266 sociis que CPV (que suprascript in V). 268 ense CV; esse P: Ritone CPV (tampered in C?). 269 peliciam PV; pelliciam C: sibi fecerat CPV (corrected from fecerat sibi in C): atrox PV; attrox C. 274 quesiuerat CPV (corrected from quesierat in V): ille P; ipse CV.

214

275 Arauio V; Atanio (?) C; Arauion P.

BOOK VII

insult to men; his mouth is stained by the blood of pigs, his beard matted with foul gore; his nose is twisted, his teeth awry and crooked; his jaws gape like Hell, his eyes squint, and his head is a wonder to behold; he sits over the blazing fire, wearing no other clothes than the bristles growing all over his body. As soon as he sees the king and his comrades, he seizes in his hand his club, which two youths could hardly lift. The king draws Caliburnus and, behind the protection of his shield, attacks the giant, who wields his triple-knotted club and smites the shield, the sound of the blow filling the whole shore. The king assaults the giant with his sword and strikes him on the forehead. Blood gushes from his brow and its copious flow blinds the monster’s eyes. But the wound is not mortal, as his club had checked the sword and lessened the blow. Maddened by the wound, he attacks the foe who dealt it, grasps him round the middle, and, grappling with him, forces him to bend his knees to the ground. But the martial hero summons his strength, rises, and strikes the savage three and four times with his sword, burying it in the giant’s brain. He cries and falls; his mother earth groans and trembles; surrounding regions feared an earthquake. At the sight of the dead body sprawling, the king laughs, saying to his astounded comrades: ‘With my sword I have defeated among the giants none more fierce than this monster, with the exception of Rito who had barbarically made a cloak out of the beards of the kings whom he had killed. He commanded me to rip out my beard, promising as a concession to my honour that, when he sewed it in place with the beards of the others, he would reverently put it at the top. When I refused to give what he requested, we fought a duel together on Mount Aravius; I overcame and killed him.’ He severs the head of the giant and takes it back

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[$166]

Amputat et secum repetens tentoria transfert Castrorum. Turmas inducit causa uidendi Exiciale caput; et dignum carmine laudum Extollunt regem, qui tam mirabile monstrum Deuicit ciuesque suos a peste redemit. At rex Armoricus, quem neptis fata molestant, Ecclesiam condit illic ubi uirgo sepulta Est Helene; Tumbamque Helenes iubet ille uocari Montis congeriem, que sic nunc usque uocatur. Inde celer rex castra mouens perducit ad Albam Innumeras acies. Illic tentoria tendit.

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Nam prope Romanos ciues sua castra locasse

Fama refert. Sed rex immotus mittit ad illos Tres proceres, quorum sunt nomina Boso, Gerinus Galganusque nepos regis. Qui talia dicunt: * Arturus, cuius qui iussis obuiat ipso Se facto dampnat, tibi precipit, inclite Luci, Ut, dum res patitur, fugias de partibus istis." Quintilianus eis ira dictante loquutus Est ita: ‘Sunt Britones tam re quam nomine bruti, Quorum bella mine, quorum iactancia uirtus. Non uenit ut fugiat sed ut effuget imperialis Maiestas. Britones fugiant regnoque Britanno Contenti reddant nobis sine lite tributum." Plura locuturum Galganus lumine toruo Prospiciens sic inquit ei: *Te teste probabo Non linguis tantum Britones prodesse sed armis." Dixit et extracto gladio caput amputat eius. Inde uehuntur equis et eos calcaribus urgent Legati repetuntque suos. Romana iuuentus Illos insequitur, uindictam sumere prompta

290

295

300

305

De nece conciuis. Sed loris Boso reductis Raptus in Hesperios uibrata traicit hasta Insignem iuuenem Fabia de gente creatum.

310

276 Caput CP; Capud V: gygantis PV; gigantis C. 277 secum P; sociis CV: tentoria CP: temptoria V. 279 caput CP; capud V. 287 tentoria CP; temptoria V. 289 refert PV; reffert

C. 290 Gerinus P; Guerinus CV. 292 qui CV; tu P: iussis CPV (corrected from iussus in C?) obuiat CV; obuias P. 293 Se facto V; Facto rex C; Te facto P. 294 resPV;rex C. 295

dictante PV; ditante C: loquutus PV; loqutus C. 296 quam CP; tam V. 299 regnoque CPV (corrected from regeque in C). 300 Contenti CV; Intenti P. 301 locuturum C; loquuturum PV. 304 caput CP; capud V. 305 repetuntque CPV (preceded by deleted et eos in C). 307

prompta CV; prompti P. 309 Hesperios P; Ytalicos CV: traicit P; trahicit CV.

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with him to the tents of his camp. The desire to see brings the troops to the cursed head; and they extol the king as worthy of a paean of praise for defeating so marvelous a monster and freeing his citizens from its depredations. But the Armorican king, grieved at his niece’s fate, founds a church at the spot where the virgin Helena lies buried; and he orders that the whole mountain be called Tumba Helenes, which is its name up to the present. [$166] Then Arthur swiftly moves his camp, leading forces without number to the river Aube, where he pitches his tents. For rumour has it that the Roman citizens have made their camp nearby. Untroubled, the king sends to them three nobles, named Boso, Gerinus, and Gawain, his nephew. They make the follow-

ing speech: *Whoever contravenes Arthur's orders condemns himself by that very action: Arthur commands you, illustrious Lucius, to retreat from this region while there is still time.' To them Quintilianus replies at the prompting of his anger: “The Britons are fools in name and deed: their warfare is threats, their bravery boastfulness. His imperial majesty has come not to flee, but to put to flight. Let the Britons retreat, and, content with the realm of Britain, pay us our tribute without dispute.' As he is about to continue, Gawain, giving him a fierce glance, says: ‘I shall make you the witness to prove that the Britons are not only good at talking but also at fighting.' So saying, he draws his sword and strikes off his head. Then the envoys ride off, urging their horses with their spurs, and retreat towards their army. The Roman youths pursue them, eager to take revenge for the killing of their fellow-citizen. Boso reins in and, charging the Romans, shakes his spear and pierces a distinguished young man belonging to

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LIBER VII

Quod cum Carnoti consul uidet, inuidet eius

Actis et uersa facie se mittit in hostes; Et feriens Ticium, qui proximus obuiat illi, Deicit a sella letali uulnere lesum. Eminet a tergo Galgano Mucius; illum Galganus perimens a corpore diuidit eius Et caput et galeam, dicit quoque: *Quintiliano Iunctus in inferno, Britones linguaque manuque Esse probos te teste proba; reprobosque probato Ytalicos.' Sociosque duos hortatur, et inquit: ‘Inuicti proceres, mecum properate, Quirites Sternite semimares!' Properant sternuntque propinquos Quisque suum propere; uictores inde recedunt. Uallis opaca iacet, nemoroso robore densa: Hic latitant Britonum sex milia, qui sociorum Aduentum expectant. Sociis fugientibus illuc Consociantur eis, et in hostes consociati Insultum faciunt. In primo mille Quirites Conflictu pereunt, capiuntur mille. Fugatur Cetera pars donec Petreius cum pluribus illis Uenit in auxilium, ducens bis quinque uirorum Milia. Qui Britones retro dare cogit habenas Et remeare citis ad siluam gressibus unde Exierant. Nemoris ingressus obice firmo Armorum seruant; incurrentique resistunt Impetui sternuntque suos hostiliter hostes. Filius Ennuti mire probibatis Ydernus Milia quinque equitum sociis fugientibus hostes Ducit in auxilium. Sociis audacia crescit: Qui modo terga dabant, dant pectora. Mutua partes Uulnera dant stragemque parem. Sed caucius instant Aut fugiunt Lacii quoniam dux instruit illos Nunc dare terga fuge, nunc impugnare rebelles. At Britones sine lege ruunt, nec uincere tanto

Affectu captant quanto probitate probari: Inde fit ut passim grauiori strage premantur. Quod cum Bosoni compertum est, conuocat ad se

313

320

325

330

335

340

345

311 Quod P; Quem CV: eius PV; illi C. 313 Ticium CP; Tycium V.

315 Mucius PV; Iuncius

334 ingressus PV; ingressi sunt C.

337-8 PV only; om. C.

C. 317 caput CP; capud V: quoque PV; sis C. 319 proba PV; probo C: probato PV; probatos C. 320duosP;suosCV. 323 propere PV; propeC. 330 Petreius CV; Petroius P. 336 hostiliter CV; uiriliter P.

337 Ennuti P; Emniti V. 338 Milia quinque V; Quinque milia P. 345 quanto CV; quanta P. 346 premantur CV; prematur P. 347 Bosoni PV; Bossoni C. |

218

BOOK VIII

the family of the Fabii. When the consul of Carnotum sees this, he is jealous of Boso’s deeds and, wheeling round, rushes on the foe; he strikes Titius, who is his nearest opponent, and dashes him from the saddle with a mortal wound. Mucius gains on Gawain from behind, but Gawain kills him by severing his head and helmet from his body, adding: ‘When you join Quintilianus in Hell, be a witness that the Britons excell with tongue and hand; be too a proof that the Italians are remiss.’ He encourages his two comrades with these words: ‘Unconquerable nobles, hasten with me to slaughter the effeminate Romans!’ They hasten and quickly cut down those nearest to them; then they retreat as victors. There lies a dark valley, thick with wooded forest: here are concealed six thousand Britons, awaiting the arrival of their companions. As their comrades flee there, they unite with them and make a joint assault on the enemy. In the first clash a thousand Roman citizens fall, and a thousand are captured. The remainder flee until they are aided by Petreius, with ten thousand men, and many others. They force the Britons to turn back their horses and to retreat at the gallop to the wood from which they had issued. There the Britons close the entrances to the forest with a tight ring of steel, resist the oncoming attack, and aggressively slay their foes. The son of Ennutus, Ydernus of marvelous repute, brings five thousand cavalry to aid his comrades as they retreat before the enemy. Their boldness grows, those who were showing their backs now facing the foe. Both sides inflict wounds and equal carnage. But the Romans attack or retire more skilfully, being instructed by their leader now to turn their backs in flight, now to fight back strongly. Whereas, the Britons charge without order, their concern being not so much with victory as to prove the extent of their courage: hence they everywhere suffer the greater slaughter. When Boso realises this, he assembles and separates a band of brave men, whom he knows to

219

LIBER VIII

Seiungitque uiros fortes, quos nouerat acres Milicieque auidos, et talia disserit illis: *Magnanimi iuuenes, sine nutu regis inimus Presens certamen. Si nos contingat in isto Deuinci bello — quod abhominor — , improbitatis Arguet Arturus uictos et senciet inde Dampna sue partis; necnon audacia crescet Agminis Ytalici, nostris in parte subactis. Sed uia nulla patet per quam uictoria nobis Plauserit arridens, nisi capto siue perempto Consule Petreio. Rumpentes ergo cateruas Romane gentis illum capiamus, et omnes Committent sua terga fuge.' Paretur, in ipsum Incurrunt, capitur, captumque per agmen amicum

[$167]

Ducit eum Boso. Concurrunt inde Quirites Eius in auxilium. Britonum conserta resistunt Agmina Romanis. Clamor, turbacio, cedes Et strepitus fiunt. Illic apparet aperte Quis telo uel quis gladio bene pugnat utrinque. Acephali tandem Lacii capto duce campum Destituunt. Britones cedencia terga cruentant; Prosternunt, spoliant, capiunt, captosque ligatos Presentant regi. Rex lete gaudia mentis Uix retinens donat uictores diuite dono. Inde Cador, Beduer, Borellus, Richeriusque, Innumerique alii, quibus isti bis duo presunt, Parisius ducunt captiuos rege iubente. Lucius id meditans ter milia quinque uirorum Eligit et reges Syrie Libiesque duosque Quos decorant fasces illis proponit, eosque Mittit in occursum missorum regis. In atre

Noctis secreto latitant in ualle suosque Expectant hostes. Ueniunt captosque Britanni

350

355

360

365

370

375

380

Adducunt Lacios. Quos uallis clauserat atra,

Emergunt hostes. Subito percussa pauore, Uix bene tela capit, uix ponit in ordine turmas Regis missa cohors. Tamen est diuisa duasque Scinditur in partes: unam que pugnet, et unam

385

348 acres PV; accresC. 349 disserit P; dixerat C; dixerit V. 351 isto P; ipso C; illo V. 357 arridens CV; adridens P. 362 eum CPV (corrected from cum in V). 363 resistunt PV;

consistit C. 365 apparet CV; aparet P. 367 Acephali PV; Acefali C: campum PV; captum C. 369 Prosternunt CP; Percuciunt V. 371 diuite PV; diuidite C: dono CPV (preceded by deleted regno in C).

372 Richeriusque CV; Richerinusque P.

biesque P; Lybieque C; Libieque V.

noctis C... 385 pugnet CP; pugnat V.

378 atre P; atro CV...

220

376 Syrie CV; Sirie P; Li-

378 Noctis secreto PV; Secreto

BOOK VII

be bold and eager for war, and says the following to them: *High-spirited youths, we have begun this struggle without our king's permission. If — heaven forbid — we happen to be beaten in this engagement, Arthur will accuse us of

dishonour in defeat, and so will experience damage to his cause; moreover, the Italian army will grow more bold if part of our forces are vanquished. There is no way for us to enjoy the smile of victory except to capture or kill the consul Petreius. Let us break through the Roman companies to capture him; then all of them will turn their backs and run.' They obey, rush on Petreius, and capture him; and, once captured, Boso leads him away through the ranks of his comrades. Then the Roman citizens run to his aid, and the Britons close their formation to meet them. Shouting, confusion, slaughter, and uproar ensue. There it is abundantly clear on both sides who fights well with the spear, who with the sword. At length the Romans, leaderless after the capture of their commander, quit the field. The Britons hack at their fleeing backs, cut them down, and strip them. Some they capture and present in chains to the king. Hardly restraining the happiness in his rejoicing heart, he grants the victors rich gifts. Afterwards at the king's orders the captives are taken to Paris by Cador, Beduer, Borellus, and Richerius, and innumerable others under the command of these four. [$167] Pondering this, Lucius chooses fifteen thousand men, putting them under the command of the kings of Libya and Syria and two men honoured by the consular fasces, and sends them to intercept the forces despatched by the king. Beneath the dark cloak of night they hide in a valley to await the enemy. The Britons arrive, bringing the Roman captives. The foe emerge from the dark valley which had concealed them. The force sent by the king'is striken by sudden terror, and can scarcely grasp its weapons firmly or draw up its companies in order. However, it parts and divides into two companies, one to fight,

221

LIBER VIII

[$168]

[$169]

Que captos seruet. Seruanti preficiuntur Richerius, Beduer; pugnanti Cornubiensis Dux Cador et consul Borellus. Sed Laciorum Turba furens sine lege ruit sternitque Britannos, Cum disponuntur in turmas. Agmina regis Desperant ceduntque fere, cum dux Aquitanus Comperit insidias et secum ducit in hostes Guitardus ter mille uiros ad bella paratos. Cum quibus admixti Britones Romana repellunt Agmina. Sed multos in primo marte suorum Amittunt; Borellus obit, perimente Syrorum Rege illum. Dat terga fuge Romana iuuentus Et fugiens repetit tentoria, uulnere cesa Terga gerens. Percussus obit Wlteius et rex Euander Syricus. Occumbunt aut capiuntur Quos fuga non redimit. Plaudit uictoria nostris. Parisius primo mittunt captosque secundo Ad regem ducunt; a paucis tot superati Prestant Arturo Romanos spem superandi. Lucius attonitus audita strage suorum Quid faciat dubitat: pugnet cedatue Britannis; Eligit ut cedat dum possit habere Leonis Principis auxilium. Mouet ergo castra sequenti Nocte. Locum querens tutum sibi, Lengrias intrat. Comperit Arturus Lacios fugisse, fugamque Preuenit illorum. Disponit in ordine turmas Hortaturque suos et talia disserit illis: *Participes operum que gessi carmine digna, Quorum consilio, quorum uirtute subegi Tot mundi partes, quibus omnis seruiet orbis, Ecce dies optata uenit qua Roma securi Nostre colla dabit. Petiisse tributa pigebit, Cum dare cogetur. Nobis eterna petatur Libertas gladiis. Sit seruus degener omnis Cui sua languebit feriendo dextera. Quem non Terrebit numerus, pius est, et criminis expers

390

395

405

410

415

420

Qui, ne seruitium subeat, deseuit in hostes. 387 Richerius CP; Richerus V: pugnanti CV; pugnat et P.

388 Borellus PV; Bordellus C.

389 Turba CV; Turma P. 390 Cum C; Tum PV. 391 Aquitanus PV; Acquitanus C. admixti CP; amixti V. 396 Amittunt P; Admittunt CV. 398 tentoria CP; temptoria V.

394 399

Wlteius V; Mulcheius C; Uulcheius P. 400 Euander PV; Euuander C: Syricus CV; Siricus P:

Occumbunt PV; Obcumbunt C: aut CV; et P.

405 attonitus CP; atonitus V.

pugne V. 409 Lengrias CP; Lengias V. 412 disserit PV; dixerat C. uouet P. 420 Quem non P; Quemque CV.

222

406 pugnet CP;

415 seruiet CV; se

BOOK VIII

the other to guard the captives; that which guards is commanded by Richerius and Beduer, that which fights by Cador Duke of Cornwall and the consul Borellus. The enraged mass of Romans charges in disorder and cuts down the British as they form in their divisions. The king’s forces despair and are almost retreating, when Guitardus, Duke of Aquitaine, learns of the ambush and brings with him against the enemy three thousand men ready for the fray. Reinforced by them, the Britons drive back the Roman ranks. But in the first clash they lose many of their men; Borellus dies, slain by the king of the Syrians. The Roman youths turn in rout and retreat in flight to their tents, enduring wounds on their backs. Vulteius and Evander, the Syrian king, are cut down and killed. Those whom flight does not save are slaughtered or captured. Victory smiles on the Britons. They send the captives of the first battle to Paris, but return those of the second to the king; the fact that so many have been conquered by so few gives Arthur hope of defeating the Romans. [$168] Amazed by the news of his mens’ rout, Lucius is unsure what to do: should he fight or retreat before the Britons? He chooses to fall back while it is still possible for the Emperor Leo to help him. He therefore strikes camp on the following night. Looking for a place of refuge, he enters Langres. When Arthur realises that the Romans have retired, he anticipates their flight. [$169] He draws up his troops in formation and encourages them with the following speech: ‘Partners of such of my labours as are worthy of song, by whose advice and bravery I have conquered so many territories of the world, and whom the whole world will serve, lo, the day we long for is at hand, the day on which Rome will expose her neck to our axe. She will regret demanding tribute when she is forced to pay it. The reward sought by our swords is eternal liberty. Let anyone whose hand grows tired of striking become an unworthy slave. Whoever is not intimidated by the enemy’s numbers is a dutiful man, and

223

LIBER VIII

[$170]

Lucius et Lacii solam sibi spem remeandi In turpem posuere fugam. Nostra arma timentes Lengrias intrarunt ut summo mane fugaces Alpinos montes repetant. Precessimus illos. Huc ueniente die uenient. Capiemus inermes Illos armati uel detrucabimus ense. Pugna tamen nostris erit instans dissona gestis: Nam nichil obscure, nichil egimus insidiose; Cuncta palam claroque die, nil nocte gerendum Duximus. Ytalici semper fraudesque dolosque Moliri norunt. Non est me iudice culpa Fallere fallaces, fraudemque repellere fraude. Uincamus uictos. Modica est laus ista triumphi, Magna tamen merces: presens certamen ab ortu Solis ad occasum totum michi subiugat orbem, Subiugat et uobis. Tantum uictoris habere Nomen amo; uobis urbes, castella domosque Et uillas et opes et cetera commoda trado." Uix ea finierat, cum concita concio tota Arma petit dampnatque moras bellumque requirit Uocibus et uotis; iam nondum marte peracto, Non eciam cepto uictores esse uidentur. Insidiis igitur compertis Lucius istis Nil opus esse fuga sibi credens, conuocat ad se Hortaturque suos, et talia uerba profatur: *O proceres quibus est Romana potencia cure, Obsecro uestrorum memores estote parentum Qui, ne Romanum seuo succumberet hosti Imperium, proprium minime renuere cruorem Fundere et exemplum probitatis posteritati Forte relinquentes, Romam sibi preposuere. Sepius assueti quam uinci uincere, nostrum Ius augmentarunt; quorum res publica semper Consilio creuit, quorum uirtute Quirino Subditus imperio seruit quadrangulus orbis. Uos igitur moneo, uos deprecor aucta parentum Sanguine uestrorum defendite iura Quirini Culminis; et Britones inuadite uindice ferro,

423 sibi spem CPV (corrected from spem sibi in V). 424 turpem PV; turbam C. Alpinos PV; Alphinos C. 427 Capiemus PV; Capiamus C: inermes P; inhermes CV.

425

430

435

445

450

455

460 426 440

commoda CV; comoda P. 441 cum CV; et P. 443 nondum CP; mundum V: peracto CV; subacto P. 444 Non eciam cepto PV; Et non incepto C. 445 istis PV; illis C. 450 Suctumberet C; subcumberet PV. 451 renuere P; timuere CV. 452 et CP; om. V. 455 augmenta-

, P; d. efendite P; deffendite CV. 460

runt CP; aumentarunt V. 458 aucta CP; acta V. 459 defendite

uindice CP; uincite V.

224

BOOK VIII

he who rages against the foe to avoid slavery is free from reproach. Lucius and the Romans have placed their only hope of return in a shameful flight. In fear of our weapons they have entered Langres in order to flee at first light and retire to the Alps. We have pre-empted them. When they arrive here at dawn, we with our weapons will catch them unarmed and butcher them with the sword. The imminent battle will not be like our previous deeds. We have effected nothing covertly or by stealth. We have seen fit to do everything openly in broad daylight, and nothing by night; it is the Italians who have always been experienced in engineering stratagems and traps. In my view there is nothing reprehensible in deceiving the deceitful and countering trickery with trickery. Let us defeat an enemy who is already beaten. Our triumph may win scant praise, but its rewards are great: this contest will place the whole world from east to west in my power, and in your power too. My desire is to have only the name of victor; cities, castles, houses, villages, riches and other rewards I make over to you.' He has scarcely finished, when the whole assembly eagerly takes up arms, chafes at the delay, and demands the encounter with voice and prayer; although battle is not over nor even begun, they already see themselves as the victors. [8170] When Lucius discovers this ambush, believing that flight is useless to him, he calls together his men, and speaks these words of exhortation: *Nobles, to whose care the power of Rome is entrusted, I beg you to remember your ancestors: in order to avoid the fall of the Roman empire to savage foes, they were by no means unwilling to shed their blood, and valued Rome above themselves, bequeathing a fine model of excellence to their descendants. Accustomed more often to conquer than be conquered, they extended our dominion; by their counsel the republic always grew, by their bravery the fóur corners of the earth were subjected to the Roman empire in servitude. Therefore I admonish you, I entreat you to defend the rights of Roman power, which were increased by the blood of your parents; attack with avenging sword the

225

LIBER VIII

Qui soli nostrum de cunctis quos habet orbis Erecta ceruice statum peruertere curant." Uix dictis finem dederat, cum turba senatus Et regum cetusque ducum procerumque cohortes Iurando dicunt quod pristina iura tuentes Urbis Romulee, que toti presidet orbi, Non metuent mortem subeundo perdere uitam. Attamen in uultu tam principis ista iubentis Quam promittentum firma hec promissa potentum De facili potuit belli pars uicta notari. Protinus armantur omnes urbemque relinquunt. Ad uallem tendunt, ubi rex expectat eorum Forti mente fugam. Sese pars utraque cernit. Quis furor, o fortes, pro regno deperituro Perdere perpetuum regnum? Perdetis utrumque Excedendo modum: contenta Britannia fine Debuit esse suo; potuit quoque Roma tributum Quod petit iniuste non exegisse. Sed hostis Humani generis, cui fas rectumque fidemque Esse nefas constat, quem turbant tempora pacis, Partibus arma parat, promittit utrique triumphum. Nec curat quam letificet uictoria partem, Qui princeps, qui principium, qui causa malorum Seminat insidias, odium parit, excitat iram, Dissoluit leges, nodos denodat amorum; Suppliciumque suum est hominum benefacta uidere Successusque, bonis et derogat inuidus actis. Et quamuis sedem numquam est aditurus eamdem Quam miser amisit, tamen odit et impedit omnes Quos optare uidet in eadem sede sedere. Qui didicit doctrice phisi quo fallere possit Corda dolo cicius. Sunt qui contagia uitant Illicite ueneris; fatuis tamen efficit illos Uirginibus similes. Alii sunt non uiolenti, Non fures, non falsidici; tamen inficit illos

465

470

475

480

485

490

495

461 nostrum PV; uestrum C. 462 curant CV; curat P. 467 metuent PV; metuant C. 469 promittentum CV; promittendum P. 470 notari CP; uocari V. 473 cernit CPV (corrected

from cernat in C7). 477 quoque PV; quoC. 478 exegisse CPV (corrected from exigisse in V). 480 nefas CV; nephas P. 481 parat PV; probat C. 482 letificet P; letificat CV. 484 iram CV; urbem P. 487 Successusque P; Suscensetque C; Succensetque V. 488 uam CV; nusquam P. 491 phisi PV; fisiC. 492 Corda C; Corde PV. 493 efficit CPV (corrected from excipit in C)... 494 Uirginibus CPV (preceded by deleted Carmen auaricie in C).

226

BOOK VII

stiff-necked Britons, who, alone of all the peoples in the world, strive to confound our state.’ He has hardly finished his speech, when the body of senators and kings, the mass of dukes, and the crowds of nobles swear that, in protecting the ancient rights of the city of Romulus, which rules the whole world, they will

not fear to lose their lives and undergo death. Yet in the faces both of the emperor as he issues these commands and of the nobles as they make their firm undertakings it is easy to read that they are the beaten side in the war. All swiftly arm themselves and leave the city. They march to the valley where the king resolutely awaits their retreat. The two sides come into view of each other. Brave men, what madness drives you to sacrifice the Eternal Kingdom for a transient realm? You will lose both by exceeding the bounds. Britain ought to be content with her own territory; Rome need not have demanded the tribute which she seeks unjustly. But the enemy of the human race, to whom justice, rectitude, and loyalty are known to be anathema, and who is enraged by times of peace, prepares both sides’ weapons and promises triumph to each. Yet he cares not which is gladdened by victory; for he is prince, fount, and instigator of evil, sowing treachery, breeding hatred, stirring up anger, subverting laws, untying the knots of love; to observe mens’ acts of virtue and successes is torture to him, and in his envy he thwarts good deeds. Although the wretch can never return to the place which he once lost, still he hates and harries all those whom he sees aspiring to occupy that same seat. Nature’s promptings have taught him what trickery can most quickly deceive the heart. There are some who avoid the corruption of forbidden love; but he makes them like foolish virgins. Others are not men of violence, do not steal, nor bear false witness; but they are tainted

227

LIBER VIII

Crimen auaricie, quod et est cultura deorum. Est alius qui pauperibus dispergit habunde Plurima; sed tantum sibi colligit inde fauorem Humane laudis et perdit rem meritumque. Exornant alios facundia, lingua diserta Larga manus, facies illustris, dextera fortis Uirtutesque alie; sed sola superbia cunctas Suffocat. In Britones Lacios hec unica mouit.

496 Crimen PV; Carmen C.

500 PV only; om. C.

228

503 mouit PV; mouet C.

BOOK VIII

with the fault of greed, which is tantamount to idolatry. Another generously

distributes very many gifts to the poor; but this only draws the attention of human praise upon him and he loses both his possessions and his reward. Others are distinguished by eloquence, a learned tongue, a lavish hand, a handsome face, a strong right arm, and other virtues; but all these are obliterated by pride alone. It is pride alone which has sent the Romans against the Britons.

229

Liber Nonus

Incipit nonus liber Nonus agit bellum. Uictoria Cesare ceso Arturo cedit. Noua narrat fama Modredum Arturi uiolasse thorum. Regreditur ergo In patriam. Precludit iter redeuntis adulter. Hec causa est utriusque necis. Successor eorum Est Constantinus. Sequitur Conanus eundem, Illum Uortiporus, hunc Malgo, Carecius illum. Discidium ciuile furit. Legacio Rome Despicitur. Regale datur sceptrum Caduano. Filius eius eum sequitur Caduallo parentem.

[8171]

Uisibus humanis premissa nocte cometes Luciferum caput exeruit, tot regibus omen Triste. Striges et noctis aues cecinere propinquas Tot procerum strages; ululantum rixa luporum, Latratusque canum, respondensque omnibus echo Incussere metum cunctis. Aurora maritum Decrepitum fugiens, confuso sanguine uultu, Obtusis radiis lacrimisque fluentibus orta, Prestitit instantis presagia certa ruine. Surgit ab eois solito maturius horis Phebus et, ut uidit acies et bella parata, Pallidus et tristis et languens lumine toruo, Induxit sub nube caput radiosque reduxit Ne uideat tot fata ducum, tot funera regum. Dispositis igitur Laciis hinc, inde Britannis, In medium Bellona uenit gladiosque ministrat Telaque militibus. Par est affectus eorum, Est dispar numerus: numero Romana caterua Excedit Britones, illam uirtute Britanni. Ecce ruunt partis acies utriusque. Tumultus Et fragor armorum, strepitus et clangor et echo,

5

10

15

20

25

30

Rubric P; no rubric in C; Prologus libri .ix. V. 1 Nonus PV; onus C. 6 eundem CP; eumdem V. 7 Uortiporus CP; Uortipamus V: Carecius P; Caractius C; Caraccius V. 9 sceptrum CP; ceptrum V. 11 No rubric in CP; Incipit liber .ix. V: Uisibus PV; isibus C: cometes CP; come V. 12 caput C; capud PV: exeruit P; exhibuit CV. 13 Striges PV; Strages C. 15 echo P; eucho CV. 19 Obtusis PV;

Obtulit C. 24 Ne CPV (corrected from Ut in V). 27 Par CPV (corrected from Parem in V). 28 Est CV; Et P: caterua CP; catherua V. 31 echo P; eucho CV.

230

Book

IX

The ninth book wages battle. With Caesar slain, the victory goes to Arthur. A fresh rumour reports that Modred has defiled Arthur’s marriage. He therefore returns home, while the adulterer blocks his path; this causes both their deaths. They are succeeded by Constantine, who is followed by Conan, Vortipor, Malgo, and Caretius. Civil war rages. A mission from Rome is rejected. The royal sceptre is given to Cadvanus. His son Cadvallo succeeds him. On the preceding night a comet revealed its shining head to mortal gaze, a sinister omen for so many kings. Owls and nocturnal birds sang out the imminent slaughter of a great many ncbles. The howling of fighting wolves, the baying of dogs, and an echo which reverberated to them all stuck terror into every man. Fleeing her senile husband, Dawn gives sure warning of the impending disaster by blushing with ruddy face, appearing with muted rays and bedewed with tears. The sun rises from the eastern shores more slowly than is usual; pale and sad at the sight of the lines of battle ready for war, he languishes with grim light, and, hiding his head behind the clouds, diminishes his beams to avoid witnessing the fate of so many dukes, the death of so many kings. [$171] When the Romans are drawn up opposite the Britons, Bellona comes between them, ministering swords and spears to the soldiers. Though their spirit is the same, their numbers are unequal. The Roman army is more numerous than the British, but the Britons are more courageous. Lo, both sides’ battle-lines charge. Tumult and the crash of arms, shouting, fanfares, and their echo, all

231

LIBER IX

Omnia confuse reboant finguntque supremum Aduenisse diem; rediisse elementa putares In chaos antiquum, rerum compage soluta. Auguselus fortisque Cador dux Cornubiensis Agmen commissum precedunt. Obuiat illis Cum sibi commissa consul legione Catellus Hesperiosque suos secum conuertit. At illi Hostibus obsistunt. Dant uulnera mutua partes; Ex collisura gladiorum flamma coruscat. Inde Gerinus adest et Boso cum legione Cui presunt. Stantes ineunt rumpuntque cohortes Parthorumque petunt regem, qui impugnat Achillem Regem Dacorum. Furit illic Daca bipennis, Bachatur gladius, nullius dextera torpet. Stantis in interitum partis pars altera certat. Utraque pars patitur et agit, sed strage premuntur Maiori Britones. Beduer picerna peremptus Occidit et Keyus letali saucius ictu.

[$172]

35

45

Nam cum pugnaret Beduer cum rege Medorum, Occumbit gladio. Cuius miserabile letum Dum uult ulcisci Keyus, sub pectore uulnus Letiferum recipit; Libies tamen agmina regis Irrumpens socii transfert exangue cadauer Ad uultum Arturi, non multum longius illo Uicturus. Luctus oritur per castra dolorque Et clamor; sed eos instans certaminis hora Non patitur lugere diu. Sed fortis Hyrelglas, Strenuus ille nepos Bedueri, tristis et amens Ob mortem patrui, iuuenes in marte feroces Eligit et secum ducens in bella trecentos Uexillum regis Medie petit. Impetit ense Regem, prosternit, perimit, ducitque peremptum Ad patrui corpus, totumque in frusta recidit;

50

Admonet inde suos inuadere fortiter hostes. Inuadunt sternuntque uiros; sternuntur et ipsi. Rex cadit Hyspanus, occumbit rex Babilonis,

65

55

32 confuse PV; confise C: supremum PV; suppremum C. 34 antiquum PV; antiqum C. 35 Auguselus P; Augulesus CV. 38 Hesperiosque P; Experiosque CV: secum P; in eos CV. 39 uulnera PV; winera C. 40 flamma PV; flama C. 41-105 PV only; lines 41-105 are wanting in C because of the loss of a leaf between fos 55v and 56r. 41 Gerinus P; Guerinus V. 43 Parthorumque P; Partorumque V. 44 illic P; ille V: bipennis P; bippennis V. 45 Bacha-

tur gladius V; Bachantur gladiis P. 48 pincerna my correction; picerna P; piscerna V. 49 Keyus P; Karius V. S0 pugnaret P; pugnabat V. 52 Keyus P; Karius V. 58 Hyrelglas P; Ylergas V. 59 Strenuus P; Estrenus V. 64 frusta P; frustra V. 65 Admonet V; Et monet P.

202

BOOK Ix

confusedly resound together as if the last day has arrived; one would think that the elements are slipping into the ancient abyss, the fabric of the world having been shattered. Auguselus and brave Cador, Duke of Cornwall, are at the head of the force entrusted to them. The consul Catellus opposes them with the legion which he commands, directing his Romans with him. The Britons resist the enemy, both sides inflicting wounds; flames leap from the meeting of swords. Then Gerinus and Boso arrive with the legion under their orders. They charge and penetrate the struggling companies, making for the king of the Parthians, who is attacking Achilles, King of Denmark. There rages the Danish axe, there the sword rampages; no hand is idle. Each side strives for the other’s destruction. Each kills and is killed, but the Britons suffer the greater slaughter. The butler Beduer is slain and falls, as does Keyus, wounded by a deadly blow. For, while fighting with the king of the Medes, Beduer is cut down by his enemy’s sword: and when Keyus wishes to avenge his sad death, he receives a mortal wound in the chest. Yet he breaks through the king of Libya’s ranks and, even though he will not survive Beduer long, he brings the dead body to Arthur’s presence. Groaning, sorrow, and cries ensue in the camp, but the pressing hour of battle does not allow them to lament for long. [8172] Brave Hyrelglas, Beduer’s doughty nephew, wild with grief at his uncle’s death, picks out three hundred youths ferocious in war and, leading them into battle, makes for the standard of the king of Media. He attacks the king with his sword, overwhelms and kills him, and, bringing his corpse to his uncle’s body, completely dismembers it. Then he admonishes his men to attack the enemy bravely; they assault and cut them down, but are also cut down themselves. On the Roman side the kings of Spain and Babylon, two senators, and a

233

LIBER IX

[§173]

[$174]

Totque senatores, et plurima turba uirorum Corruit ex Laciis. Ex nostris sunt duo reges Tresque duces cesi. Quorum dant agmina terga Uersa fuga cesis dominis, et regis Hoeli Galganique ducis comitatum concomitantur. Orba cohors dominis se copulat Armoricanis Et simul arma gerunt, simul instant. Turba Quiritum Ante fugans dat terga fuge. Que non fugiebat Pars Britonum fugat Hesperios laceratque cateruas. Ense uiam faciente uiri conamine toto Ad turmam tendunt ubi Cesar Lucius astat. Qui simul aspexit sociorum fata suorum, Inmodice motus medios se mittit in hostes. Tunc oritur clamor et lamentabile bellum. Mille cadunt Britonum, perimuntur mille Quiritum. Laudibus insignes rex Armoricanus Hoelus Et dux Galganus, quorum quis forcior armis Aut quis sit maior non est depromere promptum, Precedunt cuneos gladiisque secantibus hostes Cesaris irrumpunt cuneum nullumque uirorum Formidant numerum. Pereunt perimentibus illis Mille uiri; per rura uage ruit unda cruoris. Porro Galganus, quo nil ardencius optat, Cesaris impetui uelox uelocis ad instar Fluminis occurrit et eum stricto impetit ense. Lucius exultat quia cum tam milite forti, Cum tam magnanimo potuit certamen inire. Ambo pares etate, pari probitate corusci, Uiribus equales, equali mente superbi, Mutua bella gerunt, crebros dant ensibus ictus, Alter in alterius dispendia mortis anhelat: Cum Romana cohors accedit et Armoricanos Cogit ad Arturum festino tendere gressu. Arturus succurrit eis dicitque: ‘Fideles Et fortes socii, mecum properate; Quirinos Sternite semimares, titulisque adiungite nostris." Parent: apparet cui mens adquirere laudem.

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

72 concomitantur P; concomitatum V. 73 se copulat P; compellunt V. 75 non P; nunc V. 76 Hesperios P; Experios V: laceratque V; lacerantque P. 77 conamine P; cognamine V. 85 depromere P; deprimere V. 86 gladiisque V; gladiis P. 87 cuneum P; cuneos V. 90

optat P; instat V. 95 corusci V; chorusci P. 96 equali mente P; equitate V.

hanelat V.

103 nostris P; ne V.

104 adquirere P; acquirere V.

234

98 anhelat P:

BOOK Ix

huge crowd of soldiers fall. Among the British, two kings and three dukes are felled. [$173] Their divisions turn their backs in flight on the death of their leaders and join with the command of King Hoel and Duke Gawain. The leaderless troops unite with the Armoricans, fighting beside them and attacking with them. The mass of Romans which had put them to flight now turns to flee, and those of the Britons who were not retreating rout the Romans and decimate their ranks. Hewing a path with their swords, the men make with all their might for the company among whom Lucius Caesar stands. As soon as he sees the massacre of his comrades, he is greatly angered and hurls himself into the midst of the enemy. Then follows a shout and a pitiful engagement. A thousand Britons fall, a thousand Romans are slain. The praiseworthy Hoel, King of Armorica, and Duke Gawain lead their battalions, hacking at the enemy with their swords; it is not easy to tell which of them is the mightier in arms, which the greater. They break into Caesar’s division, fearless of any superiority in numbers. At their hands die a thousand men; a stream of blood spreads wide through the fields. Then Gawain, as swift as a fast-flowing river, meets Caesar’s attack, which he desires more ardently than anything, and assaults him with drawn sword. Lucius is overjoyed to be able to join combat with so brave and so mettlesome a warrior. They fight each other: both are of equal age and distinguished by the same nobility, both have equal strength and the same proud spirit. They are dealing frequent sword strokes, each eager to end the other’s life, when a company of Romans intervenes and forces the Armoricans to retreat swiftly to Arthur. [8174] He supports them, saying: ‘Trusty and bold comrades; hasten with

me; overthrow the womanish Romans and add them to the list of our conquests.’ They obey, and show which of them has a mind to win glory. They prefer to go

235

LIBER IX

Incurrendo necem regem precedere malunt Quam uincendo sequi. Rex extracto Caliburno Irruit in Lacios, sternit, ceditque, facitque Ense uiam; quemcumque semel ferit, ad Stiga mittit; Sternit equos equitesque simul. Ueluti Iouis ales Dispergit uolucres, ueluti leo nobilis ire,

105

110

Quem stimulat ieiuna fames et uentris inanis Ingluuie pellente rapax auidusque cruoris, Se gerit in tauros, rapit hos et dissipat illos:

[$175]

[$176]

Sic in Romanos deseuit marcius heros. Ecce duo reges fato rapiente sinistro Arturi simul ense cadunt; quoscumque uel hasta Sauciat aut gladio, uitam cum sanguine fundunt. Excitat Arturus Britones, Cesarque Quirites Ad bene pugnandum. Pugnant: quandoque Quirites Excellunt Britones, illos quandoque Britanni. Dum sic ambigitur cui fauerit alea martis, Claudiocestrensis consul Morindus in hostes Cum legione sua ruit irrumpitque cohortes Cesaris a dorso ueniens, nil tale timentes. Lucius imperio cedit, percussus in imo Pectore letifere Morindi cuspidis ictu. Desperant Lacii nec cessant Cesare ceso Cedere cedenti, donec uictoria cessit Brutigenis uictrixque tulit pars omnia uicte. Inde suos proceres in eodem marte peremptos Separat a Laciis Britonum rex et sepeliri Mandat honorifice, necnon et corpora condi In tumulis Romana iubet ritu Laciorum; Cesareumque facit portari corpus ad urbem Romuleam patribus pro uectigale petito. Ponderat in Libra sol tempora, pondere iusto Equatum cum nocte diem, cum uictor ad urbes Allobrogum tendit et eas sibi subiugat. Illic Expectat dum cedat hyemps et dampna diei

Restituens Aries nocturnas subtrahat horas, Ut niue cessante, cum prima uolarit hyrundo,

115

120

125

130

135

140

105 CPV; the lacuna in C ends at this point. 111 Quem PV; Quam C. 115 fato PV; fata C. 116 quoscumque CV; quemcumque P: 117 fundunt PV; funditC. 120 Excellunt CP; Exce-

lunt V. 122 Morindus CP; moriundus V. 124 timentes CPV (altered to timentis in C). 125 imo PV; ymo C. 127 cessant PV; cesant C. 128 cedenti PV; cedentes C. 129 pars CP; om.

V.

133 iubet CPV (suprascript in V).

134 portari PV; proferri C...

137 Equatum P; Et CV: ad urbes P; tendit ad urbem CN.

136 iusto PV; multo C.

138 Allobrogum PV; Allogorlum C;

eas P; eam V. 139 cedat V; cedit CP: hyemps PV; yemps C. 140 Aries P; acies CV: subtrahat P; subtrahit CV. 141 Ut CP; Et V: hyrundo CP; yrundo V.

236

BOOK Ix

before the king to meet death, than to follow him in victory. Drawing Caliburnus, the king rushes on the Romans, and overthrows and slaughters them, making a path with his sword; whomever he strikes once, he sends straight to Hell; he cuts down horses and riders together. As Jupiter’s eagle scatters birds, as a lion of noble anger, prompted by the cravings of hunger and driven by the pangs in his empty belly, fiercely and bloodthirstily hurls himself on bulls, seizing some and tearing others to pieces: just so the martial hero rages against the Romans. Lo, two kings are snatched away by an evil fate, both felled by Arthur’s sword; whoever is wounded by his spear or sword pours out his life with his blood. Arthur exhorts the Britons to fight well, and Caesar the Romans. In the struggle, the Romans sometimes have the upper hand over the Britons, sometimes the Britons over them. [8175] While it is thus uncertain which side the die of war will favour, the

consul of Gloucester, Morindus, charges the enemy with his legion, breaking Caesar's unsuspecting troops by attacking them from the rear. Lucius's reign is ended when he is struck beneath the chest by a blow from Morindus's deadly spear. The Romans despair and after Caesar's death do not cease to yield before the slaughterers until victory falls to the descendants of Brutus and the victors win all the spoils of the vanquished. [8176] Then the British king separates from the Romans those of his nobles who died in the battle and commands that they be buried with full honours; he also orders the Roman corpses to be interred in mounds as was their custom; and he has Caesar's body carried to the senators in the city of Romulus as a substitute for the tribute they demanded. The sun has weighed the length of night and day with perfect balance in the scales of Libra, when the victor marches on the cities of the Allobroges and subdues them. There he waits for winter to end and for Aries to make good the loss of daylight by shortening the hours of night, so that, when the snow melts and the first swallow flies, he may

237

LIBER IX

[$177]

Transuolet Alpinos cum multo milite montes Ytaliamque sibi Romamque dolente senatu Subdat et imperii moderetur frena subacti. Sed Deus opposuit tantis sua numina uotis. Nam uiolasse thorum regis regnique Britanni Usurpasse sibi sumptum diadema Modredum Fama refert, minime iustum, minimeque fidelem In sibi commissis. Auditis anxius istis Gallorum curam regi committit Hoelo, Inque suum regnum cum regibus insulularum Occeani pede retrogrado trans equora tendit. At rex intrusus, sceleris temerarius auctor, Fedus init cum Saxonicis et tradit eisdem Plagam illam regni fluuio que distat ab Humbro Ad Scotos populos et quas Hengistus et Horsus Sub Uortigerno terras tenuere. Chericus Dux octogentas Euro impellente carinas Plenas paganis populis armisque Modredo Ducit in auxilium. Modredus conuocat omnes Uicinos et quos habet eius auunculus hostes, Et uenit ad Rutupi Portum cum multiplicato Agmine pagane gentis populique fidelis. Occurrens Arturus eis se mittit in illos. Mille cadunt utrinque uiri; cadit inclitus ille Galganus, cadit Auguselus rex Scoticus. Eius Yuenus fratris Uriani filius illum In regno sequitur fortem, fortissimus heres. Arturus tandem magna ui litus adeptus, Modredum cuneosque suos ostendere terga Cogit, funestas cedes in terga gerentes. Impius inde fugit et tendit nocte sequenti Guintoniam. Regina subit uenerabile templum Uirgineoque choro se conserit et uidualem

145

150

155

160

165

170

142 Alpinos PV; Alphinos C: cum multo milite montes CP; montes cum milite multo V. 146 regnique Britanni P; regnumque Britannum CV. 147 sumptum diadema Modredum P; contra rectumque fidemque CN. 148 refert PV; reffert C: minimeque P; Modredumque CV. 149 CPV; line bis in P (with second occurrence deleted).

153 auctor PV; actor C.

totam CV: Humbro PV; Umbro (preceded by deleted urbe) C. C: Horsus PV; Orsus

C.

155 fluuio P;

156 Hengistus PV; Engistus

157 Uortigernus CP; Uotigernus V: Chericus PV; Cheritus C.

160

conuocat P; congregat CV. 161 et quos habet eius CV; quos eius habebat P. 163 populique PV; populusque C. 166 Auguselus P; Augulesus CV. 167 Yuenus P; Euenus CV. 168 regno CV; regnum P: fortem CPV (preceded by deleted fixum [?] in C). 171 funestas CV; inhonestas P. 173 Guintoniam V; Wintoniam CP. 174 conserit PV; confert C.

238

BOOK Ix

cross the range of the Alps with a great army, subjugate Italy and Rome to the senate’s dismay, and exercise control over the conquered empire. But the power of God thwarts these lofty aspirations. News arrives that Modred, completely without justice or loyalty to those entrusted to him, has defiled the king’s bed and assumed the crown, usurping the kingdom of Britain. [$177] Worried by this report, Arthur hands over responsibility for the Gauls to Hoel and sails back across the sea to his realm with the kings of the islands of the ocean. The false king, a rash instigator of wrong-doing, makes a treaty with the Saxons, granting to them that part of the kingdom which stretches from the River Humber to the people of Scotland, and those lands which Hengist and Horsa held under Vortigern. Duke Chericus brings to Modred’s aid eight hundred ships driven by the east wind, full of armed pagans. Modred assembles all the neighbouring peoples and those whom Arthur considers his foes and, his army swelled by pagans and christians, comes to Richborough. Arthur meets and attacks them. A thousand men fall on either side; among them are the famous Gawain and the Scottish king Auguselus, who is succeeded by the son of his brother Urianus, Yvenus, a mighty heir for a brave man. At last Arthur gains the shore with a great effort and forces Modred and his troops to turn tail, enduring deadly slaughter at their backs. Then the traitor flees and that night makes for Winchester. The queen enters a venerable church, where she joins a band of nuns and assumes a life of widowhood; yet, though she pretends to be a

239

LIBER IX

175

Assumit uitam, uiduam mentita: duobus Nupta tamen uiuisque uiris, incesta secundo. At rex Arturus, quia tot cecidere suorum

[$178]

Anxius et tristis, defuncta cadauera condit; Uestigatque suos aquila uelocior hostes, Guintoniamque petit et eam regemque Modredum Obsidet. Egressus cicius Modredus ab urbe Tendit in Arturum. Quot ibi pars utraque fortes Amisit mandare stilo non est breue. Tandem Destituit campum pars perfida. Uicta recedit Cornubiamque adiens dispersa recolligit illic Agmina et expectant regem proceresque sequentes. Currit harenosus eterno Cambula cursu. Undique conueniunt illuc et bella minantur Intestina sibi: fraterno federe fracto In iugulum fratris intendit frater; anhelat Filius in patrem, uicta pietate paterna; Inminet exicio nati pater. Omnia iura Nature confusa iacent; concessa uidentur Fasque nefasque simul, gladio dum uincere captant. Qui fera tela tenet non curat quid sit honestum: Esse tamen constat errore molestius omni Et nece deterius quod tanta licencia ferri Sit data paganis in Christi dilanianda Membra. Modrede, tuum facinus — populique Britanni Dedecus eternum! Miser et miserande, misertus Esto tui; miserere tuis. Tibi federa nulla Sint cum Saxonibus. Nam rem cum nomine ducunt: Saxones a saxis, quibus hii sunt asperiores

180

185

190

195

200

Austerique magis. Hostes exclude malignos,

Teque reconcilia regi regnoque tuisque. Peccasti: te peniteat. Tibi parcior hostis Rex erit Arturus quam Saxones: ille laborat

175 uitam CP; uittam V.

205

176 uiuisque uiris CPV (corrected from uiris uiuisque in V):

secundo C; secundi P; duobus V.

178 defuncta PV; deffuncta C.

180 Guintoniamque V;

Wintoniamque CP. 182 Arturum CP; occursum V. 183 Amisit CV; Amiserit P. 185 illic CPV (corrected from illuc in C). 187 arenosus PV; atenosus C. 188 illuc CP; illic V. 190 anhelat P; anelat C; hanelat V. 192 Inminet V; Iminet CP: 194 nefasque CV; nephasque P: captant V; temptat C; captat P. 195 tela PV; deltrana (?)C. 196 errore CV; merore P. 199

Membra CPV (preceded by deleted Nomine in C). miserabile in V).

200 miserande CPV (corrected from

206 Peccasti te peniteat PV; Ne te peniteat huius C.

240

BOOK IX

widow, she remains married to two living men, illegitimately to the second of them. [$178] But King Arthur, troubled and sad that so many of his men have

fallen, buries their corpses. Following his enemies more swiftly than an eagle, he marches on Winchester and besieges it and King Modred. Modred quickly leaves the city to attack Arthur. It is no brief task to set down how many brave men each side loses in the engagement. Eventually the treacherous party quits the field. They retire defeated to Cornwall, where they regroup their scattered forces and await Arthur and his nobles as they follow them. The sandy Cambula flows in a straight course. There on both sides they assemble and threaten each other with civil war: breaking the bond of brotherhood, brother wishes to cut brother's throat; against paternal feeling, son pants against father, and fathers threaten their sons with death. All Nature's laws lie shattered; while they wish to conquer with the sword, both right and wrong seem equally legitimate. A man who wields savage weapons cares not what is honourable. Yet what is clearly more damaging than any error and worse than death itself is that it is to the sword of pagans that so much freedom is given to tear the limbs of Christ. This is your doing, Modred, and an eternal disgrace to the British people. Miserable wretch, take pity on yourself and on your nation. Let there be no treaty between you and the Saxons. For the Saxons derive both their character and their name from stones, than which they are more rough and more unforgiving. Drive out the wicked enemy, and reconcile yourself to your king, your realm, and your

people. You have sinned: repent! King Arthur will be a kinder foe to you than the Saxons: he toils at waging a just war for the freedom of your citizens; they

241

LIBER IX

Armaque iusta gerit pro libertate tuorum; Illi nituntur et uotis omnibus optant Ut subeas seruile iugum. Nescisque quod olim

210

Fecerit Hengistus genero socer? Impius illi Eripuit regnum. Manet ardor in omnibus idem Eiusdem generis. Te proles prodiciosa Prodere molitur; dum res sinit ipsa, resiste. Sed quia regnandi te tangit tanta cupido, Cedere te regi uetat angelus ambicionis; Et, memor ipse sui casus causeque ruine, Consimili capiens te crimine tollit in altum Ut te deiciat lapsum grauiore ruina. Ecce tui sceleris celer et fortissimus ultor Cum uirtute uenit ut Saxones obruat armis, Quos tociens domuit et ab hac regione fugauit. Cuius uirtutem quadrangulus orbis obhorret: Wallia seruit ei; famulatur Hybernia uicta; Scocia subicitur; Islandria mitis obedit; Norguegia assurgit, succumbit Dacia; cedit Francia; Roma fere facta est prouincia ceso Cesare; uectigal promittit solis ab ortu Regibus orbatus orbis se sponte daturum Ad gelidas Alpes; populum qui subiacet Artho Causa duplex trepidare facit; quos torrida torret Arturi terrore tremunt Hyspania. Pacem Postulat et ueniam poscit quicumque superbe Contradicit ei; se dampnat seque reatus Reprobat esse reum nec dignum ducere uitam. O miser, o uicture parum, quis te trahit error Ut superare putes cum paucis hostibus illum, Quem totus metuit mundus, quem totus obhorret Antipodum populus, cui mortis clausa propheta Merlino testante uia est, si credimus illi? Sed quia fatorum contra decreta uenire Nulli permissum est, ad bellum tendit uterque

215

220

225

230

235

240

208 tuorum P; suorum CV. 210 quod PV; om. C. 211 Fecerit CV; Fecerat P: Hengistus V; Engistus CP: genero PV; generi C. 214 sinit ipsa CPV (corrected from ipsa sinitin V). 215 tangit PV; cogit C. 218 te PV; de C. 220 celer P; sceler CV. 223 obhorret PV (corrected from oborret in V); oborret C. 224 Hybernia P; Ybernia CV. 225 Islandria P; Ylandria C;

Illandria V.

226 succumbit V; subcumbit CP: Dacia P; Daccia C; Dactia V.

PV; gelidos C: qui PV; cui C: Artho CPV (altered to Arco in C).

230 gelidas

231 torrida PV; corida C.

232 Hyspania PV; Yspania C. 234 Contradicit CPV (corrected from Cumtradice t in C). 235 Reprobat P; Approbat CV. 238 mundus CP; mondus V: obhorret PV; abhorret C. 239 Antipodum CP; Antypodum V. 241 fatorum PV; ratorum C.

242

BOOK IX

strive and wish with all their hearts to submit you to the yoke of slavery. Do you not know what Hengist once did to his son-in-law? That wicked father-in-law deprived him of his kingdom. All who belong to the Saxon race retain the same desire. His treacherous descendants are plotting to betray you; resist them while you still can. But because you are infected with so great a longing to rule, you are forbidden to yield to the king by the angel of ambition, who, mindful of his own fall and the cause of his ruin, traps you with the same offence and raises you up in order to cast you down and make you fall in worse ruin. Lo, the swift and mighty avenger of your crime comes bravely to crush in battle the Saxons, whom he has so often defeated and driven from this land. The four corners of the earth fear his courage: Wales serves him; Ireland is beaten into submission; Scotland is subdued; Iceland obeys him meekly; Norway rises before him and Denmark bows; France yields to him; with Caesar slain, Rome has almost become a province; from the far east to the icy Alps, the world, deprived of its kings, willingly promises to give tribute; the people who live beneath the polestar now have two reasons to tremble; and those whom torrid Spain burns shiver for fear of Arthur. Whoever contradicts him through pride craves peace and begs for pardon; and condemns himself and proves himself to be a guilty criminal, unworthy to live. Wretch soon to die, what error leads you to think that with a few foes you can overcome him whom the whole world fears, of whom all the people of the Antipodes are frightened, and to whom according to Merlin — if we are to believe him — the road to death is closed? However, since no one is allowed to contravene the laws of destiny, both leaders set out to the battle

243

LIBER IX

Ante datum fatis. Acies disponit uterque. Modredus statuit tres turmas et legionem Qualibet in turma ponit; sibi sex legiones Seruat ut obseruent ipsum. Sublimis aperta Uoce suos socios exhortans sic ait illis: ‘O iuuenes fortesque uiri, prosternite mecum Emeritos paucosque senes, quos longa malorum Debilitat series. Uester que possidet hostis, Assigno uobis urbes, castella domosque.’ Agmina uero nouem, totidem commissa magistris, Ordinat Arturus, et eis hoc ordine dicit: *O procerum generosa cohors, o munere quorum Me metuit mundus, quorum belloque togaque Consilio fretus domui tot climata mundi, Ecce phalanx periura fuge loca congrua querens Cornubiam peciit; nec habens quo prodeat ultra, Restat ibi. De se desperans cuncta relinquit Arbitrio fati. Laus sit et fama perhennis Tot simul a paucis superari: nec labor ingens. Adde quod arma gerunt contra rectumque piumque, Non ueriti temerare fidem patrumque statuta. Nos pia causa mouet, patriam defendere nostram. Quis putet in bello stabiles dominoque fideles Saxones empticios, pro munere castra sequentes? Cum clangor lituum, uoces, hinnitus equorum, Cum fragor armorum, strepitus, resonabilis echo Ingeminans uoces irruperit aera, uiles Terga dabunt conducticii campumque relinquent.' Nec mora concurrunt acies tantoque fragore Aer concutitur, quantus fieret resolutis In chaos antiquum celo terraque marique. In primo belli conflictu mille sagittis, Mille cadunt iaculis. Gladiis seges alta uirorum Secta iacent membra. Late ruit unda cruoris

243 Acies CPV (preceded by deleted ad bellum tendit uterque in C).

245

250

233

260

265

270

275

246 ut obseruent CV; et

obseruant P: ipsum PV; illum C. 247 exhortans PV; exortans C. 249 longa CP; loga V. 252 uero P; deinde CV. 253 hoc P; hec CV. 255 mundus CP; mondus V: belloque PV;

bellaque C. 256 mundi CP; mondi V. 257 phalanx CP; phalans V: fuge CV; uage P. 260 sit CV; est P. 262 piumque PV; fidemque C. 264 defendere V; deffendite C; deffendere P: nostram PV; uestram C.

267 hinnitus C; hynitus P; hinitus V.

268 echo P;eucho CV.

irruperit PV; irrumpunt C: uiles CPV (corrected from milesin V). deleted M in V).

244

269

274 In CPV (preceded by

BOOK IX

which has aready been decreed by fate. Both arrange their forces. Modred draws up three divisions, placing a legion in each; he holds in reserve six legions as his guards. Raised up, he exhorts his companions with clear voice as follows: “Young and brave warriors, conquer with me these few, exhausted old men, who are worn out by the long succession of their sufferings. The cities, castles, and homes which your enemies possess, I grant to you.' Arthur disposes nine divisions, under the same number of commanders, and addresses them in this manner: ‘Exalted band of nobles, to whom I owe the fact that the world has come to fear me, and by whose counsel in war and peace I have conquered so many parts of the earth, lo, in its search for places to which it can retreat the rebel army has reached Cornwall; and here it remains because it can go no further. They have given up hope and are leaving everything in the lap of fate. Let us gain praise and eternal renown by overcoming so many when we are so few: nor will it be a difficult task. Moreover, they are bearing arms in defiance of right and duty, and do not fear to break their faith and the laws of their ancestors. We are inspired by the righteous cause of defending our motherland. Does anyone think that the Saxon mercenaries, who entered camp for money, will be reliable in battle or loyal to their master? When the air is rent by the sounding of trumpets, shouting, the neighing of horses, the clash of arms, uproar, and cries magnified by a resounding echo, the contemptible hirelings will turn tail and abandon the field.’ Without further ado, the battle-lines meet and the sky shakes with such a roar be heard if heaven, earth, and sea were slipping back into the ancient would as first clash of arms, a thousand are felled by arrows, a thousand by the In abyss. human limbs lie deep, harvested by the sword. A stream of Severed javelins.

245

LIBER IX

Et fluit in fluuium. Naturam Cambula fontis Mutatam stupet esse sui. Transcendit inundans Sanguineus torrens ripas et ducit in equor Corpora cesorum; plures natare uideres Et petere auxilium, quos nondum uita relinquit. Dum stat in ambiguo cui parti gloria laudis Cesserit, ecce ruit Arturus cum legione

280

Quam sibi seruarat illuc ubi stare Modredum

Conspicit, et tendit gladio ductore per hostes. A dextra leuaque cadunt quos enumerare Non est in promptu. Cadit auctor prodicionis

285

Causaque Modredus. Tamen agmina prodiciosi

Ceso non cedunt domino; sed fortiter instant Et sternunt Britones necnon sternuntur ab illis.

290

Agmina cuncta fere pereunt regesque ducesque, Uiuo rege tamen, cui mortis ianua clausa Creditur, Arturo. Stat et hic in pectore uulnus Letiferum gestans. Regni diadema Britanni Dat Constantino, genito genitore Cadore. Cingitur occeano memorabilis insula, nullis Desolata bonis: non fur, non predo, nec hostis

295

Insidiatur ibi; non nix, non bruma, nec estas Immoderata furit. Pax et concordia perpes: Uer tepet eternum; nec flos nec lilia desunt Nec rosa nec uiole; flores et poma sub una Fronde gerit pomus. Habitant sine labe pudoris Semper ibi iuuenis cum uirgine. Nulla senectus, Nullaque uis morbi, nullus dolor: omnia plena Leticie. Proprium nichil hic, communia queque.

300

305

Regia uirgo locis et rebus presidet istis,

Uirginibus stipata suis pulcherrima pulcris Nimpha, decens uultu, generosis patribus orta,

278 inundans PV; in undas C. 281 nondum P; nundum CV: relinquit PV; reliquit C. 287 auctor P; actor CV. 289 Ceso non cedunt PV; Non cedunt cesoC. 291 regesque ducesque CPV (corrected from ducesque regesque in C). 292 rege tamen CV; tamen rege P. 293

uulnus PV; wlnus C. 294 diadema P; dyadema CV. 297 non (second occurrence) PV; nec C. 298 non nix PV; nec uis C... 299 Immoderata PV; Inmoderata C; perpes P; pubes CV.

300 tepet P; manet CV.

302 pudoris PV; cruoris C.

303 iuuenis P: ‘stiches CV.

Proprium nichil hic P; Nichil hic proprium C; Proprium nichil est V.

305

306 uirgo CPV

(glossed scilicet Morgue in margin in P): et CPV (suprascript in C): istis CPV (corrected from ps d 5s 308 Nimpha CP; Nympha V: decens CPV (bis in V, with second occurrence

eleted).

246

BOOK IX

blood spreads wide and flows into the river. The Cambula is amazed that its water is transformed. The swollen, bloody torrent bursts its banks and carries the bodies of the dead to the sea; many whose lives have not yet drained away can be observed swimming and calling for help. While it is still uncertain which side will gain the glory of praise, lo, Arthur with a legion he had placed under his own command rushes where he sees Modred stand. As he carves a way through the foe, his sword before him, to his right and left fall more men than can easily be numbered. Modred, the instigator and fount of the betrayal is cut down. Yet the traitor's army does not retreat on its leader's death, but fights bravely, slaying the Britons and being slain by them. Almost the whole of the armies and all the kings and dukes are killed, although King Arthur, to whom the door of death is believed to be closed, still lives. Yet even he stands with a mortal wound in his chest. He gives the crown of Britain to Constantine, son of Cador. The ocean surrounds a remarkable island, which lacks no blessing: no thief, no robber, no foe sets traps there; there is no snow, no mist, nor is summer intemperately hot. There is unending peace and harmony; it is eternally warm spring, and flowers, lilies, roses, and violets are not lacking; the apple-tree bears beneath its foliage both blossom and fruit together. There youths ever live with maidens without the loss of their chastity. There is no old age, illness has no power, there is no sorrow. All is full of joy. There are no possessions there, everything is held in common. The island and its benefits are ruled over by a regal maiden: a most beautiful nymph surrounded by comely virgins, she has a pleasing face, is born of noble parents, is wise in counsel, and renowned for her

247

LIBER IX

Consilio pollens, medicine nobilis arte. Ac simul Arturus regni diadema reliquit Substituitque sibi regem, se transtulit illuc, Anno quingeno quadragenoque secundo Post incarnatum sine patris semine uerbum. Inmodice lesus Arturus tendit ad aulam

[$179]

[$180]

[$181]

[$182] [$183]

310

315

Regis Auallonis, ubi uirgo regia uulnus Illius tractans, sanati membra reseruat Ipsa sibi; uiuuntque simul, si credere fas est. Inde duo fratres, Modredi perfida proles, Patri consimiles, et Saxones arma nefanda In Constantinum conuertunt. Ille feroci Mente resistit eis et eos ostendere terga Uersa fuge cogit. Fratrum fugit unus ad urbem Londoniam; fugit Eboracum perterritus alter. Quos rex insequitur, et eos interficit infra Ecclesias aliosque suos exterminat hostes. Inde tribus regnum rexit feliciter annis. Ense nepotis obit Conani.

320

325

Qui tamen illi Succedit, iuuenis mire probitatis, in ipso Subiecti dignus regni diademate, si non Esse uideretur belli ciuilis amator. Nam Constantini fratrem, qui proximus illi Post eius mortem succedere debuit, ense Interimit puerosque duos quos ille crearat. Desistitque anno regni regnare secundo. Uortiporus succedit ei, quem Saxones armis Infestant; sed eos eliminat. Inde quieta Pace frui Britones ceperunt quatuor annis. Rege dato fatis, Malgo succedit eidem, Defensor patrie, largus dator, hostibus hostis, Ore decens, membris robustus, corpore magnus. Sed tamen has omnes uirtutes unica labes Adnichilat penitus, cuius narratio nares Offendit Domini penetratque ad sidera fetor. Qui simul occeani superauit sex regiones, De medio sublatus adit uel culmina celi,

330

335

340

345

310 Ac CV (corrected from At in both); Que P: diadema P; dyadema CV. 311 illuc PV; illic C. 315 uulnus PV; winus C. 319 CV only; om. P. 323 Londoniam CP; Lundoniam V.

325 exterminat CP; extermat V.

326 regnum rexit PV; rexit regnum C.

329 diademate P;

dyademate CV. 333 crearat CP; creauit V. 334 secundo PV; .ii.C. 335 quem PV; sed C. 336 eliminat P; exterminat CV. 338 dato PV; dacco C. 339 Defensor P; Deffensor CV.

342 Adnichilat CP; Anichilat V. 343 Domini P; turpis CV: sidera CP; sydera V.

248

BOOK IX

skill in medicine. As soon as Arthur relinquishes the crown of his realm and creates a king in his place, he crosses to the island: it is the five hundred and forty-second year after the Word was made flesh without a father’s seed. Badly wounded, he goes to the court of the king of Avallon, where the regal maiden examines his wound and keeps his cured limbs for herself; they live on together, if we are to believe it. [§179] Then the treacherous sons of Modred, two brothers who are no differ-

ent from their father, turn their weapons with the Saxons against Constantine. He resists with fierce spirit and forces them to show their backs turned in flight. One of the brothers flees to the city of London, the other in terror to York. [$180] The king pursues, kills them inside churches, and drives off his other

enemies. Then he rules the kingdom happily for three years. [$181] He dies by the sword of his nephew Conan, who succeeds him

nonetheless. He is a young man of great nobility, worthy of the crown of the realm subject to him if only he did not appear to be a fomenter of civil war. For with his sword he slays Constantine's brother, who as his nearest relative ought to have succeeded on his death, and also the brother's two young sons. Conan's reign ends after two years. [$182] He is succeeded by Vortipor. Attacked by the Saxons, he fends them off. Then for four years the Britons begin to enjoy the harmony of peace. [8183] On the king's death, his successor is Malgo, a defender of his country, a generous giver, a foe to his foes, handsome of face, strong of limb, large in stature. However, all these virtues are utterly obliterated by a single fault, whose mention offends the nostrils of the Lord and whose stink reaches tothe stars. He overcomes six lands of the ocean. On departing from this life, he goes either to

249

LIBER IX

[$184]

[$186]

[$187]

[$188]

Uel sedes Erebi, mediumue quod omnia purgat Que recipit proprioque loco purgata remittit. Inde sibi sumit diadema Carecius, hostis Iusticie, patrie populator, amator iniquus Nequicie, uenie contemptor, segnis in hostes, Inque suos seuus, ciuilia prelia captans. Quo regnante uenit rex Affricus innumerasque Gormundus naues adducens intrat Hybernas Et superat fines. Cui Saxones, impia turba, Se sociant. Ueniuntque simul cum fortibus armis In Britonesque mouent bellum regnumque lacescunt Ignibus et ferro. Nec eis obstare Britanni Sufficiunt, quoniam ciuilia bella mouentes Hostibus indulgent. Hostes regemque suosque Infestant timidosque fugant perimuntque fugatos. Alma cohors cleri, sanctorum corpora gestans, Ecclesias reditusque suos patriamque relinquit. Occupat extera gens partem misere regionis, Et partem retinent Britones sibi. Rege Britanno Terra diu caruit et Saxones instituerunt Tres simul aut plures reges sibi. Sed diuturna Pace frui nequeunt: nam se quandoque cruentis Infestant armis, et eos quandoque Britanni. Huc Augustinum meritis et nomine clarum Gregorius presul Romanus mittit ut Anglos Conuertat doceatque fidem preceptaque Christi. Ecclesias igitur Britonum legatus et urbes Uisitat et sanctum semen disseminat illis. Septem presulibus atque archipresule gaudet Pars Britonum et multis abbatibus et monachorum Cetibus innumeris cleroque Deoque dicatis Uirginibus. Quos sanctus adit legatus et illis Accitis inquit: ‘Britones, nos dirigit ad uos Roma caput rerum, cui uos debetis honorem, Ut uestra pariter ope freti uerba salutis

346 Erebi P; Herebi CV.

348 diadema P; dyadema CV: Carecius P; Carectius CV.

350

355

360

365

370

31S

380

352 rex

PV; om. C. 353 Gormundus CV; Godmundus P: Hybernas P; Ybernos CV. 356 Britonesque mouent bellum CV; Britones bellumque mouent P. 362 reditusque P; redditus C; red/itus V: relinquit V; relinquunt C; reliquit P. 373 sanctum semen PV; semen sanctum C. 378 Accitis PV; AccitusC. 379 caput CP; capud V.

250

BOOK Ix

the heights of heaven, the depths of Hell, or to the middle station which purges all that it receives and sends it cleansed to its proper place. [$184] Then the crown is taken by Caretius; an enemy of justice, despoiler of his country, an evil promoter of wickedness, a despiser of mercy, sluggish against the foe, cruel to his own people, he fosters civil strife. During his reign, the African king Gormundus comes with innumerable ships, enters the territory of Ireland, and conquers it. The evil crowd of Saxons ally themselves with him. They arrive together to wage war against the Britons and ravage the kingdom with fire and sword. The Britons are not strong enough to resist because their waging of civil war favours the enemy. The foe attack the king and his men, put them to flight in fear, and slaughter them as they flee. [$186] The holy band of the clergy leave their churches, livings, and their

country, taking with them the bodies of the saints. Part of the wretched land is occupied by the foreign people, part is retained by the British. [$187] For a long time the island has no British king, while the Saxons create three or more kings for themselves. But they are not able to enjoy lasting peace, sometimes attacking each other with bloody weapons and sometimes being assailed by the British. [$188] Hither Pope Gregory of Rome sends Augustine, of noted achievements and reputation, to convert the English and teach them the religion and precepts of Christ. Therefore the envoy visits the British churches and cities and sows the holy seed amongst them. The territory of the Britons rejoices in seven bishops and an archbishop, as well as many abbots, innumerable communities of monks, clergy, and nuns dedicated to God. Going there, Augustine summons them and says: 'Britons, I am sent to you by Rome, the centre of the world, to which you owe respect, in order that with your help we may together teach the

251

LIBER IX

[$189]

Catholicamque fidem peruersos edoceamus Saxonicos gratosque Deo reddamus eosdem. Inde est quod uobis mandamus precipientes, Summo pontifici subiecti more priorum, Exhibeatis opem nobis ad restituendum Anglos ecclesie; si sollicitudinis huius Participes sitis, eritis simul et meritorum." Urbs antiqua fuit, cui nomen Bangor. In illa Claustrales monachi degunt abbate sub uno, Nomine Dyonotes, qui quanto Cincia soli Cedit et excedit eadem fulgore Boetem, Tanto precedit uicinos celibe uita, Artibus ingenuis, laudandis moribus, ore Facundo, sancta doctrina, religione. Ille ferens commissa sibi responsa suorum Exponit sancto legato sicque subinfert: *Sancte uir, admiror te nobis obuia iuri Precepisse duo statui non congrua nostro. Quis nisi mentis inops inimicis predicet, aut quis Libertate fruens domino se subdere querat? Ortus et occasus inuisos esse Britannis Saxones agnorunt, ut quos feritate maligna Subplantare uolunt. Hostilis sermo placere Non solet: immo suos peruertit et obstruit hostes. Preterea Britonum gens libera ferre recusat Obsequium cuiquam legato. More priorum Presulibus subiecta suis, a tempore longo Esse sui iuris consueuit nostra propago." Dixit; et Anglorum reges audita molestant Et nimis offendunt cleri responsa Britanni. Unde ineunt Britones et eorum funditus urbes Ui delere student, nulla pietate reducti. Cingitur innumero Legecestria Saxone. Clausi Missilibus saxisque suos defendere muros Gauiter intendunt; prosternere fortiter Angli Ad terram properant muri munimina. Tandem Urbs capitur; pereunt ciues discrimine nullo,

381 Catholicamque CP; Chatholicamque V.

385 Exhibeatis CP; Exibeatis V.

385

390

395

405

410

415

386 sollici-

tudinis CP; solicitudinis V. 387 sitis CPV (corrected from sitit in V). 390 Dyonotes P; Dindero C; Dinaro V. 393 ingenuis PV (corrected from ingeniis in V); ingennuis C. 399

predicet CP; presidet V. 400 querat CP; querit V. 402 agnorunt CP; agnorant V. 403 Subplantare P; Supplantare CV. 404 Non solet PV; Soli C: immo PV; imo C. 408 consueuit PV; consuerat C. 411 Unde PV; Inde C. 412 Ui CP; UV. 414 defendere P; deffendere CV. 415 Gnauiter my emendation; Grauiter CPV 416 munimina PV; muni pima C.

252

BOOK Ix

misguided Saxons the word of salvation and the catholic faith, and make them acceptable to God. Hence I instruct and command you to obey the highest pontif as your ancestors did and to give us your aid in restoring the English to the church. If you share in this labour, you will also share in its rewards.’ There was an ancient city called Bangor. In it live regular monks beneath a single abbot, named Dyonotes. Just as the sun outshines the moon, which in turn exceeds Bootes in brilliance, so he outstrips his neighbours in his chaste life, the liberal arts, praiseworthy character, eloquent speech, holy doctrine, and religion. He brings the reply entrusted to him by his people and reveals it to the holy legate, adding: ‘Saintly man, I am surprised that you have issued two commands contrary to our rights and unfitting to our station. Who but a madman would preach to his enemies, and what man who enjoys freedom would seek to subject himself to a master? East and west know that the Saxons are hateful to the Britons, seeing that in their evil savagery they wish to take our places. The speech of an enemy is not accustomed to please: rather it misleads and confounds its foes. Moreover, the race of the Britons in its freedom refuses obedience to any legate. Our people has been accustomed for a long time to be its own master, being like its forefathers under the control of its own bishops.’ [§189] So he speaks. News of the reply made by the British clergy excessively angers the kings of the English. They therefore attack the Britons and, entirely without pity, attempt by force to raze their cities to the ground. Leicester is surrounded by numberless Saxons. The besieged try with all their skill to defend the walls with missiles and stones, while the English boldly strive to throw their defences to the earth. In the end the city is captured; the citzens are

253

LIBER IX

Insontes sontesque simul. Sacratus apertis Arua rigat iugulis cleri cruor. Hostia celi Tota patent ualuis adapertis. Hostica Christo Hostia grata placet, non sacrificantis amore, Set quia membra sibi capiti conformia gaudet Conseruisse Deus. O quam admirabile bellum Est ubi qui patitur reputatur uictor, et ille

420

425

Qui uincit uictus: cedit uictoria ceso,

Cedit cesori confusio; cesus ad astra, Cesor ad infernum post cursum tendit agonis. Dum sibi congaudent capta sic Saxones urbe, Ecce duces Britonum collatis fortiter armis

[$190]

Inuadunt Anglos. Aduersa fronte resistit Hostilis rabies. Post multum uero cruoris Undique diffusi, campum pagana relinqunt Agmina; christicole pociuntur honore triumphi. Inde sibi Britones Caduanum, corpore magnum, Uiribus indomitum, sapientem, mente ferocem, Preficiunt regem. Nouus ergo rex fugientes

Anglos insequitur, Britonum comitantibus ipsum Ciuibus innumeris. Quos cum prope nouit adesse Rex Edelfredus, uelociter excitat omnes Anglorum reges, ope quorum tutus in hostes Tendit. Dispositis turmis utriusque cohortis, Consilio procerum ducuntur ad oscula pacis Reges. Inter eos firmato federe tali Insula diuiditur: Caduano cedit ab Humbro In zephirum; cedit Anglo pars cetera regi. Nec mora mirus amor reges connectit ut ipsos Non tantum socios, sed fratres esse putares. Interea propria deserta coniuge ducit Rex Edelfredus aliam. Deserta recurrens Occius ad regem Caduanum, supplicat illi Ut sibi pacificet regem. Quod cum nequit, illam Tractat honorifice propria cum coniuge, donec Utraque parturiat: utero gerit utraque prolem. Parturiunt pueros. Deserte nascitur infans; Eduuinus ei nomen datur. Et Caduano

418 Insontes sontesque P; Insomptes somptesque CV.

CP; apertis V.

421 amore PV; honore C.

430

435

445

450

455

420 ualuis PV; waluis C: adapertis

422 Set CP; Sed V.

426-507 PV only; text in C

ends at IX.425. 439 Edelfredus P; ////fredus V. 440 Anglorum P; Aglorum V. 445 regi PV (corrected from regni in V). 446 connectit P; conuertit V: ut PV (corrected from in in V). 449 Edelfredus P; Eldefredus V. 455 Eduuinus P; Eduinus V.

254

BOOK Ix

killed indiscriminately, the guilty along with the innocent. The holy blood of the clergy runs over the fields from their slit throats. The portals of heaven gape open, their gates flung wide. The enemy’s offering is pleasing to Christ, not because of his regard for the sacrificer, but because God rejoices to have sown limbs which are of the same spirit as the head. How wondrous is this battle in which the victim is considered the victor, and the winner the defeated: victory is accorded to the slain, their killers are confounded; after the race is run, the slain go to the stars, their killers to Hell. While the Saxons are congratulating themselves on capturing the city in this manner, lo, the leaders of the British assemble their forces and boldly attack the English. The rabid enemy resists with resolute front. But after much blood has been spilt on both sides, the pagan army leaves the field, and the christians gain a glorious triumph. [$190] The Britons elect as their king Cadvanus, a man of large stature, indomitable strength, wisdom, and fierceness of spirit. The new king, supported by countless British citizens, pursues the fleeing English. When King Edelfredus realises that they are close by, he swiftly rouses all the kings of the English and, secure in their support, marches on the enemy. Both armies have been drawn up in their divisions, when the opposing kings are persuaded by their nobles to kiss in token of peace. They agree a treaty by which the island is divided, the area west of the Humber going to Cadvanus, the rest being ceded to the English king. Soon the kings are linked by a remarkable friendship, so that you would think they were not merely allies but brothers. Meanwhile Edelfredus rejects his wife and marries another. The deserted wife quickly hurries to King Cadvanus and begs him to reconcile the king to her. Although he-fails to do so, Cadvanus treats her with honour in the company of his own wife, until both give birth; for each was carrying a child in her womb. They produce boys. The child born to the deserted woman is called Edwinus, while Cadvanus’s wife gives

255

LIBER IX

[$191]

Nascitur ex propria Caduallo coniuge. Nati Nutritique simul, missi simul ad Salomonem Armorice regem, simul edocti rudimenta Illic milicie, mira probitate coruscant. Defunctis patribus patrum diademata sumunt. Nodus amicicie qui patres iunxerat, idem Uincit eos, et par concordia parque uoluntas. Set quoniam breuis esse solet concordia regni Eiusdem dominis, fidei Caduallo resoluit Funiculum ueteris et amoris federa rumpit; Et paris impaciens regni tocius habere Dum parat, amittit regni tocius habenas. Nam Caduallonem dum postulat ore doloso Rex Eduuinus ut eum permittat in eius Regno more suo patrie diis sacrificare, Imposito capiti regis diademate, dumque Consulit ipse suos quid ad id respondeat, ipse In gremio cari declinat forte Briani Rex Caduallo caput; cuius barbamque comamque Irrigat effuso lacrimarum fonte Brianus. Rex ratus est pluuie guttas cecidisse suamque Irrorasse comam, cum tollens lumina cernit Ex oculis cari lacrimas fluitare nepotis. Querenti causas fletus respondit: *Oportet Ut sine fine fleam, dum sic gens extera nostras Eneruet uires et deroget inuida nostro Paulatim regno, cuius pars maior eidem In sortem cessit; nec ea contenta, laborat Usurpare sibi quicquid retinere uideris. An nescis quare petit Anglicus in regione Sacrificare tua, cum sit sua lacior? Hoc fit

460

465

470

475

480

485

Ut, postquam nactus fuerit tua predia, nostrum Regnum ui capiat et nostros nosque releget.’

[$192]

Hac Caduallo sui correptus uoce nepotis, Quod rex Anglorum poscit negat. Ille tumenti Corde furens regi scribit mandatque Britanno: *Rex Caduallo, scias quod ego, nolisue uelisue, Trans Humbrum regale feram diadema deisque Sacrificabo meis.' Cui sic Caduallo: *Coronam Et caput abscidam pariter tibi, si sine nutu

490

495

460 diademata P; dyademata V. 474 caput P;capud V. 476 guttas V; gutasP. 478 fluitare V; fluitasse P. 486 fit P; est V. 488 Regnum ui P; Tunc regnum V. 493 diade :

dyadema V. 495 capud abscidam P; capud abiciamV. 256

j

a

BOOK IX

birth to Cadvallo. Born and educated together, Cadvallo and Edwin are sent together to Solomon, King of Armorica. There they both receive military training and are noted for their marvelous abilities. [$191] They assume their fathers' crowns on their deaths. The two are linked by the same bond of friendship which had joined their fathers, and enjoy the same accord and the same wishes. But since the harmony between lords who share a single kingdom is accustomed to be short-lived, Cadvallo looses the knot of their former trust and breaks their agreement of friendship; and while, not brooking an equal, he tries to take control over the whole kingdom, he loses control over the whole kingdom. For King Edwin mendaciously asks Cadvallo to allow him to sacrifice to the gods in his kingdom after the manner of his own nation, while wearing the royal crown on his head. While King Cadvallo consults his men as to what should be his response to this, he happens to rest his head in the lap of his beloved Brianus, who bedews the king's beard and hair with a stream of pouring tears. The king thinks that falling raindrops have wet his beard, until, lifting his eyes, he sees that tears are flowing from the eyes of his dear nephew. When he asks the reason for this weeping, Brianus replies: *Endlessly must I weep while a foreign people thus sap our strength and, in their envy, little by little restrict our kingdom, the greater part of which has already passed into their power; but, not content with that, they strive to make off with whatever you appear to retain. Or are you unaware why the Englishman wishes to sacrifice in your realm, even though his is larger? His purpose, after reaching our possessions, is to seize our kingdom by force and drive us and our people FS into exile.’ refuses the Cadvallo nephew, his [8192] Admonished by these words of following the sends fury, with English king's request. Edwin, his heart bursting or not, I agree you whether that, message to Cadvallo: ‘King Cadvallo, know gods.’ my to sacrifice and crown shall cross the Humber to wear my royal mischance should crown, its with head Cadvallo replies: ‘I shall cut off your

257

LIBER IX

[$193]

In mea iura meo te sors deducet iniqua." Commoti reges collectis uiribus in se Mutua bella gerunt. Caduallo transmeat Humbrum Cum ducibus Britonum; quibus obuiat Anglicus hostis. Post cedes hinc inde datas Caduallo relinquit Cum paucis campum, fugiensque per auia Scotos Preterit; inde petit regem miserandus Hybernum. At uictor Britones adit impiger et regionem Illorum penitus ferro supponit et igni.

Collecta uero Caduallo classe reuerti Nititur in patriam. Sed iter rex impius illi Prepedit, augurio Pelliti doctus «Hyberi».

502 Hybernum P; Ybernum V.

Yberni V.

500

505

507 Hyberi my emendation (cf. X.136 below); Hibern i P;

258

BOOK Ix

bring you into my legal holdings without my permission.’ [$193] The angered kings assemble their armies and each wages war on the other. Cadvallo crosses the Humber with the British dukes, to be met by their

English foe. After slaughter inflicted on both sides, Cadvallo quits the field with a few companions. Fleeing through the wilderness he passes through Scotland and then sails in sorrow to the king of Ireland. The victor energetically marches against the Britons and lays their territory completely waste with fire and sword. Cadvallo assembles a fleet and attempts to return to his homeland. But the wicked king blocks his path, forewarned by the augury of the Spaniard Pellitus.

259

Liber Decimus

Incipit decimus liber

Rex fugit in decimo. Classis perit; unica regis Nauis aquas uincit. Infirmus carne nepotis Uescitur; excipitur regis Salomonis in aula. Inde Brianus abit. Cadit augur, bella mouentur. Occidit Eduinus. Conuertunt Saxones in se Arma. Bonis cedit Caduallo. Filius eius Regnat et excludit Anglos. Ciuilia bella Exercent Britones. Perimuntur peste, relinquunt Regnum. Saxonici redeunt. Rex sanctificatur. Iuo redit bellumque mouet; nec preualet hosti.

Spes regni reditusque sui rerumque relinquit Regem; desperans ad opem tendit Salomonis Armorice regis et lintea dans Aquiloni In Zephirum rapitur. Consurgens turbidus Auster Commouet occeanum. Tumet equor et horrida classem Flamina dispergunt; dispersam uentus et unde In diuersa trahunt. Nescit quas nauta sequatur Aut quas uitet aquas; nec, si sciat, imperat undis. Nam caligo duplex noctis subiteque procelle Excecans oculos uires usumque uidendi Eripit attonitis, nisi cum collisio nubis Ethereos aperit aditus et fulminat ignes. Unda maris nimbique cadunt duplicique carinas Impugnant redduntque graues aspergine; pondus Naues equat aquis, equatas obruit unda. Regia sola ratis superest superatque marinos Fluctus et flatus uentorum. Nocte fugata Grata fatigatis apparent signa diei.

Uis Austri cedit Euro; cadit humida nubes. Terra patet precincta mari. Rex applicit illuc. Qui, post amissos socios noctisque laborem Languidus et tristis, capitis mentisque dolorem Uix tolerare potest; expers sompnique cibique Noctibus egrotat tribus hic totidemque diebus. Quarto deinde die nimis esurit atque ferinas Book X wanting inC. Rubric P; Prologus libri x. V. 10 [uo V; Ino (?) P. 21 attonitis P; atonitis V. 31 noctisque PV (-que suprascript in V).

260

10

15

25

30

35

Book

X

In the tenth book the king flees. His fleet is wrecked, the king’s ship alone escaping the waves. During an illness he eats the flesh of his nephew. He is received in King Solomon’s court. Brian departs from there. The augur is killed and war begins. Edwin falls. The Saxons turn their weapons against themselves. Cadvallo leaves this life. His son rules, driving out the English. The Britons engage in Civil strife. They perish in a plague and abandon the kingdom. The Saxons return. The king is sanctified. Ivo comes back to wage war, but cannot overcome the foe. The king relinquishes all hope of returning to his kingdom and possessions. In despair he journeys to gain the support of Solomon, King of Armorica. He spreads his sails to the north wind and is carried swiftly towards the west. A stormy south wind rises and stirs up the ocean. The sea grows rough and icy gales scatter the fleet; once the ships are dispersed, wind and wave carry them off in different directions. The sailors do not know which waters to follow, which to avoid; nor, if they knew, could they make use of the waves. For the twin darkness of night and of the sudden storm blinds the eyes of the astonished men and steals away both the power and purpose of vision — except when the clash of clouds opens the way to the sky and darts forth fire. Seawater and rainwater fall and with their double spray lash the ships and make them heavy; the weight forces the ships down to water level and they are swamped by the waves. Only the king’s ship survives, resisting the seawater and the blasts of the winds. With the passing of night, the welcome signs of day appear to the weary men. The storm from the south is replaced by an east wind, and the rain clouds depart. Land surrounded by the sea is sighted and the king puts in there. He is listless and melancholy after the loss of his comrades and the toil of the night, and can scarcely bear the pain in his head and heart; going without sleep or food, he is ill for three days and nights. On the fourth day he feels great hunger

261

LIBER X

[§194]

Carnes ardenter optat caroque Briano Indicat hoc. Arcu sumpto pharetraque Brianus Per totam insululam discurrit. Nulla ferarum Deprendens illic uestigia tangitur ira, Concutiturque metu ne res optata dolorem Augmentet regis, cum non inuenerit illam. O miranda uiri dilectio, digna relatu Audituque fides, res non audita priorum Temporibus! Partem femoris mucrone recisam Torret in igne sui; tostam ratus esse ferinam, Uescitur et recipit rex uires carne recepta. Inde datis Euro uelis portuque relicto

45

Tendit ad Armoricam. Salomonis limina regis Rex adit et narrat illi sua fata, petitque

Auxilium. Salomon placide respondet et inquit: * Auxilium prestabo tibi diademaque reddam Iuraque restituam. Sed toto pectore motus Admiror doleoque simul quia nobile regnum, Quod nostri tenuere patres, gens extera nostris Occupat eiectis. A prima nacio presens Degenerat Britonum. Ueteres genuisse modernos, Si sapiunt post fata, pudet: de stirpe leonum Egressi lepores, nani de stirpe gygantum. Gens tua Saxonibus cessit, regnumque reliquit Quod Brutus multo terra pelagoque labore Quesitum quondam nostris dimisit habendum. O probitas laudanda patrum, culpanda moderni Segnicies populi! Bruto nostrisque subacta Grecia subcubuit; Maurique, ferique pirate, Pictauique truces, Maiorque Britannia cessit. Brennius et frater Gallos urbemque Quirini Subiecere sibi. Constantinusque, beate Progenies Helene, necnon et Maximianus Imposuere iugum Laciis. Et tocius orbis Imperium forti dextra tenuere Britanni. Cornubiensis aper, cuius uulgata per orbem Fama uiget celebris, reges, quos ortus habebat Et quos occasus, omnes superauit et ipsum Perdidit Augustum. Ueteres didicere Britanni Uincere nec uinci; norunt dare terga moderni." 38 insululam PV (corrected from insulam in V).

50

53

65

70

T3

39 Deprendens PV (corrected from Com-

prendens in V). 45 tostam P; toxtam V. 49 illi P; ei V. 51 diademaque P; dyademaque V. 55 nacio P; nascio V. 58 nani PV (corrected from uani in V): stirpe P; styrpe V. 59 reliquit V; relinquit P. 71 aper PV (glossed id est Arturus in P).

262

BOOK X

and avidly craves the flesh of wild beasts. This he tells to his beloved Brian, who takes his bow and quiver and combs the entire island. When he has found there no trace of wild animals, he grows angry and is smitten by the fear that his failure to find what the king desires will worsen his illness. O the wonderful devotion of the man, an act of loyalty worthy of narration and of hearing, a thing unknown to past ages! With his sword he cuts a slice from his thigh and cooks it over the fire; when it is roasted, the king eats it, thinking that it is the flesh of a wild beast, and regains his strength after this meal of meat. [$194] Then, giving sail to the east wind, he leaves the port and continues to Armorica. He reaches the threshold of King Solomon, tells him of his fate, and seeks his aid. Solomon replies calmly, saying: ‘I will help you, return your crown to you, and restore your rights. Yet, my whole heart is moved with both wonder and grief that the noble kingdom which our ancestors held has been occupied by a foreign race and our citizens driven out. The British people of today are unworthy of their progenitors. If our ancestors have any feeling after death, they must be ashamed to have produced the present generation: from the stock of lions have come forth hares, dwarves from the stock of giants. Your people has yielded to the Saxons and has lost the kingdom which Brutus once sought out with much toil by land and sea and entrusted to the possession of our race. O praiseworthy excellence of our forefathers, o shameful sloth of their latter-day descendants! Greece was defeated and subdued by Brutus and our ancestors; Moors, savage pirates, and the fierce inhabitants of Poitou yielded to them; and they won Greater Britain. Brennius and his brother conquered the Gauls and the city of Rome. Constantine, son of blessed Helena, and Maximianus too imposed their yoke on the Romans, and the British with strong hand controlled the empire of the whole earth. The Boar of Cornwall, whose famed renown is spread through the world and still lives on, overcame all the kings of the east and west and killed the emperor himself. Of old the Britons learned to triumph, ignorant of defeat; today they well know how to turn their backs in

flight.'

263

LIBER X

[$195]

Hiis dictis sic inquit ei Caduallo: *Rependo Multimodas grates tibi, rex; memor huius amoris Quem pretendis ero, dum spiritus artheriarum Carpserit iste uias. Sed ne mirere modernos Dissimiles patribus, quoniam, cum Maximianus Uenit in has partes, regionis nobiliores Adduxit secum, nec eis permissa facultas Ulla reuertendi est. Plebs rustica sola remansit, Propria res cuius timor est et mixta timore Inreuocanda fuga. Non ergo miror agrestes, Quos natura premit quamuis fortuna leuarit, Hos inequos equites proprium retinere timorem. Est aliud quare mea gens pugnare recuset, Sicut tractauit, tractatum cuius habemus, Hystoricus Gyldas, nostri sanctissimus eui: Serua phalanx ditata, gulam ueneremque frequentans, Illam precipue per quam Deus excitat iram In sobolem, cuius est diffidencia mater, Dissueuit bellis, nisi que Citherea requirit. Iura, fides, pietas, patrum reuerencia, fratrum Gratia, coniugii concordia, federa pacis, Uirtutesque alie populum fugere ferocem; In quorum subiere locum uiolencia, furtum,

80

85

90

95

Fraus, dolus, ira, mine, ciuilia bella, uenena,

Census, luxurie, luxus, homicidia, scisma. Quos probitas probat esse probos reprobat reproborum Improbitas, iustosque ligans absoluit iniquos; Quo magis offendunt uiciorum labe notati, Hoc magis ascendunt ad honorum summa uocati. Membra caputque trahunt uicium commune: sacerdos Ut populus, dominus ut seruus, rex proceresque. Inde ruit uindicta Dei niueosque dracones Suscitat in rubeos; qui predia, castra, penates,

100

105

Flumina, stagna, lacus afflatu, tabe ueneni

Cuncta cruentarunt infeceruntque, fugatis De stagno rubeis, sicut predixerat ore Fatidico uates Merlinus. Sicque Britannum

110

79 artheriarum V; etheriarum P. 84 timore V; timori P. 85 agrestes V; aggrestes P. 86 leuarit P; leuabit (tampered?) V. 88 recuset V; recusat P. 91 phalanx P; phalax V: gulam P; gulis V. 94 Citherea P; Cytharea V. 97 populum V; populumque P. 98 PV; in V, lines 96—7 are repeated after 98, but deleted. 102 iniquos V; iniquum P. 105 caputque P; capudque V. 110 cruentarunt P; cremauerunt V. 112 Fatidico PV (corrected from Fastidico in V).

264

BOOK X

[$195] To his words Cadvallo makes this reply: ‘King, I give you generous thanks; I shall remember the friendship which you extend to me for as long as life continues to course through my veins. But do not be surprised that the modern generation is different from its ancestors; for, when Maximianus came to these shores, he brought with him the most noble men of the kingdom, who then had no opportunity to return. Only the crowd of common people remained, whose characteristics are fear and, along with it, irreversible flight. I do not therefore marvel that the rustics, who are ignoble by nature even if fortune elevates them, retain their usual cowardice, although unjustly becoming knights. And there is another reason why my people refuse to fight, as is described by the

holiest man of our age, the historian Gildas, whose tract we possess: the band of enriched serfs is given over to gluttony and lust, especially that lust which causes God to visit his anger on succeeding generations and whose mother is lack of belief; they are unused to struggles — except those which Venus demands. Respect for property, loyalty, duty, reverence for elders, brotherly love, harmony within marriage, the bonds of peace: these and the other virtues have turned their backs on the hostile people; and their place has been taken by violence, theft, treachery, deceit, anger, threats, civil war, poison, riches, luxury, decadence, murder, schism. Those whose excellence shows them to be good men are rejected by the wickedness of the evil, which binds the just and frees the unjust; the more one offends, besmirched with the stain of sins, the higher one mounts, summoned to the foremost honours. Limbs and head are dragged along by the same vice, priest and people, master and servant, king and noble. This has called down the vengeance of God and stirred up the white dragons against the red; swollen by deadly poison, they have bloodied and infected all our farms, castles, homes, rivers, marshes, and lakes, and driven the red dragons from the pool, just as the prophet Merlin predicted with the voice of foreboding.

265

LIBERX

Perdidimus regnum successeruntque feroces Saxones, expulsis patria de sede Britannis. Est igitur dampnum nostrum commune pudorque, Sicut communis est nostri sanguinis auctor. Nam Malgo, cuius de sanguine duximus ortum, Quartus ab Arturo succedit ei, genuitque Ennion et Rinum; genuit pater Ennius Helym, Qui Iagonem, qui Caduanum, me Caduanus. At simul expulsus partes peruenit ad istas Rinus; uirgo duci sata Rino nupsit Hoelo, De qua suscepit mire probitatis Alanum; Ille tuum patrem. Sic nos a stipite primo Quinta parentele series distinguit utrinque."

115

120

125

[$196]

[$197]

Interea, dum seuit hyemps, Caduallo quietem Cum Salomone capit. Set nocte dieque Brianus Auguris in mortem Pelliti totus hanelat. Transmeat ergo fretum uilique indutus amictu, Tendit ad Eduini regis penetrale, manentis Eboraci, pauperque habitu se miscet egenis, Qui regis fragmenta petunt. Soror ergo Briani Egrediens, peluimque ferens, limphamque ministrans, Agnoscit fratrem; lacrimisque rigantibus ora Pellitum demonstrat ei, fugiensque recedit. Accedens igitur in turba, stantis Hyberi Pectus ferrati burdonis traicit ictu. Ille cadit moriens; nescitur uulneris auctor. Inde Brianus abit; et adit uelociter urbem Exoniam, Britonesque suos, quos sparserat hostis, Congregat huc et narrat eis que gesserat et que Contigerant regi. Muris et turribus altis Exoniam munit; proceres sua menia firmant Expectantque simul letanti pectore regem. Quod simul attonitas Anglorum perculit aures, Insula tota fremit. Ueniens cum rege Peanda Obsidet Exoniam fera gens fortemque Brianum. Dum mangonelli diuersaque machina belli

113 successerunt que PV (corrected from suscesserunt quein V).

nostrum dampnum P. 116 auctor P; actor V. lachonem P.

135

140

145

115 dampnum nostrum V;

119 Rinum V; Riuum P.

121 At PV (corrected from Qui in V).

130

120 lagonem V;

122 nupsit P; nubsit V.

124 sic PV

(preceded by deleted se in V). 129 indutus , P; inductus V. 133 peluimque V; peluim P: : phan V. 136 Hyberi V; Hyberni P. 138 auctor P; actor V. 142 P; lymphamque limphamque Contigerant P; Contigerit V. 145 attonitas P; atonitas V: perculit P; percutit V.

266

BOOK X

So we have lost the realm of Britain; and the savage Saxons, after casting the Britons out from their native home, have taken our place. But this is our common loss and shame, for our families share the same progenitor. The fourth king to succeed Arthur was Malgo, from whose blood we are sprung; he had two sons, Ennius and Rinus; Ennius sired Hely, Hely Iago, and Iago Cadvanus, who was my father. When Rinus was driven out, he came to this kingdom; the daughter of Rinus married Duke Hoelus, who had by her Alanus, of wondrous merit; and Alanus was your father’s father. And so we are descended on both sides at a remove of five generations from our first father.’ [$196] While winter rages, Cadvallo rests with Solomon. But Brianus night and day can think of nothing but killing the augur Pellitus. So he crosses the sea and, dressed in ragged clothes, journeys to the court of King Edwin, who is then at York. In his wretched garments he mingles with the beggers who are seeking the king’s leftovers. Brianus’s sister comes out of the court carrying a vessel to fetch water; she recognises her brother and, her face bathed with tears, points out Pellitus to him before fleeing away. Approaching amid the crowd, with one blow of his ironbound staff Brianus pierces the chest of the Spaniard where he stands. He falls dying, and no one knows who dealt the blow. Then Brianus departs and goes swiftly to the city of Exeter. There he assembles the Britons whom the enemy had scattered and tells them what he has done and what has happened to the king. He protects Exeter with walls and high towers, the nobles strengthen their fortifications, and together they await the king with joyful hearts. As soon as this news beats on the astonished ears of the English, the whole island is in uproar. The savage pagans come with King Penda to besiege Exeter and bold Brianus. [§197] While mangonels and various engines of war batter the walls, while

267

LIBERX

[$198]

Impugnant muros, dum clausi cuncta coronant Edita murorum, dum telis texitur aer, En Caduallo uenit et secum ducit in hostes Mille uiros decies, quos rex commiserat illi Armorice Salomon. Conuertunt Saxones arma In Caduallonem. Post prelia multa Peanda Rex capitur, mortique datur exercitus eius. Fedus init pacis captus cum rege Britanno Et se, dum uiuat, persistere iurat in eius Obsequium Britonumque piam defendere causam. Rex igitur uictor collectis uiribus Humbrum Transmeat et gladio regnum deuastat et igni. Saxones ergo suos ducens regesque propinquos Impiger Eduinus cum milite multiplicato In Britones fertur. In primo marte peremptus Rex cadit Eduinus; cadit Olfidus inclitus eius Filius; Orchadie rex occidit; Anglica turba Tota perit, nisi quos nox et fuga subtrahit hosti. Inde triumphator omnes de partibus illis Saxones euellens, nulla pietate reductus In ciues urbesque furit; bachatur in agros, Seuit in agrestes. Nullum suus ordo tuetur:

150

155

160

165

170

Infantes matresque sue, iuuenesque senesque Cede pari pereunt; nulli sua proficit etas. [$199]

Osualdus, regum sanctissimus, arma Peande

Dum fugeret, sociis secum fugientibus inquit: *O deuota Deo Christique domestica turba, Submissis manibus et supplice uoce precemur Auctorem nostre fidei regemque polorum Ut nos de manibus Britonum seuique Peande Liberet.' Effusis lacrimis genibusque reflexis Turba precatur idem. Deus audit iusta precantes. Nam Phebo retegente diem capit arma Peanda Et capit Osualdus. In primo marte Britanni Deuicti fugiunt. Quod rex Caduallo relatu Addiscens, mouet arma ferox ferturque superbus In sanctum regem. Sanctus rex ense peremptus Sanguine sacrat humum; melior pars transuolat astra.

149 Impugnant P; Inpugnant V. 152 rex PV (suprascript in P). 158 defendere P; deffendere V. 160 et (first occurrence) P; in V. 166 et P; uel V. 177 Auctorem P; Actorem V.

268

175

180

185

155 datur V; datus est P. 164 Olfidus P;Affricus V.

BOOK X

those besieged crown all the summits of their defences, and while the air is thick with weapons, lo, Cadvallo arrives, bringing with him against the enemy ten thousand men, whom King Solomon of Armorica has entrusted to him. The Saxons turn their weapons on Cadvallo. After many engagements, King Penda is captured and his army massacred. The captive makes a treaty of peace with the British king, swearing that, while he lives, he will be faithful to him and defend the righteous cause of the Britons. The victorious king collects his forces, crosses the Humber, and ravages that kingdom with fire and sword. Edwin, leading his own Saxons as well as the neighbouring kings, attacks the Britons with a reinforced army. In the first engagement King Edwin falls slain, as do his noble son Olfidus and the king of the Orkneys. The whole English force is destroyed, except those whom nightfall and flight save from the enemy. [§198] The victor wipes out all the Saxons in that region, pitilessly unleashing his fury on both citizens and cities; and he rampages over the fields, venting his savagery on the farmers. No one’s station safeguards them: mothers and their babies, youths and old men die the same death; age affords protection to none. [§199] Oswald, the holiest of kings, fleeing before the weapons of Penda, says to his comrades in flight: ‘O company devoted to God, dwellers in the

house of Christ, let us with humble hands and suppliant voices beg the Originator of our faith and the King of Heaven to free us from the grasp of the Britons and of cruel Penda.’ With flowing tears and bended knee the troops repeat his prayer. God hears their just entreaty. When the sun renews the daylight, both Penda and Oswald take up arms. In the first clash the Britons are defeated and put to flight. When King Cadvallo hears report of this, he fiercely sets his army in motion and arrogantly attacks the saintly Oswald. The holy king is cut down

by the sword and consecrates the ground with his blood, while his better part soars up above the stars.

269

LIBERX

[$200]

Osuinus, regis Osualdi frater, eundem In regno sequitur et init cum rege Britanno Fedus amicicie. Regi pro federe pacis Inmodicas largitus opes, quas ante parentes Eius seruarant, sese quoque subicit illi. Alfridus Osuini, fratrisque sui Iodualdus Filius Osuinum regno priuare laborant. Set quia non possunt obsistere uiribus eius, Promittunt regi donaria plura Peande Ut succurrat eis. Metuens infringere pacem Osuini dominique sui non annuit illis, Donec quid super hoc dominus responderit illi Audierit. Super hoc consultus, turpe nefasque Caduallo reputat contra sua pacta uenire. Interea ueniente die qua celitus ignis Pectora firmauit titubancia discipulorum, Inuitat Caduallo suos regesque ducesque Et proceres, sollempne uolens diademate sumpto Regali ritu festum celebrare. Uocati Conueniunt; Osuinus abest. Cur solus abesset Corrupto fallax interrogat ore Peanda. Rex ait: ‘Egrotat.’ *Aliter se res habet." inquit, *Non infirmatur, sed habens in corde uenenum Antique fraudis, ueterum monimenta parentum Seruat adhuc in corde suo. Consortis in uno Impaciens regno, solum molitur habere Se monarchiam contra pactumque fidemque. Nuper Germanis mandauit ut occius arma Portantes ueniant: tegitur iam classibus equor; Iam uenit effera gens que te deponere querit. Sed, si permittis, in eum prior arma mouebo Preueniamque scelus scelerosi fraudeque fraudem Collidam. Fidei non obseruare statuta Non obseruanti non est me iudice culpa.’ Sed temerare fidem que uenerat in stipulatum Rex ratus esse nefas, regnique amittere iura Esse dolo grauius, quo tendat nescit: honestas Cogit eum seruare fidem, sed publica regni

190

195

200

205

210

215

220

187 eundem P; eumdem V. 191 subicit V; subdidit P. 192 Alfridus Osuini V; Aufridus Osualdi P: Jodualdus V; losualdus P. 194 Sed V; Set P. 199 nefasque V; nephasque P. 204 diademate P; dyademate V.

212 Impaciens P; Inpaciens V.

Set P; prior P; prius V. 221 Sed V;SetP. publica P; puplica V.

216 P only; om. V.

222 nefas V; nephas P.

270

217 Sed V;

223 dolo P; sibi V.

224

BOOK X

[$200] Oswinus, the brother of King Oswald, succeeds him in his kingdom and enters an agreement of friendship with the British king. To secure this treaty of peace, he showers the king with the huge riches which his ancestors had previously hoarded, and also submits himself to him. Alfridus, Oswinus’s son, and Iodwaldus, the son of his brother, attempt to deprive Oswinus of his kingdom. But because they are not able to resist his strength, they promise very many gifts to King Penda to induce him to support them. Fearing to break the peace between Oswinus and his master, Penda will not agree to their proposal until he has heard Cadvallo’s reply on the matter. When he has been consulted about it, Cadvallo thinks it base and wicked to infringe his agreement. Therefore on the day on which fire from heaven once strengthened the uncertain hearts of the Disciples, Cadvallo summons his kings, dukes, and nobles so that he can don the crown and celebrate the solemn festival with regal pomp. The invited assemble, but Oswinus is absent. Deceitful Penda asks with mendacious voice why only Oswinus is missing. ‘He is ill.’ says the king. "That is not the case.’ replies Penda, ‘He is not ill, but he keeps in his heart the poison of his former treachery and still retains in his mind the actions of his ancient ancestors. He

cannot abide a partner within the same realm and strives against his word and bond to have sole power. Recently he has sent a message to the Germans that they should come quickly bearing their arms; already the sea is covered with ships, the savage race which seeks to dethrone you is already on its way. But, if you allow it, I will attack him first, anticipate the wicked man’s crime, and use deceit to confound deceit. In my judgement there is no blame in not standing by the terms of a treaty with one who flouts it.’ The king thinks it wicked to contravene an agreement which has been ratified, but considers the loss of his regal power a worse threat than the use of trickery. He does not know what action to take: honour demands that he keep his word; but the common good of

271

LIBER X

[§201]

Id uetat utilitas; dubius manet inter utrumque. Consulit ergo suos quid agat. Rex Demeciorum, Dum dubitant alii, sic dicens consulit illi: * Anglorum reges expellere proposuisti De regione tua. Contra tua uota scienter Haut impune uenis. Germanica nacio semper Fallere credentes didicit sub pacis amictu. Fallere fallentes non est fallacia; non est Fallax fallaces simili qui fraude repellit. Si dubitas, si turpe putas contraria pactis Te patrare tuis, saltem permitte Peandam In ciues seuire suos et bella mouere Intestina; tuam patriam populumque reserua. Anglorum tibi debilitas munimina confert, Leticiam meror, et uires debilitatem." Tota cohors collaudat idem. Rex ergo suorum Inductus monitis, quamuis inuitus, in Anglos Anglis concedit ciuilia bella mouere. Anglia tota fremit. Seuus capit arma Peanda; Seuit in Osuinum nullo reuocatus amore, Non prece nec precio, non ui tonitruue minarum. Osuinus uero cum seuo prelia rege Aggrediens, triginta duces regemque Peandam Innumerosque uiros perimit potiturque triumpho. Induit Ulfridus patris diadema Peande Ulciscique sui molitur fata parentis. Discordes Caduallo ligat sub federe pacis. At septem lustris transactis et tribus annis Ex quo suscepit regni moderamina, cedens Rex Caduallo bonis nature debita soluit; Moreque regali conditus aromate mira

Conditur in statua, fabricata ex ere recenti, Stature regis equa; magnoque caballo Insidet eiusdem fabrice similisque metalli. Stans armatus eques in equo superadditur urbis Londonie porte, rapidum que spectat ad austrum. Quadrupedis pedibus subdunt in honore beati

229 scienter P; scientes V.

230 impune uenis P; impugne uenit V: nacio P; nascio V.

225

230

235

240

245

250

235

260

245

nec P; non V: tonitruue V; tonitrusue P. 249 Ulfridus P; Ulfredus V: diadema P; dyadema V.

255 mira P; mirra V. 256 recenti P; micanti V. Quadrupedis V; Quadrupedi P.

272

260 Londonie P; Lundonice V.

261

BOOK X

the kingdom forbids it; he remains uncertain between either course. He therefore asks his advisors what he should do. While the others are unsure, the king of the Demeti gives him this counsel: ‘You have decided to expel the English kings from your land. It will be dangerous for you deliberately to go against your wishes. The German people has always been schooled to deceive those who trust them beneath a veil of peace. To deceive deceivers is not deceit; he who counters deceivers with similar trickery is not deceitful. If you remain doubtful, if you think it unworthy to act contrary to your agreement, at least allow Penda to vent his savagery on his own citizens and wage civil war; and so preserve your country and your subjects. Feebleness on the part of the English is your saftey, their sorrow your joy, and their strength your weakness.’ The whole company joins in praise of this. Although he is unwilling, Cadvallo is persuaded by the advice of his men to permit the English to visit civil strife on their fellows. The whole of England is in turmoil. Cruel Penda takes up arms and rampages against Oswinus; he is not held back by any regard for brotherly love, by pleas or bribery, by force or thundering threats. Oswinus joins battle with the savage king and wins a triumph, killing Penda, thirty dukes, and countless warriors. Ulfridus assumes the crown of his father Penda and plots to avenge his death, but Cadvallo restrains the warring factions with an agreement of peace. [$201] Thirty-eight years after taking control over his kingdom King Cadvallo leaves this life and pays his debt to nature. Embalmed with aromatics according to regal custom, he is put in a wondrous statue, freshly made from bronze, and of the same size as the king; and he is placed on a large horse of the same manufacture and metal. The effigy of the armed knight on the.horse is positioned over the gate of the city of London which overlooks the warm south. Beneath the feet of the steed they found a holy church dedicated to Saint Martin

273

LIBERX

Martini sanctam ecclesiam certoque colendam Assignant cleri numero cum dote statuta, Qui pro rege suo cunctisque fidelibus oret Illic et celebret sacre sollempnia misse. [$202]

Conueniunt igitur de regni partibus omnes

Sacri pontifices, reges, aliique potentes Ad Cadualadrum, tanto succedere patri Condignam sobolem; decorant diademate regni. Rex nouus ergo Deo deuotus, mitibus agnus, Aduersisque leo; quociens irascitur, ira Non dominatur ei, sed eam sic temperat ut non Iudicium mentis peruertat uel racionem. Et memor ipse sui generis, quod moribus auget, Saxones excludit, nouat opida, roborat urbes, Tutatur regnum, iustos amat, odit iniquos, Iusticiam seruat, hostes eneruat, amicos Ditat, defendit uiduam, sustentat egenos, Supplicibus parcit, illis sua rura resarcit Quos quibus effera gens temere spoliauerat olim. Pax illo regnante uiget ter quatuor annis. Sed quia nulla diu stat firma potencia rerum Quas secum fortuna trahit, que semper in orbe Uoluitur et numquam stat certo robore fulta, — Publicus ecce dolor et publica causa malorum — Rex infirmatus diuturna febre tenetur. [$203]

265

270

275

280

285

Inde fit ut Britones ciuilia bella mouentes

In ciues urbesque ruunt, in rura suosque Ruricolas: nulli prodest munimen asili; Nulla est ecclesie reuerencia, nulla parentum, Nullus amor fratrum; cleri iacet ordo sub ense. Sed Dominus, qui cuncta uidet, nichil esse salubre Sincerumque nichil in toto corpore regni Prospiciens, delere cupit cum plebe potentes. Ergo lues grauior cladi superadditur: aret In terra semen, uel germinis herba segesque Non uenit ad culmum; fallunt sua uota colonos. Defectus cereris panisque carencia diram Esuriem pariunt; nec eis animalia multum Ad uitam prosunt; herbas uolucresque ferasque Radicesque suis commendant uentribus. Omni Materia uictus consumpta, nec tamen inde 262 sanctam P; factam Q) V.

268 Cadualadrum P; Cadualladrum V.

290

295

300

269 diademate P;

dyademate V. 270 mitibus P; mitibus V. 282 Sed V; Set P. 284 robore fulta P; fulta labore V. 285 Publicus P; Puplicus V: publica P; puplica V. 298 Defectus P; Deffectus V.

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BOOK X

and entrust its care to a fixed number of clergy with an agreed endowment, so that they will pray there for the king and all the faithful and celebrate the office of holy mass. [§202] From all parts of the realm holy bishops, kings, and other nobility

assemble before Cadwaladr, a son worthy to succeed such a father, and they honour him with the crown of the kingdom. The new king is devoted to God, a lamb to the meek, a lion to his foes; when he grows angry, his anger does not master him, but he so tempers it that it does not prejudice his mental judgement and reasoning. Mindful of his people, who prosper through his good character, he drives out the Saxons, renews towns, repairs cities, protects the kingdom, loves just men and hates evil, preserves justice, weakens his foes and rewards his friends, defends widows, supports the needy, is merciful to those who supplicate him, and restores their lands to those whom the savage English had once indiscriminately despoiled. In his reign peace flourishes for twelve years. Yet no earthly powers stand firm for long, since they are under the influence of Fortune which ever turns full circle and never remains reliably fixed and sure; lo, the king falls ill, gripped by a lingering fever — to the peoples’ grief and the unleashing of evils at large. [$203] For it comes about that the Britons foment civil wars, rampaging against cities and their inhabitants, against fields and their cultivators; the protection of asylum avails no one; there is no respect for the church nor for parents, nor any love between brothers; the order of clerics is subjected to the sword. The Lord, Who sees all things, observes that there is nothing healthy or untainted in the body of the entire kingdom and He wishes to destroy nobles and commoners alike. And so, to the massacres is added a worse plague: seed withers in the ground, or, if it germinates, the shoots and the crop do not bring forth ears; farmers are cheated of their hopes. The failure of the harvest and the

shortage of bread create a dreadful famine; nor are their animals much help to them in prolonging their lives; they commit to their stomachs grass, birds, wild beasts, and roots. But when all foodstuffs have been exhausted and still the

275

LIBERX

Ingluuie uentris sedata, mortis ymago, Torpor iners, pallor, macies et meror ubique. Nusquam deest moriens; non plangit filia matrem, Non sua mater eam; non claudit lumina patris Filius aut matris, leto moriturus eodem. Non defuncta queunt sepelire cadauera uiui, Quos manet instantis urgens uicinia casus. Mortuus et moriens, languens et uiuus in uno Conueniunt lecto. Nec uiuo mortuus ullum Incutit horrorem: mora mortis morte molesta Est magis afflictis. Sub sole relicta liquescunt Corpora, que totum corrumpunt aera: uiuis Altera causa necis. Quos mors permittit abire, De regno miseri fugiunt, aliena sequentes. Rex fugiens petit Armoricam, regnumque relinquens Disserit has querula miserandus uoce loquelas: *O regio diues, o nobilis insula, Bruto Responsis ostensa Dei, regnata Britannis Regibus assidue, nunc desolata suorum Consilio procerum, propriis nudata colonis, Ciuibus orba tuis, que numquam subcubuisti Hostibus in bello, de te sine cede triumphat Sola fames. Iam uultur edax coruusque lupusque Dilaniant generosa ducum sub sole relicta Corpora, mixta uage nullo discrimine plebi. Ruricolis tua rura suis et ciuibus urbes Et castella carent; nullus citharedus in aula, Nullus in ecclesia cantor; non organa dulces Perstringunt modulos. Funestas nocte querelas Deuia promit auis. Sterilis tua terra cruore Fertilis est hominum; sine semine falce secanda Gramina luxuriant. Cunctis mea regibus olim, Nunc est facta feris habitacio, uile luporum Hospicium catulis et fedum uulpibus antrum. Hoc merito patimur quoniam peccauimus; in nos Fulminat ira Dei, quem nos offendimus; in nos Ulcio digna uenit. Nostros purgare reatus Debuimus dum tempus erat. Paciencia Christi,

305

310

315

320

325

330

335

340

308 Non P; Nec V. 311 lecto P; leto V. 312 horrorem P; errorem V. 321 nunc V; non P. 323 numquam V; nusquam P. 329 citharedus P; cytharedus V. 334 Cunctis mea regibus P;

:

Mea regio patribus V.

276

BOOK X

hunger in their bellies is not appeased, then everywhere is seen the spectre of death, torpid listlessness, pallor, emaciation, and lamenting. The dying are everywhere; daughters do not weep for their mothers, nor mothers for their daughters; the son, who will shortly die the same death, does not close the eyes of his father and mother. The dead bodies are too many to be buried by the living, who await the imminent proximity of their impending fate. The dead and the dying, the sick and the living occupy the same bed. Nor do those who remain alive feel any fear of the dead: in their wretchedness the stay of death seems

more terrible to them than death itself. The abandoned corpses putrify in the sun and corrupt all the air, which causes further execution among the survivors. Those whom death permits to escape abjectly flee from the kingdom and make for foreign lands. The king sails for Armorica in flight and, as he relinquishes his realm, wretchedly utters these words with broken voice: ‘O rich country, o noble island, shown to Brutus by the responses of God, and ruled continuously by British kings, now you are abandoned at the counselling of your nobles, stripped of your inhabitants, and deprived of your citizens; you, who have never yielded to your foes in war, are bloodlessly triumphed over by starvation alone. Now the rapacious vulture, the raven, and the wolf tear the noble corpses of your leaders, which lie neglected beneath the sun, jumbled everywhere without distinction amid the commoners. The fields are empty of farmers, the cities and castles of inhabitants; there is no harper in the hall, no cantor in the church; the organ does not sound its sweet notes. The bird in the wilderness calls out its funereal dirge by night. Your barren soil is fertile with human blood; grass grows without sowing and needs to be cut by the scythe. Once the home of all my kings, it has now become that of wild beasts, a den for wolf cubs and a foul cave for foxes. We have deserved this chastisement for our sins; we have been struck down by the wrath of God, Whom we have offended; just retribution has been meted out upon us. We ought to have atoned for our crimes while there was still time. Christ’s patience, which is too long-suffering, has delayed our merited

277

LIBERX

Longa nimis, iustam uindictam distulit ut nos Excessus nostros delictaque corriperemus. Sed quia noluimus prauos compescere gressus Et magis atque magis creuit uesania nostra,

Ipse Deus, cernens in toto corpore regni Omne caput languens, cor merens, putrida membra, ‘‘Non opus est medico sic infirmantibus.”’ inquit, **Filius et genitor, genetrix et filia, clerus Et dux et miles mortem meruere subire. Occius intereant." Lata est sentencia; latam Angelus exequitur. Cuius mucrone perempti, Morte pari Britones pereunt, insonsque nocensque. Saxones et Deiri, Picti Scotique, redite

345

350

In regnum tutore carens: ius uendicat in re,

Qui prior inuadit rem quam non possidet alter.’ [8204]

Interea cum classe sua rex tristis et exul Intrat in Armoricam. Quem dux illustris Alanus

Suscipit et refouet consolaturque dolentem. Cetera pars Britonum quam mors permisit abire In diuersa fugit quo sors sua dirigit illos. At simul est sedata lues optataque uenit Fertilitas et Saxonicis est cognita rerum Gestarum series, regnum sine rege suisque Depressum populis repetunt habitantque coluntque. [$205]

355

Que Cadualadri postquam res attigit aures, Congregat Armoricos iuuenes et classe parata Strenuus ire parat in Saxones et regionem Illustrare suam regnumque resumere regni, Cum uox de celo descendens nocte sopitum Excitat atque uetat regem quo cogitet ire, Dicens: Parce tuis uotis. Optare quod optas Utilitas tua te prohibet; sapiencius opta.

Temporis ista tui non est uictoria; bella Ista reseruantur Merlino teste futuris. Ecce dies ueniet uenturis grata Britannis —

360

365

370

375

Exilii finis, annus iubileus, origo Leticie, regni reparacio, summa bonorum, Saxonibus terror, regnandi meta, dolendi Principium, tempus fugiendi, causa malorum - ,

Postquam stirps Britonum posita feritate reatum

380

346 caput P; capud V... 552 insonsque nocensque P; insompsque reusque V. 364 Depressum P; Deprensum V. 365 Cadualadri P; Cadualladri V. 370 cogitet P; cogitat V. :

278

BOOK X

punishment so that we could check our excesses and our transgressions. But since we have been unwilling to halt our wicked ways and our madness has become worse and worse, God Himself, seeing that in the whole body of the kingdom every head is lolling, every heart sorrowing, all limbs corrupted, has said: "This sickness does not call for a doctor; son and father, mother and daughter, clegyman, duke, and warrior deserve to undergo death. Let them perish swiftly!”” Sentence has been passed, which an angel is now Carrying out. Laid low by his blade, the Britons, both innocent and guilty, are now dying a common death. Saxons and Deiri, Picts and Scoti, return to this realm which has no protector: whoever first snatches an object which has no owner, gains the right to possess it.’ [§204] Now the sad, exiled king lands in Armorica with his fleet. The noble

Duke Alanus receives him, cares for him, and consoles his misery. Those re-

maining Britons whom death allows to escape flee in all directions, wherever their fate takes them. As soon as the pestilence is over and longed-for fertility returns, all that has happened is discovered by the Saxons, who, coming back to the realm which lacks a king and is overwhelmed by their numbers, occupy and inhabit it. [$205] After news of this reaches Cadwaladr's ears, he assembles the youth

of Armorica. Preparing a fleet, he is readying himself energetically to attack the Saxons, revisit his land, and reassert control over his kingdom, when at night a voice descending from heaven wakes him from his sleep and forbids the king to go where he plans, saying: ‘Lay aside your hopes. To wish as you do is against your own interests; make a wiser wish. The victory you desire will not come about in your lifetime; as Merlin bears witness, these wars are reserved for future generations. Lo, there will come a time welcome to the Britons still to be: an end of exile, a jubilee year, a beginning of joy, a restoration of the kingdom, a height of prosperity; but for the Saxons a terror, an end to their rule, a beginning of misery, a time of flight, a source of evil. But this will be after the descendants of the Britons lay aside their savagery, atone for their sins, and placate the Lord

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Diluerit, Dominoque placens placauerit illum, Et causa cessante Dei cessauerit ira.

[§206]

Tu uero, quia sunt tua crimina nota, uetaris In regno regnare tuo. Regnabis in alto Celorum solio post hec discrimina uite. Peccasti: te peniteat, peccare quiesce Et pete Romanam sedem; tua facta fatere Summo pontifici, qui te purgabit ab omni Crimine, cum fueris illi confessus, erisque Sanctus cum sanctis et rex in diuite regno.’ Omnia rex audita duci declarat Alano. Ille prophecias aquile docteque Sibille Merlinique legi faciens, nil inuenit istis Oppositum monitis. Sic ergo consulit illi, Dicens: ‘Angelice uoci parere paratus Esto. Iussus adi Romam; regnumque Britannum Filius Iuo tuus adiens cum milite forti Saxones impugnet ne sic sine uindice nostrum Possideat regnum contra ius gens inimica.' Consilium ducis Armorice rex approbat. Exul Discedit, sedem Petri petit; excipit illum Sergius, absoluit, confirmat. Nec mora morbus Regis membra grauat. Nature debita soluens, In duo diuiditur: descendit corpus inane In matris gremium; de carcere corporis exit Liber et ascendit ad Patrem spiritus eius. Secula sex, «lustra octodecim», dempto tamen uno,

385

390

395

405

Post incarnatum uerbum uenisse feruntur, Cum Cadualadrus celi secessit ad arcem.

[$207]

At sancti patris Iuo dignissimus heres, Quem pectus, quem forma decens, quem dextera fortis, Quem mores, quem larga manus, quem gratia Christi, Quem constans animus prefert et dapsilis aula, Dispersos reuocat Britones regnumque Britannum Classe petit: cum quo uenit Inius impiger, illi Haut impar meritis, eius carnalis amicus.

381 placauerit PV (corrected from placuerit in V).

389 cum fueris illi V;

410

415

quod fueris (om

illi) P. 396 Tussus P; Missus V. 397 luo V; Yuo P. 399 regnum PV Mart iesRhe

nostrum in P). 402 Sergius P; Gregorius V. 407 lustra octodecim my emendation (cf. Historia Regum Britannie, §206); et lustra octo PV. 409 Cadualadrus P; Cadualladrus V: secessit P; succedit V. 410 Iuo V; Yuo P. 415 uenit V; om. P: Inius V; Ynuus P.

280

BOOK X

by pleasing him; then God’s anger will cease, once the reason for it has disappeared. You, since your offences have been noted, are forbidden to rule in your kingdom. But after your end in this life, you will reign on the high throne of Heaven. You have sinned: repent, cease from sinning, and go to the see of Rome; confess your deeds to the highest pontif, who will absolve you of all offence once you have confessed to him, and you will be a saint among the saints and a king in the Rich Kingdom.’ [$206] The king reports all he has heard to Duke Alanus, who has the prophecies of the Eagle, of the learned Sibyl, and of Merlin read out, and finds in them nothing contrary to these commands. He therefore gives Cadwaladr the following advice: ‘Do not hesitate to obey the angelic voice. Journey to Rome as you are bidden; let your son Ivo go to the kingdom of Britain with brave soldiers and attack the Saxons so that the hostile race will not wrongfully occupy our realm without vengeance being taken on them.' The king approves

the Duke of Armorica's plan. He departs in exile and travels to the see of Peter; Sergius receives him, and absolves and confirms him. Immediately the king's body is weighed down by illness. He pays the debt of Nature, and his being is divided into two: his empty body descends into the bosom of its mother; his soul goes free from the prison of the flesh and mounts up to the Father. Cadwaladr is held to have departed to the Heavenly Kingdom after six hundred and ninety years, less one, have passed since the Incarnation of the Word. [8207] Ivo is a most worthy heir to his saintly father, being marked out by his great heart, his comely appearance, his strong right arm, his good character, his lavish hand, the grace of Christ, his steadfast mind, and a generous court. He assembles the dispersed Britons and sails for the British kingdom- with a fleet, accompanied by tireless Inius, his bosom friend, who is his equal in merit. They

281

LIBERX

Discurrunt igitur rapidorum more leonum Per regnum; gladiisque uiam facientibus Anglos Dispergunt traduntque neci nil tale timentes. Anglica turba pauet, Britones fugit, inuia querit. At simul attonitis animus redit, arma capescunt. Hostibus obsistit omni pars utraque nisu. Mutua bella gerunt; datur undique mutua cedes. Inde patres matresque pie, quos longa senectus, Quosque grauat series bellorum, talia dicunt: *Ecquid erit tempus in quo cessauerit ista Tempestas bellique lues, et micior hora Uenerit et dulcis concordia paxque benigna?' O Bruti regio, miserande condicionis Insula, plena doli, ueneris domus, hospita martis, Sanguinis urna, capax uiciorum sportula: testis Fortune stabilis, mendaces esse poetas Conuincis, qui stare deam, quam uoluit in orbe Orbita, posse negant. Fortunam stare tenaci Proposito te teste probas nusquamque moueri: Nam qualis tecum cepit persistere, talis Perstat adhuc. Regni cepisti nomen habere Ui gladii; tua cepta tenes, tua cepta tenebis, Dum poterunt Britones et Saxones arma tenere. Progenies Priami, fera gens, quam blanda molestat Pax, quam bella iuuant, que semper uiuis in armis, Cui semper discors concordia, scismaque concors, Ecce uenit uindicta Dei dignaque reatus Punit clade tuos; regni, quod polluis, expers Huius eris. Tua destituens, aliena sequeris. At genus Anglorum, stirps impia, nacio fallax, Gens in marte fugax, in agendis fraudibus audax, Turba bibax, soboles mendax, populusque bilinguis, Excedit numero Britones; probitate Britanni Excedunt Anglos. Sed quare Saxones Angli Dicuntur michi, Musa, refer, ne nescius errem. Respondet sic Musa michi: ‘Dat patria nomen Illud; id euentus nomen facit, Angulus Anglum. Anglicus angelicus tamen exponi solet; huius

421 attonitis P; atonitis V: redit P; uenit V. 426 Ecquid P; Et quid V: ista P; illa V. concordia V; corcordia P. 438 cepta tenes P; ceptra tenens V: cepta P; ceptra V.

420

425

430

435

445

450

428 440

Priami fera P; patriam (or pateram [?]: followed by a gap or an erasure) V: blanda P; blada V. 441 iuuant P; iuuat V. 442 Cui P; Cur V: scismaque V; cismaque P. 445 sequeris V; sequaris P. 446 nacio P; nascio V.

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charge through the kingdom like swift lions; carving a path with their swords, they scatter the English and subject them to a slaughter which they little expected. The crowd of English is terrified, flees from the British, and seeks the protection of wastelands. But as soon as they recover their astonished wits, the English take up arms. Both parties resist their enemy with all their effort. Each side wages war, and everywhere each side suffers slaughter. Then fathers and righteous mothers, who are worn out by their advanced age and the succession of wars, say: ‘Will there ever be a time in which this storm and pestilence of war will end, and when a gentler hour will come with sweet harmony and kindly peace?’ O land of Brutus, island of unhappy condition, filled with deceit, home of lust, host to war, vessel of blood, spacious basket of sins, you bear witness to the stability of Fortune and convict of falsehood the poets who claim that that goddess, whirled in a circle by her wheel, cannot stand still. You provide evidence of Fortune remaining constant to a fixed purpose and moving nowhere: for just as she first attached herself to you, so she stays to this day. You assumed the name of kingdom by force and the sword; you continue as you have begun, and as you have begun you will continue for as long as Britons and Saxons can still grasp their weapons. Offspring of Priam, savage race, gentle peace offends you; you delight in war, you live forever amidst arms; harmony is ever jarring to you, and faction ever sweet. Lo, the vengeance of God is upon you, punishing your transgressions with just disaster. You will be disinherited from this kingdom which you pollute. Losing your own possessions, you will i seek after those of others. Yet the English population are a wicked race, a deceitful nation, a people cowardly in war but audacious in engineering treachery, a drunken crew, a lying breed, a mendacious line. They exceed the British in numbers, but the Britons are their superiors in character. But tell me, Muse, lest I am misled by error, why are the Saxons called Angli? The Muse replies to me: "Their homeland, Angulus, gives them the name; and from it comes the name Anglus. However, Anglicus is usually explained as “angelic”. Pope Gregory, who interpreted the

283

LIBERX

455

Nominis expositor et dictus apostolus Angli Gregorius populi respexit ad exteriorem Candorem uultus, cum quondam dixerit Anglos Angelicos. Tamen angelico peruersa nitore Mens caret; angelus est Sathane huius nominis auctor. Forte uel inferior determinat angulus Anglos, In quo cauda riget; uel id ex '"'in-gloria" nomen

460

Composita exponit, sine qua gens illa futura est.’ Interea, dum bella ferox gerit hostis uterque, Dumque nouem lustris patitur pars utraque passim Dampna sue partis, ingressi denique carnis Uniuscuiusque uiam fortissimus Iuo Et collega suus Britonum tutore carentem Destituunt populum. Populum sine rege relictum Anglica persequitur rabies; numerumque minorem Excludit maior et contra federa iuris Acephali Britones spoliantur iure paterno.

465

470

Iam mea pene ratis fluctu maris obruta portum Optatum tangit; et quam nec seua Caribdis Nec catuli Scille nec terruit equoris unda, Terrent terrarum fantasmata, terret edacis Liuoris morsus, tormento seuior omni. Quis locus inuidie, quid agit detractio mordax Hic, ubi culpat opus proprium quod fecerat auctor? Inuide, cur cernis obliquo lumine, labro Indignante legis mea carmina? Cur ea dente Scabro corrodis? Non sunt me iudice digna Laude, nec in medio cleri recitanda diserti. Nil ego prouectis, nil doctis scribo magistris, Sed rudibus rude carmen ego, non uerba polita, Non tragicis satis apta modis, non digna cathedra, Non medio psallenda foro, cano gutture rauco. Non plausus populi, non famam, non sapientum Iudicium quero; satis est michi si puerorum Gratus in ore legar. Procul hinc, procul este periti.

455 et P; nam (with uel et suprascript) V.

456 exteriorem P; interiorem V.

475

480

485

457 quondam P;

condam V. 457 dixerit P; diceret V. 459 angelus V; Anglis P: auctor P; actor V. 460 inferior V; interior P: determinat P; deteriat V: angulus PV (corrected from angelus in V). 466 Iuo V; Yuo P. 469 persequitur P; prosequitur V. 471 paterno PV (corrected from

Britanno in V).

472 No rubric in P; Conclusio operis huius V.

tragicis PV (after a deletion in P).

478 auctor P; actor V.

486 psallenda P; psallanda V.

284

485

BOOK X

name and is known as the Apostle of the English people, had in mind the external brightness of their faces when once he called the Angli angelic. But their wicked minds lack angelic splendor; rather, the instigator of this name for the English is the angel of Satan. Or perhaps the English are defined by their lower angle, in which they have a stiff tail; or the name Angli may be compounded from “‘in-gloria”’, since that people will be without glory.’ Meanwhile the two opposing parties wage savage war, and for thirty-five years both suffer setbacks at every point. Finally mighty Ivo and his comrade go the way of all flesh and leave the British nation without a protector. The ferocity of the English hounds the people, who have no king; their superior numbers drive off the weaker, and, contrary to the demands of justice, the leaderless Britons are deprived of the rights of their ancestors. Now my ship, almost swamped by the sea waves, touches the port it longs for; and, although it was not intimidated by cruel Charybdis nor Scylla’s whelps nor the ocean swell, it fears the spectres of land, it fears the bite inflicted by consuming Envy, which is more savage than any torture. But what place is there here for enviousness, what can carping criticism accomplish here, where the author himself finds fault with the work which he has composed? Envious one, why do you regard my poem with eyes askance, why do you read it with disdainful lip? Why do you gnaw at it with scabrous tooth? In my own judgement it is not worthy of praise, nor is it fit to be read out amid the learned clergy. I write nothing for advanced or educated masters, but with a harsh throat I sing an unsophisticated song for the unlearned, not polished words well fitted for tragic verse, nor worthy of a teacher’s chair, nor to be lauded in the middle of the public square. I do not seek the applause of the people, nor fame, nor the approval of the wise; it is enough for me if I am readily recited by the mouths of

285

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Saxones hinc abeant; lateant mea scripta Quirites; Nec pateant Gallis, quos nostra Britannia uictrix Sepe molestauit. Solis hec scribo Britannis, Ut memores ueteris patrie iurisque paterni Exiliique patrum propriique pudoris, anhelent Uocibus et uotis ut regnum restituatur Antiquo iuri, quod possidet Anglicus hostis; Neue male fidei possessor predia nostra Prescribat sumatque bonas a tempore causas. At pueri, quibus istud opus commendo, rogate Pro uestri uatis anima, famaque perhenni Antistes uestro uiuat Chadiocus in ore.

494 anhelent P; hanelent V.

495 Uocibus P; Uiribus V.

500 uestri P;

490

495

500

ueteris V. 50 Chadiocus V; Cadiocus P. Final rubric: Explicit decimus liber gestorum regum Britannie 76 manum Guillelmi dicti de Redonis monachi P; Laus tibi sit, Christe, quoniam labor explicit iste. Explicit historia Britonum uersificata, a magistro Alexand ro Nequam compilata, ut credo, et scripta ad dominum Cadiocum episcopum Ueneten sem V.

286

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children. Let scholars be far, far from here. Let Saxons be gone; let my writings be unknown to the Romans; and let them not be seen by the Gauls, whom our Britain has often victoriously harried. I write this entirely for the British, so that, mindful of their ancient homeland, their hereditary rights, the exile of their fathers, and their own shame, they may strive with voice and prayer to restore the kingdom, which the English enemy now occupies, to their jurisdiction as before; and so that the treacherous possessor does not lay claim to our farms and his case gain strength through the passage of time. Boys, to whom I entrust this work, pray for the soul of your poet; and let

Bishop Chadiocus live with eternal fame in your mouths.

287

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CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

BookI

I.1, ‘post patris fata’ Aeneid, IV.20, ‘post fata Sychaei' 1.4, ‘Post maris et terre diuersa pericula"

Aeneid, 111.528, ‘Di maris et terrae’; Juvenal, III.268, *ac diuersa pericula noctis' I.12, *Unde genus Britonum' Aeneid, V.801, ‘Unde genus ducis"; Thebaid, 1.677, ‘Unde genus, quae terra mihi’ 1.17, ‘post sacre scripture seria ludi’ Eclogues, VII.15, ‘mea seria ludo’;

Horace, Sermones, 1.1.27, ‘amoto quaeramus seria ludo’; Alexandreid, IV.427 ‘qui seria ludis’ 1.20, ‘Auctorisque stilum laudauerit’ Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus, I, prologus, 1, ‘Auctoris mendico stilum’ 1.21, “de pectore frigus’ Heroides, X11.142, ‘in toto pectore frigus’ 1.28, ‘Post cineres Troie, post diruta menia’ Alexandreid, 1V.215, ‘Post cineres Iherico'; Heroides, 111.45, ‘Diruta marte tuo Lyrnesia moenia’; Metamorphoses, XIII.520, ‘post diruta Pergama’ 1.34, ‘quem turba ducum’ Alexandreid, 111.210, ‘Turba ducum'; Thebaid, I1I.606, *ubi turba ducum' 1.37, ‘de sanguine cretum’ Aeneid, IV.191, "Troiano sanguine cretum' 1.38, ‘lacrimisque profusis" Alexandreid, V1I.452, ‘lacrimisque profusis’ 1.39, ‘sic orsa profatur’ Thebaid, V1I.247, "Quae sic orsa prior' 1.41, ‘Pudet, ha pudet, esse’ > Metamorphoses, IX.531, 'pudet, a, pudet ariesnomen 1.45, ‘Nam potes— et debes' Juvenal, V.171, ‘Si potes, et debes' 1.50, *uincemus te duce’ Eclogues, IV.3, ‘Te duce’ 1.55—6, ‘et pax diuturna / Efficiunt molles' Alexandreid, 11.9, ‘et pax diuturna labantes'

289

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

1.56, ‘Hec pugna uidebitur impar’ Aeneid, XII.216, ‘impar ea pugna uideri" 1.58, ‘uultus ostendere’ Metamorphposes, III.112, ‘ostendere uultus' (also XI.644 and Thebaid, X.452) I.60, ‘Troiana matre creatus" Metamorphoses, 11.756, ‘sine matre creatam" I.67, 'fient te uindice serui’ Lucan, III.137, ‘Te uindice tuta relicta est’ I.69—70, *concipit in se / Ingentes animos' Metamorphoses, 1.166, ‘Ingentes animos, dignas Ioue concipit iras’ I.71-2, ‘curru uictore superbus / Iam uehitur’ Tristia, IV.2.47, ‘in curru, Caesar, uictore ueheris’ 1.80, ‘Quare Troiana iuuentus’ Aeneid, 1.467, ‘premeret Troiana iuuentus’ (see also Hexameter Lexikon, V.477)

1.82, ‘abdita more ferarum’ Thebaid, VIII.71, ‘rabidarum more ferarum’ (also Hexameter Lexikon, 111.416) 1.89, ‘nimie non imperat ire’ Heroides, X1.15, *tumidae non imperat irae’ 1.92, ‘Turbine correptos’ Aeneid, 1.45, ‘Turbine corripuit 1.96, ‘ad bella gerenda paratis’ Aeneid, VII.444, ‘quis bella gerenda' 1.97, *Postera lux oritur' Remedia Amoris, 509, ‘Postera lux aderit’ 1.100, ‘Nunc huc, nunc illuc et quo suus impetus illos’ Heroides, X.19, ‘Nunc huc nunc illuc"; Alexandreid, X.43, ‘et quo rapit impetus illuc" I.102, *moriuntur more bidentum' Alexandreid, V1.412, *palantes more bidentum’

1.107, ‘Quis furor, o socii' Lucan, I.8, *Quis furor, o ciues' I.109, *nec sic moriamur inulti* Aeneid, 11.670, *hodie moriemur inulti’; cf. Aeneid, IV.659—60, *moriemur inultae | Sed moriamur’ I.115-16, ‘post terga ligatis /Adducit manibus’ Metamorphoses, 111.575, ‘manibus post terga ligatis I.117, ‘stragemque suorum’ Lucan, IV.797, ‘ceciditque in strage suorum’ 1.119, 'dispersas colligit alas’ Alexandreid, 11.442, ‘sparsas recolligit alas’ 1.120, ‘Ut ueniente die castrum, spe ductus inani? Georgics, IV.464, ‘Te ueniente die’; Aeneid, XL.49, ‘spe multum captus inani’ 1.126, ‘audacia crescit

Alexandreid, 1.228, *audacia creuit’ (also Metamorphoses, VIII.82) 1.127, ‘Emissis telis obnubitur aer’ Lucan, 1II.545—6, ‘emissaque tela / Aera texerunt’

1.129, ‘tali tegmine tuti" Aeneid, V1I.632, ‘Tegmina tuta cauant’

290

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

1.132, ‘cassumque laborem’ Thebaid, X1.80, ‘cassique labores' 1.146, ‘Nocte fere media’ Alexandreid, 1.504, ‘Nocte fere media’ (also Juvenal, XI.112) I.155, *properata cede perempti" Aeneid, IX.453, ‘tot caede peremptis' 1.157, ‘et murmura uocum' Alexandreid, IV.311, ‘confusaque murmura uocum’; Metamorphoses, XII.49, *paruae murmura uocis’ I.168, ‘Sanguinis unda ruit Alexandreid, 11.318c, ‘sanguinis unda meatum'

I.170, ‘Exhalant animas. Alios gemitus morientum' Alexandreid, V.268, 'Exhalans animam'; Metamorphoses, XV.528, ‘Exhalari animam'; Aeneid, X1.633, ‘et gemitus morientum' (but cf. also Historia Regum Britannie, $13, ‘Ad gemitus ergo morientium") 1.174, ‘secant in frusta cadauera’ Aeneid, 1.212, ‘pars in frusta secant’ 1.176, ‘ocius aura’ Thebaid, V1.602, ‘rapida puer ocius aura’ 1.184, 'Lucifero retegente diem’ Metamorphoses, V1I.1—2, ‘Iam nitidum retegente diem noctisque fugante / Tempora Lucifero' I.199, *Quis uestrum nisi mentis inops'

Alexandreid, 1V.570, ‘Quis nisi mentis inops’; Ars Amatoria, 1.465, ‘Quis nisi mentis inops' I.208, ‘et cedes cede luatur’ Lucan, II. 312, ‘hac caede luatur’; Alexandreid, 1.503, ‘cedem cede piasset' L.216-17, ‘Naues ter centum uinginti quatuor, auro, / Argento, uino, farris

speciebus honuste’ Alexandreid, X.246, ‘naues rerum speciebus onustas’ I.220, ‘dant sua lintea uentis’ Metamorphoses, V1LAO, ‘dat lintea uentis’ I.221-2, ‘summa / Stans in pupe’ Aeneid, I1I.527 (also VIII.680; X.261), ‘Stans celsa in puppi" 1.224, * Pater, o pater, auferor." inquit Ars Amatoria, 11.91, * "pater, o pater, auferor” inquit" 1.226, ‘Syrtes michi fata minantur" Alexandreid, IX.98, ‘si quid fata minantur’ 1.227-8, ‘edendam | Scilla suis canibus promittit" Heroides, X11.123, ‘Aut nos Scylla rapax canibus misisset edendos’ I.233, *Cur matris in aluo' Metamorphoses, 1.420, ‘ceu matris in aluo’

1.234, *monstris seruata marinis" Aeneid, VII.780, *monstris pauidi effudere marinis' 1.235, ‘sed uocis iter’ Aeneid, V1I.533-4, ‘et udae/Uocis iter’

291

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

1.238, ‘Coniugis in gremio. Nec uerba minancia dicit’ Georgics, 11.326, ‘Coniugis in gremium’;

Lucan, VIII.106, “Coniugis in gremium ';

Metamorphoses, 1.91 ‘nec uerba minantia fixo’ 1.244, ‘circuit undique pontus’ Aeneid, III.193, *undique pontus’ 1.248, ‘Nulla uident hominum uestigia’

Alexandreid, 111.384, ‘hominis uestigia nusquam’ 1.251, ‘in ea delubra uetusta Diane’ Heroides, XII.69, ‘Sunt in eo — fuerant certe — delubra Dianae’ 1.252, (Credere si fas est) ubi dat responsa petenti’ Alexandreid, IV.313, ‘si credere fas est’; Metamorphoses, 111.340, ‘dabat populo responsa petenti" 1.256, ‘Gerio comitatur euntes’ Aeneid, V1.863, ‘sic comitatur euntem’ 1.258, ‘niueis cingit sua timpora uittis’ Aeneid, V1.665, ‘niuea cinguntur tempora uitta’, Metamorphoses, XIII.643, ‘niueis circumdata tempora uittis’

1.259-60, ‘tres aras construit: unam / Mercurio, mediamque Ioui, dextramque Diane’ cf. Metamorphoses, IV.754—5, ‘Laeuum Mercurio, dextrum tibi, bellica uirgo, / Ara Iouis media est’ 1.262, ‘tria numina placat' Fasti, 1.171, *aliorum numina placem’;

Ex Ponto, IV.8.23, ‘tua numina placa’ 1.263, ‘Et noua uota facit et uerba precancia dicit" Lucan, V.450, ‘Noua uota timori’; Metamorphoses, V1I.590, ‘dum uerba precantia dicit" 1.264, ‘tollit ad ethera uultum' Metamorphoses, X1II.542, ‘sustollit ad aethera uultus'

I.267-8, ‘cui sunt Proserpina, Luna, Diana, / Nomina’ cf. Eberhard of Béthune, Graecismus, V1I.57, ‘Tres Triuie sedes: Diana, Proserpina, Luna’ 1.271, ‘Dic, dea, que michi sit tellus habitanda meisque’ Metamorphoses, III.9, ‘quae sit tellus habitanda requirit’ 1.274, ‘His nouies dictis Triuie ter circuit aram’ Fasti, V.439, ‘Hoc nouies dicit’ (but cf. Historia Regum Britannie, §16, ‘Hec ubi

nouies dixit’); Metamorphoses, V1I.258, ‘flagrantis circuit aras’ 1.278, ‘ac talia fari' see Hexameter Lexikon, V.340-1 I.279-81, “Brute, sub occasu solis trans Gallica regna ! Insula uasta iacet habitata gigantibus olim, /Nunc deserta quidem’ Historia Regum Britannie, $16, ‘Brute, sub occasu solis trans Gallica regna | Insula in occeano est undique clausa mari. / Insula in occeano est, habitata gigantibus olim ! Nunc deserta quidem’ I.286, ‘retractat apud se’ Alexandreid, V1II.26, *uersat apud se’ I.290, ‘Carbasa dant uentis" Lucan, V.560, “dat carbasa uentis’

292

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

1.291, ‘Equora classis arat’ Aeneid, 11.780, *maris aequor arandum’:

Tristia, 1.2.76, *aequor aro' 1.301-2, ‘in equor /Tirrenum’ Aeneid, 1.67, ‘Tyrrhenum nauigat aequor’ 1.311, ‘patrie commercia lingue’ Lucan, VIII.348, 'Latiae commercia linguae’ (also Tristia, V.10.35) 1.312, ‘et gentis origo’ Heroides, IV.55, ‘gentis origo’ 1.315, ‘Brutum comitatur euntem’ see 1.256 above 1.324, ‘in montibus altis' see Hexameter Lexikon, III.411—2 1,326, ‘uiri, mortique propinqui’ Alexandreid, V1I.255, *mortisque propinquae’ 1.327, ‘Que uos in saltus regis dementia duxit' see III.388 below 1.341, 'ulcisci cede nocentum’ Fasti, 1.350, ‘Ulta . . . caede nocentis’; Ex Ponto, 1.8.19, ‘caede nocentum’ 1.346, ‘regnat Erinis’ Metamorphoses, 1.241, ‘fera regnat Erinys’; Thebaid, V.202, ‘sua regnat Erinys’ 1.352, ‘In dextro cornu Corineus' Alexandreid, 11.426, ‘In dextro cornu’ 1.377, 'Itfragor armorum' see VI.161—2 below I.378, 'diffusi sanguinis unda' see 1.168 above 1.385, “sine murmure regna regentes’ see III.456 below

I.387, ‘deuota mente feruntur? Claudian, De Consulatu Stilichonis, 1.232, ‘deuota mente tuentur' .' 1.391, ‘perit omnis sexus et etas’ Alexandreid, 1.323-4, ‘perit nullo discrimine sexus et etas / Omnis’ 1.401, 'ualli munimine tutus’ see 1.421 and VI.446 below 1.406, ‘arma capescunt’ Aeneid, I1I.234—5, ‘arma Alexandreid, 1.82, ‘arma 1.409, ‘sed non manet exitus Alexandreid, 11.181, ‘sed

capessant / Edico’; capesce’ idem’ quis manet exitus illos’

I.412, ‘Mars sua tela ministrat! see IX.26—7 below 1.419, ‘socios in castra reducit"

cf. Alexandreid, V.360, ‘Dumque reducuntur equites in castra" 1.420, ‘toto conamine Galli’ Alexandreid, III.161 (also X.370), ‘toto conamine’ 1.421, ‘infra munimina ualli’ Lucan, VI.290, ‘Caesar munimina ualli’; Thebaid, XII.9, ‘et munimina ualli’ 1.422-3, ‘preuia mortis /Spicula’ Alexandreid, 1.260, ‘preuia mortis harundo’ 1.423, ‘et mille sagittas’ Metamorphoses, V.380, ‘de mille sagittis’ 1.430, ‘obnubunt mille sagitte’ see 1.423 above 1.433-4, ‘de cuius nomine clarum /Nomen habet"

293

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

Alexandreid, IX.267-8, ‘cuius de nomine dictam / . . . urbem"; >

see also II.139 below 1.434-6, ‘quo nec formosior alter | . . . | Uenerat ad bellum" Aeneid, VI.164, ‘quo nec praestantior alter’; Ilias Latina, 136—7, ‘quo non deformior alter / Uenerat ad Troiam" 1.438, ‘tanto supereminet omnes’

Aeneid, 1.105, ‘deas supereminet omnis’; Alexandreid, 1.338, ‘cuius supereminet omnes’ 1.440, ‘Gallos nil tale timentes' Achilleid, 1.567, ‘nil tale timenti’ 1.443, ‘Illis audacia crescit' see 1.126 above 1.455, ‘Uentis dant lintea’ see 1.220 above 1.468, ‘uomere lesam’ Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus, 1X.396—7, ‘uomere campus / Leditur’ 1.471, ‘sic ab origine mundi’ Alexandreid, IV.181, ‘ab origine mundi’;

Metamorphoses, 1.3, ‘primaque ab origine mundi’ I.490-1, ‘Collidunt pectore pectus, | Frontem fronte’ Lucan, IV.783, 'colliso pectore pectus"; Metamorphoses, 1X.45, "frontem fronte premebam’ 1.494, ‘Crebris afflatibus oris' cf. Historia Regum Britannie, 821, 'crebris afflatibus aera uexant’ I.495—6, ‘non posse duellum / Stare diu’ Lucan, I.70-1, 'summisque negatum /Stare diu' 1.499, *Succenditur ira’ see Hexameter Lexikon, V.299-300 I.501, ‘petit sublime cacumen’ Alexandreid, VIII.395, ‘sublime cacumen’ (but see also VII.194—5 below) I.503, ‘Memorabile nomen’ Metamorphoses, X.608, ‘magnum et memorabile nomen’

Book II II4, *Gallica regna lacessit" Aeneid, X1I.186, ‘regna lacessent’;

Thebaid, VIII.75, ‘mea regna lacessat’ II.8, ‘pacemque reformat’ Alexandreid, 11.291, *pacemque reforment’ 11.15, ‘Quam faciunt situs ipse loci’

Alexandreid, 1.2034, *Chorintus / Quam situs ipse loci’ 11.17, *hanc turribus altis! see X.142 below II.28, *Tunc demum nature debita soluit" cf. Alexandreid, IV.216, ‘Persoluit losua nature debita’ II.37, ‘sine fraude gubernat" Fasti, V1.173, ‘sine fraude natabat’ 11.54, ‘sed facta priora repugnant’ Heroides, 1X.20, ‘facta priora notat’ IL63, ‘Non inpugne feres, manus hec tibi gaudia uite’ Lucan, 1.289, *Uix inpune feres’; and see 11.163 below

294

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

11.67, *fedus pacemque reforment' see II.8 above II.73, ‘sedatam suscitet iram' Aeneid, X.263, 'spes addita suscitat iras’ 11.87, ‘sed teli uulnere lesus’ Metamorphoses, XII.421, ‘cor uulnere laesum' II.101, ‘Fraterna cuspide Malis’

Lucan, V.621, 'Cuspide fraterna lassatum’ II.115, ‘ab introitu non discrepat exitus eius' cf. Psalms 120.8, ‘Dominus custodiat introitum et exitum tuum’ II.116, ‘Tunc in Iudea primus rex sceptra tenebat’ Fasti, IV.265, 'Phrygiae tunc sceptra tenebat II.135, ‘Justicie cultor' Lucan, 11.389, ‘Justiciae cultor' II.136, ‘et pacis amator' see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.104 II.139, ‘proprio de nomine nomen’ Alexandreid, 1.239, *iuuenum de nomine nomen’ II.145, 'sceptra tenebat’ see II.116 above II.148, ‘pacemque reformat’ see 11.8 above II.152, ‘Ibi cana uetustas' Alexandreid, 1.249, *quorum cana uenustas' II.159, ‘Cuius in ede uiget qui numquam deficit ignis' Heroides, X1I.88, *Cuius in aede sumus' (but cf. Historia Regum Britannie, $30, ‘in cuius ede’); Aeneid, 11.505, ‘qua deficit ignis’ (but cf. Historia Regum Britannie, §30, ‘ignes qui numquam deficiebant’) 11.160, ‘auesque imitatus’ Metamorphoses, V1II.195, ‘ut ueras imitetur aues' II.163, ‘amisit gaudia uite" Disticha Catonis, 11.3.2, ‘amittere gaudia uitae’ II.170, *magno dilexit amore’ Aeneid, 1.344, *magno miserae dilectus amore’ II.171-2, ‘Uergentibus eius / Annis in senium Lucan, 1.129—30, ‘uergentibus annis / In senium' II.223, ‘quociens uires in corpore languent’

Ex Ponto, 1.4.3, ‘languent in corpore uires' II.246, 'deiectos tollis in altum' see IX.218 below II.248, *quem turba ducum' see 1.34 above 11.252, ‘quid sit agendum' cf. Alexandreid, IV.110, *quidnam super hiis sit agendum" II.256, *miserandam ducere uitam" Alexandreid, V1I.89, ‘toto ducere uitam"; Aeneid, 11.641 (also IV.340), ‘ducere uitam"

.

II.257, ‘Cordille limen adire’ Aeneid, VI.115, ‘tua limina adirem’ 11.260-1, ‘profusis/Sic fatur lacrimis' see 1.38 above 11.270, ‘sub me preside tanta’ Lucan, 11.538, ‘me praeside Roma’ 11.277, ‘Ecquid erit tempus in quo’ Ex Ponto, III.1.3, ‘Ecquod erit tempus quo’

295

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

11.288, ‘Massamque argenti tradens’ Alexandreid, V1.169, ‘argenti massa uetusti’

11.300, ‘Leyrus cum milite multo’ Alexandreid, V1.470, ‘Aderant cum milite multo"; Lucan, IV.254, ‘spoliatus milite multo’ 11.313, ‘satagens gladio finire dolorem’ Ex Ponto, 1.6.41, ‘gladio finire dolorem’ 11.328, ‘Sanguineas guttas’ Metamorphoses, 11.360, ‘Sanguineae . . . guttae" 11.334, ‘In senium uergisse' see II.171—2 above 11.335, *maiore cupidine regni’ Lucan, VII.240, *flagransque cupidine regni’ 11.342, ‘Quam dolor in facinus trahit, anxia facta nouerca’ Metamorphoses, IV.471, ‘in facinus traherent Athamanta sorores"; Heroides, IX.54, ‘facta nouerca’ 11.343, ‘fraterna cede madentem’

Aeneid, IV.21, ‘sparsos fraterna caede penates’; Alexandreid, 1.299, *Grecorum cede madentem’ (cf. Metamorphoses, XIV.199,

*caede madentes’; and Juvenal, IV.154,‘caede madenti’) 11.360, ‘cui stat uictoria’ see VI.410 below

11.380, ‘Belinus et Brennius, inclita proles’ Metamorphoses, 1X.229, ‘louis inclita proles’; Ilias Latina, 248 (also 520), ‘Iouis inclita proles’

11.385, 'seruant non amplius annis’ Aeneid, 1.683, ‘noctem non amplius unam" II.387-8, ‘quibus est concordia discors | Paxque molesta" Lucan, I.98-9, *mansit concordia discors / Paxque fuit non sponte ducum’ IL405, ‘Nauigiumque parat Alexandreid, X, capitulum, 6, 'Nauigiumque parat! 11.412, ‘diuersa ad litora tendunt Aeneid, 11.205, *pariterque ad litora tendunt’ 11.413, ‘uentorum turbine raptus' Matthew of Vendóme, Ars, 1.53.75, *aeger uentorum turbine’ IL417, ‘interne gaudia mentis’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 11.398—9 IL424, ‘bachabor et igni' see VII.141 below II.426, ‘Spretis monitisque minisque’ Alexandreid, 1.121, *monituque minisque tonantem’ 11.427, ‘Perstat in incepto Belinus’ Metamorphoses, V1.50, ‘Perstat in incepto’ 11.430, ‘Plusquam ciuilia bella’ Lucan, I.1, ‘Bella per Emathios plusquam ciuilia campis’

11.432, ‘franguntur cominus haste’ Alexandreid, V1LA21, ‘cominus hasta’; Ilias Latina, 951, ‘cominus hastis’ 11.433, ‘Accedunt propius; commiscent ensibus enses’ Alexandreid, 1X.386, ‘propius accedere’; Lucan, VII.573, ‘confractique ensibus enses’; Alexandreid, 1.141, ‘his ensibus ensis’

296

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

11.434, ‘Mors cum marte uenit" cf. Lucan, VI.100, "languor cum morte uenit" 11.442, ‘gerens sub pectore uulnus' Aeneid, I.36, ‘seruans sub pectore uulnus'

11.445, ‘ad tartara tendit uterque’ Aeneid, IV.446, ‘radice in Tartara tendit’ 11.448, *lacero fugit agmine’ Lucan, VI.315, ‘lacero petit agmine terras’ 11.450, ‘dat lintea uentis’ see 1.220 above 11.464, ‘factus scemate miro’ Alexandreid, IV.178, ‘structum scemate miro’ 11.474, ‘exorat supplice uoce’ Metamorphoses, V1.33, ‘Supplice uoce roga’ 11.482, *prodest belloque togaque’ Ex Ponto, 11.1.61—2, ‘iuuenum belloque togaque / Maxime’

Book III

III.14, ‘ab auis atauisque’ Aeneid, VII.56, *auis atauisque potens’ III.16, ‘retractat apud se’ see 1.286 above III.20, ‘Jn fratris iugulum’ Alexandreid, V1I.2A, 'Inque senis iugulum'

III.20-1, *trementi / Se gerit in medium passu' Metamorphoses, 111.276—7, ‘trementi /Membra tulit passu' IIL21, ‘pacemque reformat’ see 11.8 above III.25, *pudet arma tulisse' Heroides, VI.34, ‘arma tulisse" III.26, *Contra fraternas acies' Thebaid, 1.1, ‘Fraternas acies alternaque regna’ III.29, *deuastant Gallica rura’ Lucan, 1.394, ‘per Gallica rura' III.36, ‘percurrunt Ytala regna' Aeneid, 1II.185, 'Itala regna uocari’ III.37, ‘subest Romana potestas’ Lucan, V.664, ‘titulis Romana potestas"

IIL43, ‘cum laude triumphi’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 111.175 III.46, ‘se consul uterque' Lucan, II.565, ‘Hinc consul uterque' IILA7, 'fratrum peruenit ad aures’ Aeneid, 11.81, ‘peruenit ad auris’ 111.49, *Romuleam festinus adit. Romana iuuentus" Alexandreid, V1.163, ‘Persepolim festinus adit’; Lucan, IX.481, ‘Romana iuuentus’ III.50, *Germanica castra relinquit" Aeneid, X.604, ‘et castra relinquunt" III.54, *Ueniunt ueniente die’ see 1.120 above

297

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

I1I.62, ‘qui menia Rome’ Aeneid, 1.7, ‘altae moenia Romae’

111.63, ‘muros indagine cingit’ Aeneid, IV.121, ‘saltusque indagine cingit’ 111.66, ‘telorum densus cadit undique nimbus’

Thebaid, IX.526—7, ‘premit undique nimbo / Telorum’

III.70, ‘uicta pietate paterna’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.249 III.74, ‘Ecce ruit scelerata cohors' Caelius Sedulius, Carmen Paschale, V.340, 'scelerata cohors' 111.97, *Hostibus hostis, amicus amicis, fortis in armis' Alexandreid, V1.144, *dedit hostibus hostis";

Lucan, V.345, ‘Fortis in armis' 111.114, ‘nullis habitata priorum" Claudian, Jn Rufinum, 11.40, ‘nullis habitata colonis’ III.120—1, ‘de nomine cuius / Nomen’ see 1.4334 and II.139 above III.125—6, ‘soluit /Debita nature’ see 11.28 above 111.136, ‘cuius magna comitante caterua’ Aeneid, II.40, ‘magna comitante caterua’ III.141, ‘quam cetera turba suorum’ Alexandreid, 111.187 (also 388), ‘cetera turba iacentem’ III.150, 'spoliatos igne cremari’ Metamorphoses, XIV.444, ‘quo debuit igne cremauit’ III.200-1, ‘tercia regem / Sors facit’ Metamorphoses, VIII 171, ‘Tertia sors annis domuit"

III.220, *decus et tutela uocatus" Metamorphoses, X11.613, ‘decus et tutela Pelasgi’; Fasti, 1.415, *hortorum decus et tutela’ III.231, ‘Tenuancius, inclita proles’ see 11.380 above III.232, ‘attingere culmen honoris’ Alexandreid, VIII.122, ‘summi culmen honoris’ (see also Hexameter Lexikon,

L.510-11) III.235—6, ‘nobile regnum / Prospiciens’ Alexandreid, 11.522 (also IV.122), *Persarum nobile regnum"; Heroides, XVII.135, ‘nobile regnum’ III.238, ‘memorat ueneranda uetustas’ Lucan, IX.987 (also X.323), *ueneranda uetustas’ III.249—51, ‘Laudamus Parthos, et in hoc absoluimus illos / Quod Crassus uitam finiuit funere digno, / Ore bibens aurum quod corde sitiuit auaro’ cf. Florus, Epitomi, 1.46.2, 'Aurum enim liquidum in rictum oris infusum est, ut cuius animus arserat auri cupiditate, eius etiam mortuum et exsangue corpus auro ureretur’ III.257, ‘Cesar, qui ceso nomen trahis istud ab hoste" p?Matthew of Vendóme, Ars, I.51.31, *Cesar ab effectu nomen tenet, omnia cedens'

III.263, *nimia succenditur ira' see I.499 above IIL264, ‘Nauigiumque parat’ see II.405 above III.270, *hinc inde uolant per litora pila’ Alexandreid, IV.288, * Hinc inde uolare uideres' 1III.277-8, ‘alter / Tendit in alterius iugulum' see IX.98 below

298

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

III.280-1, ‘nomen contigit illi /Cedis ab euentu’ cf. 111.257 above III.284, *Nennius ense furit’ Alexandreid, III.94, ‘nunc ense furit" III.288, *capud amputat ense’ see IV.67 below III.293, *Uictorum dispergit opes’ see V.361 below III.299, ‘amittit gaudia uite' see 11.163 above III.305, *tectum quoque classibus equor' eee IX.520, ‘lateat sub classibus equor' (see also Hexameter Lexikon III.306, ‘sibi bella minari"

Metamorphoses, XIII.662, ‘bella minatur" ; Thebaid, X11.683, ‘bellumque minatur’ 1III.312-3, ‘Quam bona libertas! Quam detestabilis auri /Argentique fames!’ Lucan, IX.1108, *O bona libertas"; Aeneid, 111.57, *'Auri sacra fames’ III.320, ‘diruta menia munit' see 1.28 above III.329, ‘ad terram uela retorquet’ Ilias Latina, 67, ‘sua uela retorsit’ III.330, ‘genus hoc miserabile mortis’ see VIII.210 below 111.341, ‘pectore toto’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.191—2 III.348, ‘ineunt post seria ludos' see 1.17 above IIL.350-1, ‘stare tenaci / Non possunt passu’ Ex Ponto, 11.6.21, ‘nec passu stare tenaci III.352, ‘Uertitur in luctum regalis tibia plausus" cf. Alexandreid, V1.208, ‘in subitum uersa est uictoria luctum’ III.304, 'nitida certasse palestra' Metamorphoses, V1.241, ‘nitidae . . . palaestrae’; Heroides, XV1.151, ‘nitida . . . palaestra’ III.363, ‘Nec prece nec precio’ Fasti, 11.806, ‘Nec prece nec pretio’ III.369, *Caesareas acies' Lucan, III.264, ‘Inter Caesareas acies'

III.375, ‘Omnis abest hinc inde timor’ Alexandreid, 1.191, ‘Iam timor omnis abest' ; Amores, 1.10.9, *Nunc timor omnis abest' III.377, *Concurrunt acies’ Alexandreid, 11.487 (also VI, capitulum, 10; and IV.589), ‘Concurrunt acies" III.377-8, ‘preuia mortis / Spicula’ see 1.422 above III.379, ‘cedere cede’ see VI.204 below III.386, ‘Romana iuuentus’ see IIL49 above III.388, ‘Que te demencia cogit" Eclogues, 11.69, ‘quae te dementia cepit" 111.392, ‘Cesar curru uictore uehetur’ see 1.71-2 above 111.396, ‘hostibus hostis' see III.97 above 111.397, ‘Pugnat pro patria et pro libertate tuenda’ Disticha Catonis, prologus, 23, ‘Pugna pro patria’, Prudentius, Psychomachia, 9, ‘pro libertate tuenda’ III.398, ‘generosa propago’

299

>

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

Alexandreid, IX.121, ‘regum generosa propago’; Ilias Latina, 625, ‘fama generosa propago’ III.402, ‘tribuit de nomine nomen’ see 11.139 above

111.403, ‘Mons sublimis erat, cuius prerupta cacumen’ see VII.194—5 below 111.414, ‘miserere mei, miserere tuorum Heroides, XII.81, *miserere mei, miserere meorum"; Aeneid, X1.365, *miserere tuorum"

IIL417, ‘regalis littera lecta est’ Ex Ponto, 1.9.4, ' littera lecta tua est’ III.424, 'dextra uictrice coegi’

Lucan, I.3, ‘uictrici conuersum uiscera dextra’ III.425, ‘Cesareas acies' see III.369 above IIL.431, ‘pacem ueniamque precatur" Aeneid, III.144, *ueniamque precari’ III.443, ‘Addidicit portare iugum’

Alexandreid, X.184, ‘Grecorum portare iugum' IIL445, ‘Confundit fasque nefasque’ Metamorphoses, V1.585—6, "fasque nefasque | Confusura’ IIL449, ‘nature debita soluit! see 11.28 above IIL456, ‘sine murmure reddit Lucan, I.260, ‘tacet sine murmure pontus’; Heroides, XXI.1, ‘sine murmure legi

Book IV

IV.3, *noua nupta suum cum patre maritum' Heroides, X1II.139, ‘noua nupta marito";

Juvenal, II.120, ‘noua nupta mariti’ IV.13, ‘totus describitur orbis’ Alexandreid, V1I.397, *pulchre describitur orbis’ IV.31, ‘aram sanguine fuso' see Hexameter Lexikon, V.38 IV.35, 'inferni federa rupit! Alexandreid, 11.420, ‘federa rumpit; Thebaid, X1.380, ‘stata foedera rupit' IV.53, ‘Romanas acies’ Georgics, 1.490, *Romanas acies iterum uidere’ IV.54, ‘fugit Romana iuuentus' see IIL49 above IV.59, *celer induit arma’ see Hexameter Lexikon, III.57 IV.66, ‘in margine ripe’ Alexandreid, IX.54, ‘acies in margine ripe’; Metamorphoses, 1.729, Tue in margine ripae' IV.67, *'Amputat ense caput’ Lucan, VI.176, ‘Amputat ense manus’ IV.68, *longumque tenebit in euum’ Alexandreid III.341, ‘tenet longumque tenebit" (cf. Thebaid, 11.429, ‘teneo longumque tenebo"); Ex Ponto, IV.7.47, ‘longum modo duret in euum’ IV.74, ‘Grandine plura uolant’ see V1.199—200 below

300

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

IV.75, ‘impellit machina muros’ Alexandreid, 111.291, ‘inpegit machina muros’; Aeneid, 11.46 (also II.237), ‘machina muros’ IV.77, 'Diuidit in turmas' Alexandreid, 1.246, ‘Diuidit in turmas' IV.78, ‘bella minatur’ see 111.306 above IV.79, ‘gentemque ferocem’ Alexandreid, V1II.512, ‘cum gente feroci’ IV.94, ‘et principe dignas’ Ex Ponto, I1.5.55, ‘facundia principe digna’; Tristia, 11.133, ‘ita principe dignum’ IV.98, ‘cum milite multo’ see II.300 above IV.99, “Rex ocius aura’ see 1.176 above IV.114, ‘Cana ueniente senecta’ cf. Heroides, XV1.109, ‘cana senectus’ IV.115, ‘quam serior etas’

Amores, 11.4.45, ‘me tangit serior aetas’ IV.126, 'de uirgine natum' see Hexameter Lexikon, V.621 IV.132, ‘potencia celi’ Metamorphoses, VIII.618, ‘potentia caeli’ IV.134, ‘trinus et unus’ see Hexameter Lexikon, V.471-2

IV.137-8, ‘Uniat ergo Deo Christi nos unio, tamquam / Membra suo capiti’ cf. Ephesians 4.15—16, ‘est caput Christus ex quo totum corpus compactum et conexum’ IV.147, ‘sacri gurgitis unda’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 11.471 IV.149, ‘uocant ad premia uite’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.327-9 IV.151, ‘fana prophana deorum" Caelius Sedulius, Carmen Paschale, 1.47, ‘fana profana' IV.169, ‘Rege carens' see V.83 below IV.194, ‘Sic paris impaciens’ see X.211-2 below IV.200, *uirum media de plebe creatum' Metamorphoses, V.207 (also IX.306), *media de plebe"; Alexandreid, X.435, ‘media quam plebe creatis’ IV.203, ‘et litora tuta’ Tristia, 1.5.36, *naufragio litora tuta meo’ IV.228, ‘lactanti seuior ursa’ cf. Lucan, VI.220, ‘post ictum saeuior ursa' IV.229, ‘obstantes demetit ense' see VI.240-1 below IV.237, 'infectaque sacra relinquit" Metamorphoses, V1.202, ‘et sacra infecta relinquunt"

IV.238-9, ‘unius adinstar / Fulminis occurrunt" Alexandreid, V.209—10, ‘et fulminis instar / Concitus occurrit" IV.239, ‘it tantus ad astra boatus’

Alexandreid, IV.589, ‘It tantus ad ethera clamor’ (also Lucan, 1.388, */t tantus

ad aethera clamor"); Alexandreid, V.152, ‘ferit horrifer astra boatus’

IV.240, ‘Et fragor armorum’ see V1.162 below

IV.251-2, ‘uoce precatur / Supplice' see II.474 above

301

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

IV.253, ‘ueniunt ad bella uocati’ Alexandreid, 111.430, ‘rursusque ad bella uocari’ IV.257, ‘Este, precor, memores qua sitis stirpe creati"

:

Metamorphoses, 11.543, ‘Este, precor, memores qua sitis stirpe creati

IV.262, ‘Plura locuturum prohibent Metamorphoses, 1.525, ‘Plura locuturum'; Alexandreid, 11.372, *Plura locuturo'

IV.263, ‘Et clangor lituum’ see VI.161 below IV.266, ‘nec machina belli’ see X.148 below IV.267, ‘mortem ballista propina Alexandreid, 111.287, ‘mortem ballista minatur’

IV.268-9, ‘quos crebro uerberat ictu / Dissoluitque aries’ Alexandreid, V.449, ‘crebro dissolueret ictu’ IV.286, ‘in pace prehenni’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.101 IV.288, ‘corpora ferro’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 1.468-9 IV.290, ‘pace fruuntur’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.100

IV.292, ‘commisso marte peremit’ see IX.130 below IV.305, ‘petit ethera spiritus eius' Metamorphoses, 11.437, ‘petit aethera uictor"; Lucan, V.72, ‘petit aethera colle’ IV.309, 'Artibus ingenuis' Alexandreid, 1.282, ‘Artibus ingenuis’ (also Ex Ponto, 1.6.7) IV.316, ‘non amplius anni’ see II.385 IV.324, ‘In commune malus' Lucan, II.390, ‘Jn commune bonus’ IV.326, ‘tecta, laresque’

Fasti, 111.242, *tecta laremque parat’ IV.332, ‘patrii dulcedo cespitis’ Alexandreid, 1.370, ‘reuocat patrie dulcedo"; Alexandreid, V1.212, ‘in patrio capturos cespite sompnum’ IV.334—5, ‘totum uulgata per orbem | Fama uolat’ Aeneid, 1.457, ‘fama totum uulgata per orbem’; Aeneid, IX.139, *Et iam fama uolans’ IV.335, “totus supponere mundus’ Alexandreid, 1.264, ‘supponere mundum’ IV.345, 'eodem principe gaudet’ Alexandreid, 11.528, ‘a tanto superari principe gaudet? IV.364, ‘regis non fictus amicus’ Alexandreid, V1.491, ‘Darii non fictus amicus’ IV.369, ‘argenti massas' see 1I.288 above IV.376, ‘sexus prole uirilis’

Alexandreid, V, capitulum 9, ‘stipatus prole uirili’ IV.378, ‘Romana matre creatum’ Metamorphoses, 11.553, *prolem sine matre creatam" IV.385, 'stipatus milite multo' see 11.300 above IV.387-8, *mordet harenas | Anchora’ Alexandreid, 1.360—1, *momordit harenam | Anchora’ IV.393, ‘Romanasque acies’ see IV.53 above IV.395, 'sibi quid sit agendum' see 11.252 above

302

J

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

IV.402, *Pacifereque manu ramum pretendit oliue’ Aeneid, VIII.116, ‘Paciferaeque manu ramum praetendit oliuae’ IV.408, ‘huc attulit error’ cf. Heroides, XVI.29, ‘huc appulit [var. attulit] error’

IV.409, ‘Aut que uos duxit demencia’ see 1.327 above IV.410, *Rege carere solum' see V.83 below

IV.412, ‘principe dignos’ see IV.94 above IV.413, ‘silencia rumpens’ Alexandreid, V1II.96, ‘silentia rumpens’ IV.415, ‘Regia progenies’ Metamorphoses, X1.754, ‘Regia progenies’ IV.425, ‘socios, in pace quietos'

Lucan, V.35, ‘longaque in pace quietos' IV.431, *pacem non prelia poscens’ Thebaid, V11I.393, ‘proelia poscunt’ (also Hexameter Lexikon, IV.369) IV.441, ‘Tandem candida pax’ Ars Amatoria, I11.502, ‘Candida pax’ IV.452, ‘fugiunt aliena sequentes’ see X.445 below IV.462, ‘gratesque rependit’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 11.457

IV.464, ‘iam custode carentem’ Alexandreid, V11I.45—6, *custode carere /Causatur regnum’; Amores, II1.4.23, *quamuis custode carebat

IV.474, *partes cultore carentes' Ex Ponto, 1.3.55, ‘campi cultore carentes’ IV.480, *O sanguine fuso' see IV.31 above IV.502, ‘Mobilitate uiget’ Aeneid, IV.175, ‘Mobilitate uiget’

IV.509, ‘sub pedibus Galli tua colla tenebunt’ Heroides, 1X.12, ‘sub pede colla tenet’

Book V V.2, *Regnum rege carens' see V.83 below V2, ‘deuastat barbarus hostis' Alexandreid, IX.67, ‘Sed barbarus hostis" (also Ex Ponto, IV.9.98; and Lucan, IV.319) V.27, ‘Missus ab Eoliis equor mouet utribus Auster’ cf. Amores, III.12.29, ‘Aeolios Ithacis inclusimus utribus Euros’ V.28, ‘Obruit unda rates’ see X.25 below V.39, *uix sustinet iram" Alexandreid, V.160, ‘nec sustinet iras' V.40, ‘dederat cui gratia nomen’ cf. Ex Ponto, 1.5.41, ‘cui dat Germania nomen’ V.46, ‘laniarat turba senatus’ Lucan, VIII.79, ‘pia turba senatus’ V.51, ‘igne cremant’ see III.150 above V.52, ‘Romulee deuote supplicat urbi’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.538

303

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

| V.67, ‘certa argumenta pauoris’ Claudian, /n Eutropium, 11.78, *Certaque . . . argumenta pudoris" V.70, ‘per mille foramina regnum’ Thebaid, X1I.776, ‘emicuit per mille foramina sanguis’ (cf. also Metamorphoses, XIL44, ‘ac mille foramina tectis’) V.71, ‘Incurrunt tutore carens’ see X.467 below

V.73, ‘Nulli sua proficit etas’ Lucan, II.104, ‘Nulli sua profuit aetas’ V.74, ‘iuuenesque senesque’ see Hexameter Lexikon, III.142-4

V.83, ‘regni rege carentis’ Lucan, X.521, ‘castra carentia rege’ V.87, ‘dubio quam querere marte’ Lucan, IV.770, *dubii discrimine Martis"; Alexandreid, 1.270, *dubiumque lacessere Martem" V.96-7, ‘nauta tepenti | Carbasa dat Zephiro’ Fasti, VI.715, ‘Zephyro date carbasa, nautae"; Fasti, 11.220, ‘Zephyro uicta tepente fluit" V.102, *Undique conueniunt Britones’ Aeneid, V.293, ‘Undique conueniunt Teucri’ V.102, ‘barbarus hostis’ see V.2 above V.110, ‘nil tale timentem’ see 1.400 above V.114, ‘Cur ueste sub atra’ Thebaid, X11.363, ‘atra sub ueste comisque’ V.116, ‘parere paratus’ Aeneid, IV.238, ‘parere parabat’ V.123, ‘Uortigernus spreto moderamine iuris’ Alexandreid, 1.113 (also V.305), *spreto moderamine iuris’ V.133-4, ‘Dicens psalmista, "uouete" , / "Reddite" continuo dixit Psalm 75.12, ‘uouete et reddite Domino Deo uestro' V.142-3, ‘regis inani / Nomine’ Alexandreid, V1II.333, ‘quam nomen inane’ (also Hexameter Lexikon, III.536) V.152, ‘bibulas Constantis inebriat aures’ Alexandreid, 1.187, *bibulas accomodat aures’ (also Persius, IV.50, “bibulas donaueris aures); Alexandreid, 1.125, *preceptor inebriat aures' (also Juvenal, IX.113, *uinosus inebriet aurem") V.153, *Picti tibi bella minantur Tristia, V.10.15, 'fera bella minantur ; see also III.306 above (and Hexameter Lexikon, 1.200)

V.154, ‘De quibus optato poteris gaudere triumpho' Lucan, VIII.430, ‘De qua Caesareis possim gaudere triumphis" V.160, ‘Ut quorum instabiles animos' Georgics, IV.105, ‘Instabilis animos ludo prohibebis'

V.161, ‘instimulet in regis fata clientes’ Alexandreid, V.306, ‘in domini coniurant fata clientes’ V.168, ‘imbutos munere Bachi* Metamorphoses, IV.765 (also XII.578), *munere Bacchi’; V.169, *lacrimis super ora profusis' see 1.38 above V.170, ‘probitas uulgata per orbem’ see IV.334 above

304

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

V.179, ‘Arma capescunt’ see 1.406 above V.185, ‘miserabile uisu' see Hexameter Lexikon, 111.373 V.188, ‘Lumina detergens ueluti lacrimancia clamat Metamorphoses, XIII.131—2, ‘ueluti lacrimantia tersit |Lumina’ V.189, *Cur te manus impia nobis' Metamorphoses, V1II.763, ‘fecit manus impia uulnus"; Heroides, VII.127, ‘manus impia poscit V.191, 'Auctores sceleris adducite’ Alexandreid, V1II.102, ‘Auctores sceleris ut proderet’ V.212, ‘remis sulcauimus equor’ Ex Ponto, 1.4.35, ‘uastum sulcauimus aequor’

V.213, ‘parere parati’ see V.116 above V.218, ‘cum Pallade Martem’

Ilias Latina, 532 ‘cum Pallade Maucrs' (cf. Heroides, XV.65)

V.219, 'Satyros, Faunosque, Laresque’ Ovid, Ibis, 81, ‘Fauni Satyrique Laresque’ V.236, ‘mille in uincula trudunt’ Alexandreid, VIL, capitulum, 2, ‘tandemque in uincula trudit’ V.245, ‘sibi cuncta licere’ Heroides, XVII.164, ‘cuncta licere puta’

V.248, ‘Tibi bella minantur’ see V.153 above V.250, ‘populum qui subiacet Artho’ cf. Lucan, 1.458, ‘populi quos despicit Arctos’ V.256, ' generosa ducum genuit regumque propago’ see III.398 above V.268, ‘montis sublime cacumen' see VII.194—5 below V.281, ‘Bachi munere functus’ see V.168 above

V.295, ‘Quid facis, o demens?' Metamorphoses, 111.641, ‘Quid facis, o demens'

V.300-1, *perdes / Infelicem animam' Lucan, VI.732, ‘Infelicem animam" V.306, 'patet . . . aula’ see VII.319 below V.331-2, ‘nulla est conuencio Christi / Ad Belial’ II Corinthians 6.15, *quae autem conuentio Christi ad Belial" V.340, 'exleges fertur in hostes’ Ilias Latina, 504, *aduersos fertur in hostes';

Alexandreid, 1X..174, ‘fertur in hostem’ V.342, ‘Christus uincit, Christus regnat et imperat illic’ Historia Regum Britannie, $92, ‘Christus uincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat' (cf. Gesta Regum Britannie, V.94)

V.348, 'dispergit opes, dat larga maniplis' see V.361—2 below V.356, ‘miscens aconita nouerca’ Metamorphoses, 1.147, ‘miscent aconita nouercae’ V.361-2, ‘Large dispergit in omnes / Quas cumularat opes’ Alexandreid, 1.2, ‘Quam large dispersit [var. dispergit] opes’; Claudian, Jn Rufinum, 1.93, ‘Congestae cumulantur opes' (also Thebaid, 11.432) V.362-3, ‘bene pugnent / Pro patria’ see 111.397 above V.363-4, ‘super ardua montis /Culmina’ Aeneid, VIII.221, ‘petit ardua montis’ V.372, ‘ne suscitet iram’ see II.73 above

305

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

V.376, ‘sub tegmine pacis’ Eclogues, 1.1, ‘sub tegmine fagi’ V.379, ‘non arma mouemus' see X.217 below V.380, ‘non prelia posco’ see IV.431 above V.386, ‘opus agmine tanto’ Thebaid, X1.722, ‘agmine tanto’ V.391, ‘bene conueniamus inermes’ Heroides, V11.187, ‘Quam bene conueniunt’ (also Hexameter Lexikon, 1.209) V.392, ‘mensis maiorum nomine dicti’ cf. Fasti, V.73, ‘maiores tribuisse uocabula Maio’; and Alexandreid, 1.239, *Mensis erat cuius iuuenum de nomine nomen’ V.394, 'Sediciosa cohors’ Alexandreid, V1.478 (also VII.179), ‘Sediciosa cohors’ V.399, ‘nullo discrimine seruos' see I.391 above (also Hexameter Lexikon, III.577—8) V.401, ‘toto conamine’ see 1.420 above V.404, ‘in tartara trudit' see Hexameter Lexikon, V.358 V.407, 'sparsi per deuia rura Britanni* Metamorphoses, 1.676, *per deuia rura capellas' V.414, ‘nimie non imperat ire’ see 1.89 above V.418, ‘turrim nubibus equam’ Ex Ponto, IV.7.24, ‘Urbs erat in summo nubibus aequa iugo' V.428-9, *uos, quos cura laborque / Mundi sollicitant Lucan, I.417, *Quaerite quos agitat mundi labor’; Lucan, IX.621, *non cura laborque' V.429, ‘quid sit agendum' see 11.252 above V.432, ‘geniti sine semine patris' Metamorphoses, 1.108, *natos sine semine flores' V.466, ‘recedebat tenues dilapsus in auras’ Ex Ponto, 11I.3.93, ‘ille est tenues dilapsus in auras’ V.467, ‘sed tardus amanti’ cf. Heroides, 11.101, ‘redeas modo serus amanti’ V.474, ‘natura creatrix’ Alexandreid, V1.266, ‘nos natura creatrix

Book VI

VI.9,'rex fertur in hostes’ see V.340 above VI.20, ‘cana senectus’ Alexandreid, 1II.529 (also IV.15), ‘cana senectus’; Heroides, XIV.109, ‘cana senectus’ VI.21, ‘uerba diserta uerendos’ Ex Ponto, lII.5.8, *uerba diserta’ VI.40, *bellumque minantur' see V.153 above VI.45, ‘stupefacto pectore bellum’ Alexandreid, V.292, ‘stupefactus pectore nutat’ VIA, ‘lacrimisque rigantibus ora’ see X.134 below

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

VI.58-9,‘obliquo dente timendus, / Cornubiensis aper' Heroides, 1V.104, *obliquo dente timendus aper'

VI.59, ‘rictu spumante’ Metamorphoses, IV.97, ‘spumantis . . . rictus’ VI.67, ‘Simplex posteritas’ cf. Alexandreid, V1I.529, ‘Credula posteritas’ VL74, *uentura euoluere fata’ Metamorphoses, XV.159, ‘seriemque euoluere fati" VI.75, *bono spiramine plenus' Caelius Sedulius, Carmen Paschale, 11.176, ‘sacro spiramine plenus' VI.79, ‘litusque relinquunt' Aeneid, II.28, ‘litusque relictum’ VL.80, ‘uentis iam uela per equora pandunt" cf. Historia Regum Britannie, 8118, ‘iam uela per equora pandunt VI.82, ‘iam uindice flamma’ Metamorphoses, 1.230, ‘uindice flamma’ VI.93, ‘Soli cedentibus astris’ Alexandreid, 1X:328 (also X.364), ‘cedentibus astris’

VI.94, *Crastina lux oritur’ Claudian, Jn Rufinum, 1.313, ‘oritur lux crastina’ VI.108, 'attonitas Hengisti perculit aures" Alexandreid, 1X.510, ‘attonitas impleuit militis aures' VI.109, ‘pietatis amicum’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 1V.253-4 VI.111, ‘Pacis amatorem’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.104 VL114—15, ‘hostem / Hostibus’ see IIL97 above VI.124, ‘et menia diruta' see 1.28 above VI.127, ‘barbarus hostis’ see V.2 above VI.131, ‘de nomine nomen adeptus’

Alexandreid, 1.397, ‘nomen adepta est’; and see II.139 above VI.139, ‘Uincite iam uictos’ Alexandreid, 11.470, ‘Uincite iam uictos' VI.141, ‘uiresque uirorum' Alexandreid, V.414, *uirtus uiresque uirum' VI.148, 'trepitanti corde'

Thebaid, 111.423, ‘trepidantia corda’ VI.159-60, ‘Et ecce / Occurrunt acies’ Alexandreid, IV.588-9, ‘Sic fatur, et ecce / Concurrunt acies’ VI.161-2, “Tunc clangor lituum, . .. /Armorumque fragor' Alexandreid, III.1-2, ‘Iam fragor armorum iam strages bellica uincit/ Clangorem lituum’ VI.163-4, 'quantus fieret si machina rerum / In chaos antiquum rueret compage soluta" Alexandreid, 1V.590—92, ‘quantum si dissona mundi / In chaos antiquum rediuiua lite relabens / Machina corrueret rerum compage soluta' VI.165, 'Atropos occat ibi tot forcia fila sororum’ Eberhard of Béthune, Graecismus, V1I.44—5, ‘Tres quoque fatales que ducunt fila sorores, / Clotho colum portat, Lachesis trahit, Atropos occat'; Thebaid, 1.632, ‘fila sororum' (also fila sorores in Alexandreid, IX.194, and

307

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

Lucan, IX.838); Ex Ponto, 1.8.64, ‘fortia fila deae"

VI.167, * gladio ductore per hostes" Alexandreid, IV.565, ‘Ite per inbelles gladio ductore" VI.175, ‘Conani festinus adit’ see III.49 above VI.177-8, ‘milia uinclis /Mancipat’ Alexandreid, V.232-3, ‘uinclis |Mancipat Argiuos’ VI.181, ‘uitam ueniamque precari' see VI.252 below VI.198, ‘et maxima merces’ Lucan, 11.665 (also V.286), ‘maxima merces’ VI.199-200, ‘grandine plura | Tela hinc inde uolant’ Metamorphoses, V.158, ‘tela uolant hiberna grandine plura’; and see III.270 above

VI.204, ‘cedere cedi’ Alexandreid, 111.324, ‘cedere cedi’ VI.219, ‘milite multo’ see 11.300 above

VI.232, ‘O si forte uirum' Aeneid, 1.151, ‘si forte uirum quem’ VI.240-1, ‘demetit eius /Ense caput’ Alexandreid, 111.47, ‘Demetit ense caput’ VI.241, ‘more suorum’ Ilias Latina, 1046, ‘ex more suorum’

VI.248, ‘Uitam ueniamque’ see V1.252 below VI.252, ‘uitam ueniamque tulerunt Ex Ponto, 1I.1.45, *uitam ueniamque tulerunt" VI.254, ' miseris misereri"

Alexandreid, IV.421, * miseris misereri VI.269, ‘Ne quid inexpertum desolatumque relinquat" Aeneid, 'Ne quid inexpertum frustra moritura relinquat' VI.275—6, 'suspiria ducit | Pectoris ex imo’ Metamorphoses, X.402-3, 'Suspiria duxit ab imo | Pectore" V1.276, ‘lacrimisque fluentibus inquit Alexandreid, X.418, ‘lacrimisque fluentibus instant VI.278-9, ‘tua mors preciosa | Est in conspectu Domini’ Psalm 115.15, ‘pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum eius" V1.279, *Tua vile sepulchrum' Alexandreid, 1.171, rationis vile sepulchrum" V1.283, ‘pro libertate tuenda' see 111.397 above V1.289, ‘produxit ad esse’ cf. Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus, 1.461, ‘perducit ad esse’ VI.295, ‘Rex bone’ see VIII.186 below

VI.345, ‘sine murmure’ see III.456 above VI.348, ‘Dant uento lintea’ see 1.220 above VI.353-4, ‘patet omnibus aula, /Quam non ornat ebur, quem non testudo decorat cf. Lucan, X.119-20, ‘Ebur atria uestit/. . . testudinis Indae’;

and see VII.319 below V1.366, 'dispersis fugerat alis’ see 1.119 above VI.383, 'nigro uelatus amictu’ Alexandreid, 1.223, ‘molli uelatus amictu’

308

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

VI.387, ‘cum dulci melle uenenum’ Amores, 1.8.104, *sub dulci meile uenena latent VI.390, ‘more suorum’ see VI.241 above VI.396, “trans Gallica regna’ see 1.279 above VI.398, *monstrum mirabile uisu’ Aeneid, X.637, *uisu mirabile monstrum' VI.404, ‘nullo reparabile tempore dampnum' Lucan, X.429, *uisum famulis reparabile damnum' VI.409, *hostes inuadere ferro’ Thebaid, 11.487, ‘inuadere ferro’

VI.410, ‘prope stat uictoria tecum’ Heroides, X.105, ‘si stat uictoria tecum’ VI.417, ‘fertur in hostes’ see V.340 above VI.427, ‘fertur in hostes’ see V.340 above VL435, ‘collectis uiribus hostes’ Alexandreid, V1II.479, ‘collatis uiribus hostem' VI.439, ‘Arua cruore rubent" Alexandreid, III. 190—1, *arua cruore suorum / Pinguia'

VL446, 'tali munimine tuti" Alexandreid, V1.79, ‘tali munimine tuta’ VI.449, ‘includi more bidentum' see 1.102 above VL451, ‘sompnoque grauatos' Aeneid, V1.520, *curis somnoque grauatum' VL452, 'soporatos hostes inuadite ferro' Amores, 1.9.21, ‘soporatos inuadere profuit hostes"; and see VI.409 above VI.457, ‘unda cruoris’ see IX.89 below VI.461-2, ‘firmo / Obice’ see VIII.334 below VI.473, ‘Cum consorte thori’ Metamorphoses, 1.319, ‘Cum consorte tori’ VI.481, ‘Felle doloris’ Aeneid, VIII.220 ‘Felle dolor’ VI.483, ‘undique pontus’ see 1.244 above VI.487, ‘In regis rapide serpunt precordia flamme’ Remedia Amoris, 105, ‘serpunt in uiscera flammae’ VI.498-9, ‘non est nox unica tanti / Ut tantus generetur homo’ Heroides, IX.9—10, ‘nox — sic credita — una / Non tanti ut tantus conciperere fuit VI.500, *quadrangulus orbis' see VIIL457 below VI.501, ‘eternum nomen habebit' Aeneid, V1.381, ‘Aeternumque locus Palinuri nomen habebit" VI.S0S, ‘In primo marte peremptus" Alexandreid, 11.282, ‘in primo marte" ; and see IX.130 below VI.513, ‘misceri tristia letis’ Fasti, VI.463, ‘miscentur tristia laetis" VI.516, ‘regnumque lacescunt' see II.4 above VI.534, ‘Et releuare sitim" Metamorphoses, V1.354, ‘Sed releuare sitim"

309

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

Book VII VII.26, ‘Principis inuicti laudes’

Alexandreid, 1.542, ‘inuicti principis iram’ (also VII.448) VII.28-9, ‘sed pauper gratus ad aram / Acceptusque uenit" Ex Ponto, III.4.81—2, *Haec facit ut ueniat pauper quoque gratus ad aras' VII.55, ‘audita miseranda strage suorum" Aeneid, IX.7778, ‘audita caede suorum’; and see I.117 above VII.56, ‘fertur in hostes! see V.340 above VII.58—9, ‘heros / Martius’ Alexandreid, IV.483, ‘Martius heros’ VII.60, ‘per inane uolant’ see Hexameter Lexikon, IV.213

VII.96, ‘laxis ducto petit agmine frenis’ Alexandreid, IX.196, ‘laxis occurrere frenis’ VII.120, ‘lintea uentis’ see 1.220 above VII.136, ‘quorum probitate subactus’ see VIII.414 below VII.137, ‘Solis ab occasu — uiuam modo! — solis ad ortum’

Metamorphoses, V.445, ‘Solis ab occasu solis quaerebat ad ortus’ VII.138, ‘Uertice subposito' Metamorphoses, 11.712, ‘Uertice subposito’ VII.141, ‘ferro bacchantur et igni* Claudian, De Bello Gothico, 156, ‘ferro bacchatus et igni" VII.163, ‘non posse mori mors tristior omni’ Alexandreid, X.113-4, ‘quibus mors / Est non posse mori’ VII.175, ‘Qui bene certauit, donabitur inde corona’ cf. II Timothy 2.5, “qui certat in agone non coronatur nisi legitime certauerit’

VII.188, ‘Fert humeris" Aeneid, I.500—1, *pharetram / Fert umero' VII.190, ‘cladibus aptam'

cf. Historia Regum Britannie, $147, ‘lancea, cladibus apta’ VII.194—5, ‘montis sublime cacumen | Occupat Metamorphoses, 1.666—7, ‘montis sublime cacumen | Occupat’ VII.203, "fertur in hostes’ see V.340 above VII.207, ‘heros marcius’ see VII.58—9 above VII.240, *uelamine tecta" Metamorphoses, X1.611, *uelamine tectus' VII.243, ‘lacrimisque profusis’ see 1.38 above VII.244, *maxime regum’ Alexandreid, 1X.514, ‘regum maxime' VII.248, ‘miseris miserere’ see VI.254 above VII.249, ‘Quam meruere pati, penam subiere nocentes’

Metamorphoses, 1.243, *Quas meruere pati . . . poenas’; Fasti, V.289, ‘subiere nocentes’ VIL253, ‘te pietas uincat, qui cetera uincis’ Heroides, 11I.85, ‘Uince animos iramque tuam, qui cetera uincis’ V1I.259—60, ‘stagnum / Haut procul hinc" Metamorphoses, V1II.624, ‘Haud procul hinc stagnum est’ VII.266, *metam excedens’ see VIIL17 below

310

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

VII.283, ‘de sede fugatus’ Thebaid, X1I.507, ‘a sede fugati" VII.296, ' stirpe creatis! see IV.257 above VII.319, ‘Omnibus aula patet* Lucan, X.422, ‘aula patebat’ VII.325, ‘regibus esse timori’ Lucan, III.82, ‘gaudet tamen esse timori’ VII.326, ‘Concipit ingentes animos' see 1.69—70 above VII.341, ‘fraxineis hastis’

Metamorphoses, V.9, ‘Fraxineam . . . hastam’ VII.348, ‘milite multo' see II.300 above VII.353, ‘Solis ab occasu solis uulgantur ad ortum' see VII.137 above VII.359, ' uiribus impar Heroides, XIX.5, 'uiribus impar' (also Lucan, II.607)

VII.362, 'calcaribus urgent' Prudentius, Psychomachia, 253, ‘calcaribus urget' (also Anticlaudianus, IX.21) VII.366, ‘pretenta cuspide regem" Alexandreid, lIL4, ‘pretenta cuspide Persas’

VII.369, ‘federe rupto’ Thebaid, 11.339 ‘foedere rupto’ VII.375, ‘toto conamine’ see 1.420 above VII.376, ‘terebrata casside frontem’ Alexandreid, V.89, ‘terebrata casside ceruix’ VII.377, ‘Purpurat arma cruor’

Alexandreid, 111.24, ‘Purpurat arua cruor’ VIL.378-9, ‘uulneris . . auctorem’ see X.138 below VII.380, ‘Adquirit uires’ Metamorphoses, V11.457, ‘uires acquirit’; Aeneid, IV.175, ‘uirisque acquirit’ VII.382, ‘rex uictor abit’ Aeneid, X.859, ‘hoc uictor abibat’ VII.388—9: cf. Juvenal, XV.93-4 VII.388, ‘solitosque sitire cruorem Alexandreid, X.269, *uisumque sitire cruorem' VII.393, ‘longum compleuerat annum’ Metamorphoses, IV.226, ‘longum metior annum’ VII.403—4: see X.202 below VII.414, ‘regemque salutant’ Metamorphoses, V1I.651, ‘regemque salutant" VIL419, ‘sumpto diademate" Alexandreid, VIII.49, ‘sumpto diademate’ VII.426, ‘regia coniunx’ Aeneid, 11.304 (also II.783), ‘regia coniunx’ VII.431, ‘Uirgineique chori’ Lucan, IX.362, ‘Uirgineusque chorus’; Ars Amatoria, III. 168, ‘uirgineumque chorum’

VII.436, ‘pars sic consumpta diei’ Alexandreid, X.380, ‘pars est consumpta diei" VII.439, ‘more uetusto' 311

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

Alexandreid, VIII.308, ‘more uetusto’; Aeneid, X1.142, ‘de more uetusto’

VII.444, ‘uinoque ciboque refecti’ Alexandreid, V1I.172, ‘sompnoque cibisque refecti" VII.449, ‘Edita murorum mulierum turba coronat" Alexandreid, V.482, ‘Edita murorum longa statione coronant"

Book VIII VIII.12, ‘seria ludos’ see 1.17 above

VIII.17, ‘qua fronte tuas excedere metas’ Alexandreid, V1.124, ‘qua fronte rogem’; ibid., X.25, ‘naturae excedere metas’ VIII.18, ‘federe rupto’ see V1I.369 above VIII.27, ‘miserere tui, miserere tuorum’ see III.414 above

VIII.28, ‘noceat temeraria uirtus’ Metamorphoses, VIIL407, 'nocuit temeraria uirtus’ VIII.30, *tempore certo' see Hexameter Lexikon, V.380 VIII.37, *Uix bene desierant, cum’

Metamorphoses, XV.669, ‘Uix bene desierant, cum’ VIII.42, ‘pax diuturna' see 1.55 above VIII.48, ‘preconia fame’ Heroides, XV1.207, *praeconia famae’ (also Thebaid, 11.176) VIII.50, *procerumque corona’ Thebaid, V.17, *procerum uallante corona’ VIIL51, ‘belloque togaque’ see II.482 above VIII.52, ‘quid sit agendum’ see 11.252 above VIII.66, 'clarissima proles' Lucan, VI.594, ‘clarissima proles' VIIL.68, ‘In quorum succedo locum’ see X.98 below VIIL72, ‘Uox erat in cursu' Heroides, V.121, ‘Uox erat in cursu' VIIL85, ‘me milite Romam' Lucan, 1I.322, ‘me milite uincat’ VIII.87, ‘Maxime regum’ see VII.244 above VIII.89—90, 'dignum / Principe’ see IV.94 above VIII.98, *condempnat et odit Juvenal, VIII.203, ‘damnat et odit’; Tristia, I1I.1.8, *damnat et odit opus’ VIII.113, ‘qui tecum castra sequantur’ Lucan, X.407, *uiris qui castra sequuntur? VIII.116, ‘pro libertate tuenda' see 1II.397 above VIII.133, ‘in pace quietos' see IV.425 above VIII.145 ‘Romana potestas' see III.37 above VIII.148, flentem flens ipse relinquit Tristia, 1.3.17, ‘flentem flens acrius ipsa tenebat VIII.150-1, *breuibus ceruice lacertis |Pendens’

312

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

Heroides, VII1.93, ‘breuibus tua colla lacertis’: Metamorphoses, 1.652, ‘pendens ceruice’ VIII.156, ‘quem celauerat ignem’ Heroides, XV1.7, ‘quis enim celauerit ignem’ VIIL159, ‘In furias rapitur sparsis in terga capillis' Ars Amatoria, 11.487, ‘In furias agitantur"; ibid., 1.541, 'sparsis in terga capillis' VIII.160, ‘mentis inops' see 1.199 above VIII.160, ‘uultu prodente furorem’ Metamorphoses, 11.447, ‘prodere uultu’ VIII.162, *clamans, “Meus es, meus es"" Heroides, XII.158, ‘Clamarem “meus est" ’

VIII.163 (and 165), ‘Quid tibi cum’ Heroides, V1.48, ‘Quid tibi cum patria’ VIII.169, ‘sono solo me nomina terrent’ Heroides, XIIL.54, ‘Nomina sunt ipso paene timenda sono’ VIIL.171, ‘aera pulsant’ Ars Amatoria, 1.82, ‘aera pulsat’ (also Tristia, V.2.26) VIIL.172, ‘resonabilis eucho’ Metamorphoses, 111.358, ‘resonabilis Echo’ VIIL179, ‘dant lintea uento' see 1.220 above VIII.180, ‘Nocte fere media’ see 1.146 above VIII.186, ‘bone rex’ Alexandreid, 11.233, ‘bone rex’ (also Aeneid, X1.344) VIII.187, 'ceruice recisa' Alexandreid, 111.194, ‘ceruice recisa' (also Lucan, IX.214) VIII.188, ‘Crastina lux oritur' see VI.94 above

VIII.193. 'estuat unda' Lucan, V.566, ‘Aestuat unda minax' (also Horace, Carmina, II.6.4)

VIII. 205, ‘pectus inane’ Heroides, 111.60, ‘pectus inane’ VIII.210, ‘genus est miserabile mortis’ Tristia, 1.2.51, ‘genus est miserabile \eti’ VIII.212, ‘tumulata iaces’

Ex Ponto, 1.6.49, ‘iaceam tumulatus’ VIIL213, ‘Uox erat in cursu' see VIII.72 above VIII.214, ‘Que te demencia’ see 1.327 above VIII.219, ‘condet in aluo’ Aeneid, 11.410, *conduntur in aluo’; Metamorphoses, XIV.209, *condebat in aluum’ VIII.227-8, ‘uim / Intulit inuite’ Metamorphoses, IV.239, ‘Uim tulit inuitae’ VIII.230, ‘seuiet ira’ Metamorphoses, XIV.193, ‘mea saeuiat ira’ VIII.232, ‘Pone metus; ueniet qui’ Metamorphoses, XV.658, 'Pone metus, ueniam VIII.242, ‘barbam concretam sanguine’ Metamorphoses, XIV.201, ‘concretam sanguine barbam" >

313

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

VIII.246, ‘setas in toto corpore gestans’ Metamorphoses, XIII.850, ‘in corpore saetae’ VIII.25 1-2, ‘trinodem . . . clauam’ Alexandreid, V.45, ‘claua . . . trinodi' (also Heroides, 1V.115 and Fasti, 1.575) VIII.253, 'Litora tota replet’ Metamorphoses, 1.338, 'Litora uoce replet VIII.256, ‘lesus letali uulnere’ Aeneid, IX.580, ‘letali uulnere! and see II.87 above VIIL.259, ‘Uulneris auctor’ see X.138 below VIII.261, ‘martius heros’ see VII.58-9 above

VIII.262, 'Terque quaterque’ see Hexameter Lexikon, V.432-4 VIIL265, ‘corpus exsangue iacentis Metamorphoses, IV.244, *corpusque exsangue iacebas’ VIIL.279, 'Exiciale caput’ cf. Metamorphoses, V1II.A25, ‘caput exitiabile’ VIIL279, ‘dignum carmine’ Alexandreid, 11I.56, ‘carmine dignum’ (also VIII.82)

VIIL288, ‘castra locasse’ Alexandreid, IV.305, ‘castra locare loco’

VIII.295, ‘ira dictante’ Alexandreid, V1II.158, ‘ira dictante’ (also Lucan, V.318) VIII.301, ‘Plura locuturum’ see IV.262 above VIIL301, *lumine toruo’ Aeneid, 1II.677, ‘lumine toruo’

VIII.310, *Fabiorum gente creatus’ cf. Martial, VI.64.1, ‘Fabia de gente creatus’ VIII.314, ‘letali uulnere lesum’ see II.87 and VIII.256 above

VIII.334, ‘obice firmo' Metamorphoses, XIV.780, ‘obice firmo’ VIII.339, ‘audacia crescit’ see 1.126 above

VIII.344, ‘sine lege ruunt’; Metamorphoses, 11.204, ‘sine lege ruunt’ Alexandreid, V.345, ‘sine lege ruentes’ VIIL350, ‘Magnanimi iuuenes’ Lucan, IX.807, ‘Magnanimo iuueni’ VIII.352, ‘quod abhominor’ Alexandreid, 11.358 (also X.134), ‘quod abhominor’ (also Metamorphoses IX.677 and Ex Ponto, III.1.105)

VIIL354, ‘audacia crescit! see 1.126 above VIII.385, 'Scinditur in partes’ Lucan, 1.551, ‘Scinditur in partes’ VIII.389, ‘sine lege ruit' see VIIL344 above VIII.395, ‘in primo marte' see VI.505 above VIII.397, ‘Romana iuuentus' see IIL49 above VIIL405,'audita strage suorum! see VII.55 above VIIL413, ‘Participes operum' Metamorphoses, III.147, ‘Participes operum’ VIIL413, ‘carmine digna’ see VIII.279 above VIII.414, ‘quorum uirtute subegi’

314

>

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

Alexandreid, X.300, ‘quorum uirtute subegerat orbem’:

ibid., VIL481, ‘uirtute subegi’ VIII.416, ‘Ecce dies optata’ Alexandreid, 11.452, ‘Ecce dies optata’

VIIL416—7, ‘securi/... colla dabit Ex Ponto, IV.4.31, ‘Colla . . . praebere securi" VIII.427, ‘ueniente die’ see 1.120 above VIILA33, ‘me iudice’ see X.481 below VIIL.A36—7, ‘ab ortu / Solis ad occasum’ see VII.137 above VIII.439, ‘Nomen amo; uobis urbes’

Alexandreid, 11.486, ‘Rem uobis, michi nomen amo’: and cf. ibid., IV.575-8

VIIL442, ‘dampnatque moras’ Alexandreid, 11.378, ‘dampnatque moras’ VIII.443, ‘marte peracto’ Lucan, VII.299, ‘marte peracto’ VIIL456, ‘quorwn uirtute’ see VIII.414 above

VIII.457, ‘seruit quadrangulus orbis’ Alexandreid, 1.193, ‘seruit ei quadrangulus orbis’ VIII.470, ‘De facili potuit’

Alexandreid, 1X.70, ‘De facili poterat’ VIIL474, ‘Quis furor, o fortes’ see I.107 above VIII.476, ‘Excedendo modum'

Alexandreid, V1II.139, ‘Excedente modum’ VIII.483, ‘causa malorum’ Lucan, 1.84, ‘causa malorum’; Aeneid, IV.169—70, ‘malorum / Causa’ VIII.484, ‘excitat iram’ Aeneid, 11.594, excitat iras' VIII.485, ‘nodos denodat amorum’ Alexandreid, V1II.466, ‘nodus amoris’

j*

VIILA86-7, ‘Suppliciumque suum est hominum benefacta uidere / Successusque’ Metamorphoses, 11.780—2, ‘intabescitque uidendo / Successus hominum

carpitque et carpitur una / Suppliciumque suum est’ VIII.492, 'contagia uitant’; Ex Ponto, 1.2.13, ‘contagia uitat’;

Remedia Amoris, 613, ‘contagia uites’ VIII.496, 'Crimen auaritie quod et est cultura deorum’ Disticha Catonis, II.19.1—2, *uitare memento / Crimen auaritiae’;

Colossians 3.5, ‘auaritiam quae est simulacrorum seruitus’

Book IX IX.4, ‘Precludit iter’

Metamorphoses, XIV.790, ‘iter praecluserat’ IX.5, ‘causa... necis’ see X.315 below IX.11, ‘Uisibus humanis Metamorphoses, XV.64, ‘Uisibus humanis'

315

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

IX.12, ‘caput exeruit’ . Metamorphoses, XIII.838, ‘caput exsere' (also Fasti, 1.300, ‘exseruisse caput’) IX.12-13, ‘omen / Triste’

Alexandreid, 11.86, ‘triste reuerberet omen’ IX.13, ‘noctis aues’ Metamorphoses, X1.25, ‘Noctis auem’ Thebaid, X.217, ‘Noctis aues’ IX.14, ‘ululantum rixa luporum’ Aeneid, VII.18, ‘ululare luporum’; Ovid, Ibis, 172, ‘rixa lupis’

IX.15, ‘Latratusque canum' Aeneid, V.257, *canum latratus"

IX.16, ‘Incussere metum' Alexandreid, IV.314, ‘Incussere metum’

IX.17, ‘confuso sanguine uultu’ Tristia, IIL.5.11, ‘confusos . . . uultus’ IX.18, ‘lacrimisque fluentibus' see VI.276 above IX.20, 'ab eois solito maturius horis' Juvenal, XI.88, 'solito maturius ibat IX 22, ‘lumine toruo' see VIII.301 above IX.24, ‘tot fata ducum, tot funera regum" Lucan, V.201, ‘caesosque duces et funera regum' (cf. Thebaid, X.195, and Aeneid, VII.A2)

IX.26-7, ‘gladiosque ministrat /Telaque militibus' Lucan, VII.574, ' gladios ac tela ministrat! IX.30-4: see VI.161—4 above; also Lucan, I.73, ‘suprema . . . hora’ (and context) IX.39, ‘uulnera mutua’ Tristia, 11.319, ‘uulnera mutua’

IX.44, ‘Daca bipennis’ Alexandreid, 1.257, ‘dacha bipennis’ IX.49, ‘saucius ictu’ Ex Ponto, 1.3.7, ‘saucius ictu' IX.51, ‘miserabile letum’ Lucan, IX.832, ‘miserabile leti’; and see VIII.210 above IX.52, ‘sub pectore uulnus' see 11.442 above IX.54—5, ‘non multum longius illo / Uicturus' Metamorphoses, 11I.120—1, ‘non longius illo / Uiuit

IX.58, ‘Non patitur lugere diu’ Her., X.33, *Nec languere diu patitur' IX.60, ‘marte feroces’ Lucan, 1I.590, ‘marte feroces’ IX.68, ‘turba uirorum’ see Hexameter Lexikon, V.487-8 IX.77, ‘conamine toto’ see 1.420 above IX.85, ‘non est depromere promptum' Fasti, 1V.717, ‘non est cognoscere promptum’ IX.89, ‘unda cruoris'

Alexandreid, V.33, *unda cruoris" IX.90,'ardentius optat" Alexandreid, 11.236, ‘ardentius optat IX.93, ‘cum tam milite forti' see X.397 below

316

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

IX.98,'Alter in alterius’ Heroides, VII.11, ‘Alter in alterius' IX.103, ‘titulis adiungite nostris" Lucan, 11.555, ‘titulis accedere nostris’ (also Heroides, IX.1) IX.109, *Iouis ales’ see Hexameter Lexikon, II1.94 IX.110-11, ‘weluti leo nobilis ire |Quem stimulat ieiuna fames' Ilias Latina, 396—7, *ueluti . . . saeua leaena / Quem stimulat ieiuna fames"; Alexandreid, 11I.31—2, ‘rapit ira leones / Quos stimulat ieiuna fames' ; Lucan, VI.487, ‘est nobilis ira leonum’; idem, 111.614, ‘nobilis irae’

IX.114, ‘marcius heros’ see VII.58-9 above IX.117, ‘uitam cum sanguine fundunt’ Aeneid, 11.532, *uitam cum sanguine fudit' IX.121, 'alea martis' Alexandreid, 1.118, *alea Martis' IX.124, ‘nil tale timentes' see 1.440 above IX.126, 'cuspidis ictu' Metamorphoses, X1I.74, 'cuspidis ictu' (also Ilias Latina 427) IX.130, *marte peremptos' Heroides, V1.35, ‘marte peremptos' IX.136-7, ‘Ponderat in Libra sol tempora, pondere iusto |Equatum cum nocte diem’ Lucan, IV.58—9, ‘aequatis ad iustae pondera Librae | Temporibus uicere dies;' Alexandreid, V1I.283, ‘pondere iusto’ IX.141, ‘cum prima uolarit hyrundo' cf. Fasti, 11.853, ‘ueris praenuntia uenit hirundo' » IX.142, ‘cum multo milite’ see 11.300 above IX.144, ‘imperii moderetur frena’ Ex Ponto, 11.9.33, ‘imperii moderetur frena’ IX.145, ‘Sed Deus opposuit tantis sua numina uotis’ Heroides, V.5, ‘Quis deus opposuit nostris sua numina uotis’

IX.153, ‘sceleris temerarius auctor’ Metamorphoses, V.8, ‘temerarius auctor’ and see V.191 above IX.173, ‘uenerabile templum’ Ex Ponto, 11I.3.91, *uenerabile templum' IX.174, ‘Uirgineoque choro' see V1I.431 above

IX.185-6, 'dispersa recolligit illic /Agmina" Alexandreid, 1X.231, ' dispersa recolligit arma’ IX.188, *Undique conueniunt see V.102 above IX.188, ‘bella minantur' see III.306 above IX.190, *In iugulum fratris' see III.20 above IX.195, ‘quid sit honestum' Ex Ponto, 11.3.9, ‘quid sit honestum" IX.197, ‘tanta licencia ferri" Lucan, I.8, ‘quae tanta licentia ferri" IX.200, ‘Dedecus eternum’ Alexandreid, 111.168, ‘Dedecus eternum" (also Ilias Latina, 257-8) IX.202-3, ‘rem cum nomine ducunt/ Saxones a saxis’

317

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

cf. Isidore, Etymologiae, IX.2.100, ‘Saxonum gens . . . unde appellatum quod sit durum et ualidissimum genus’ IX.214, *dum res sinit Metamorphoses, 11.89, ‘dum resque sinit IX.215, ‘tanta cupido’ see Hexameter Lexikon, V.352

IX.218-9, ‘tollit in altum / Ut te deiciat lapsum grauiore ruina’ Claudian, In Rufinum, 1.223, ‘tolluntur in altum / Ut lapsu grauiore ruant IX.223, ‘quadrangulus orbis’ see VIII.457 above IX.230, ‘gelidas Alpes’ Lucan, I.183, gelidas .. . Alpes’ IX.235, ‘ducere uitam see II.256 above

IX.239, ‘Antipodum populus’ Alexandreid, X.315, ‘Antipodum populos’ IX.241, ‘fatorum . . . decreta’ Alexandreid, X.207 (also VI.516), 'fati . . . decreta’ IX.243, ‘Ante datum fatis" Heroides, XVI.281, ‘datum fatis’ IX.249—50,'longa malorum / Debilitat series’ Ex Ponto, 1.4.19, ‘debilitat series inmensa malorum' ;

Thebaid, 11.267, ‘longa est series . . . malorum' IX.255, 'belloque togaque' see 11.482 above

IX.258, ‘quo prodeat ultra’ Lucan, 1.190, ‘Quo tenditis ultra’ IX.263, ‘Non ueriti temerare fidem' Alexandreid, V.304, ‘Non ueriti temerare fidem’ IX.266, ‘castra sequentes' Alexandreid, V1I.170, *castra sequentes" ; and cf. VIII.113 above IX.267-8: see VI.161-2 and VIII.172 above IX.271-3: see VI.159—60 and 163-4 above IX.274, ‘mille sagittis’ see 1.423 above IX.280, ‘Corpora cesorum’ Lucan, VI.626, ‘Corpora caesorum’ IX.281, 'uita relinquit’ Aeneid, V1.735, ‘uita reliquit IX.285, ' gladio ductore’ see V1.167 above IX.292, *mortis ianua clausa’ cf. Metamorphoses, 1.662, ‘praeclusaque ianua leti" IX.293, ‘pectore uulnus’ see 11.442 above IX.296-317: cf. Geoffrey of Monmouth, Uita Merlini, 908-40 IX.300, *Uer tepet eternum’ Metamorphoses, 1.107, *Uer erat aeternum’:

Matthew of Vendóme, Ars, I.108.1, *Uer tepet" IX.317, ‘si credere fas est’ see 1.252 above IX.337, ‘pace frui’ Claudian, Jn Rufinum, 11.159, ‘pace fruatur’ IX.338, ‘dato fatis’ see IX.243 above IX.346, 'sedes Erebi’ Lucan, 1.455, ‘Erebi sedes'

318

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

IX.354, ‘impia turba’ Metamorphoses, 111.629, ‘Impia turba’ IX.355, ‘cum fortibus armis’ Metamorphoses, 1.456, ‘cum fortibus armis’ IX.356, ‘regnumque lacescunt’ see II.4 above IX.358, ‘bella mouentes' see Hexameter Lexikon, 1.200-1 IX.379, ‘Roma caput rerum’ Metamorphoses, XV.736, ‘caput rerum, Romanam . . . urbem IX.384, *more priorum' Metamorphoses, X.218, ‘more priorum

IX.388, ‘Urbs antiqua fuit’ Aeneid, 1.12, ‘Urbs antiqua fuit" IX.393, ‘Artibus ingenuis’ see IV.309 above

IX.395, ‘responsa suorum' Alexandreid, IV, capitulum, 6, ‘responsa suorum’

IX.399, 'Quis nisi mentis inops' see I.199 above

IX.406, ‘more priorum' see IX.384 above IX.411-2, ‘funditus urbes / Ui delere’ Alexandreid, 1.334—5, 'funditus urbem / Exicio delere' IX.417, ‘pereunt ciues discrimine nullo' see 1.391 above IX.446, ‘mirus amor’ Aeneid, VII.57, *miro . . . amore’ IX.465, 'federa rumpit" Alexandreid, 11.420, 'federa rumpit"; Aeneid, XII.202, ‘foedera rumpet' IX.466, ‘paris impaciens’ see X.211-2 below IX.475, ‘Irrigat . . lacrimarum fonte’ Alexandreid, IV.59, ‘irriguo lacrimarum fonte madentem’ IX.487, ‘tollens lumina’ Metamorphoses, XIV.840, ‘uix tollens lumina’

Book X

X.14, ‘turbidus Auster’ Lucan, I.234 (and 1.498), ‘turbidus auster’ X.15, ‘tumet equor’ Ex Ponto, 11.3.27, ‘tumuerunt aequora’ X.16, ‘uentus et unde’ Heroides, XVIII.185, *uentus et unda’ X.17, ‘In diuersa trahunt"

Thebaid, 1.135, ‘In diuersa trahunt" X.18, 'nec, si sciat, imperat undis' Metamorphoses, 11.170, ‘nec, si sciat, imperet illis' X.21, ‘collisio nubis’ Alexandreid, IX.338, ‘collisio nubis’ X.24, ‘graues aspergine’ Metamorphoses, IV.729, ‘graues aspergine’

319

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

X.25, ‘obruit unda’

Metamorphoses, X1.569, ‘obruit unda’ X.27, ‘Nocte fugata’ Lucan, V.455, ‘nocte fugata’ X.29, ‘humida nubes' cf. Metamorphoses, V1II.2-3, ‘umida surgunt/Nubila’ X.31, ‘amissos socios' Aeneid, 1.217, ‘Amissos . . . socios" X.33, ‘expers sompnique cibique’ Metamorphoses, IV.262, ‘expers undaeque cibique’; and see VII.444 above X.36, ‘ardenter optat’ see IX.90 above X42, 'digna relatu' see Hexameter Lexikon, II.78—9 X:44, *mucrone recisam' Claudian, /n Eutropium, 1.47, *mucrone recisos'

X.45, 'Torret in igne' Metamorphoses, 1.229, ‘torruit igni’ X.53, ‘toto pectore" Hexameter Lexikon, V.460 (see also III.341 above) X.54, ‘nobile regnum' see III.235 above X.58, 'de stirpe gygantum' Alexandreid, 11.349, ‘a stirpe Gygantum’ X.59, ‘regnumque reliquit" Aeneid, IV.432, ‘regnumque relinquat X.60, ‘terra pelagoque labore’ Lucan, 1.83, ‘terrae pelagique potentem" X.71-2, ‘uulgata per orbem / Fama’ see IV.334—5 above X.78-9, ‘dum spiritus arteriarum / Carpserit iste uias' Alexandreid, 11.167—8, ‘non inuenit apertas / Spiritus arterias’; and cf. Aeneid, IV.336, ‘dum spiritus hos regit artus’ X.92, 'excitat iram' see VIII.484 above X.96, "federa pacis' Lucan, IV.205 (also 365), ‘foedera pacis' X.97, ‘populum fugere ferocem’ Aeneid, 1.263 (also VII.384), populosque feroces’ X.98-9, ‘In quorum subiere locum . . . | Fraus, dolus’ Metamorphoses, 1.130, ‘In quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolusque’ X.109, 'afflatu, tabe ueneni’ Metamorphoses, II1.49, 'afflati funesta tabe ueneni*

X.111-2, ‘ore / Fatidico uates' Metamorphoses, 111.348, ‘Fatidicus uates’; Uita Merlini, 1, ‘Fatidici uatis’ X.114, ‘patria de sede’ Lucan, 1.482, 'patriaque a sede’ (also Thebaid, X1I.507) X.116, ‘nostri sanguinis auctor’ Metamorphoses, XIII.142, ‘nostri quoque sanguinis auctor’ X.126, 'seuit hyemps' Metamorphoses, XIII.709, *Saeuit hiems’

320

CONSPECTUS FONTIUM

X.129, ‘indutus amictu' Lucan, VIII.240, *indutus amictus" X.134, ‘lacrimisque rigantibus ora’ Aeneid, IX.251, ‘lacrimis atque ora rigabant’ X.137, ‘traicit ictu’ Alexandreid, 111.15, ‘traicit ictu’ X.138, ‘uulneris auctor’ Alexandreid, IX.449, ‘uulneris auctor’ (and see Hexameter Lexikon, V.759) X.142, ‘turribus altis’ see Hexameter Lexikon, V.494 X.143, ‘menia firmant’

Heroides, XV.181-2, ‘firmataque . . . |Moenia’ X.145, ‘attonitas . . . aures’ see VI.108 above X.146, ‘Insula tota fremit’ see X.243 below X.148, ‘machina belli’ Lucan, VI.37, ‘machina belli’ X.149—50, ‘coronant / Edita murorum' see V1I.449 above X.150, ‘telis texitur aer’ Claudian, De Consulatu Stilichonis, 1.258, ‘iaculis obtexitur aer";

see X.163, X.171, X.172, X.181,

also I.127 above ‘in primo marte peremptus’ see V1.505 above 'iuuenesque senesque' see V.74 above ‘nulli sua proficit etas' see V.73 above ‘retegente diem’ see 1.184 above

X.182, ‘in primo marte' see VI.505 above X.184, ‘mouet arma’ Aeneid, XII.6, ‘mouet arma’ (see also X.217 below)

X.186, ‘Sanguine sacrat humum' Ilias Latina, 482, ‘Sanguine manat humus’ X.189, ‘federe pacis’ see X.96 above X.201, ‘ueniente die’ see 1.120 above X.202, ‘Pectora firmauit titubancia discipulorum’ Alexandreid, V1.382-3, ‘comitum titubancia firmat / Pectora’ X.210, ‘ueterum monimenta parentum’ Alexandreid, 11.357, ‘monimenta parentum’; Aeneid, III.102, *ueterum . . . monimenta uirorum' X.211-2, ‘Consortis in uno / Impaciens regno' Lucan, 1.93, ‘/npatiens consortis erit X.215, 'tegitur iam classibus equor' see III.305 above X.217, ‘arma mouebo' Ars Amatoria, 1,191, ‘arma mouebis’ (see also Hexameter Lexikon, 1.127) X.221, 'temerare fidem' see 1X.263 above X.225, ‘inter utrumque’ see Hexameter Lexikon, III.85 X.232, ‘Fallere fallentes’ Ars Amatoria, 1.645, ‘Fallite fallentes’ X.243, ‘Anglia tota fremit’ Metamorphoses, V1.146, ‘Lydia tota fremit X.245, ‘Non prece nec precio’ see III.363 above X.254, ‘nature debita soluit’ see 11.28 above

321

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

X.255, ‘conditus aromate’ Alexandreid, IV.176, ‘condiuit aromate’

X.282, ‘diu stat’ see 1.496 above X.282, ‘potencia rerum’ Fasti, V1.359, ‘potentia rerum’ X.284, ‘robore fulta’ Lucan, V.516, ‘robore fulta’

X.285, ‘causa malorum’ see VIII.483 above X.297, ‘fallunt sua uota colonos’ cf. Ex Ponto, III.9.29, ‘fallat uota coloni"

X.300, 'uolucresque ferasque’ see 1.392 above X.303, ‘mortis ymago' see Hexameter Lexikon, III.441 X.307, ‘leto moriturus eodem’ Metamorphoses, VII.554, ‘leto moriturus inerti’ X.315, ‘causa necis’ Alexandreid, V1.176, ‘Causa necis’ (also Heroides, X.144) X.316, ‘aliena sequentes’ see X.445 below X.317, ‘regnumque relinquens’ see X.59 above X.319, ‘nobilis insula’ Lucan, III.65, ‘insula nobilis’ X.325, ‘uultur edax’

Tristia, 1.6.11 (also Amores, 1I.6.33), ‘uultur edax X.327, ‘nullo discrimine’ see 1.391 above (and Hexameter Lexikon, III.577—8)

X.332, 'Deuia . . . auis Heroides, 11.118, *deuia . . . auis

>

X.339, ‘Ulcio digna' Alexandreid, V1.359, ‘ultio digna'

X.346, 'Omne caput languens, cor merens’ Isaiah 1.5—6, *omne caput languidum et omne cor maerens X.354, 'tutore carens’ see X.467 below X.371, ‘Optare quod optas’ Heroides, XVII.99, ‘optare quod optas’ X.372, ‘sapiencius opta’ Metamorphoses, 11.102, ‘sapientius opta’

X.379, ‘causa malorum’ see VIII.483 above X.385, 'discrimina uite' Metamorphoses, X.612, 'discrimine uitae" X.390, 'in diuite regno' Alexandreid, IV.239, ‘de diuite regno’ X.395, ‘parere paratus’ see V.116 above X.397, ‘cum milite forti’ Metamorphoses, XI1.64, ‘cum milite forti’ X.398-9, ‘sine uindice nostrum / Possideat regnum’ Fasti, 111.551, ‘sine uindice regnum' X.403, ‘Nature debita soluens’ see II.28 above X.411, ‘quem forma decens’ Claudian, De Consulatu Stilichonis, 31, ‘hunc forma decens’ X.417, ‘more leonum’ Metamorphoses, XIV.207, ‘more leonis’

322

CONSPECTUS

FONTIUM

X.419, ‘nil tale timentes' see 1.440 above X.420, ‘Anglia turba pauet’ Metamorphoses, XV.675, ‘Territa turba pauet’ X.421, ‘arma capescunt’ see 1.406 above X.426, 'Ecquid erit tempus in quo’ see 11.277 above X.434, ‘stare tenaci' see III.350 above X.442, 'discors concordia’ see 11.387 above X.445, 'aliena sequeris' Disticha Catonis, 111.21, ‘aliena sequuntur’ X.451, ‘Musa refer, ne nescius errem’ Alexandreid, 1.5, ‘Musa refer’; CP Ao XIV.131, ‘neu nescius erres’ (also Fasti, 11.47 and Amores,

11.14.29)

X.452-3, ‘Dat patria nomen / Illud . . Angulus Anglum' Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1.15, ' Anglis, hoc est de illa patria quae Angulus dicitur’ X.453, 'euentus nomen facit’ cf. ITI.257 above X.454—8: cf. Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica, 1.1 X.459, ‘nominis auctor’ Ex Ponto, III.2.105, ‘nominis auctor’ (also Fasti, V.192)

X.461, 'cauda riget" Matthew of Vendóme, Ars, 1.53.78, 'cauda riget X.467, 'tutore carentem" Lucan, IX.24, 'patriam tutore carentem" X.472—1: cf. Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus, [X.415-21 X.472, ‘Iam mea pene ratis fluctu maris obruta portum' Thebaid, XII.809, ‘Et mea iam longo meruit ratis aequore portum" X.474, ‘equoris unda’ see Hexameter Lexikon, 1.28-9 X.475-6, ‘edacis / Liuoris' Amores, 1.51.1, *liuor edax’ (and see Hexameter Lexikon, III.216) X.479, ‘cernis obliquo lumine’ Metamorphoses, 11.787, ‘obliquo . . . lumine cernens’ X.481, ‘Non sunt me iudice digna’ Metamorphoses, X.613, ‘Non sum me iudice tanti" X.484, ‘rude carmen’ Tristia, 1.7.22, ‘rude carmen’ X.485, ‘tragicis satis apta modis’ Claudian, Jn Eutropium, 11.363, ‘tragicos meminere modos’ X.486, ‘medio psallenda foro’ Claudian, De Bello Gothico, praefatio, 14, ‘medio conspicimurque foro’ X.486, ‘gutture rauco’ Alexandreid, X.122, ' gutture... rauco' X.489, 'Gratus in ore legar. Procul hinc, procul este periti" Metamorphoses, X11.397, ' gratus in ore uigor’;

ibid., XV.878, ‘Ore legar populi’; Amores, II.I.3, ‘procul hinc, procul este seueri’ X.501, ‘uiuat ...in ore’ Pseudo-Prosper, Ad Uxorem, 114, ‘uiuet in ore”

323

INDEX NOMINUM

Aaron IV.287 Abissa V.319, 322 Achilles VII.17, 18 Achilles II TX.43 Affi VI.306 Agag VI.237

Aganippus (Aganipus) Ageus IL.155 Agracius V.76 Alanus

1[.199, 293

X.123

Alanus II X.357, 391 Albanactus II.26, 32, 34, 36, 39 Albani 11.355, 420; IV.359; V.53 Albanus IV.287 Aldroenus (Androenus) V.81, 85 Alfridus X.192 Allectus IV.224, 235, 249 Allobroges 11.476; IX.138 Ambrosius (i.e. Merlin) VI.34 Ambrosius Aurelius V.107, 250; VI.2, 88, 99. 109, 122, 134, 167, 226, 256, 320, 366, 369, 377, 380, 406, 431 Amos IL155 Anacletus I.111, 142, 152 Anchises VII.21 Andragius Androgeus

11I.213, 216 III.231, 276, 354, 361, 364,

384, 388, 406, 417, 451 Angli IX.370, 386, 409, 415, 415, 430, 437, 440, 490; X.7, 145, 228, 238, 241, 242, 418, 446, 450, 457, 459, 460 Anglus IX. 445, 453, 455 Anna _ VI.511; VII.298 Antenor 1.304 Antigonus 1.106, 115, 148, 149 Aquilo X.13 Aquitani 1.381 Archigallo (Arthigallo) 111.170, 172, 203 Archinayl III.221 Architenens III.11 Aries IX.140 Armoricani VI.155; IX.73, 99 Armorici V.23; VI.96, 169, 224

Arthus V.250; IX.230 Arturus 1.14; VI9, 501, 511; VII.1, 14, 19, 24, 34, 69, 74, 91, 145, 147, 185, 203, 227, 232, 236, 258, 299, 306, 322, 332. 334, 339, 345, 348, 351, 407, 434; VIII.4, 26, 166, 190, 292, 353, 404, 410; IX 2, 3, 55, 100, 101, 116, 118, 164, 169. 177, 182, 207,232, 283, 293, 310; 314; X.118 Aruiragus 1V.43, 59, 66, 71, 84, 91, 104, 113 Asclepiodotus IV.233, 248, 292 Assaracus 1.60, 65, 74 Assaracus I II.130

Atropos

VI.165

Auguselus VII.297; VIII.87, 114, 168; IX.35, 166

Augustinus

IX.369

Augustus Cesar Aurora IX.16

Auster Azarias

Bachus

[11[.453; IV.1, 12

V.27, 251; VI.371; X.14, 29 II[.155

V.168, 281; VIII.158

Baldulphus

VII.71, 78, 82

Basianus IV.189, 191, 197, 221, 225 Beduer (Beduerus) VII.397, 442; VIII.196, 200, 372, 387; IX.48, 50, 59 Belial V.332 Belinus 11.380, 384, 427, 452, 485; III.17, 19, 48, 52, 58, 61, 88, 94; VIII.64 Bellona IX.26 Bledunus [1.218 Blegabredus III.218 Boccus VIII.142 Boreas V.251 Borellus VIII.372, 388, 396 Boso VIII.290, 308, 347, 362; IX.41 Brennius II.9, 380, 389, 398, 403, 414, 429, 446, 472; III.12, 48, 85; VIII.64 Brianus IX.473, 475; X. 4, 36, 37, 127, 132, 139, 147 Britanni 1.473, 483; 11.329, 447; III.72,

324

INDEX NOMINUM

79, 88, 226, 258, 317; IV.48, 56, 65, 162, 226, 228, 264, 398; V.43, 53, 78, 305, 327, 407; VI.168, 273, 420, 444; VII.33, 72, 116, 191, 218, 346, 382; VIII.43, 64, 131, 164, 380, 406; IX.25, 29, 119, 357, 368, 401; X.70, 74, 114, 182, 320, 375, 449, 492 Britelis VI.494 Britones I.12, 473, 484; II.142, 205, 305, 307, 344, 456; III.19, 56, 77, 138, 140, 174, 179, 236, 237, 304, 307, 319, 331, 337, 371, 383, 393, 399, 405, 406; IV.47, 78, 98, 105, 111, 172, 175, 191, 195, 203, 220, 232, 244, 296, 355, 385, 450, 465, 494, 501; V.54, 61, 99, 102, 234, 237, 312, 337, 372, 375, 395; VI. 22596. 133. 150, 155, 1722 325. 329, 333, 334, 337, 379, 429, 519; VII.43, 79, 110, 198, 367; VIII.296, 299, 303, 318, 325, 332, 344, 363, 367, 394, 460, 503; IX.29, 48, 76, 82, 118, 119, 131, 290, 337, 356, 364, 372, 375, 378, 405, 411, 429, 434, 431, 499, 503; X.8, 56, 140, 158, 163, 178, 287, 352, 359, 380, 414, 420, 439, 449, 467, 471 Bruticus VIII.27 Brutigene IX.129 Brutus 12, 24, 33, 68, 77, 95, 105, 113, 136, 144, 148, 163, 181, 239, 247, 257, 279, 285, 310, 315, 347, 358, 375, 387, 396, 410, 426, 435, 443, 444, 447, 473; 11.11, 25, 118; III.400; IV.256; X.60, 63, 319, 429 Brutus Uiride Scutum 1I.132, 137 Budicius V.197

Cador VII.211, 217, 224, 225, 227; VIIL41, 168, 372, 388; IX.35, 295 Cadualadrus X.268, 365, 409 Caduallo IX.10, 456, 464, 474, 489, 492, 498, 500, 505; X.6, 76, 151, 154, 183, 200, 203, 251, 254 Caduanus IX.9, 434, 444, 450, 455; X.120, 126 Caliburnus VII.189, 379; VIII.250; IX.106 Caliope 1.11; VII.11 Cambri 11354

Cassibellanus III.230, 449 Castellus IIL.210 Catellus IX.37

Catigernus

V.308

Cesareus 11I.303, 369, 425 Chadiocus X.501

Cheldricus V.322 Cheldricus II (Celdricus) 225 Chericus

VII.3, 94, 209,

IX.157

Cherin IIL211 Christus IV.2, 4, 14, 90, 125, 137, 142, 153, 162, 2775, 309; V.94, 312, 331, 342, 351, 398; VI.57, 109, 144, 188, 215, 2163233 V1135, 427 5331037151552; 181, 188, 245, 248, 289; IX.198, 371, 420; X.175, 340, 412 Cincia VL473;IX.390 Citherea X.94 Claudius Cesar IV.45, 48, 52, 62, 69, 79, 84, 85, 97 Clotenis 11.351 Cloteus [1.217 Coillus IIL.210 Coilus IV.120, 122 Colgrinus VII.2, 47, 71 Conanus IV.10, 374, 389, 413, 433, 437, 456, 477, 481; V.18, 81 Conanus II IX.6, 327 Constancius IV.295, 314 Constans V.106, 107, 113, 119, 129, 139, 152, 167, 190, 195 Constantinus IV.7, 318, 328; VIII.66; X.67 Constantinus II V.91, 92, 163; VI.78 Constantinus III IX.6, 295, 320, 331 Cordilla 11.164, 171, 199, 257, 274, 305 Corineus 13, 305, 323, 352, 374, 425, 437, 440, 474, 486, 498; II.55, 72 Crassus III.250 Cresus VII.31 Cunedagius 11.308, 319, 322, 325

Daci 11.456; III.102; V.252; VI.119; VII.333; IX.44 Danius III.129 Danai (Danay) L55, 57, 77, 99 Dardani 1.77 Dardanius 1.38, 422 Deiri IV.252; V.56; X.353 Delius VII.393 Demecii X.226 Demetici IV.252 Deus IV.36, 134, 137, 310, 497; VII.155; VIII.49, 207; IX.145, 376, 382, 423;

Capis Epitides II.154 Capius IIL.218 Capoyrus III.222 Caradocus IV.377, 381 Carausius IV.216 Carecius IX.7, 348 Caribdis X.473

325

INDEX NOMINUM

X.92, 107, 195, 180, 270, 320, 338, 345, 382, 443 Diana 1.2, 251, 260, 261, 267 Digellus [11.223 Dinabucius V.438, 440 Diocletianus IV.275 Dominus II.143; IV.34, 312; V.297; VI.252, 279; X.292, 381 Donuallo (Domuallo) 11.7, 349, 356, 362, 367, 379 Dubricius VI.360; VII.39, 149 Dyonotes IX.390 Dyonotus V.22

Fulgencius IIL.212, 214 Fulgencius II. IV.173, 177, 186 Gabaonite VI.251 Gabius (Gabyus) 1III37, 81

Ebraucus II.4, 109, 117, 126, 129, 133 Echion VIL142 Edelfredus IX.439, 449 Eduuinus (Eduinus) IX.455,469; X.5, 130, 162, 164 Eldanus I1I.213, 215 Eldon III.221 Eldon II V.402; VI.169, 206, 215, 220, 231, 239 Eldonus VI.231, 250, 272

Galganus VII.301; VIII.5, 168, 291, 301, 315, 316; IX.72, 84, 90, 166 Galli L406, 410, 411, 415, 418, 420, 429, 440, 442, 444, 450; II.10, 120, 283, 337, 451, 472; III.2, 29, 30, 32, 34, 291, 302, 306, 315; IV. 386, 422, 449, 451, 459, 470, 509; V.12, 17, 85; VII.336, 338, 349, 350; VIIL22; IX.150; X.66, 491 Gallus IV.246 Genuissa IV.84, 110 Geomagus 1.478, 485, 504 Gernacius III.209 Gerinus VIII.290; IX.41 Gerio 1.256 Gerio If VIII.185 Germani 11.130; IIL.46; V.13; X.214 Geta IV.190, 192, 198, 199 Gillominus VI.324, 372, 418; VII.234 Goel IV.291, 298

Eleutherius IV.128 Elidurus (Elydurus) Pius

Gofforius Gonorilla

III.6, 7, 177,

178, 190, 194, 196, 200, 209 Eliudus III.216 Elsinus 11.396, 399 Eneas 1.24;11I.252 Eneis VII.20 Ennius III.205 Ennius II X.119 Ennutus VIII.337 Enos III.216 Eolius V.27 Eopa VI.381 Eosa VI.464, 515, 527

Epitus 11.145 Erinis 1.346 Esperii see Hesperii Estrildis (Estrilda) 1I[.48, 69, 83, 89 Euander VIII.143, 400

1.320, 399, 402 II.168, 219

Gorbodugo Gorbonianus Gorhuandus Gorhuandus Gorlosius Gormundus Greci 1.49, 186, 200,

11.331 [III.159, 170, 201 IIL.217 Barbe Rubee III.93 VI.218, 449, 478, 479, 503 IX.353 57, 66, 76, 95, 123, 132, 142, 201

Gregorius

IX.370; X.456

Guanius V.31, 50 Guendoloena _II.60, 68, 82, 84, 94 Guenhomara VII.302 Guider IV.43, 49 Guitardus VII.388, 393 Guizelinus II.117 Guizelinus II V.79, 106

Gurgustius

11.330

Eurus IV.102; V.26, 252; VI.372; IX.157; X.29, 47

Guthlacus IL.406 Gyldas X.90

Fabius (adj) VIIL310 Fauni V.219 Ferrux 11.332, 336, 340 Franci 11.198, 202, 283, 338 Francigene 1[.474 Frigii 1.27, 86, 456 Frollo VII.337, 351, 355, 365, 375, 382; VIIL166

Habren 11.78 Hamo see Lelius Hamo Hector VI.112, 113 Hectorei 1.295 Helene IV.303, 347; VIII.66; X.68 Helene II VIII.192, 225, 284 Helenus 1.27 Hely 11.23

326

INDEX NOMINUM

Hely I 111.224 Hely DI X.119 Hengistus V.6, 205, 208, 217, 222, 246, 264, 274, 282, 315, 316, 326, 343, 377, 397; VI.3, 87, 100, 108, 129, 132, 150, E7191 73,207; 208; 215221223! 230; 240, 242, 274; IX.156, 211 Henninus II.211, 232 Hesperii (Esperii) IV.298; VIII.309; IX.38, 76 Hoelus VII, 97, 134, 256, 385, 387; VIII.73, 86, 168, 191, 221, 233; IX.71, 83, 150 HoelusIl. X.122 Homerus 11.98; VII.15 Horsus V.205; IX.156 Hubertus IV.363 Humber 11.38, 39, 41, 43, 44, 50 Hybernenses VII.237 Hyberni V.251; VL397, 420; VII.4 Hymbertus 1.325, 333, 337, 341

Hyrelglas

IX.58

Iago 11.331 Iago Il X.120 Teu 11.155 Ingenius 111.196, 201 Inius X.415 Innogenta 1.210, 215 Iodualdus X.192 Iohel IL155 Iohelinus IV.346, 378 Iordanus VI.493 Iuda IV.313 Iudei IV.313 Iudona 1L341 Iulius IV.287; VIL428 Iulius Cesar III.7, 234, 257, 258, 262, 269, 276, 277, 283, 290, 292, 301, 306, 311, 315, 318, 324, 328, 341, 364, 392, 394, 395, 406, 409, 411, 415, 421, 423, 432, 433, 436, 440, 444, 451; IV.423; VII.22; VIII.22, 56, 57 Iuno V.218; VL214 Iuo X.10, 397, 410 Iupiter 1.260, 261, 403; V.218, 341; VI.214; IX.109

Kamber I1.26, 31, 33, 35, 42 Keius (Keyus) VII.398, 440; VIII.168, 196; IX.49, 52 Kibelinus III.452; IV.11, 40 Kinmarchus 11.331 Kinuuarus III.128

Kymo

III.209

Labienus I1I.287 Lacii 1IL53, 58, 82, 237, 289, 302, 327, 333, 337, 371, 383; IV.49, 57, 62, 101, 105, 106, 111, 112, 176, 195, 196, 250, 269, 368, 423, 433; V.54; VIII.107,342, 367, 381, 388, 410, 423, 503; IX.25, 69, 107, 127, 131, 133; X.69 Lares V.219 Latini IL154 Latinus 11.123 Lelius Hamo IV.46, 55, 63 Leo VIIL.407 Leylus 11.134, 146 Leyr (Leyrus) 11.165, 248, 293, 300, 310 Libra IX.136 Locrinus 11.26, 31, 33, 35, 41, 46, 53, 56, 58, 68, 82, 94 Loth VI.518; VII.298, 328, 334; VIII.168 Lucanus VII.22 Lucifer 1.184, 437, 438; IV.123 Lucius IV.4, 122, 163, 168, 277 Lucius Cesar (Lucius Augustus) VIII.3, 8, 10, 16, 138, 293, 374, 405, 423, 445; IX.1, 78, 87, 91, 93, 118, 124, 125, 127, 134, 228; X.74 Ludh 111.227 Luna 1.267 Lupus V.310 Madden

_II.80, 95, 99

Magancius

V.472, 475

Maglaurus 11.210, 220, 229 Malgo IX.7, 338; X.117 Malys (Malis) 11.99, 101 Marcia IIL4, 118, 122, 128 Marcus

IV.89

Margannus 11.309, 317, 320 Marganus III.203 Marius IV.117 Marius II IV.346 Mars L412, 429; V,218, 341; VI.214 Martinus X.262 Mauors 1439; IV.197 Mauri L3, 297, 298; X.64 Mauricius IV.383, 396, 413, 422, 434 Maxencius IV.322 Maximianus IV.280 Maximianus II. IV.377, 384, 393, 415, 435; V.1, 11, 33, 36, 45; VIII.67; X.68, 80 Medi IX.50

Melga

327

V.31, 50

INDEX NOMINUM Membricius 1.198 Membricius II 11.99, 103 Mercurius 1.260, 262; V.214, 216, 221, 341; VI.144, 214 Merianus III.217 Merlinus V.438, 440, 452; VI.1, 11, 46, 69, 77, 293, 301, 304, 314, 344, 362, 400, 490, 491; IX.240; X.112, 374, 393 Minera 11.158 Modredus VII.300; VIIL.177; IX 2, 147, 159, 160, 170, 180, 181, 199, 244, 284, 288, 318 Moriani 11.393; III.137, 140, 340 Morindus III.130 Morindus Il IX.122, 126 Mors Crocea I1II.280, 285

Moyses

IV.30, 32

Mucius VIII.315 Musa X51, 452

Naso VII.16 Nennius IIL.275, 277, 284, 289 Nestor VI.112

Norguegici V.201; VII.331, 333 Normanni VIII.164 Octa V.318, 323; VI, 7, 242, 243, 464, 516, 526 Octauius IV.8, 350, 356, 360, 366 Olfidus X.164 Osualdus X.173, 182, 187 Osuinus X.187, 192, 193, 197, 206, 244, 246

Pallas

V.218; VI.213

Pandrasides (i.e. Innogenta) II.25 Pandrasus 1.26, 64, 77, 88, 214, 223

Parthi

111.249; IX.43

Pascencius

V.309; VI.5, 365, 419

Peanda X.146, 154, 173, 178, 181, 195, 207, 235, 243, 247, 249 Pelagius V.314 Pelasgi 1.70 Pellitus IX.507; X.128, 135 Peredurus (Paledurus) 11.195, 208 Perse VIII.143 Petreius (Patreius) VIII.330, 358 Petrus IV.87, 276; VIII.127; X.401 Pharii IV.89 Phebe V.422 Phebus V.422; VI.474; IX.21; X.181 Philistei IL24 Pictaui L5, 346; VII.387; X.65

Picti IV.178; V.150, 153, 155, 158, 179, 201, 232, VII.217, 228; VIII.165; X.353 Pictus 1.320, 347; V.10 Piramon VII.287 Pompeius III.447 Porrex 11.332, 335, 339, 343 Porrex IT IIL211 Porsenna I1[.37, 81 Priamus IV.256; X.440 Priduen VII.187 Proserpina 1.267 Pynnerus 11.352, 353 Pyr IIL222 Pyrus 129 Quintilianus VIILS, 295, 317 Quirini III.284, 323, 454; IV.182; IX.102 Quirinus

III.2; X.66

Quirinus (adj.) III.86; IV.242, 340; VIII.146, 456, 459 Quirites IV.244; VIII.321, 328, 362; IX.74, 82, 118, 119; X.490 Ranusia 1I.273; IV.502 Regau 11.169, 178, 233 Reulphus 11.393 Richerius VIII.372, 387 Richulphus VIII.330 Rinus X.119, 122 Rito VIIL.268 Riuallo II.326 Rodaldus III.217 Rodericus

III.221

Rodyon IIL.221 Romani IIL.45, 85, 305, 456; IV.45, 51, 78, 96, 118, 170, 264, 415, 420; V.13, 105; VIII.49, 131, 137, 364, 404; IX.114 Ron VII.190 Ronuen V.274 Rudaldus 11.354 Ruhudus 11.146 Sabine 11.125 Salomon 11.143, 144 Salomon II IX.457; X.3, 12, 48, 50, 127, 153

Sampson

VI.359; VII.283

Samuel II.98; VI.236 Samuil Penisel III.222 Sathanas X.459 Saturnus V.219; VI.214 Satyri V.219 Saxones V.230, 234, 235, 244, 335, 365, 408; VI.52, 81, 86, 223, 369, 376, 420,

328

INDEX NOMINUM

524, 526; VII.58, 59, 112, 192, 199, 200, 212, 218; IX.202, 203, 207, 221, 266, 319, 335, 354, 365, 402, 413, 428; X.5, 59:114, 153; 161, 168, 275, 353, 367, 378, 398, 439, 450, 490 Saxonici IX.154, 382; X.9, 362

Triuia Troes 416, Troiani Tullius Turnus

1.274, 459 1.91, 99, 130, 162, 302, 303, 345, 424, 449 1.202, 407, 453 VII.16 1.433

Scilla

Tytan

IIL448; VII.196

1.228; X.474

Scite IV.178 Scoti IV.252; V.201; VI.120, 257; VIL.S, 214, 228, 233, 239, 278; VIII.165; IX.156, 501; X.353 Seginus 1L477, 482 Sergius X.402 Seuerus IV.171, 177, 185, 188 Sibilla X.392 Sibillinus VIII.78 Sichelis VII.328 Silius 1L331 Siluius Alba 11.123, 127, 128, 145 Sisillius III.123, 126 Sisillius II III.218 Staterius [1.354 Stigii 1.337 Suhardus 1.366 Suhardus II. 11.337 Syrenes 1.227; 301 Syr VIII.396 Tenuancius III.231, 396, 450 Tersites VII.18

Tesiphoneus

II.250

Teuther VIII.142 Teutonici IIL44 Thomas (i.e. Thomas Becket) II.150 Ticius VIII.313 Tonuenna III.20 Trahernus IV.346, 351, 354, 363, 365 Tremorinus VI.292

Uascones VII.389 Uenedoti IV.252, 272; V.150, 201; VI.119; VIIL165 Uespasianus IV.97, 103

Uirgilius VII.16 Ulfridus X.249 Ulphinus VI.489, 490, 493 Uortigernus

V.112, 123, 142, 166, 182, 186, 199, 205; VI.102, 365; IX.157 Uortimerus V.309, 338, 347, 381 Urianus

III.216

Urianus If VII.297; IX.167 Uther Pendragon V.107; VI.6, 90, 320, 378, 399, 428, 485 Utherides (i.e. Arthur) VIL378; VIII.117 Wltheius Xerses

Ydernus Yduallo

Ygerna Ysaias Ytalici Yturei Yuenus

Zephirus

329

VIII.399 VIII.144

VIIL7, 337 IIIL.207

VI.484 1I.324 VIII.320, 432 VIII.143 IX.167

V.97, 250

INDEX LOCORUM

Achelon 1.103 Acheron VIII.244 Affrica 1.291 Affricus IX.352 Alba VIILA4, 286 Albania IL34 Albanicus IV.359 Albanus 11.38, 40 Albion L5, 461 Alpes VL412; IX.230 Alpinus VIII.426; IX.143 Andegauis VII.398 Anglia 11.35; V.289; X.243 Anglicus IX.485, 499; X.165, 420, 454, 469, 496 Angulus X.453 Antiochenus IV.86 Antipodes IX.239 Aquitannia 1.319 Aquitanus VIII.391 Arauius VIII.275 Armorica IV.9, 448; V3; VII.97; IX.458; X.13, 48, 153, 317, 357, 400 Armoricanus VI.94; VII.256; VIII.73; IX.83 Armoricus IV.477; V.5, 19, 26, 79, 196; VI,80; VIII.282; X.366 Auallon IX.315 Babilon IX.67 Babilonia VIII.140 Badon VII.130 Bangor IX.388 Barba VIII.125, 176 Blado (ie.Badon?) IL157 Britannia 1.13; III.10, 395, 442; IV.11, 83, 349; VI.331; VIII.24, 476; X.491 Britannia Maior 1.462; IV.169, 472; V.21, 34; X.65 Britannia Minor IV.449, 479 Britannicus IV.56 Britannus 10.193; IV.143, 189, 476; V.50, 121; VI.374, 383; VII.38, 307, 311, 389;

VIII.79, 299; IX.146; 199, 294, 364, 410, 491; X.112, 156, 189, 396, 414 Calaterium

1.430 Calidon VII.107 Cambula IX.187, 277 Cancia V.270 Carnotum 11.282; VIII.311 Castrum Conani (see also Urbs Conani) VI.174-5 Castrum Corrigie V.271 Castrum Geneorum VI.103 Castrum Paladur 10.151 Catinensis (Cathinensis) 11.465; VIL54 Colocestria IV.291 Corea Gygantum VI.307, 323, 336, 362, 375, 391 Cornubia 1.475; 01.351, 357; 11.450; IV.377; V.21; VI.218, 482; VII.78, 211; IX. 185, 258 Cornubicus II.465 Cornubiensis II.211; VI.7, 59, 93, 473; VIIL387; IX.35; X.71 Crete VIII.140

Dacia III.4, 100; IX.226 Dacus II.406, 413; IX.44 Demecia V.448 Dimiliocum VI.484 Dolensis VII.284 Doulasius VII.61 Eboracensis IV.156; VI.258, 358, 359 Eboracum IV.181; VI.243; VII.10, 59, 70, 270, 413; IX.323; X.131

Egyptus IV.34; VIII.140 Elicon VII.12 Erebus Exonia

IX.346 IV.104; X.140, 143, 147

Francia IX.227 Frigia VIIL.142

330

INDEX LOCORUM

Gallia 111.259; VII.324; VIII.119 Gallicus 1.279, 383, 417; 11.4, 118; 111.28,

Londoniensis IV.157; V.79, 124; VI.259 Londonia Urbs IX.322-3; X.259-60

29, 314; IV.449; VI.63, 395; VIII.7, 337 Germania V.208, 273; V1,367; VII.A5, 93, 116; VII.323 Germanicus 1L51, 77; III.50; V.298, 365; VI.523; VII.81, 193, 223; X.230 Germanus [1.50 Grecia L46; VIII.140; X.64 Grecus I.61 Guintonia IL151; IV.72; VI.272, 380, 384, 422; IX.173, 180

Londonie (Lundonie)

Malua 1.296 Media VII.142; IX.62 Meneius 11467 Meonius VII.20 Muresia VII.298

Norchanhumbrensis 11.414 Norguegia IV.362; VII.328; IX.226

Habren IIL91 Hamonis Portus 11.466; IV.68, 387; VIII.178 Herculee Columpne 1.300 Herir Mons V.417 Hibernia see Hybernia Hispanus see Hyspanus Humber 11.45; VL117; VIL53; IX.155, 444, 493, 498; X.159 Hybernia IV.304; VI.4; IX.224 Hybernus (Ybernus) VI.414; VII.234, 305; IX.353, 502 Hyberus IX.507; X.136 Hyspania VIL324; IX.232 Hyspanus III.109; VIII.181; IX.67

Norguegicus

Orcus I372;IV.230 Orchadia X.165 Osca VIL412

Parisius VII.347, 395; VII. 10, 374, 402 Pictauia 1.320 Porcestria IV.70 Portus Hamonis see Hamonis Portus Portus Rutupi see Rutupi Portus Redonis IV.464 Roma 11.324; III.36, 51, 62, 73, 244, 451, 453; IV.83, 85, 87, 159,226, 298, 338, 344, 349, 351, 383, 411; V.53, 59; VII.324, 336; VIII.26, 53, 62, 63, 65, 71, 77, 80, 82, 85, 92, 102, 134, 136, 137, 145, 147, 416, 477; IX.143, 227, 379; X.393 Romanus III.37, 49, 65, 322, 332, 335, 386; IV.53, 54, 114, 171, 190, 191, 223, 302, 348, 354, 357, 378, 393; V.14, 37, 46, 58, 76; VI.64; VIII.29, 32, 95, 132, 145, 288, 306, 358, 394, 397, 448, 450; IX.28, 99, 133, 370; X.387 Rusicada 1.293 Rutupi Portus IV.99; IX.162

1IL.139

Kaerleyr 11.166 Kambria 1I.33 Kilao "VI.364 Lacedemon 1.25 Lacium 11.123, 145; IV.112 Lacius III.60; V.33; VII,302, 336 Legecestria (see also Lerecestria) IX.413 Legionensis IV.158; VI.292, 359, 360 Lengrie VIII.409, 425 Lerecestria (see also Legecestria) 11.167 Libie VIII.140, 376; IX.53 Ligeris 1.317, 340 Limonos VIL100 Lindecolinum VIII.100 Lodonesia VII.298

Loegencia Loegria

11.396

Normannia VII.396 Noua Troia IL12, 29, 70, 164

Iordanis IV.32, 33 Irlandrensis VII.307 Islandria IX.225 Israel VI.247 Iudea 1123, 114 Kaerleil

II.1, 14; III.92, 169,

367; IV.236, 247, 434; VI.471; VII.97

Sabrina 1[.92 Sabrinus VII.129, 270 Salinarum Lacus 1.292 Saxonia V.346 Saxonicus V.328; VI.434; VII.154

Scephtonia

11.152

Scocia 11.36; VII.297; IX.225 Scoticus 1I.210; IX.166 Secana VII.350 Sparatinum 193, 113

1.245 11.33, 352

331

INDEX LOCORUM

Turonis L5, 397, 400, 434 Tyntagolensis VI.493 Tyntagolum VI.483, 495

Stix 1.268, 366; VII.108; IX.108 Stura 11.91 Sylo 11.98 Syria VIII.143, 376 Syricus VIIL.400 Syrtes 1.226

Uenetensis L16 Urbs Conani (see also Castrum Conani) IV.226-7 Urbs Legionum III.90, 116; IV.287-8

Tamensis

11.15; III.264 Thebe VII.23 Tirrenum equor 1.302 Tirrenus 1.365 Totonensis 1.456; IV.103; V.97; VI.81, 93; VII.126 Trinouantum 11.13; III.27, 300, 349; V.368 Troia 1.28, 49, 304 Troianus

Wallia (Uuallia)

Ybernus

1[.35; IX.224

see Hybernus

Ytalia I.1, 25; III.445; IX.143 Ytalicus VIII.355 Ytalus III.36

1.37, 60. 80, 114, 154, 428;

VII.440

Zarea

332

1.293

INDEX FONTIUM

Alan of Lille, Anticlaudianus

In Eutropium

L1 L461 IX.21

I20 VI.289 VII.362

1.47 IL78 11.363

IX.396—7

L468

2

IX.415-21

X.472-7

Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica

uo

Biblia Sacra E 75.12

m

I.22-3

11.246; IX.218

1.93

V.362

Disticha Catonis

eer

"rf

praef., 23

111.397; V.362-3

IL3.2

11.63, 163; III.299

1.192 IIL21 V.133-4

VI.278-9 1.115 :

VIL44—5 VIL57

1.5-6

X.346

Florus, Epitomi

Il Corinthians

1.46.2 V.331-2

"

Ephesians 4.15-16

ide

II Timothy

25 ;

VIL175 !

1.494

1.279-81; VI.396

$92

V.342

$118

VI.80

VII.190

1

X112

908-40

IX.296-317

Horace

De Consulatu Stilichonis I31 X.411 1232 1387 1.258

£21

Uita Merlini

De Bello Gothico

11.424; VIL.141

L170

8147

Claudian, Carmina

156

III.249—51

$13

816

VIIL496

X.486

-

M 4 ! Historia Regum Britannie

IV.137-8

praef., 14

VI.165 L267-8

Geoffrey of Monmouth

a

Colossians

VIII.496 IV.452; X.316, 445

Eberhard of Béthune, Graecismus

115.15 120.8 ; Isaiah

6.15

X.44 V.67 X.485

Soie 1.1.27

X.150

333

1.348: VIII.12 1.17;- 111.348;

INDEX FONTIUM Carmina 11.6.4

VIII.193

Ilias Latina 67 136-7 248 396—7 427 482 S32 625 951 1046

III.329 I.434—6 11.380; III.231 IX.110-11 IX.126 X.186 V.218 III.398 IL.432 VI.241, 390

Isidore, Etymologiae IX.2.100 IX.202-3 Juvenal, Saturae

II.120 III.268 WAAL VIII.203 X1.88 X1.112 XV.93-4

IV3 1.4 1.45 VIII.98 IX.20 1.146; VIII.180 VII.388-9

Lucan, De Bello Ciuili

[S] [3 L8 L71 1.73 1.84 1.93 198-9 1.129-30 1.183 1.190 1.234 1.260 1.289 1.394 L417 1.458 1.551 11.104 11.312 11.322 11.389 11.390 11.538 11.555 II.565 11.590

11.430 III.424 1.107; VIIL474; IX.197 I.496; X.282, 379 IX.32-3 VIII.483; X.285 IX.466; X.211-2 1I.387-8; X.442 II.171-2, 334 IX.230 IX.258 X.14 1.385; III.452; VI.345 11.63 III.29; VIII.145 V.428-9 V.250 VIIL.385 V.73; X.172 1.208 VIIL.85 11.135 IV.324 11.270 IX.103 III.46 IX.60

II.607 11.665 III.65 III.82 III.137 III.264 III.545—6 III.614 IV.58-9 IV.205 IV.254

IV.770 IV.797 V.35 VR V.201 V.318 V.345 V.450 V.455 V.516 V.560 V.566 V.621 V.664 VI.37 VI.176 VI.220 VI.290 VI315 VI.487 VI.594 VI.626 VLT732 VII.100 VII.240 VII.299 VII.574 VIII.79 VIII.106 VIII.240 VIIL.348 VIII.430 VIIL573 IX.24 IX.214 IX.362 IX.481 IX.621 IX.807 IX.832 IX.987 IX.1108

334

VII.359 VI.198 X319 VII.325 1.67 11.369, 425 1.127 IX.110 IX.136-7 X.96, 189 11.300; IV.98, 385; VI.219; VII.348 1.490 1.117; VII.55; VIIL.405 IV.425; VIII.133 IV.305 IX.24 VIII.295 III.97 1.263 X.27 X.284 1.290 VIII.193 11.101 11.37 IV.266; X.148 III.288; IV.67 IV.228 1.401, 421 IL448 IX.110 VIII.66 IX.280 V.301 V.46 11.335 VIII.443 T4121 26—7 V.46 1.238 X.129 1.311 V.154 II.433 V.71; X354, 467 VIIL187 VIL431; IX.174 111.49, 386; IV.54; VIII.397 V.428 VIII.350 IX.51 III.238 11.312

INDEX FONTIUM

X.407 X.442 X.429 X.521

VIIL.113 V.306; VI.353; VII.319 VI.404 IV.169, 410; V.2, 83

Martial, Epigrammata

VI.64.1

VIIL310

11.6.21 6. 1.9.33 11.1.3 IIL2.13

11.350-1; ; X X.434 IX.144 11.277; X.426 VIII.492

IIL3.91 IIL4.81-2 158

IX.173 VII.28-9 bore

151.31

Matthew of Vendóme, Ars Uersificatoria

111.257, 280-1; X.453

III.9.29

X.297

L53.75

11413

IV.4.31

VIILA16—7

1.53.78 L108.1

X.461 IX.300

,

IIL9.93 IV.7.24 IV.7.47 IV.9.93

V.466

V.418 VI.68 V.466

Fasti

Qus

L171

Amores

1.300

IX

1.350 1.415

L341 111.220

1.8.104 1.9.21

1.10.9 L15.1

VL387 VL452

111.375 X.475-6

1.575 11.220

1262

VIIL.251-2 V.96-7

IL1.13

X.489

IL806

III.363; X.245

IL4.45

IV.115

III.242

IV.326

II.6.33 1.4.23 III.12.29

X.325 IV464 V27

: Ars Amatoria 1.82 1.191 L465 L541

VIIL171 X217 1.199; VIII.160; IX.399 VIIL159

1.91 IL487 11.168

IVA41 VIII.159 VIL431; IX.174

L645

IIL502

X232

1V.441

Epistulae ex Ponto 13.7 IX.49 13.55 IV.474 L43 11.223 1.4.19 IX.249-50 L435 V.212 L6.7 IV.309; IX.393 1.6.41 11.313 1.6.49 VIIL.212 L8.19 1341 1.8.64 VI.165 1.9.4 111.417 IL1.45 VI.181, 248, 252 II.1.61 11.482; VIIL51; IX.255 11.3.9 IX.195 IL5.41 V.40 IL5.55 IV.94, 412, VIII.89-90

IIL551 IV.265 V.73 V.289 VL173 VI.359 VL463 VI.715 )

X.398-9 1.116, 145 V.392 VII.249 11.37 X282 VL513 V.96—7

IL101 11.118 IIL.11

V.467 X.332

Heroides

IIL45 111.60 111.85 IV.55 IV.104 IV.115 V.5 V.121 VI.34 VI.35 VI.48 VIL187 VIII.93 IX.1 IX.9-10 IX.12 IX.20 IX.54 X.19

III.277-8; IX.98

1.28; 111.320; VI.124 VIIL.205 VII.253 1312 VI.58-9 VIII.251-2 IX.145 VIII.72, 213 11.25 IV.292; IX.130 VIIL163 V.391 VIIL150 IX.103 VI.498-9 IV.509 IL54 11.342 1.100

INDEX FONTIUM

X.33 X.105 XI.15 XII.69 XII.81 XII.88 XII.123 XII.142 XII.158 XIII.54 XIII.139 XIV.109 XVI.7 XVI.109 XVI.151 XVI.181-2 XVI.207 XVI.281 XVII.99 XVII.135 XVII.164 XVIII.185

IX.58 II.360; VI.410 1.89; V.414 I.251 1.414; VIII.27 II.159 I.227-8 1.21 VIIL162 VIII.169 IV3 VI.20 VIII.156 IV.114 III.354 X.143 VIII.48 IX.243, 338 A IIL.235; X.54 V.245 X.16

XIX.5 XXI.1

VII.359 1.385; III.456; VI.345

II.447

X.112 VIIL172; IX.268 IV.257; VII.269 1.115-6 V.295 VI.59 L471

Ibis 81 172

V.219 IX.14

Metamorphoses

L3 1.91 1.107 1.108 1.130 1.147 1.166 1.241 1.243 L319 1.338 1.420 1.456 1.525 1.652 1.662 1.666—7 1.676 1.729 II.89 II.102 11.170 11.204 11.360 11.437

1.471 1.238 IX.300 V.432 VIII.68; X.98-9 V.356 1.69-70; VII.326 1.346 VII.249 VI.473 VIII.253 1.233 IX.355 IV.262; VIII.301 VIII.150-1 IX.292 III.403; V.268; VII.194—5 V.407 IV.66 IX.214 X.372 X.18 VIII.344, 389 11.328 IV.305

V.168, 281 IX.153 VIL341 IV.74; VI.199—200 IV.200 1.423, 430; IX.274 VIL137, 353; VIIL.436—7 IL474; IV.451-2 11.427 X.146, 243 111.354 VL534 IIL.445 I.184; X.181 1.220, 445; 11.450; VI.348; VII.120; VIIL.179 IV.237 1.274 VIL380 X.307 1.263 VIL414 III.200-1 11.160 VIIL.28 VIII.279 IV.132

INDEX FONTIUM

VIIL.624 VIII.763 IX.45 IX.229 IX.470 IX.531 IX.754 X.218 X.402-3 X.608 X.612 X.613 XI.569 XI.611 X1.644 XII.64 XII.74 XIL397 XII.421 XII.613 XIIL131-2 XIIL.142 XIIL.520 XIIL542 XIII.643 XIII.662 XIII.709 XIII.838 XIII.850 XIV.193 XIV.201 XIV.209 XIV.444 XIV.780 XIV.790 XIV.840 XV.64 XV.159 XV.658 XV.669 XV.675 XV.736 XV.878

VII.259-60 V.189 L491 11.380; III.231 11.17 1.41 IV.415 IX.384, 406 VI.275-6 L503 X385 X.481 V28; X.25 VII.240 1.58 IX.93; X.397 IX.126 X.489 II.87; VIII.256, 314 111.220 V.188 X.116 L28 L264 L258 111.306; IV.78 X.126 IX.12 VIIL.246 VIII.230 VIII.242 VIIL219 IIL.150; V.51 VL461—2; VIIL.334 IX.4 IX.487 IX.11 VL74 VIIL.232 VIIL.37 X.420 IX.379 X.489

11.1.8 1.5.11 IV.2.47 V.2.26 V.10.15

Prudentius, Psychomachia 9 253

III.397; VI.283; VIII.116 VII.362

Pseudo-Prosper, Ad Uxorem 114

X.501

Caelius Sedulius, Carmen Paschale 1.47 11.176 V.340

IV.151 VI.75 III.74

Statius Achilleid

1.567

1.440; V.110; IX.124; X.419

Thebaid Li 1.632 L677 IL176 1.267 II.339 IL487 11.606 V.17 V.202 VI.602 VIL247 VIIL75 VIII.393 IX.526-7 X.217 X.452 XI.80 X1.380 XII.9 XII.363 XII.507 XII.683 XIL.776 XII.809

Remedia Amoris 105 VI.487 509 1.97 613 VIIL.492

Tristia LEZSI 1.3.17 L5.36 1.6.11 1.7.22 11.133 11.319

VIII.98 IX.17 1.71-2; III.392 VIIL.171 V.153, 248; VI.40

III.330; VIII.210; IX.51 VIII.148 IV.203 X.325 X.484 IV.94, 412; VIII.89-90 IX.39

III.26 VL165 L12 VIII.48 IX.249-50 VII.369; VIIL18 VI.409, 452 1.34; 11.248 VIII.50 1.346 I.176; IV.99 L39 IL4; VL516; IX.356 IV.431; V.380 III.66 IX.13 L58 L132 IV.35 1.401, 421 V.114 VII.283 III.306; IV.78 V.70 X.472

Vergil Aeneid

337

IJ

III.62

1.12

IX.388

INDEX FONTIUM

11.442; IX.52, 293 1.92 L301-2 1.438 VI.232 L174 X.97 11.170 IV.334—5; V.170; X.71-2 VII.188 11.385; IV.316 VI.79 IV.75 11.47 11.412 VII.426 VIIL219 11.159 IX.117 VIIL484; X.92 11.256; IX.235 1.109 1291

VII.534 VII.632 VIIL116 VIII.221 IX.139 IX.251 IX.453 IX.580 IX.778 X.263 X.604 X.637 X.859 X1.49 X1.142 X1.344 X1.365 X1.633 XII.6 XII.186 XII.216

111.312-3 X.210 III.312-3 111.431 1.244; VI.483 1.406; V.179; X.421 122182

L1 II.69

win IX.22 lic 301; bey

11.326 IV.105

11343

IV.464

111.63 VIII.483 IV.502; VII.380 137 V.116, 213; X.395 11.445

IV.659-60 Vaart V.293 V.801 VI.115 VI.164 VI.381 VI.520 VI.665 VI.863 VII.18 VII.56 VIL57 VII.444

1.109 IX.15

V.102; IX.188 1.12

11.257 1.434

VI.501

VI.451

1.258 1.256, 315 IX.14 11.14 IX.446 1.96

1.235 1.129 IV.402 V.363-4 IV.335 VI.49; X.134 I.155 VIII.256, 314 VILS5; VIII.405 11:73: 372 III.50 VI.389 VII.382 1.120 VII.439 VI.295; VIII.186 11.414; VIII.27 1.170 X.184 IL4; VI.516; IX.356 L56

Eclogues

IV.3 VII.15 Georcics 1490

V.376 1.327; III.388; IV.409; VIIL214 L50 1.17; 11.348; VIII.12 IV.53, 393; VIII.427; X.201 1.238 V.160 1.120

Walter of Chatillon, Alexandreid III.293; V.348, 361 X.451 1.406; V.179; X.421 1.113 V.123 1.118 IX.121 [321 IL426 V.152 L125 1.141 11.433 Last VI.279 M52 1.187 III.375 1.191 I.193 VL500; VIIL457; IX.223 11.204 1.204 VI.383 1.223 1.228 1.126, 443; VIII.354 1.239 1.4334; 11.139; III.120-1, 402; V.392; VI.131 1.246 IV. 77

I2 L5 L82

338

INDEX FONTIUM

111.194 111.210 111.287 11.291 111.324 11.341 111.384 111.430 111.529 IV, capit., 6 IV.56 IV.110

IX.44 1.422; III.377 IV.335 V.87 IV.309; IX.393 11.343 1.391; V.339; IX.417; X.327 IX.411-2 IV.387-8 IV.332 1.438 VI.131 1.208 1.146; VIII.180

IV.176 IV.178 IV.215 IV.216 IV.239 IV.288 IV.305 IV.311 IV.313 IV.314 IV.421 IV.427 IV.483

VL295; VIII.186 IX.90; X.36 VI.505; VIII.395; X.163, 182 IL8, 67, 148; IIL.21

IV.491 IV.565 IV.570 IV.588-9 IV.589 IV.590-2 V. capit., 9 V.33 V.45 V.89 V.152 V.160 V.209-10 V.232-3 V.268 V.292 V.304 V.306 V.345 V.360 V.414 V.449 V.482 VI.79 VL124 VI.144

VIII.352 IV.262; VIII.301 VIIL442 IV.35 L352 1.119; VI.366 VIII.416 VI.139

VIII.439 1.377

111.235; X.54 IV.345

1.377 IV.240, 263; VI.161-2; IX.31, 267-8 VIL366 X.137 VIL377 IX.110-11 IV.229; VI.240-1 VIII.276, 413 III.284 1.420; V.401; VIL375; IX.77

IX.200 III.141

VI439

339

111.379; VI.204 IV.68 1.251 IV.253 VI.20 IX.395 IX.475 II.252; IV.395; V.429; VII:.S2 X.255 11.464 1.28 11.28; II.125—6, 449; X.254, 403 X.390 III.270; VI.200 VIII.288 1.157 1.252; IX.317 IX.16 VI.254; VII.248 1.17; 111.348; VIII.12 VII.58-9, 207; VIII.261; IX.114 IV.364 VI.167; IX.285 1.199; VIII:160; IX.399 VI.159—-60; IX.271-3 IV.239 VI.163-4; IX.33-4, 271-3 IV.376 VI.453; IX.89 VIII.251-2 VIL.376 IV.239 V.39 IV.238-9 VI.177-8 1.170 VI.45 IX.263; X.221 V.161 VIIL.334 L419 VI.148 IV.268-9 VII.449 VI.446 VIIL.17 111.97, 396; VI.114-5

INDEX FONTIUM

VI.163 VI.169 VI.176 VI.208 VI.212 VI.266 VI.359 VI.382 VI412 VI.470 VI.478 VII, capit, 2 VII.24 VII.89 VII.172 VII.255 VII.333 VII.397 VII.421 VII.452 VII.481 VII.529 VIII.26 VIIL45—6 VIII.49 VIII.96 VIII.102 VIII.122 VIII.139 VIIL.158 VIII.308

IIIL.49; VI.179 11.288; IV.369 IX.5; X.315 III.352 IV.332 V.474 X.339 VII.403-4; X.202 I.102; VI.449 II.300; IV.98, 385; VI.219; VIL348; IX.142 V.394 V.236 III.20; IX.190 1I.256; IX.235 VIL444; X.33 1.326 V.142-3 IV.13 11.432 1.38; 1I.260—1; V.169 VIIL4A14 VI.67 1.286; III.16 IV.464 VII.419 IV.413 V.191; IX.153 111.232 VIIL476 VIII.295 VII.439

VIII.395 VIII.466 VIIL479 VIII.512 IX.54 IX.67 IX.70 IX.98 IX.121 IX.196 IX.231 IX.267-8 IX.328 IX.338 IX.386 IX.510 IX.514 IX.520 X, capit, 6

X.25

X.43 X.113-4 X.122 X.184 X.207 X.246 X.269 X.300 X315 X.380 X.418 X.435

340

1.226 111.398; V.256 VII.96 IX.185-6 1.433-4; III.120-1 VI.93 X.21 II.433 VI.108; X.145 VII.244; VIII.87 IIL.305; X.215 II.405; III.264 VII.266; VIII.17 I.100 VII.163 X.486 IIL.443 IX.241 I.216-7 VII.388 VII.136; VIIL.A14, 456 IX.239 VII.436 VI.276; IX.18 IV.200

Pd

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KP-423-110

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