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.Afterwards they betrayed Aurelius Ambrosius, to whom, evenafter the most tremendous oaths of fidelity, at a banquet with him theygave a draught of poison.They also betrayed Arthur, when, setting asidethe covenant by which they were bound, they joined with his nephewModred, and fought against him.Lastly, they broke faith with kingCareticus, and brought upon him Gormund, king of the Africans, bywhose disturbances our people were robbed of their country, and theking disgracefully driven out.ÓChapter 3.A quarrel between Cadwalla and Edwin.At the mention of these things, Cadwalla repented of entering intothis treaty, and sent word to Edwin that he could by no means induce hiscounsellors to consent to his petition.For they alleged that it wascontrary to law and the ancient establishment, that an island, which hasalways had no more than one crown, should be now under subjection totwo crowned heads.This message incensed Edwin, and made him breakoff the conference, and retire into Northumberland, saying, he would becrowned without CadwallaÕs leave.When Cadwalla was told this, hedeclared to him by his ambassadors that he would cut off his crownedhead, if he presumed to wear a crown within the kingdom of Britain.Chapter 4.Cadwalla is vanquished by Edwin,and driven out of the kingdom.This proved the occasion of a war between them, in which, afterseveral engagements between their men, they at last met togetherthemselves beyond the Humber, and had a battle, wherein Cadwalla lostmany thousands of his followers, and was put to flight.From hence hemarched with precipitation through Albania, and went over to Ireland.201Geoffrey of MonmouthBut Edwin, after this victory, led his army through the provinces of theBritons, and burning the cities before him, grievously afflicted thecitizens and country people.During this exercise of his cruelty, Cadwallanever ceased endeavouring to return back to his country in a fleet, butwithout success; because to whatever port he steered, Edwin met himwith his forces, and hindered his landing.For there was come to himfrom Spain a very skilful soothsayer, named Pellitus who, by the flight ofbirds and the courses of the stars, foretold all the disasters that wouldhappen.By these means Edwin, getting knowledge of CadwallaÕs return,prepared to meet him, and shattered his ships so that he drowned hismen, and beat him off from all his ports.Cadwalla, not knowing whatcourse to take, was almost in despair of ever returning.At last it cameinto his head to go to Salomon, king of the Armorican Britons, and desirehis assistance and advice, to enable him to return to his kingdom.Andso, as he was steering towards Armorica, a strong tempest rose on asudden, which dispersed the ships of his companions, and in a short timeleft no two of them together.The pilot of the kingÕs ship was seizedimmediately with so great a fear, that quitting the stern, he left the vesselto the disposal of fortune; so that all that night it was tossed up anddown in great danger by the raging waves.The next morning theyarrived at a certain island called Garnareia, where with great difficultythey got ashore.Cadwalla was forthwith seized with such grief for theloss of his companions, that for three days and nights together herefused to eat, but lay sick upon his bed.The fourth day he was takenwith a very great longing for some venison, and causing Brian to becalled, made him acquainted with it.Whereupon Brian took his bow andquiver, and went through the island, that if he could light on any wildbeast, he might make booty of it.And when he had walked over thewhole island without finding what he was in quest of, he was extremelyconcerned that he could not gratify his masterÕs desire; and was afraidhis sickness would prove mortal if his longing were not satisfied.He,therefore, fell upon a new device, and cut a piece of flesh out of his ownthigh, which he roasted upon a spit, and carried to the king for venison.The king, thinking it to be real venison, began to eat of it to his great202Geoffrey of Monmouthrefreshment, admiring the sweetness of it, which he fancied exceededany flesh he ever had tasted before.At last, when he had fully satisfiedhis appetite, he became more cheerful, and in three days was perfectlywell again.Then the wind standing fair, he got ready his ship, andhoisting sails they pursued their voyage, and arrived at the city Kidaleta.From thence they went to king Salomon, by whom they were receivedkindly and with all suitable respect, and as soon as he had learned theoccasion of their coming, he made them a promise of assistance, andspoke to them as follows.Chapter 5.The speech of Salomon, king of Armorica, to Cadwalla.ÒIt is a grief to us, noble youths, that the country of your ancestors isoppressed by a barbarous nation, and that you are ignominiously drivenout of it.But since other men are able to defend their kingdoms, it is awonder your people should lose so fruitful an island, and not be able towithstand the nation of the Angles, whom our countrymen hold incontempt [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]