On The Ruin of Britain | Page 5

(said he) thou art not bold enough
to be marked with the comely mark of golden liberty among the
prophetic creatures, who enjoy the rank as reasoning beings next to the
angels, refuse not the inspiration of the understanding ass, to that day
dumb, which would not carry forward the tiara'd magician who was
going to curse God's people, but in the narrow pass of the vineyard
crushed his loosened foot, and thereby felt the lash; and though he was,
with his ungrateful and furious hand, against right justice, beating her

innocent sides, she pointed out to him the heavenly messenger holding
the naked sword, and standing in his way, though he had not seen him.]
* Notwithstanding this remark of Gildas, the Britons must have shown
great bravery and resolution in their battles against the Saxons, or they
would not have resisted their encroachments so Long. When Gildas
was writing, a hundred years had elapsed, and The Britons still
possessed a large portion of their native country.
Wherefore in zeal for the house of God and for his holy law,
constrained either by the reasonings of my own thoughts, or by the
pious entreaties of my brethren, I now discharge the debt so long
exacted of me; humble, indeed, in style, but faithful, as I think, and
friendly to all Christ's youthful soldiers, but severe and insupportable to
foolish apostates; the former of whom, if I am not deceived, will
receive the same with tears flowing from god's love; but the others with
sorrow, such as is extorted from the indignation and pusillanimity of a
convicted conscience.
2. I will, therefore, if God be willing, endeavour to say a few words
about the situation of Britain, her disobedience and subjection, her
rebellion, second subjection and dreadful slavery--of her religion,
persecution, holy martyrs, heresies of different kinds --of her tyrants,
her two hostile and ravaging nations--of her first devastation, her
defence, her second devastation, and second taking vengeance--of her
third devastation, of her famine, and the letters to Agitius*-of her
victory and her crimes--of the sudden rumour of enemies--of her
famous pestilence-of her counsels --of her last enemy, far more cruel
than the first-of the subversion of her cities, and of the remnant that
escaped; and finally, of the peace which, by the will of God, has been
granted her in these our times.
* Or Aetius

II. The History
3. The island of Britain, situated on almost the utmost border of the
earth, towards the south and west, and poised in the divine balance, as
it is said, which supports the whole world, stretches out from the
south-west towards the north pole, and is eight hundred miles long and
two hundred broad[1], except where the headlands of sundry
promontories stretch farther into the sea. It is surrounded by the ocean,

which forms winding bays, and is strongly defended by this ample, and,
if I may so call it, impassable barrier, save on the south side, where the
narrow sea affords a passage to Belgic Gaul. It is enriched by the
mouths of two noble rivers, the Thames and the Severn, as it were two
arms, by which foreign luxuries were of old imported, and by other
streams of less importance. It is famous for eight and twenty cities, and
is embellished by certain castles, with walls, towers, well barred gates,
and houses with threatening battlements built on high, and provided
with all requisite instruments of defence. Its plains are spacious, its
hills are pleasantly situated, adapted for superior tillage, and its
mountains are admirably calculated for the alternate pasturage of cattle,
where flowers of various colours, trodden by the feet of man, give it the
appearance of a lovely picture. It is decked, like a man's chosen bride,
with divers jewels, with lucid fountains and abundant brooks
wandering over the snow white sands; with transparent rivers, flowing
in gentle murmurs, and offering a sweet pledge of slumber[2] to those
who recline upon their banks, whilst it is irrigated by abundant lakes,
which pour forth cool torrents of refreshing water.
[1] The description of Britain is given in very nearly the same terms, by
Orosius, Bede, and others, but the numbers denoting the length and
breadth and other dimensions, are different in almost every MS. Copy.
[2] "Soporem" in some MSS., "saporem" in others; it is difficult from
the turgidity and superabundance of the style to determine which is the
best meaning.
4. This island, stiff--necked and stubborn--minded, from the time of its
being first inhabited, ungratefully rebels, sometimes against God,
sometimes against her own citizens, and frequently also, against
foreign kings and their subjects. For what can there either be, or be
committed, more disgraceful or more unrighteous in human affairs,
than to refuse to show fear to God or