罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (88).docxVIP

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经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

PartV.

Inacenturyofperpetual,oratleastimplacable,war,muchcourage,andsomeskill,musthavebeenexertedforthedefenceofBritain.Yetifthememoryofitschampionsisalmostburiedinoblivion,weneednotrepine;sinceeveryage,howeverdestituteofscienceorvirtue,sufficientlyaboundswithactsofbloodandmilitaryrenown.ThetombofVortimer,thesonofVortigern,waserectedonthemarginofthesea-shore,asalandmarkformidabletotheSaxons,whomhehadthricevanquishedinthefieldsofKent.AmbrosiusAurelianwasdescendedfromanoblefamilyofRomans;^138hismodestywasequaltohisvalor,andhisvalor,tillthelastfatalaction,^139wascrownedwithsplendidsuccess.ButeveryBritishnameiseffacedbytheillustriousnameofArthur,^140thehereditaryprinceoftheSilures,inSouthWales,andtheelectivekingorgeneralofthenation.Accordingtothemostrationalaccount,hedefeated,intwelvesuccessivebattles,theAnglesoftheNorth,andtheSaxonsoftheWest;butthedecliningageoftheherowasimbitteredbypopularingratitudeanddomesticmisfortunes.Theeventsofhislifearelessinterestingthanthesingularrevolutionsofhisfame.Duringaperiodoffivehundredyearsthetraditionofhisexploitswaspreserved,andrudelyembellished,bytheobscurebardsofWalesandArmorica,whowereodioustotheSaxons,andunknowntotherestofmankind.TheprideandcuriosityoftheNormanconquerorspromptedthemtoinquireintotheancienthistoryofBritain:theylistenedwithfondcredulitytothetaleofArthur,andeagerlyapplaudedthemeritofaprincewhohadtriumphedovertheSaxons,theircommonenemies.Hisromance,transcribedintheLatinofJeffreyofMonmouth,andafterwardstranslatedintothefashionableidiomofthetimes,wasenrichedwiththevarious,thoughincoherent,ornamentswhichwerefamiliartotheexperience,thelearning,orthefancy,of