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they are seeking to subdue you by stratagem； and； even during your
life； to seize upon all the countries subject to your power； how
much more will they attempt； after your death！〃 The king； pleased
with this advice； departed with his wise men； and travelled through
many parts of his territories； in search of a place convenient
for the purpose of building a citadel。 Having； to no purpose；
travelled far and wide； they came at length to a province called
Guenet；＇2＇ and having surveyed the mountains of Heremus；＇3＇ they
discovered； on the summit of one of them； a situation； adapted to
the consturction of a citadel。 Upon this； the wise men said to
the king； 〃Build here a city： for； in this place； it will ever be
secure against the barbarians。〃 Then the king sent for artificers；
carpenters； stone…masons； and collected all the materials requisite
to building； but the whole of these disappeared in one night； so
that nothing remained of what had been provided for the constructing
of the citadel。 Materials were； therefore； from all parts； procured
a second and third time； and again vanished as before； leaving and
rendering every effort ineffectual。 Vortigern inquired of his wise
men the cause of this opposition to his undertaking； and of so much
useless expense of labour？ They replied； 〃You must find a child
born without a father； put him to death； and sprinkle with his
blood the ground on which the citadel is to be built； or you will
never accomplish your purpose。〃
＇1＇ V。R。 You shall find a fortified city in which you may defend
yourself。
＇2＇ V。R。 Guined； Guoienet； Guenez； North Wales。
＇3＇ V。R。 Heremi； Heriri； or Eryri； signifying eagle rocks； the
mountains of Snowdon； in Carnarvonshire。 The spot alluded to is
supposed to be Dinas Emrys； or the fortress of Ambrosius。
41。 In consequence of this reply； the king sent messengers through…
out Britain； in search of a child born without a father。 After
having inquired in all the provinces； they came to the field of
Aelecti；＇1＇ in the district of Glevesing；＇2＇ where a party of boys
were playing at ball。 And two of them quarrelling； one said to
the other； 〃O boy without a father； no good will ever happen to
you。〃 Upon this； the messengers diligently inquired of the mother
and the other boys； whether he had had a father？ Which his mother
denied； saying； 〃In what manner he was conceived I know not； for
I have never had intercourse with any man；〃 and then she solemnly
affirmed that he had no mortal father。 The boy was； therefore；
led away； and conducted before Vortigern the king。
＇1＇ V。R。 Elleti； Electi； Gleti。 Supposed to be Bassalig in
Monmouthshire。
＇2＇ The district between the Usk and Rumney； in Monmouthshire。
42。 A meeting took place the next day for the purpose of putting
him to death。 Then the boy said to the king； 〃Why have your
servants brought me hither？〃 〃That you may be put to death；〃
replied the king； 〃and that the ground on which my citadel is to
stand； may be sprinkled with your blood； without which I shall be
unable to build it。〃 〃Who；〃 said the boy； 〃instructed you to do
this？〃 〃My wise men；〃 answered the king。 〃Order them hither；〃
returned the boy； this being complied with； he thus questioned
them： 〃By what means was it revealed to you that this citadel
could not be built； unless the spot were previously sprinkled with
my blood？ Speak without disguise； and declare who discovered me
to you；〃 then turning to the king； 〃I will soon；〃 said he； 〃unfold
to you every thing； but I desire to question your wise men； and
wish them to disclose to you what is hidden under this pavement：〃
they acknowledging their ignorance； 〃there is；〃 said he； 〃a pool；
come and dig：〃 they did so； and found the pool。 〃Now；〃 continued
he； 〃tell me what is in it；〃 but they were ashamed； and made no
reply。 〃I；〃 said the boy； 〃can discover it to you： there are two
vases in the pool；〃 they examined and found it so： continuing his
questions； 〃What is in the vases？〃 they were silent： 〃there is a
tent in them；〃 said the boy； 〃separate them； and you shall find
it so；〃 this being done by the king's command； there was found in
them a folded tent。 The boy； going on with his questions； asked
the wise men what was in it？ But they not knowing what to reply；
〃There are；〃 said he； 〃two serpents； one white and the other red；
unfold the tent；〃 they obeyed； and two sleeping serpents were
discovered； 〃consider attentively；〃 said the boy； 〃what they are
doing。〃 The serpents began to struggle with each other； and the
white one； raising himself up； threw down the other into the middle
of the tent； and sometimes drove him to the edge of it； and this
was repeated thrice。 At length the red one； apparently the weaker
of the two； recovering his strength； expelled the white one from
the tent； and the latter being pursued through the pool by the
red one； disappeared。 Then the boy； asking the wise men what
was signified by this wonderful omen； and they expressing their
ignorance； he said to the king； 〃I will now unfold to you the
meaning of this mystery。 The pool is the emblem of this world；
and the tent that of your kingdom： the two serpents are two dragons；
the red serpent is your dragon； but the white serpent is the
dragon of the people who occupy several provinces and districts of
Britain； even almost from sea to sea： at length； however； our
people shall rise and drive away the Saxon race from beyond the
sea； whence they originally came； but do you depart from this
place； where you are not permitted to erect a citadel； I； to whom
fate has allotted this mansion； shall remain here； whilst to you
it is incumbent to seek other provinces； where you may build a
fortress。〃 〃What is your name？〃 asked the king； 〃I am called
Ambrose （in British Embresguletic）；〃 returned the boy； and in
answer to the king's question； 〃What is your origin？〃 he replied；
〃A Roman consul was my father。〃
Then the king assigned him that city； with all the western
Provinces of Britain； and departing with his wise men to the
sinistral district； he arrived in the region named Gueneri； where
he built a city which； according to his name； was called Cair
Guorthegirn。*
* An ancient scholiast adds； 〃He then built Guasmoric； near
Lugubalia ＇Carlisle＇； a city which in English is called Palmecaster。〃
Some difference of opinion exists among antiquaries respecting the
site of vortigern's castle or city。 Usher places it at Gwent；
Monmouthshire； which name； he ways； was taken from Caer…Went； near
Chepstow。 This appears to agree with Geoffrey's account； ｛illegible｝
See Usher's Britan。 Eccles。 cap。 v。 p。23。 According to others；
supposed to be the city from the ruins of which arose the castle
of Gurthrenion； in Radnorshire； Camden's Britannia； p。479。 Whitaker；
however； says that Cair Guorthegirn was the Maridunum of the
Romans； and the present Caermarthen。 （Hist。 Of Manchester； book
ii。 c。 1。） See also Nennius； sec。47。
43。 At length Vortimer； the son of Vortigern； valiantly fought
against Hengist； Horsa； and his people； drove them to the isle of
Thanet； and thrice enclosed them within it； and beset them on the
Western side。
The Saxons n