The British history of Geoffrey of Monmouth. In twelve books / Translated into English from the Latin, by Aaron. Thompson, esq.

  • Geoffrey of Monmouth
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The British history of Geoffrey of Monmouth. In twelve books / Translated into English from the Latin, by Aaron. Thompson, esq. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/320 page 4
    their prediction ; for at the proper time the woman brought forth a son, and died of his birth ; but the child was delivered to a nurse and called Brutus. At length, after fifteen years were expired, the youth accompanied his father in hunting, and killed him un- designedly by the shot of an arrow. For, as the servants were driving up the deer towards them, Brutus, in shoot- ing at them, smote his father under the breast. Upon his death, he was expelled from Italy, his kinsmen being enraged at him for so heinous a deed. Thus banished he went into Greece, where he found the posterity of Helenus, son of Priamus, kept in slavery by Pandrasus, king of the Greeks. For, after the destruction of Troy, Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, had brought hither in chains Helenus and many others ; and to revenge on them the death of his father, had given command that they should be held in captivity. Brutus, finding they were by descent his old countrymen, took up his abode among them, and began to distinguish himself by his conduct and bravery in war, so as to gain the affection of kings and commanders, and above all the young men of the country. For he was esteemed a person of great capacity both in council and war, and signalized his generosity to his soldiers, by bestowing among them all the money and spoil he got. His fame, therefore, spreading over all countries, the Trojans from all parts began to flock to him, desiring under his command to be freed from subjection to the Greeks; which they assured him might easily be done, considering how much their number was now in- creased in the country, being seven thousand strong, besides women and children. There was likewise then in Greece a noble youth named Assaracus, a favourer of their cause. For he was descended on his mother’s side from the Trojans, and placed great confidence in them, that he might bo able by their assistance to oppose the designs of the Greeks. For his brother had a quarrel with him for attempting to deprive him of three castles
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3