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Chapter I
Forthineownruinwastthoutraitortotheirfather,anddidstbringtheSaxonheathenstotheland.AureliusandUtherareevennowupontheetorevengetheirfather’smurder;andthebroodofthewhitedragonshallwastethycountry,andshalllickthyblood.Findoutsomerefuge,ifthouwilt!butwhomayescapethedoomofGod?”
Thekingheardallthis,tremblinggreatly;and,convictedofhissins,saidnothinginreply.Onlyhehastedthebuildersofhistowerbydayandnight,andrestednottillhehadfledthereto.
Inthemeantime,Aurelius,therightfulking,washailedwithjoybytheBritons,whoflockedtohisstandard,andprayedtobeledagainsttheSaxons.Buthe,tillhehadfirstkilledVortigern,wouldbeginnootherwar.HemarchedthereforetoCambria,andcamebeforethetowerwhichtheusurperhadbuilt.Then,cryingouttoallhisknights,“AvengeyeonhimwhohathruinedBritainandslainmyfatherandyourking!”herushedwithmanythousandsatthecastlewalls.But,beingdrivenbackagainandyetagain,atlengthhethoughtoffire,andorderedblazingbrandstobecastintothebuildingfromallsides.Thesefindingsoonaproperfuel,ceasednottorage,tillspreadingtoamightyconflagration,theyburneddownthetowerandVortigernwithinit.
ThendidAureliusturnhisstrengthagainstHengistandtheSaxons,and,defeatingtheminmanyplaces,weakenedtheirpowerforalongseason,sothatthelandhadpeace.
