220 GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH^;,. \''X
, ^^artibus erudiuit quent1 innata probitas in milicia multibus ■ ^ prefecit unde brittannia 2 insula1 tibi nunc temporibus nostris ac si alterum henricum adepta interno congratulate' affectu. Tud quoque galeranne3 consul mellenti4 altera regni nost^ri, . columpna5 operam adhibeas 8 tuam^utj utriusque moderations'xV* ^7-^ommunicata.' editio in medium "producta pulchrius 7 elucescat. Te etenim ex illius8 celeberimi9 regis karoli Stirpe progeni-tum 10 mater phylosophia 11 in gremio suo excepit scientiarum-que suarum šubtílitatem edocuit. ac deinde ut in militaribus^ , clareres exercitus 12 ad castra regum direxit.'13 ubi commilitones ; tuos audacter supergressus 14 & terror hostium existere15 Jt^j. M protectio tuorum esse paternis auspiciis addidicisti.   Fidelis  J 9 itaque protectio tuorum existens me tuum uatem codicemque ad oblectamentum tui editum sub tutela tua recipias ut sub ^ tegmine tarn patulae 16 arboris recubans. calamum musae tue 17 >' 3 coram inuidis atque improbis tuto modulamine resonare queam;d 1
Bern 1 quam. 'brüannia. 'Roberte. 7 6- pukrius. > Olo. » celeberrimo. u exerciiiis.    « derexil.   » supergrassus.
1 claudioceslrie. ' columna. > adibeas. " rege henrico progenitum. u philosophic. u insistere.    » palule.   " muse met.
Barltch      « omit miHlibus. resonare queam.
'omit ins^-    ' eratulalw.     * omit all that follows through
HISTÓRIA REGUM BRITANNIA
221
Britannia" insularum optima in occidental!1 occeano inter lH galliamc & hiberniam sita. octingenta1 d milia in longum. ^ ducenta • uero in latum continens.' quicquid mortalium usui congruit' indeficienti fertilitate ministrat.   Omni etenim genere metalli fecunda campos late pansos habet collet quoque ,; v,|(pSrepbllenti culture aptos jr^ fqujbus frugum diiJereitates ubertate **pd> p$glebe temporibus suis proueniuntx' Habet^&:J,^ernora, uniuersis
fera- | rum generibus re^]e\z. quorum in saltibus & afernandis /. 2 rec. animaKum pasti^us'gramina conueniunt * & aduolantibus3 apibus flores diuersorum colorum mella dis^tribuiint^ |-Habet etiam prata sub, aeriis montibus amenoT situ'v ulrentia.' in quibus fontes lucidi per nSidos riuos leni murmure rrianarifies. pignus suauis soporis4in ripis accubantibus irritant.*,,Porro lacubus T atque piscosis' fluuiis irrigiia5 est & absque meridianeplage^freto M ,,ir 1 quo ad gallias nauigatur. tria nobilia flumina. tamensis uidelicet. & sabrine. nec non & humbri. uelutm tria brachia extendit quibus transmarina comercia8" ex uniuersis nationibus eidem nauigio feruntur^\ Bis denis etiam bisque quaternis ciuitatibus olim    ?y k
1 ocloginta.    s omit        'ad uolandum.    1 saporis.    ' irrugua.    s commertia. Bern
" Brittania.     k oclidentali.     c Galliam.     * Acre.    • .cc.     ' conti written twice Harlech struck out in later hand.   « congruit usui.   * insert &• uolatUibus.    ' sita.    I uirencia. k irrigant.    ' pscosis.    ™ uelud.     " commercia.
Bryttaen, the best of the islands, which used to be called the white island,* /. 3I rec.
situated as it is* in the western ocean be tweenffraink and Ia/erddon, ^extends]
eight hundred miles in its length and two hundred in its width, and whatso-
ever men must needs use it supplies them in unfailing plenty. And with this
it fa full of numerous wide-spreading plains and noble hills, and havens to
which from overseas come foreign products in great variety. And there are
also in it forests and thickets full of various kinds of animals and wild beasts,
and many swarms of bees gathering honey among the flowers.  There are /■ jr to.
with this fair pastures at the foot of wind-swept mountains, and bright,
clear springs, and further, there are lakes and rivers full of various varieties
of fish.  Moreover, there are in it three noble rivers, namely, the temys,
and the hymyr, and the hafrenn. These, like three arms, divide the island;
and along them come various kinds of articles of barter from countries
overseas. And further, of old there were adorning it three and thirty noble