Arthurian Chronicles: Roman de Brut. Wace
translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, London, 1849.
[21] Ed. Michel and Wright, Paris, 1837.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GENERAL WORKS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CHRONICLES
R.H. FLETCHER, The Arthurian Material in the Chronicles (Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature, X), Boston, 1906.
W. LEWIS JONES, King Arthur in History and Legend, London, 1911.
M.W. MACCALLUM, Tennyson's Idylls of the King, Glasgow, 1894.
H. MAYNADIER, The Arthur of the English Poets, Boston and New York, 1907.
G. PARIS, Histoire littéraire de la France, Paris, 1888.
J. RHYS, Studies in the Arthurian Legend, Oxford, 1891.
W.H. SCHOFIELD, English Literature from the Norman Conquest to Chaucer, New York and London, 1906.
B. TEN BRINK, Geschichte der Englischen Literatur, and ed., A Brandl, Strassburg, 1899. Translated into English, 1st ed, I., H.M. Kennedy, New York, 1888, II., i., W.C. Robinson, 1893, II., ii., L.D. Schmidt, 1896.
AUTHORS AND WORKS
GEOFFREY GAIMAR, L'Estorie des Engles, ed. T.D. Hardy and T.C. Marten (Rolls Series), 1888–1889.
GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH, Historia Regum Britanniae, ed. San Marte (A. Schulz) Halle, 1854. Translated, J.A. Giles, Six Old English Chronicles, London, 1896; S. Evans, London, 1903.
LAYAMON, Brut, ed. with translation, Sir F. Madden, 3 vols, London, 1847. WORKS ON LAYAMON—Introduction, Madden's ed. of Brut. H. Morley, English Writers, London, 1888–1890, III, 206–231. L. Stephen and S. Lee, Dictionary of National Biography, London, 1885–1904, under Layamon. For a further bibliography, see Fletcher (as above), p. 148, note 1.
WACE, Roman de Brut, ed. Le Roux de Lucy, 2 vols, Rouen, 1836–1838. Roman de Rou, ed. F. Pluquet, 2 vols, Rouen, 1827, H. Andresen, 2 vols, Heilbronn, 1877–1879, translated by E. Taylor (Chronicle of the Norman Conquest), London, 1837. WORKS ON WACE—E. Du Méril, La vie et les ouvrages de Wace, in _Jahrbuch für romanische u. englische Literatur, I, i ff.; also in his Etudes sur quelques points d'Archéologie, Paris and Leipzig, 1862. Grober, Grundriss der romanischen Philologie, Strassburg, 1888–1902, II, i, 635 ff. H. Morley, English Writers, III, 55. G. Paris, Romania, IX, 592 ff. L. Stephens and S. Lee, Dictionary National Biography, under Wace. A Ulbrich, Romanische Forschungen, XXVI, 181 ff. For further bibliography, see Fletcher (as above), p. 128, note 1.
WACE'S ROMAN DE BRUT
Constantine came to Totnes, and many a stout knight with him—there was not one but was worthy of the kingship. The host set forth towards London, and sent messages in every part, bidding the Britons to their aid, for as yet they were too fearful to come from their secret places. When the Britons heard these tidings they drew, thick as rain, from the woodlands and the mountain, and came before the host in troops and companies. To make short a long matter, these marched so far and wrought such deeds that in the end they altogether discomfited those evil men who had done such sore mischief to the land. After these things they held a great council at Cirencester, commanding thereto all the lords and barons of the realm. In that place they chose Constantine as their king, with no long tarrying, none being so bold as to say him nay. So when they had ordained him king, they set the crown on his head with marvellous joy, and owned themselves as his men. Afterwards, by their counsel, Constantine took to wife a dame who was come of gentle Roman blood. On this lady he begat three sons. The eldest—whom the king named Constant—he caused to be nourished at Winchester, and there he made him to be vowed a monk. The second son was called Aurelius, and his surname Ambrosius. Lastly was born Uther, and it was he whose days were longest in the land. These two varlets were held in ward by Gosselyn, the archbishop.
So long as Constantine lived the realm had rest and peace; but he died before his time had come, for he reigned but twelve short years. There was a certain Pict of his household, a traitor, a foul felon, who for a great while had been about his person. I cannot tell the reason why he bore the king so mortal a grudge. This Pict took the king aside privily in an orchard, as though he would speak to him of some hidden matter. The king had no thought to keep himself from this false felon, who whilst he made seeming to speak in his master's ear, drew forth a knife and smote him therewith so shrewdly that he died. Then he fled forth from the garden. But many a time have I heard tell that it was Vortigern who caused Constantine to be slain. Great was the sorrow the lords and all honest people made above their king, for the realm had now no prince, save only those children of so tender an age. They laid him in his tomb, but in no wise put him from remembrance. The whole realm assembled together that they might make to themselves a king. They doubted sorely which of the two young children they should choose, for of them they knew neither good nor ill, seeing they were but small and frail, and yet in their warden's charge. As to Constant, the eldest son, who was of more fitting years, they dared not to pluck the habit from his back, since all men deemed it shame and folly to hale him forth from his abbey. The council would have ordained one of the two children to be king had it not been for Vortigern, who arose before them all. This Vortigern came from Wales, and was earl in his own land. He was a strong knight of his body, exceeding rich in goods and kin. Very courteous was he of speech; right prudent in counsel; and long since had made straight the road that he coveted to tread. "What reason is here," said he, "for doubtfulness? There is naught else to do but to make this monk, Constant, our king. He is the rightful heir; his brothers are not long from the breast; neither is it fitting that the crown should be placed upon a stranger's head. Let us strip the gown boldly from his shoulders. I charge the sin upon my own soul. My hand alone shall draw him from the abbey, and set him before you as your king." But all the lords of the council kept silence, for a horrible thing it seemed in their eyes that a monk should wear the mantle of a king. Vortigern, purposing evil in his heart, took horse, and rode swiftly to Winchester. He sought Constant at the abbey, praying the prior of his courtesy that he might speak with him in the parlour. "Constant," said he, "thy father is dead, and men seek to bestow his throne upon thy brothers. Such honour is not seemly, for thine is the crown and seat. If thou bearest me love and affiance, and for thy part wilt promise to make richer all the riches that are mine, on my part I will free thee from these sullen rags and array thee in the purple and ermine of a king. Choose now between this monastery and the heritage that is thine own." Very desirous was Constant of the lordship, and little love had he for his abbey. Right weary was he of choir and psalter, and lightly and easily he made him ready to be gone. He pledged oath and faith to all that Vortigern required, and after he had so done Vortigern took him with a strong hand from the monastery, none daring to gainsay his deed. When Vortigern was assured of his fealty, he caused Constant to put off the monk's serge, and clothe him in furs and rich raiment. He carried him to London, and sat him in his father's chair, though not with the voice and welcome of the people. The archbishop who should have anointed the king with oil was dead, neither was any bishop found to give him unction, or to put his hand to the business. It was Vortigern alone who took the crown and set it on his head. This king had no unction nor blessing, save from the hand of Vortigern alone.
Constant reigned in his father's stead. He who had betrayed the commandment of God, was not one to hold his realm in surety; and thus he came to an evil end. Sorrow not thereat. The man who sells his master with a kiss may not hope to spend the wages of his sin. Vortigern held Constant and his senarchy in the hollow of his hand. The king did all according to his pleasure, and granted freely to his every need. Very quickly, by reason of divers matters, Vortigern perceived that the king knew but little of the world, since he was nourished