wise, nor so quick-witted, that might separate the Christians and the
heathens, for the heathens were so rife, and ever they speedily came!

When the Britons saw that sorrow was in the land, therefore they were
sorry, and in their heart dreary, and proceeded to the king, the
highest of this land, and thus to him said with sorrowful voice:
"Listen to us, lord king, of our discourse; thou art through us (by
our means) bold king in this Britain, and thou hast procured to thee
harm and much sin; brought heathen folk--yet it may thee harm;--and
thou forsakest God's law, for foreign folk, and wilt not worship our
Lord, for these heathen knights. And we would pray thee, for all God's
peace, that thou leave them, and drive from thy land. If thou else
(otherwise) mightest not, we will make mickle fight, and drive them
from land, or fell them down, or we ourselves will lie slain, and let
the heathen folk hold this realm, possess it with joy, if they may it
win. And if they all are heathen, and thou alone Christian, they will
never long have thee for king, except thou in thy days receive the
heathen law, and desert the high God, and praise their idols. Then
shalt thou perish in this world's realm, and thy wretched soul sink to
hell; then hast thou dearly bought the love of thy bride!" Then
answered Vortiger--of each evil he was ware:--"I will not leave them,
by my quick life! For Hengest is hither come, he is my father, and I
his son; and I have for mistress his daughter Rouwenne, and I have
wedded her, and had in my bed, and afterwards I sent after Octa, and
after more of his companions;--how might I for shame shun them so
soon, and drive from land my dear friends?" Then answered the Britons,
with sorrow bound: "We will nevermore obey thy commands, nor come to
thy court, nor hold thee for king, but we will hate thee with great
strength, and all thine heathen friends with harm greet. Be Christ
now, that is God's son, our help!" Forth went the earls, forth went