Page:Dickens - A Child s History of England, 1900.djvu/25

Rh priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade. So, altogether, the Britons were very badly off, you may believe.

They were in such distress, in short, that they sent a letter to Rome entreating help—which they called The Groans of the Britons; and in which they said, "The barbarians chase us into the sea, the sea throws us back upon the barbarians, and we have only the hard choice left us of perishing by the sword, or perishing by the waves." But, the Romans could not help them, even if they were so inclined; for they had enough to do to defend themselves against their own enemies, who were then very fierce and strong. At last, the Britons, unable to bear their hard condition any longer, resolved to make peace with the Saxons, and to invite the Saxons to come into their country, and help them to keep out the Picts and Scots.

It was a British Prince named who took this resolution, and who made a treaty of friendship with  and, two Saxon chiefs. Both of these names, in the old Saxon language, signify Horse; for the Saxons, like many other nations in a rough state, were fond of giving men the names of animals, as Horse, Wolf, Bear, Hound. The Indians of North America—a very inferior people to the Saxons though—do the same to this day.

and drove out the Picts and Scots; and, being grateful to them for that service, made no opposition to their settling themselves in that part of England which is called the Isle of Thanet, or to their inviting over more of their countrymen to join them. But had a beautiful daughter named ; and when, at a feast, she filled a golden goblet to the brim with wine, and gave it to, saying in a sweet voice, "Dear King, thy health!" the king fell in love with her. My opinion is, that the cunning meant him to do so, in order that the Saxons might have greater influence with him; and that the fair  came to that feast, golden goblet and all, on purpose.

At any rate, they were married; and, long afterwards, whenever the king was angry with the Saxons, or