Series 1 > History of Greater Britain, as well England as Scotland

84 JOHN MAJOR’S HISTORY [book ii.
what title to the name of ‘just’ shall we find in Caesar, con¬
sidering this, that he overthrew an aristocratic republic, the
most famous since the beginning of the world, and by the
exercise of tyranny assumed the sole power to himself? And
though Hannibal of Carthage, himself a soldier of splendid
valour, granted the first place to Alexander of Macedon, I at
least am not able to assent to such an attribution, seeing that
through mere lust of rule he aimed at gaining for himself the
kingdoms of others, that no way pertained to him. This triple
trinity of just men others, and more wisely, are slow to admit;
but, however that may be, Arthur was renowned in war. I
Anguischei. have read, in the histories of the Britons, that Anguischel,
king of the Scots, when he was about to lead a great force
beyond sea to fight along with Arthur, marched against the
emperor of the Romans, with Arthur returned to Britain,
and was slain in his first conflict along with Gawain against
Modred; and Arthur caused his body to be carried with all
honour into Scotland. While Arthur was at war with the
Romans, news was brought to him that Modred was unlawfully
intimate with his queen Gaunora, and had proclaimed himself
king of Britain. Considering this, he returned to Britain, and
Modred met him with a great army ; for Modred had with him
various among the Britons, Saxons, Piets, and Scots, and those
who were ill-affected towards Arthur. For albeit the king of
the Scots loved Arthur on account of his uprightness, among
the Scots themselves he was hated, perchance because they
desired to serve under Modred for the pay that he would give
them. In the end there were fought three battles between
Arthur and Modred, and both Arthur and Modred thus came
by their end. But Arthur, when he knew his wound was
mortal, said that he was setting out for a certain island that he
might there be cured, and that he would thereafter return to
reign again. Wherefore the Britons had the expectation that
The proverb Arthur after a long time would return. So that this came to
concerning the be a proverb when one who shall never come back was yet
return of i i i r ^ at- • • i -n •
Arthur. looked for— Y ou are waiting for such an one, as the Britons
for their Arthur ’. This is but the blind affection of a people
Charles oT °f ^or their king, whom, all dead though he be, their unreason
Burgundy and leads them to think of as still among th^ living. Just the same
James the Scot.