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1、TheDescriptionofWalTheDescriptionofWalesByGiraldusCambrensis1TheDescriptionofWalFIRSTPREFACEtoStephenLangton,ArchbishopofCanterburyI,who,attheexpenseofthreeyears'labour,arranged,ashorttimeago,ithreeparts,theTopographyofIreland,withaderiptionofitsnatura
2、lcuriosities,andwhoafterwards,bytwoyears'study,completedintwopartstheVaticinalHitoryofitsConquet;andwho,bypublgthItineraryoftheHolyMan(Baldwin)throughCambria,prevetedhilaboriousmissiofromperishinginobscurity,donpropoe,inthpresentlittlework,togivesaccou
3、ntofthismynativecountry,andtodescribethegenusofitsinabitants,soentirelydistitfromthatofothernations.AndthisproductionofmyindustryIhavedetermiedtodedicatetoyou,illustriousStephen,archbihopofCanterbury,asIbeforeascribedtoyoumyItinerary;consideringyouasam
4、annolesditinguishedbyyourpiety,thanconspicuousforyourlearning;thoughshumbleanofferigmaypossiblybeunrthytheacceptanofapersagewho,fromhiseminence,deservestobepresentedwithwrksofthegreatestmerit.Som,indeed,objecttothismyundertaking,and,apparentlyfromtives
5、ofaffection,comparemtoapainter,who,riincolours,andlikeantherZeuxis,eminetinhisart,isendeavouringwthallhisskiandindustrytogivecelebritytoacottage,ortosothrcontemptibleobject,wilsttheworldisanxiousyexpectigfromhishandatempleorapalace.ThustheywonderthatI,
6、amidstthemanygreatandstrikingsubjectswhichtheworldpresets,shouldchotodescribeandtoadorn,withallthegracesofcomposition,suchretecornersoftheearthasIrelandandWales.Othrsagain,reproachingmewithgreatersverity,say,thatthegiftsichhavebeenbestowedupomefromabov
7、e,oughtnottobewastedupontheseinsignficantobjects,norlavishedinavaindisplayoflearningonthecommendatiofprices,who,fromtheirignranceandwantof2TheDescriptionofWalliberality,havenethrtastetoappreciate,norheartstoremuneratelteraryexcellence.Andtheyfurtheradd
8、,thateveryfacultywhichemanatesfromtheDeity,oughtrathertobeappldtotheillustrationofcelestialbjects,andtotheexultationofhisglory,fromwhoeabundanceallourtalentshavebeenreceived;everyfaculty(saythey)oughttobeemployedinprainghimfromwhom,asfr
