1.For about forty years Dunstan，Abbot of Glastonbury，-known as St.Dunstan after his death，-continued to wield the greatest power in the English Court.His influence began in the reign of Edmund，but it reached its height in the reigns of Edwy and Edgar.His object was to make the Church the supreme power in England.He was a cunning as well as a reckless and cruel churchman，as the following stories show.
2.One day，Edwy the Fair，a King and a bridegroom of eighteen years，was crowned by Archbishop Odo，at Kingston-on-Thames.A table was spread with the profuse plenty which pleased the Saxon appetite，and great flagons of wine were placed along the board.There sat many churchmen of various degrees，and there sat Dunstan too.
3.The coronation had gone off slowly，and，at least to Edwy，the feast began to grow tedious.It was natural that the handsome youth should find it so，for the various employments of the day had kept him long from the society of the beautiful Elgivea，his young wife.When he saw that the drinking had begun in earnest-and drinking was carried then to a shocking excess-Edwy quietly left the hall，and hurried away to the company of his wife and her mother，who sat with their embroidery in one of the bowers of the palace.
4.On entering the bower，the tired King took off his crown and rolled it away on the floor，weary both of its weight and of the labour it had cost him that day.But he was barely settled in his seat when the door burst open，and two churchmen came in to ask him in the name of Primate Odo why he had dared to leave the hall，and commanding him at the same time in most ungentle tones to return instantly to his place.This was too much for a King to bear；andEdwy answered their insolence with haughty words.Dunstan then seized the slight figure of the King，put the rejected crown on his head，and dragged him by main force back to the banquet room，now noisier than ever.
5.Edwy，stung with rage，demanded from Dunstan，a few days afterwards，an account of royal treasure committed to the Abbot‘s care；and，when he refused to give it，he drove him by military force out of the abbey into exile in Flanders.He was recalled，however，in the reign of Edgar，and was very soon made Archbishop of Canterbury.
6.By-and-by a great dispute arose between Rome and the English clergy；and in this dispute Dunstan the Primate was the leading champion of the Papal power.The strife hinged chiefly on the right of priests to marry，as the national priesthood of England had always been used to do.In this struggle Dunstanatook the part of the Benedictinemonks.
7.A great assembly to debate the disputed point was held in the town-hallbof Calne，which lies in one of the chalk valleys of Wiltshire.We can easilyimagine the building of rough planks，with a tiled roof and a stone foundation，which then represented an English town-hall.And we can see the crowd of nobles and churchmen that went up the broad ladders，which led into what we would consider a mere loft.
8.There go Earls and Thanes，wearing over their woollen coats，that reach the knee，long cloaks，lined and edged with fur.Above their black shoes the cross-garter of leather runs from ankle to knee，and through the interlaced thongs shines the bright red or blue of the hose below.And there in a greater crowd，with shaven heads and long embroidered robes，with crosier and with crucifix of rare device and precious material，go the Prelates and the Abbots，who represent the party of the Church.
9.The long low room is almost filled with all the noblest and most learnedcmen in Britain，met in the assembly known as the Witena-gemot.
An eloquent
bishop from Scotland speaks in defence of the opinions held by the national clergy；and then Dunstan，who stands at one end of the chamber，surrounded by his adherents，gets up to reply.He works himself into a furious passion，and after one very violent passage，he calls on Heaven to punish the impious men who oppose the course which he wishes all the clergy to adopt.
10.At that very moment a loud crash is heard，and，when the dust has somewhat cleared，it is seen that one half of the floor has broken down-that，namely，on which the opponents of the Primate had been standing！
a Benedictine.-Of the order of monks founded by St.Benedict，who established the first monastery inWestern Europe，in 529.
b Calne.-In Wiltshire，61miles north-west of Devizes.
c Witena-gemot.-The old English Parliament.
There，among the fragments of the wood，lie bleeding bodies，quite dead；and many sufferers，whose limbs are broken or bruised.It was a master stroke of wickedness；for few can doubt that the joists of the floor had been cut by order of Dunstan.This ambitious and powerful prelate died in 988.
中文阅读
1.在长达四十年的时间里，格拉斯顿堡的修道院院长邓斯坦，即后世为人们所熟知的“圣邓斯坦”，一直掌控着英国司法院的最高权力。他的权势从埃德蒙德时代就已肇始，并在埃德怀和埃德加两朝达到巅峰。他野心很大，一心想让教堂成为英格兰的权力中心。此人十分阴险狡诈，心狠手辣，下面的故事就是佐证。
2.公元956年的一天，年仅18岁并刚当上新郎官的“公允者”埃德怀，在泰晤士河畔的金斯顿被奥德大主教加冕为国王。仪式奢华而隆重，长长的宴桌上摆满了撒克逊人喜欢的丰盛菜肴，当然还少不了一壶壶的美酒。出席的有各级别的教职人员，邓斯坦也位列其中。
3.加冕礼慢慢接近尾声，但对埃德怀而言，这样的吃喝场面已越来越冗长乏味。一个帅气的小伙子有如此感受也是很自然的事，因为当天为了应付这一大帮人，他跟他漂亮的新娘埃尔吉瓦又不能卿卿我我了。于是当他看到祝酒开始，人们慢慢变得狂放失态之后，便溜出了大厅，一溜烟跑到后宫陪他妻子和母亲去了。
4.刚一进屋，这位疲惫不堪的国王便一把摘下头上的王冠，扔在了地上，这东西让他烦透了，重且不说，还让他白白浪费了大半天的时间。但他刚一坐下，砰的一下门开了，两位教职人员进来，说奉奥德大主教之命，问他为何如此大胆，竟敢逃出宴会大厅，并且以极不客气的语气要求他马上回去。这让国王忍无可忍，于是也以无礼之词回应了他们的冒犯。邓斯坦一听，一把抓住国王细小的胳膊，把他扔掉的王冠又硬戴到他头上，粗暴地拖拽着国王回到了宴会厅，厅里比刚才还要喧闹。
5.埃德怀这一下也彻底愤怒了。数日之后，他让邓斯坦汇报一下他管辖的皇家财物的账目情况，邓斯坦置若罔闻，完全不理睬。埃德怀正好以此发兵把他赶出了修道院，迫使他流亡到了法兰德斯a。但在埃德加当政后，他又被召回，并且很快成了坎特伯雷大主教b。
