things thus wonderful, as I here before me behold with eyes!” The Britons wondered wondrously much.  Then spake Arthur, noblest of kings:  “Howel, mine own relative, dearest to me of men, listen to my words, of a much greater wonder that I will tell to thee in my sooth speech.  By this lake’s end, where this water floweth, is a certain little lake, to the wonder of men!  It is in length four-and-sixty palms; it is in measure in breadth five-and-twenty feet; five feet it is deep, elves it dug!  Four-cornered it is, and therein is fish of four kinds, and each fish in his end where he findeth his kind, may there none go to other, except all as belongeth to his kind.  Was never any man born, nor of so wise craft chosen, live he ever so long, that may understand it, what letteth (hindereth) the fish to swim to the others; for there is nought between but water clean!” The yet spake Arthur, noblest of kings:  “Howel, in this land’s end, nigh the sea-strand, is a lake exceeding great—­the water is evil—­and when the sea floweth, as if it would rage, and falleth in the lake exceeding quickly, the lake is never the more increased in water.  But when the sea falleth in (ebbs), and the ground becomes fair, and in it is all in its old seat, then swelleth the lake, and the waves darken; out the waves there leap, exceeding great, flow out on the land, and the people soon terrify.  If any man cometh there, that knoweth nought thereof, to behold the marvel by the sea strand, if he turneth his face toward the lake, be he nought (never) so low born, full well he shall be saved, the water glideth him beside, and the man there remaineth easy, after his will he dwelleth there full still, so that he is not because of the water anything injured!” Then said Howel, noble man of Brittany:  “Now I hear tell a wonderful story, and marvellous is the Lord that it all made!”

Then said Arthur, noblest of kings.  “Blow ye my horns with loud noise, and say ye to my knights, that I will march forth-right.”  Trumpets there were blown, horns there resounded; bliss was in the host with the busy king, for each was solaced, and proceeded toward his land.  And the king forbade them, by their bare life, that no man in the world should be so mad, nor person so unwise, that he should break his peace; and if any man did it, he should suffer doom.  Even with the words the army marched, there sung warriors marvellous songs of Arthur the king, and of his chieftains, and said in song, to this world’s end never more would be such a king as Arthur, through all things, king nor caiser, in ever any realm!

Arthur proceeded to York, with folk very surprising (numerous), and dwelt there six weeks with much joy.  The burgh walls were broken and fallen down, that Childric all consumed, and the halls all clean.  Then called the king a distinguished priest, Pirai,—­he was an exceeding wise man, and learned in book:—­“Pirai, thou art mine own priest, the easier it shall be for thee.”  The king took a rood, holy and most