The Scots, having done homage to the king and owned themselves his
men, departed, and went their way. Hoel gazed long upon the mere,
calling to him the folk of his house. He wondered exceedingly because
of the grandeur of the lake, and because of the greatness of the
water. He marvelled altogether to behold so many islands therein, and
at the rocks thereof. He was astonied beyond measure at the number of
the eagles and their eyries, at the clamour and the shrilling of
their cries. He deemed in his heart that never had he gazed upon so
beautiful a sight. "Hoel, fair nephew," said Arthur, "very marvellous
this water seems in your eyes. Your astonishment will be the more when
you look upon yet another mere that I know. Near this lake, in this
very country, lies a water held in a cup, not round but square. This
pond is twenty feet in length, twenty in breadth, and the water
thereof is five feet deep. In the four corners of this pond are many
fish of divers fashions. These fish pass never from their corner to
another. Yet none can certify by touch or sight whether craft keeps
these fish each in his place, or what is that hindrance they may not
overcome. Yea, I cannot tell whether the pond was digged by the wit of
man, or if Nature shaped it to her will.
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