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           ”

           Thekingwasastonishedathiswords,butcommandedthemagicianstocomeandsitdownbeforeMerlin,whocriedtothem—

           “Becauseyeknownotwhatitisthathindersthefoundationofthecastle,yehaveadvisedmybloodforacementtoit,asifthatwouldavail;buttellmenowratherwhatthereisbelowthatground,forsomethingthereissurelyunderneaththatwillnotsufferthetowertostand?”

           Thewizardsatthesewordsbegantofear,andmadenoanswer.ThensaidMerlintotheking—

           “Ipray,Lord,thatworkmenmaybeorderedtodigdeepdownintothegroundtilltheyshallcometoagreatpoolofwater.”

           Thisthenwasdone,andthepooldiscoveredfarbeneaththesurfaceoftheground.

           Then,turningagaintothemagicians,Merlinsaid,“Tellmenow,falsesycophants,whatthereisunderneaththatpool?”—buttheyweresilent.Thensaidhetotheking,“Commandthispooltobedrained,andatthebottomshallbefoundtwodragons,greatandhuge,whichnowaresleeping,butwhichatnightawakeandfightandteareachother.Attheirgreatstruggleallthegroundshakesandtrembles,andsocastsdownthytowers,which,therefore,neveryetcouldfindsecurefoundations.”

           Thekingwasamazedatthesewords,butcommandedthepooltobeforthwithdrained;andsurelyatthebottomofitdidtheypresentlydiscoverthetwodragons,fastasleep,asMerlinhaddeclared.

           ButVortigernsatuponthebrinkofthepooltillnighttoseewhatelsewouldhappen.