Forth went the king, and the host with him; when they thither came, a dyke they began soon; horns there blew, machines hewed; lime they gan to burn, and over the land to run, and all west Welsh-land set in Vortiger’s hand; all they it took, that they nigh came.  When the dyke was dug, and thoroughly deepened, then began they a wall on the dyke over all, and they laid together lime and stone; of machines there was plenty—­five-and-twenty hundred!  In the day they laid the wall, in the night it fell over all, in the morrow they reared it, in the night it gan to tumble!  Full a se’nnight so it them served, each day they raised it, and each night it gan fall!  Then was the king sorry, and sorrowful through all things, so was all the host terribly afraid; for ever they looked when Hengest should come upon them.

The king was full sorry, and sent after sages, after world-wise men, who knew wisdom, and bade them cast lots, and try incantations, try the truth with their powerful craft, on what account it were, that the wall that was so strong might not ever stand a night long.  These world wise men there went in two parties, some they went to the wood, some to the cross ways; they gan to cast lots with their incantations, full three nights their crafts there they practised, they might never find, through never anything, on what account it were, that the wall that was so strong every night fell down, and the king lost his labour.  But there was one sage, he was named Joram, he said that he it found—­but it seemed leasing—­he said that if men found in ever any land, ever any male child, that never had father, and opened his breast, and took of his blood, and mingled with the lime, and laid in the wall, that then might it stand to the world’s end.  The word came to the king, of the leasing, and he it believed, though it were false.  Soon he took his messengers, and sent over all the land, so far as they for care (fear) of death durst anyways fare, and in each town hearkened the rumours, where they might find speak of such a child.

These knights forth proceeded wide over the land; two of the number went a way that lay right west, that lay forth-right in where now Caermarthen is.  Beside the burgh, in a broad way, all the burgh-lads had a great play.  These knights were weary, and in heart exceeding sorry, and sate down by the play, and beheld these lads.  After a little time they began striving—­as it was ever custom among children’s play,—­the one smote the other, and he these blows suffered.  Then was exceeding wrath Dinabuz toward Merlin, and thus quoth Dinabuz, who had the blow:  “Merlin, wicked man, why hast thou thus done to me?  Thou hast done me much shame, therefore thou shalt have grief.  I am a king’s son, and thou art born of nought; thou oughtest not in any spot to have free man’s abode, for so was all the adventure, thy mother was a whore, for she knew not ever the man that begat thee on her, nor haddest thou any father among mankind.  And thou in our land makest us to be shamed, thou art among us come, and art son of no man; thou shalt therefore in this day suffer death.”  The knights heard this, where they were aside; they arose up, and went near, and earnestly asked of this strange tale, that they heard of the lad.