discharge without, as formerly, rising and inundating
the land below Helston.
It is really marvellous to see how the mesembry-anthemum flourishes here, throwing up masses of pink and white blossom.
In the neighbourhood it is fondly dreamed that this was the tarn into which Arthur had Excalibur cast.
"On one side lay the ocean, and on one
Lay a great water ——"
After the sword had been cast in, hither Arthur was carried by Sir Bedivere.
"To left and right
The bare black cliff clang'd round him, as he based
His feet on juts of slippery crag, that rang
Sharp smitten with the dint of armed heels —
And on a sudden, lo I the level lake,
And the long glories of the winter moon."
Hither came the "dusky barge" that was to bear Arthur away to the isles of the blessed. This is very pretty; the lake, the black serpentine rocks agree well enough, but how was the fairy barge to get over the pebble ridge? Mr. Rogers had not then cut the culvert. No doubt it was brimming, but it must have been risky over the bar. I do not believe a word of it. Arthur never was down there. The reputed site of the battle is at Slaughter Bridge, near Camelford. But before we settle where the battle was fought, we must fix Arthur himself, and he is slippery (historically) as an eel.
What makes the Lizard district interesting is in
