Then the saints and the brotherhood moved onward and went upon the rocks. When all stood ankle-deep in the seaweed that was swaying in the tide, Colum cried:
"O finny creatures of the deep, draw near!"
And with that the whole sea shimmered as with silver and gold. All the fishes of the sea, and the great eels, and the lobsters and the crabs, came in a swift and terrible procession. Great was the glory.
Then Colum cried, "O fishes of the deep, who is your king?" Whereupon the herring, the mackerel, and the dogfish swam forward, and each claimed to be king. But the echo that ran from wave to wave said, The Herring is King!
Then Colum said to the mackerel, "Sing the song that is upon you."
And the mackerel sang the song of the wild rovers of the sea, and the lust of pleasure.
Then Colum said, "But for God's mercy, I would curse you, O false fish."
Then he spoke likewise to the dogfish, and the dogfish sang of slaughter and the chase, and the joy of blood.
And Colum said, "Hell shall be your portion."
Then there was peace. And the herring said: