WISE MERLIN'S FOOLISHNESS
Arthur was now established as king over all the land. The great
council hall at Camelot, that is Winchester, had been built, some say
by Merlin's skill; and the most loyal and the bravest knights of the
world had been gathered at Arthur's court to do honour to him and his
fair Queen Guenever.
Merlin was Arthur's wisest helper and most powerful friend, as he had
before been the helper and friend of his father Uther, for whom he had
made the Round Table, signifying the roundness of the world. We have
seen how he hid the young Arthur away from the jealousy of the wild
barons, and how, by his power over men and his knowledge of what would
be, he had saved the King's life and guided his wise rule. The old
magician Bleise, that dwelt in Northumberland, was Merlin's master, and
he it was that wrote down all the battles of Arthur with his enemies
word by word as Merlin told him, and all the battles that were done in
Arthur's days, until Merlin was lost, as we shall see, through his own
foolishness.
On a time Merlin told King Arthur that he should not endure long, but
for all his crafts he should be put in the earth alive. Also he told
many things that should befall, and how the king would miss him, so
that rather than all his lands he would wish to have him again.
"Ah," said King Arthur, "since ye know of this, provide against it, and
put away by your crafts that misadventure."
"Nay," said Merlin, "it cannot be done." For Merlin, now grown an old
man in his dotage, had fallen under the spell of a damsel of the court
named Nimue. With her he soon departed from the King, and evermore
went with her wheresoever she went. Ofttimes he wished to break away
from her, but he was so held that he could not be out of her presence.
Ever she made him good cheer, till she had learned from him all she
desired of his secret craft, and had made him swear that he would never
do any enchantment upon her.
[Illustration: Merlin and Nimue]
They went together over the sea unto the land of Benwick, where Ban was
king, that had helped Arthur against his enemies. Here Merlin saw
young Launcelot, King Ban's son, and he told the queen that this same
child should grow to be a man of great honour, so that all Christendom
should speak of his prowess. So the queen was comforted of her great
sorrow that she made for the mortal war that King Claudas waged on her
lord and on her lands.
Then afterwards Nimue and Merlin departed into Cornwall, and by the way
he showed her many wonders, and wearied her with his desire for her
love. She would fain have been delivered of him, for she was afraid of
him, almost believing him a devil's son, and yet she could not put him
away by any means.
And so on a time it happened that Merlin showed to her a wonderful
cavern in the cliff, closed by an enchanted stone. By her subtle
working she soon made Merlin remove the stone and go into the cavern to
let her know of the marvels there. Then she so wrought through the
magic he had taught her that the stone was placed back again, so that
he never came out for all the craft that he could do. And then she
departed and left him there.
On a day a certain knight rode to see adventures, and happened to come
to the rock where Nimue had put Merlin, and there he heard him make
great lamentation. The knight would gladly have helped him, and tried
to move the great stone; but it was so heavy that a hundred men might
not lift it up. When Merlin knew that the knight sought his
deliverance, he bade him leave his labour, for all was in vain. He
could never be helped but by her that put him there.
So Merlin's prophecy of his own end was fulfilled, and he passed from
the world of men. Arthur truly missed his old friend and marvelled
what had become of him. Afterwards, when the last great battle came,
he would have given everything to have Merlin with him again, but it
could not be.