Merlin

Roman de Brut

• attestation: Dinabus mocked Merlin for his unknown parentage, claiming his own lineage of earls and kings was superior (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Hold thy peace, Merlin", said Dinabus, "it becomes you not to strive with me, whose race is so much better than thine own"

• attestation: Merlin's fatherless birth was used as a taunt against him (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Speak then no more against my lineage"

• attestation: Dinabus claimed Merlin could not name his own father (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "if you set out to tell over your kindred, you could not name even your father's name"

• attestation: Merlin's neighbours confirmed that his father was unknown even to his own mother (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "the very mother who had borne him in her womb, knew nothing of the husbandman who had sown the seed"

• attestation: The king's messengers were specifically seeking a man born without a father (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "the king's messengers, who were in quest of such a sireless man"

• attestation: Merlin's neighbours confirmed his father was unknown to everyone (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "The neighbours answered that the lad's father was known of none"

• attestation: Dinabus declared Merlin never had a father (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "how may a son tell his father's name when a father he has never had"

• attestation: The king's messengers were searching for a fatherless man and overheard the quarrel (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "the king's messengers, who were in quest of such a sireless man, when they heard this bitter jibe"

• attestation: Merlin demanded the king reveal why he was summoned (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "King." cried Merlin suddenly, "you brought me here; tell me now what you would, and wherefore you have sent after me"

• attestation: Merlin addressed the king directly, challenging him to state his purpose (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "you brought me here; tell me now what you would"

• attestation: Merlin spoke suddenly and forcefully to the king (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "King." cried Merlin suddenly"

• attestation: Merlin asked why the king had sent for him specifically (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "wherefore you have sent after me"

• attestation: Merlin rejected the prophecy that his blood could bind the tower, calling the sorcerers liars (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "believe not that my blood will bind your tower together. I hold them for liars"

• attestation: Merlin challenged the sorcerers to face him, promising to prove them false (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Bring these prophets before me who prophesy so glibly of my blood, and liars as they are, liars I will prove them to be"

• attestation: Merlin challenged Vortigern's magicians to explain why the king's tower keeps falling (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Masters," said he, "and mighty magicians, tell us now I pray you the reason why the king's work faileth and may not stand"

• attestation: Merlin examined the magicians one by one before challenging them (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "After Merlin had regarded them curiously, one by one"

• attestation: Merlin addressed the sorcerers as 'masters and mighty magicians' (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Masters," said he, "and mighty magicians"

• attestation: Merlin asked the magicians to explain why the king's building project fails (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "the reason why the king's work faileth and may not stand"

• attestation: Merlin prayed the magicians to explain the failure of the tower (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "tell us now I pray you the reason why the king's work faileth"

• attestation: The court wizards were unable to answer Merlin's challenge and kept silent (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "all the wizards kept silence, and answered Merlin never a word"

• attestation: Merlin questioned how his blood could be the remedy when the sorcerers could not even identify the cause (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "If you are not willing to declare who labours secretly to make the house to fall, how shall it be credited that my blood will bind the stones fast"

• attestation: Merlin challenged the sorcerers to identify the cause of the tower's collapse before prescribing his blood as remedy (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Point out this troubler to the king, and then cry the remedy"

• attestation: Merlin saw the wizards abashed and speechless before him (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "When Merlin saw them abashed before him"

• attestation: Merlin told the king to hear him out after the wizards failed to answer (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "he spake to the king, and said, "Sire, give ear to me"

• attestation: Merlin revealed that a deep pool lay beneath the tower's foundations, causing it to collapse (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Beneath the foundations of your tower there lies a pool, both great and deep, and by reason of this water your building faileth to the ground"

• attestation: Merlin instructed the king to dig beneath the tower to prove his claim (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Bid your men to delve. You will then see why the tower was swallowed up, and the truth will be proven"

• attestation: When the earth was dug, the pool was found exactly as Merlin had predicted (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "The king bade therefore that the earth should be digged, and the pool was revealed as Merlin had established"

• attestation: Merlin told the king the truth could be easily verified by digging (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Right easily may this be assured. Bid your men to delve"

• attestation: Merlin challenged the magicians again after the pool was revealed (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Masters and great magicians," cried Merlin, "hearken once more"

• attestation: The enchanters again kept silent when Merlin asked them what was hidden in the pond (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "all the enchanters kept silence and were dumb; yea, for good or ill they made answer never a word"

• attestation: Merlin prophesied two hollow stones containing two sleeping dragons at the bottom of the pool (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "At the bottom shall be found two hollow stones, and two dragons sleeping in the stones"

• attestation: Merlin ordered trenches dug to drain the pool to reveal the dragons (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Dig now trenches, to draw off the water from this pool"

• attestation: Merlin told the king's servants to dig trenches to drain the pool (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "He beckoned with his hand to the king's servants, saying, "Dig now trenches, to draw off the water from this pool"

• attestation: Merlin asked the enchanters what was hidden in the pond, but they could not answer (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "say what is hidden in this pond." But all the enchanters kept silence and were dumb"

• attestation: Merlin described one dragon as white and the other as crimson (blood-red) (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "One of these dragons is white, and his fellow, crimson as blood"

• attestation: When the pool was drained, two dragons emerged and confronted each other (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "two dragons got them on their feet, and envisaged each the other very proudly"

• attestation: The two dragons fought fiercely, with foam in their mouths and flames from their jaws (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Well might be seen the foam within their mouths, and the flames that issued from their jaws"

• attestation: The two dragons fought with intense eagerness and grievous striving (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Passing eager was their contention, and they strove together right grievously"

• attestation: Merlin explained that the dragons prophesied future kings who would rule the realm (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "These dragons prophesied of kings to come, who would yet hold the realm in their charge"

• attestation: Merlin prophesied that Vortigern would die at the hands of the sons of Constantine (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Beware," said Merlin, "beware of the sons of Constantine. By them you shall taste of death"

• attestation: Merlin foretold that the sons of Constantine had already departed Armorica and would arrive the next day with fourteen galleys (Roman de Brut > Merlin and the Prophecies)

  "Already have they left Armorica with high hearts, and even now are upon the sea. Be certified of this, that their fleet of fourteen galleys comes to land on the morrow"

• attestation: Merlin told of stones with healing virtue: washing in their water cured sickness and wounds (Roman de Brut > Aurelius, Hengist's Fall, and Stonehenge)

  "They washed in this water, and were healed of their sickness. However sore their wound, however grievous their trouble, other medicine needed they none"

• attestation: When the king and Britons heard of the healing stones, they desired them greatly and decided to fetch them (Roman de Brut > Aurelius, Hengist's Fall, and Stonehenge)

  "When the king and his Britons heard of the virtue residing in the stones, they all desired them very greatly"

• attestation: Merlin told marvels about the healing properties of the stones (Roman de Brut > Aurelius, Hengist's Fall, and Stonehenge)

  "of which Merlin told such marvels"

• attestation: Every Briton desired the healing stones and would gladly have ventured on the quest (Roman de Brut > Aurelius, Hengist's Fall, and Stonehenge)

  "Not one but would gladly have ventured on the quest for these stones"

• attestation: Merlin accompanied Uther to Ireland to provide engineering for moving the stones (Roman de Brut > Aurelius, Hengist's Fall, and Stonehenge)

  "Merlin also went with them to furnish engines for their toil"

• attestation: Merlin prophesied that Arthur's end would be hidden in doubtfulness (Roman de Brut > Mordred and Arthur's End)

  "Merlin said of Arthur—if I read aright—that his end should be hidden in doubtfulness"

Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx

• attribution: As to Welshpool, a very deep water called ILyn Du, lying between the town and the Castett Coch or Powys Castle, and right in the domain of the castle, is suddenly to spread itself, and one fine market (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume I > Chapter VI: The Folklore of the Wells)

  "As to Welshpool, a very deep water called ILyn Du, lying between the town and the Castett Coch or Powys Castle, and right in the domain of the castle, is suddenly to spread itself, and one fine market day to engulf the whole placed Further, when I was a boy in North Cardiganshire, the following couplet was quite familiar to me, and supposed to have been one of Merlin's prophecies: —"

• attestation: Brittia, to which Procopius describes the souls of the departed being shipped from the shores of the Continent, the Isle of Avallon in the Romances, that of Gwales in the Mabinogion^ Ynys Enlli or Bar (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VII: Triumphs of the Water-world)

  "Brittia, to which Procopius describes the souls of the departed being shipped from the shores of the Continent, the Isle of Avallon in the Romances, that of Gwales in the Mabinogion^ Ynys Enlli or Bardsey, in which Merlin and his retinue enter the Glass Housed and the island of which we read in the pages of Plutarch, that it contains Cronus held in the bonds of perennial sleep '."

• attribution: lo, where Merlin's nine companions are called now beird cylfeird: cylfnrd should be the plural of cylfardj which must be the same word as the Irish adbard^ name of one of the bardic grades in Ireland (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VII: Triumphs of the Water-world)

  "' This comes from the late series of Triads, iii. lo, where Merlin's nine companions are called now beird cylfeird: cylfnrd should be the plural of cylfardj which must be the same word as the Irish adbard^ name of one of the bardic grades in Ireland."

• attribution: 329, a legend to the following effect: — Now after the departure of Vortigem, Myrdin, or Merlin as he is called in English, remained himself in the Dinas for a long time, until, in fact, he went away (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "Concerning that Dinas we read in the Btython for 1861, p. 329, a legend to the following effect: — Now after the departure of Vortigem, Myrdin, or Merlin as he is called in English, remained himself in the Dinas for a long time, until, in fact, he went away with Emrys Ben-aur, * Ambrosius the Gold-headed ' — evidently Aurelius Ambrosius is meant."

• attestation: He traces these scraps to a booklet entitled Merlin's Prophecy ', together with a brief history of Ins life, taken front the Book of Prognostication (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "He traces these scraps to a booklet entitled Merlin's Prophecy ', together with a brief history of Ins life, taken front the Book of Prognostication."

• attestation: It is partly in prose, dealing briefly with the history of Merlin the Wild or Silvaticus, and the rest consists of two poems (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "It is partly in prose, dealing briefly with the history of Merlin the Wild or Silvaticus, and the rest consists of two poems."

• attestation: The first of these poems is entitled Dechreu Darogan Myrd^in,'^^ Beginning of Merlin's Prognostication,' and is made up of forty-nine verses, several of which speak of Owen as king conquering all his (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "The first of these poems is entitled Dechreu Darogan Myrd^in,'^^ Beginning of Merlin's Prognostication,' and is made up of forty-nine verses, several of which speak of Owen as king conquering all his foes and driving out the Saxons: then in the forty-seventh stanza comes the couplet which says, that this Owen is Henry the Ninth, who is tarrying in a foreign land."

• attestation: Merlin's Prognostication, (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "The other poem is of a more general character, and is entitled the Second Song of Merlin's Prognostication,"

• attestation: So it is a matter of no great surprise if some people in Wales had a notion that the power of England was fast nearing its end, and that the baledwyr thought it opportune to refurbish and adapt some o (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "So it is a matter of no great surprise if some people in Wales had a notion that the power of England was fast nearing its end, and that the baledwyr thought it opportune to refurbish and adapt some of Merlin's prophecies as likely to be acceptable to the peasantry of South Wales."

• attestation: We seem also lo have ai legend repreaeals Owen and •hieh meana Merlin's Cave, Uie great mBgidan: (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter VIII: Welsh Cave Legends)

  "' We seem also lo have ai legend repreaeals Owen and •hieh meana Merlin's Cave, Uie great mBgidan:"

• attribution: Later it came to be called Dinas Emrj-s from Myrdin Emrys, "Merlinus Ambrosius,' who induced Vortigern to go away from there in quest of another place (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter IX: Place-name Stories)

  "Later it came to be called Dinas Emrj-s from Myrdin Emrys, "Merlinus Ambrosius,' who induced Vortigern to go away from there in quest of another place to build his castle ^ So the reader will see that the mention of this Dinas brings us back to a weird spot with which he has been familiarized in the previous chapter: see pp. 469, 495 above."

• attestation: Malory's Ryons is derived from the French Romances, where, as for example in the Merlin, according to the Huth MS., it occurs as Rion-s in the nominative, and Rion in regime (Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx > Volume II > Chapter X: Difficulties of the Folklorist)

  "Malory's Ryons is derived from the French Romances, where, as for example in the Merlin, according to the Huth MS., it occurs as Rion-s in the nominative, and Rion in regime."

Layamon's Brut

• attestation: 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. (Layamon's Brut)

  "two of the number went a way that lay right west, that lay forth-right in where now Caermarthen is."

• attestation: The word came to the king, of the leasing, and he it believed, though it were false. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The word came to the king, of the leasing, and he it believed, though it were false."

• attestation: 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. (Layamon's Brut)

  "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."

• attestation: These world wise men there went in two parties, some they went to the wood, some to the cross ways. (Layamon's Brut)

  "These world wise men there went in two parties, some they went to the wood, some to the cross ways;"

• attestation: 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. (Layamon's Brut)

  "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."

• attestation: These knights forth proceeded wide over the land. (Layamon's Brut)

  "These knights forth proceeded wide over the land;"

• attestation: Beside the burgh, in a broad way, all the burgh-lads had a great play. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Beside the burgh, in a broad way, all the burgh-lads had a great play."

• attestation: These knights were weary, and in heart exceeding sorry, and sate down by the play, and beheld these lads. (Layamon's Brut)

  "These knights were weary, and in heart exceeding sorry, and sate down by the play, and beheld these lads."

• attestation: Merlin's mother was to be brought along with him to the king (Layamon's Brut)

  "his mother with him, who bore him to be man"

• attestation: Thither went Eli, the reve of Caermarthen, and took him the good lady, where she lay in the minster, and forth gan him run to the King Vortiger, and much folk with him, and led the nun and Merlin. The word (tidings) was soon made known to the King Vortiger's mouth, that Eli was come, and had brought the lady, and that Merlin her son was with her there come. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Thither went Eli, the reve of Caermarthen, and took him the good lady, where she lay in the minster, and forth gan him run to the King Vortiger, and much folk with him, and led the nun and Merlin."

• attestation: The word (tidings) was soon made known to the King Vortiger's mouth, that Eli was come, and had brought the lady, and that Merlin her son was with her there come. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The word (tidings) was soon made known to the King Vortiger's mouth, that Eli was come, and had brought the lady, and that Merlin her son was with her there come."

• attestation: Was Vortiger blithe in life, and received the lady, with looks most fair and honour promised, and Merlin he delivered to twelve good knights, who were faithful to the king, and him should guard. Then said the King Vortiger, with the nun he spake there: "Good lady, say to me--well it shall be to thee--where wert thou born, who begat thee to be child? (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then was Vortiger blithe in life, and received the lady, with looks most fair and honour promised, and Merlin he delivered to twelve good knights, who were faithful to the king, and him should guard."

• relationship: Who was held for father to him among the folk?" Then hung she her head, and bent toward her breast. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Who was held for father to him among the folk?" Then hung she her head, and bent toward her breast;"

• attestation: By the king she sate full softly, and thought a little while, after a while she spake, and said to the king: "King, I will tell thee marvellous stories. My father Conaan the king loved me through all things, then became I in stature wondrously fair. (Layamon's Brut)

  "by the king she sate full softly, and thought a little while, after a while she spake, and said to the king: "King, I will tell thee marvellous stories."

• relationship: My father Conaan the king loved me through all things, then became I in stature wondrously fair. (Layamon's Brut)

  "My father Conaan the king loved me through all things, then became I in stature wondrously fair."

• attestation: Now was Merlin's mother strangely become in a noble minster a hooded nun. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Now was Merlin's mother strangely become in a noble minster a hooded nun."

• attribution: When I was in bed in slumber, with my soft sleep, then came before me the fairest thing that ever was born, as if it were a tall knight, arrayed all of gold. This I saw in dream each night in sleep. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And when I was in bed in slumber, with my soft sleep, then came before me the fairest thing that ever was born, as if it were a tall knight, arrayed all of gold."

• attestation: When I was fifteen years of age, then dwelt I in bower, in my mansion, my maidens with me, wondrously fair. (Layamon's Brut)

  "When I was fifteen years of age, then dwelt I in bower, in my mansion, my maidens with me, wondrously fair."

• attribution: They are named full truly Incubi Daemones; they do not much harm, but deceive the folk. (Layamon's Brut)

  "they are named full truly Incubi Daemones;"

• attestation: Some they are good, and some they work evil. Therein is a race very numerous, that cometh among men. (Layamon's Brut)

  "some they are good, and some they work evil."

• attestation: Therein is a race very numerous, that cometh among men. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Therein is a race very numerous, that cometh among men;"

• attestation: Then said Merlin a wonder: "A water here is under;. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then said Merlin a wonder: "A water here is under;"

• attestation: To the king was brought Joram the sage, and seven of his companions-- all they were fated to die! Merlin angered, and he spake wrathly:-- "Say me, Joram, traitor--loathsome to me in heart--why falleth this wall to the ground, say me why it happeneth that the wall falleth, what men may find at the dyke's bottom? (Layamon's Brut)

  "To the king was brought Joram the sage, and seven of his companions-- all they were fated to die!"

• attestation: Merlin angered, and he spake wrathly:-- "Say me, Joram, traitor--loathsome to me in heart--why falleth this wall to the ground, say me why it happeneth that the wall falleth, what men may find at the dyke's bottom?" Joram was still, he could not tell. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Merlin angered, and he spake wrathly:-- "Say me, Joram, traitor--loathsome to me in heart--why falleth this wall to the ground, say me why it happeneth that the wall falleth, what men may find at the dyke's bottom?" Joram was still, he could not tell."

• attestation: Said Merlin these words: "King, hold to me covenant! Cause this dyke to be dug anon seven feet deeper than it is now. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then said Merlin these words: "King, hold to me covenant!"

• attestation: Cause this dyke to be dug anon seven feet deeper than it is now. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Cause this dyke to be dug anon seven feet deeper than it is now;"

• attestation: They shall find a stone wondrously fair, it is fair and broad, for folk to behold." The dyke was dug seven feet deeper, then they found anon there-right the stone. Then said Merlin these words: "King, hold to me covenant! (Layamon's Brut)

  "they shall find a stone wondrously fair, it is fair and broad, for folk to behold." The dyke was dug seven feet deeper, then they found anon there-right the stone."

• attestation: Said Merlin these words: "King, hold to me covenant! Say to me, Joram, man to me most hateful, and say to this king what kind of thing hath taken station under this stone? (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then said Merlin these words: "King, hold to me covenant!"

• attestation: Do away this stone, the water ye shall find anon." They did away the stone before the king anon, the water they found anon. Then said Merlin: "Ask me Joram, who is my full foe, after a while, to say thee of the bottom, what dwelleth in the water, winter and summer. (Layamon's Brut)

  "do away this stone, the water ye shall find anon." They did away the stone before the king anon, the water they found anon."

• attestation: Said Merlin: "Ask me Joram, who is my full foe, after a while, to say thee of the bottom, what dwelleth in the water, winter and summer." The king asked Joram, but he knew nought thereof. The yet said Merlin these words: "King, hold to me covenant! (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then said Merlin: "Ask me Joram, who is my full foe, after a while, to say thee of the bottom, what dwelleth in the water, winter and summer." The king asked Joram, but he knew nought thereof."

• attestation: The king went to his house, and led Merlin with him, and said to him with much love: "Merlin, thou art welcome, and I will give thee all that thou desirest, of my land, of silver and of gold." He weened through Merlin to win all the land, but it happened all otherwise ere the day's end came. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The king went to his house, and led Merlin with him, and said to him with much love: "Merlin, thou art welcome, and I will give thee all that thou desirest, of my land, of silver and of gold." He weened through Merlin to win all the land, but it happened all otherwise ere the day's end came."

• attestation: The king thus asked his dear friend Merlin, "Say me now, Merlin, man to me dearest, what betoken the dragons that made the din, and the stone, and the water, and the wondrous fight? (Layamon's Brut)

  "The king thus asked his dear friend Merlin, "Say me now, Merlin, man to me dearest, what betoken the dragons that made the din, and the stone, and the water, and the wondrous fight?"

• attribution: We have a prophet, who is Merlin named. (Layamon's Brut)

  "We have a prophet, who is Merlin named;"

• attestation: If men might him find, to bring him to the king, he would give him land, both silver and gold, and in the worlds-realm perform his will. The messengers gan to ride wide and far. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and if men might him find, to bring him to the king, he would give him land, both silver and gold, and in the worlds-realm perform his will."

• attestation: Great was the mirth among the people, all for Merlin's arrival, who was son of no man. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Great was the mirth among the people, all for Merlin's arrival, who was son of no man."

• attestation: Forth went Merlin, and the knights with him, so long that they came to the sovereign. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Forth went Merlin, and the knights with him, so long that they came to the sovereign."

• attestation: The good tidings came to the king. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The good tidings came to the king;"

• attestation: Never ere in his life was the king so blithe, for ever any kind of man that came to him! The king went to his steed, and out gan him ride, and all his knights with him, to welcome Merlin. (Layamon's Brut)

  "never ere in his life was the king so blithe, for ever any kind of man that came to him!"

• attestation: The king went to his steed, and out gan him ride, and all his knights with him, to welcome Merlin. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The king went to his steed, and out gan him ride, and all his knights with him, to welcome Merlin."

• attestation: The king him met, and greeted him fair, he embraced him, he kissed him, he made him his familiar. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The king him met, and greeted him fair, he embraced him, he kissed him, he made him his familiar."

• attestation: That in the world was no wise man that ever knew here whose son he were, but the Lord alone, who surveys (or explores) all clean! The king led to chamber Merlin who was dear. (Layamon's Brut)

  "that in the world was no wise man that ever knew here whose son he were, but the Lord alone, who surveys (or explores) all clean!"

• attestation: The king led to chamber Merlin who was dear. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The king led to chamber Merlin who was dear;"

• attestation: Leave all such things," quoth Merlin to the king, "for whensoever need shall come to ever any people, and man will beseech me with mildness, and I may with my will dwell still, then may I say, how it afterwards shall happen. (Layamon's Brut)

  "But leave all such things," quoth Merlin to the king, "for whensoever need shall come to ever any people, and man will beseech me with mildness, and I may with my will dwell still, then may I say, how it afterwards shall happen."

• attestation: He bade them counsel him at such need. And his noble barons they well advised him, that he should do the counsel that Merlin had said to him. (Layamon's Brut)

  "he bade them counsel him at such need."

• attestation: And his noble barons they well advised him, that he should do the counsel that Merlin had said to him. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And his noble barons they well advised him, that he should do the counsel that Merlin had said to him."

• attestation: Then spake Merlin, and discoursed with words: "See ye now, brave men, the great hill, the hill so exceeding high, that to the welkin it is full high? (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then spake Merlin, and discoursed with words: "See ye now, brave men, the great hill, the hill so exceeding high, that to the welkin it is full high?"

• attestation: There were a thousand knights with weapons well furnished, and all the others to wit guarded well their ships. Then spake Merlin, and discoursed with the knights: "Knights, ye are strong, these stones are great and long, ye must go nigh, and forcibly take hold of them. (Layamon's Brut)

  "There were a thousand knights with weapons well furnished, and all the others to wit guarded well their ships."

• attestation: Then spake Merlin, and discoursed with the knights: "Knights, ye are strong, these stones are great and long, ye must go nigh, and forcibly take hold of them;. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then spake Merlin, and discoursed with the knights: "Knights, ye are strong, these stones are great and long, ye must go nigh, and forcibly take hold of them;"

• attestation: Ye must wreathe them fast with strong sail-ropes, shove and heave with utmost strength trees great and long, that are exceeding strong, and go ye to one stone, all clean, and come again with strength, if ye may it stir." But Merlin wist well how it should happen. The knights advanced with mickle strength. (Layamon's Brut)

  "ye must wreathe them fast with strong sail-ropes, shove and heave with utmost strength trees great and long, that are exceeding strong, and go ye to one stone, all clean, and come again with strength, if ye may it stir." But Merlin wist well how it should happen."

• attestation: Merlin went about, and diligently gan behold, thrice he went about, within and without, and moved his tongue as if he sung his beads. Thus did Merlin there, then called he Uther: "Uther, come quickly, and all thy knights with thee, and take ye these stones all, ye shall not leave one. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And Merlin went about, and diligently gan behold, thrice he went about, within and without, and moved his tongue as if he sung his beads."

• attestation: For now ye may heave them like feather balls; and so ye shall with counsel carry them to our ships. (Layamon's Brut)

  "for now ye may heave them like feather balls;"

• attestation: So ye shall with counsel carry them to our ships." These stones they carried away, as Merlin counselled them, and placed them in their ships, and sailed forth to wit, and so they gan proceed into this land, and brought them on a plain that is wondrously broad, broad it is and most pleasant, near Ambresbury, where Hengest betrayed the Britons with axes. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and so ye shall with counsel carry them to our ships." These stones they carried away,"

• attribution: Merlin gan rear them, as they ere stood, so never any other man could do the craft, nor ever ere there-before was any man so wise born, that could the work raise, and the stones dispose. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Merlin gan rear them, as they ere stood, so never any other man could do the craft, nor ever ere there-before was any man so wise born, that could the work raise, and the stones dispose."

• attestation: Merlin sate him still, a long time, as if he with dream full greatly laboured. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Merlin sate him still, a long time, as if he with dream full greatly laboured."

• attestation: They said who saw it with their own eyes, that oft he turned him, as if it were a worm! (Layamon's Brut)

  "They said who saw it with their own eyes, that oft he turned him, as if it were a worm!"

• attestation: At length he gan to awake, then gan he to quake, and these words said Merlin the prophet: "Walaway! (Layamon's Brut)

  "At length he gan to awake, then gan he to quake, and these words said Merlin the prophet: "Walaway!"

• attestation: They embraced, they kissed, and familiarly spake. Then said Merlin--much wisdom was with him--"Say thou, my dear friend, why wouldest thou not say to me, through no kind of thing, that thou wouldest go to the king? (Layamon's Brut)

  "they embraced, they kissed, and familiarly spake."

• attestation: The king set to him in hand seven ploughs of land, if he might find and bring Merlin to the king. The hermit gan wend in the west end, to a wilderness, to a mickle wood, where he had dwelt well many winters, and Merlin very oft sought him there. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And the king set to him in hand seven ploughs of land, if he might find and bring Merlin to the king."

• attestation: The hermit gan wend in the west end, to a wilderness, to a mickle wood, where he had dwelt well many winters, and Merlin very oft sought him there. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The hermit gan wend in the west end, to a wilderness, to a mickle wood, where he had dwelt well many winters, and Merlin very oft sought him there."

• attestation: So soon as the hermit came in, then found he Merlin, standing under a tree, and sore gan for him long, he saw the hermit come, as whilom was his custom, he ran towards him, both they rejoiced for this. (Layamon's Brut)

  "So soon as the hermit came in, then found he Merlin, standing under a tree, and sore gan for him long, he saw the hermit come, as whilom was his custom, he ran towards him, both they rejoiced for this;"

• attestation: Said Merlin--much wisdom was with him--"Say thou, my dear friend, why wouldest thou not say to me, through no kind of thing, that thou wouldest go to the king? But full quickly I it knew anon as I thee missed, that thou wert come to Uther the king, and what the king spake with thee, and of his land thee offered, that thou shouldest bring me to Uther the king. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then said Merlin--much wisdom was with him--"Say thou, my dear friend, why wouldest thou not say to me, through no kind of thing, that thou wouldest go to the king?"

• attestation: Thus they then spake: the hermit gan to weep; dearly he him kissed. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Thus they then spake: the hermit gan to weep;"

• attestation: Merlin went right forth south, the land was well known to him. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Merlin went right forth south, the land was well known to him;"

• attestation: These things were forth-right thus dight. (Layamon's Brut)

  "These things were forth-right thus dight."

• attribution: Forth went the king, it was nothing known, and forth went with him Ulfin and Merlin, they proceeded right the way that lay into Tintateol, they came to the castle-gate, and called familiarly: "Undo this gate-bolt;. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Forth went the king, it was nothing known, and forth went with him Ulfin and Merlin, they proceeded right the way that lay into Tintateol, they came to the castle-gate, and called familiarly: "Undo this gate-bolt;"

• attestation: There was many a bold Briton filled with bliss; then was in Britain bliss enow. (Layamon's Brut)

  "there was many a bold Briton filled with bliss;"

• attestation: When he came to the spot where his army lay, Merlin had on the king set his own features through all things, then his knights knew their sovereign. (Layamon's Brut)

  "When he came to the spot where his army lay, Merlin had on the king set his own features through all things, then his knights knew their sovereign;"

• attestation: Horns there blew, gleemen gan chant, glad was every knight, all arrayed with pall! Three days was the king dwelling there. (Layamon's Brut)

  "horns there blew, gleemen gan chant, glad was every knight, all arrayed with pall!"

• attestation: And yet said him Merlin more that was to come, that all that he looked on to his feet to him should bow. (Layamon's Brut)

  "And yet said him Merlin more that was to come, that all that he looked on to his feet to him should bow."

• attestation: The yet said him Merlin, a marvel that was greater, that there should be immoderate care (sorrow) at this king's departure. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The yet said him Merlin, a marvel that was greater, that there should be immoderate care (sorrow) at this king's departure."