At this time Vortigern reigned3 in Britain. He was a usurper4, who had caused the death of his sovereign, Moines, and driven the two brothers of the late king, whose names were Uther and Pendragon, into banishment5. Vortigern, who lived in constant fear of the return of the rightful heirs of the kingdom, began to erect6 a strong tower for defence. The edifice7, when brought by the workmen to a certain height, three times fell to the ground, without any apparent cause. The king consulted his astrologers on this wonderful event, and learned from them that it would be necessary to bathe the corner-stone of the foundation with the blood of a child born without a mortal father.
In search of such an infant, Vortigern sent his messengers all over the kingdom, and they by accident discovered Merlin, whose lineage seemed to point him out as the individual wanted. They took him to the king; but Merlin, young as he was, explained to the king the absurdity9 of attempting to rescue the fabric10 by such means, for he told him the true cause of the instability of the tower was its being placed over the den8 of two immense dragons, whose combats shook the earth above them. The king ordered his workmen to dig beneath the tower, and when they had done so they discovered two enormous serpents, the one white as milk, the other red as fire. The multitude looked on with amazement11, till the serpents, slowly rising from their den, and expanding their enormous folds, began the combat, when every one fled in terror, except Merlin, who stood by clapping his hands and cheering on the conflict. The red dragon was slain12, and the white one, gliding13 through a cleft14 in the rock, disappeared.
These animals typified, as Merlin afterwards explained, the invasion of Uther and Pendragon, the rightful princes, who soon after landed with a great army. Vortigern was defeated, and afterwards burned alive in the castle he had taken such pains to construct. On the death of Vortigern, Pendragon ascended15 the throne. Merlin became his chief adviser16, and often assisted the king by his magical arts.
“Merlin, who knew the range of all their arts,
Had built the King his havens17, ships and halls.”
—Vivian.
Among other endowments, he had the power of transforming himself into any shape he pleased. At one time he appeared as a dwarf18, at others as a damsel, a page, or even a greyhound or a stag. This faculty19 he often employed for the service of the king, and sometimes also for the diversion of the court and the sovereign.
Merlin continued to be a favorite counsellor through the reigns20 of Pendragon, Uther, and Arthur, and at last disappeared from view, and was no more found among men, through the treachery of his mistress, Viviane, the Fairy, which happened in this wise.
Merlin, having become enamoured of the fair Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, was weak enough to impart to her various important secrets of his art, being impelled21 by fatal destiny, of which he was at the same time fully22 aware. The lady, however, was not content with his devotion, unbounded as it seems to have been, but “cast about,” the Romance tells us, how she might “detain him for evermore,” and one day addressed him in these terms: “Sir, I would that we should make a fair place and a suitable, so contrived23 by art and by cunning that it might never be undone24, and that you and I should be there in joy and solace25.” “My lady,” said Merlin, “I will do all this.” “Sir,” said she, “I would not have you do it, but you shall teach me, and I will do it, and then it will be more to my mind.” “I grant you this,” said Merlin. Then he began to devise, and the damsel put it all in writing. And when he had devised the whole, then had the damsel full great joy, and showed him greater semblance26 of love than she had ever before made, and they sojourned together a long while. At length it fell out that, as they were going one day hand in hand through the forest of Brécéliande, they found a bush of white-thorn, which was laden27 with flowers; and they seated themselves under the shade of this white-thorn, upon the green grass, and Merlin laid his head upon the damsel’s lap, and fell asleep. Then the damsel rose, and made a ring with her wimple round the bush, and round Merlin, and began her enchantments29, such as he himself had taught her; and nine times she made the ring, and nine times she made the enchantment28, and then she went and sat down by him, and placed his head again upon her lap.
“And a sleep
Fell upon Merlin more like death, so deep
Her finger on her lips; then Vivian rose,
And from her brown-locked head the wimple throws,
And takes it in her hand and waves it over
The blossomed thorn tree and her sleeping lover.
Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round,
And made a little plot of magic ground.”
—Matthew Arnold.
And when he awoke, and looked round him, it seemed to him that he was enclosed in the strongest tower in the world, and laid upon a fair bed. Then said he to the dame30: “My lady, you have deceived me, unless you abide31 with me, for no one hath power to unmake this tower but you alone.” She then promised she would be often there, and in this she held her covenant32 with him. And Merlin never went out of that tower where his Mistress Viviane had enclosed him; but she entered and went out again when she listed.
After this event Merlin was never more known to hold converse33 with any mortal but Viviane, except on one occasion. Arthur, having for some time missed him from his court, sent several of his knights35 in search of him, and, among the number, Sir Gawain, who met with a very unpleasant adventure while engaged in this quest. Happening to pass a damsel on his road, and neglecting to salute36 her, she revenged herself for his incivility by transforming him into a hideous37 dwarf. He was bewailing aloud his evil fortune as he went through the forest of Brécéliande, when suddenly he heard the voice of one groaning38 on his right hand; and, looking that way, he could see nothing save a kind of smoke, which seemed like air, and through which he could not pass. Merlin then addressed him from out the smoke, and told him by what misadventure he was imprisoned39 there. “Ah, sir!” he added, “you will never see me more, and that grieves me, but I cannot remedy it; I shall never more speak to you, nor to any other person, save only my mistress. But do thou hasten to King Arthur, and charge him from me to undertake, without delay, the quest of the Sacred Graal. The knight34 is already born, and has received knighthood at his hands, who is destined40 to accomplish this quest.” And after this he comforted Gawain under his transformation41, assuring him that he should speedily be disenchanted; and he predicted to him that he should find the king at Carduel, in Wales, on his return, and that all the other knights who had been on like quest would arrive there the same day as himself. And all this came to pass as Merlin had said.
Merlin is frequently introduced in the tales of chivalry42, but it is chiefly on great occasions, and at a period subsequent to his death, or magical disappearance43. In the romantic poems of Italy, and in Spenser, Merlin is chiefly represented as a magical artist. Spenser represents him as the artificer of the impenetrable shield and other armor of Prince Arthur (“Faery Queene,” Book I., Canto44 vii.), and of a mirror, in which a damsel viewed her lover’s shade. The Fountain of Love, in the “Orlando Innamorata,” is described as his work; and in the poem of “Ariosto” we are told of a hall adorned45 with prophetic paintings, which demons46 had executed in a single night, under the direction of Merlin.
The following legend is from Spenser’s “Faery Queene,” Book III., Canto iii.:
CAER-MERDIN, OR CAERMARTHEN (IN WALES), MERLIN’S TOWER, AND THE IMPRISONED FIENDS.
“Forthwith themselves disguising both, in straunge
And base attire47, that none might them bewray,
To Maridunum, that is now by chaunge
Of name Caer-Merdin called, they took their way:
There the wise Merlin whylome wont48 (they say)
To make his wonne, low underneath49 the ground
In a deep delve50, far from the view of day,
That of no living wight he mote51 be found,
Whenso he counselled with his sprights encompassed52 round.
“And if thou ever happen that same way
To travel, go to see that dreadful place;
It is a hideous hollow cave (they say)
Under a rock that lies a little space
From the swift Barry, tombling down apace
Amongst the woody hills of Dynevor;
But dare not thou, I charge, in any case,
To enter into that same baleful bower53,
For fear the cruel fiends should thee unwares devour54.
“But standing55 high aloft, low lay thine ear,
And there such ghastly noise of iron chains
And brazen56 cauldrons thou shalt rumbling57 hear,
Which thousand sprites with long enduring pains
Do toss, that it will stun58 thy feeble brains;
And oftentimes great groans59, and grievous stounds,
When too huge toil60 and labor61 them constrains62;
And oftentimes loud strokes and ringing sounds
From under that deep rock most horribly rebounds63.
“The cause some say is this. A little while
Before that Merlin died, he did intend
A brazen wall in compas to compile
About Caermerdin, and did it commend
Unto these sprites to bring to perfect end;
During which work the Lady of the Lake,
Whom long he loved, for him in haste did send;
Who, thereby64 forced his workmen to forsake65,
Them bound till his return their labor not to slack.
“In the mean time, through that false lady’s train,
He was surprised, and buried under beare,[40]
Ne ever to his work returned again;
Nathless those fiends may not their work forbear,
So greatly his command?ment they fear;
But there do toil and travail66 day and night,
Until that brazen wall they up do rear.
For Merlin had in magic more insight
Than ever him before or after living wight.”
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1
incubus
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| n.负担；恶梦 | |
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2
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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3
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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usurper
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| n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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5
banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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6
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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7
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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8
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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9
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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10
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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11
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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12
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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13
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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14
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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15
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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17
havens
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| n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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19
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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20
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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21
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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23
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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24
undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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25
solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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26
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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27
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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28
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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29
enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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30
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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31
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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32
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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33
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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34
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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35
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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36
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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37
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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38
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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39
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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41
transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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42
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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43
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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44
canto
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| n.长篇诗的章 | |
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45
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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46
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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47
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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48
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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49
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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50
delve
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| v.深入探究，钻研 | |
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51
mote
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| n.微粒；斑点 | |
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52
encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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53
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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54
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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55
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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56
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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57
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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58
stun
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| vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹 | |
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59
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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60
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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61
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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62
constrains
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| 强迫( constrain的第三人称单数 )； 强使； 限制； 约束 | |
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63
rebounds
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| 反弹球( rebound的名词复数 )； 回弹球； 抢断篮板球； 复兴 | |
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64
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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65
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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66
travail
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| n.阵痛；努力 | |
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