{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/arthur/art036.htm","path":"neu/arthur/art036.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/art036.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends/Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n An Arthurian Miscellany\n MERLIN'S TOMB\n by\n ROBERT BUCHANAN\n \n \n \n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PART FIRST. \n \n Ah fatal thirst -- Ah fond aspire\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Forbidden things to know!\n Dis-Edener thou of our first sire!\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Well-spring of all our woe!\n \n The first device the tempter tried,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thou art his favourite still,\n Dost woo and win him, his witch-bride,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Soul-pledged to work his will.\n \n *****************************\n \n King Arthur weeps in Carduel,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His Merlin's mystic doom --\n Sir Gawayne rides o'er down and dell\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In search of Merlin's tomb.\n \n But vain the quest. Betrayed by thee,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With sinful love to aid,\n In airy tower that none may see\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Is mighty Merlin laid.\n \n *****************************\n \n \"Sir Merlin, thou hast taught me long,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And taught me wondrous well,\n The magic power of sign and song,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And necromantic spell.\"\n \n (Thus spake the Lady Viviane,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is peerless paramoure,\n As they in dalliance fond and fain\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lay in their forest bower.)\n \n \"And I can bid the bright noontide\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Turn to a midnight gloom,\n And toothless crone seem bonny bride\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To mock the gay bridegroom.\n \n \"And I can tame the proudest knight,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And change to hart or hare,\n And crowd with keep and castled height\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The void abyme of air.\n \n \"And I can bridge the ocean-stream;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On moorland waste and wild,\n Bid forest wave, or palace gleam\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By silver lake in-isled.\n \n \"And I can wake \u00e6rial strain,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The moping mood to cheer,\n As viol, lute, orpherien,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Did mix sweet music near.\n \n \"And I can bid with hound and horn\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The mimic huntsman ride\n With shout o'er fell and forest borne,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Athwart the welkin wide.\n \n \"And I can make knight, countering knight,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Career with levelled lance,\n Or dames and squires to bevy bright\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In masque or merry dance.\n \n \"But there's one thing I cannot do;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I pray thee teach it me --\"\n (And round his neck her arms she threw,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And kissed him coaxingly.)\n \n \"How might a lady have her still\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Her lord in loving bower,\n Whence he could not, save at her will,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Without or wall or tower?\n \n \"Can magic build me bower like this?\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0O sweet methinks it were\n In such a bower in life-long bliss\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To hold thee prisoner!\n \n \"A happy bondman shouldst thou be --\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A gentle jailer I --\n When thou would'st forth, mine only fee\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A kiss -- thy ransom high.\"\n \n Sir Merlin frowned -- Sir Merlin sighed,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But as entranced he lay\n On that fair breast, his purpose died,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He could not say her nay.\n \n Ne'er loved the Lady Viviane,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It seemed so fondly well,\n And long I ween ere morning dawn,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She learned that fatal spell!\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PART SECOND. \n \n In May, when flowers are springing fair,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And woods are bourgeoning,\n And lustly love in earth and air\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lordeth each living thing,\n \n Sir Merlin and his peerless make\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Are wandering hand in hand\n By flowery dell and forest brake\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Through fair Broceliande\n \n They drank them of that magic fount\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Renowned in minstrel song,\n That gusheth from his stony mount --\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Enchanted Berenton!\n \n As by the wizard well they stood\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0-- To prove the legend true --\n Against the rock in sportive mood\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some sprinkled drops they threw.\n \n Amain, aloud, from shivered cloud\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It dashed the drenching shower,\n Beneath a linden's leafy shroud\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The laughing lovers cower.\n \n Then gaily on their way they wend\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thorough that forest fair,\n In ferny glade, and briery bend,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Startling the hind and hare.\n \n With linked arm in amorous talk\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They stroll the forest through,\n And clasp and kiss in lone wood-walk,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As loving pair will do.\n \n Anon they reached the fairest nook\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In that fair wood, a bower\n O'er which a hoary hawthorn shook\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Odorous its blossoms' shower.\n \n The spot was fair, the lovers fain;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beneath that hawthorn tree\n Sir Merlin and fair Viviane\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Disport them lovingly.\n \n *****************************\n \n But summer's ray, and lover's play,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Will medicine kindly sleep;\n On Viviane's lap Sir Merlin lay\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And sunk in slumber deep.\n \n The lady looked -- \"He slumbers well,\"\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(She thought -- ah wo the hour!)\n \"Now is the time to prove my spell --\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0My spell of wondrous power!\"\n \n Gently Sir Merlin's head she's placed,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And slowly, on the ground;\n Then muttering, with her wimple traced\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A ring the hawthorn round.\n \n Nine times that magic ring she made --\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nine times that spell she spoke,\n Then on her lap the slumberer laid;\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But when Sir Merlin woke,\n \n He looked a wild, he looked a long\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Upon his prison-bower;\n It seemed a castle fair and strong,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Begirt with trench and tower.\n \n Sir Merlin frown'd, Sir Merlin sigh'd,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fair Viviane laughed the while;\n \"Such fortune still must fool betide\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Will trust a woman's wile!\n \n \"The fatal coil thine art hath wove\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thine art can ne'er undo!\"\n And long with mightiest spell she strove,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But ah! she found it true.\n \n And there that lady fond and fair --\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Lady of the Lake --\n By day, by night, will oft repair\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Her sweet solace to take.\n \n But Arthur weeps in Carduel\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His Merlin's mystic doom;\n And Gawayne seeks, by down and dell,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In vain for Merlin's tomb!\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0NOTE. -- The above is the account which the Romance of Merlin gives of the final disappearance of the great enchanter. Other versions of his story, differing altogether in the circumstances from that adopted in the text, will be found in Drayton's Poly-Olbion, (Song v.); in Spenser's Fairy Queen, (Book iii.); in the Morte Arthur, (Book iv.); and in Ariosto's Orlando, Furioso, (Book iii.)\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Forest of Broceliand (or Brecheliant), the scene of so many of the adventures recorded in the Round Table Romances was in Britany; and in the Twelfth Century it comprehended -- as Chateaubriand in his Auto-biography informs us -- the districts composing the cantons of Fougeres, Rennes, Becherel, Dinan, St Malo, and Dol. In it was situated the famous Well of Berenton (or Belenton), which possessed the rare virtue of procuring for the neighbourhood, whenever needed, a seasonable supply of rain, all that was necessary in order to this, being, that any one who drank of it should, when he had done so, sprinkle some of the water on the rock whence the fountain issued.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The loss of Merlin, his counsel and his art, was deeply felt by King Arthur. As his disappearance had been sudden and mysterious, Sir Gawayne, and other knights of the Round Table, volunteered their services to go in quest of him. Why their search proved unsuccessful, the preceding poem will explain.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: The Rendering, by Robert Buchanan [1859]","title":"Arthurian Miscellany: Merlin's Tomb, by Robert Buchanan [1859]","type":"page"}