Merlin and the Grail

by Robert de Boron

  ‘Sirs,’ Merlin said to the clerks, ‘you needn’t fear dying till you’ve seen why the tower falls.’ The clerks thanked him deeply, and then Merlin said: ‘Vortigern, do you want to know why your tower won’t stand but keeps falling, and who it is that brings it down? If you’ll do as I say I’ll show you very clearly. Do you know what lies beneath the tower? A great body of water; and beneath it sit two great rocks, and beneath those rocks lie two dragons. One of them is red and the other white. They can see nothing down there but can feel each other, and they’re huge and very strong. When they feel the weight of the water upon them they roll over, and create such a storm in the water that anything built above it is bound to fall. So there you have it: your tower collapses because of two dragons. Keep a close watch, and if you find I’ve lied have me dragged to death behind your horses, but if I’m right let my pledge be fulfilled and these clerks found guilty.’

  ‘Merlin,’ Vortigern replied, ‘if what you say is true you are the wisest man in the world. So tell me now how I can clear the earth from above the water.’

  ‘With horses and carts and men with yoked buckets. Have it moved well away.’

  At once the king had men set to work to find everything needed for the task. The people of the land thought it a crazy scheme, but hardly dared show it for fear of Vortigern. Merlin commanded that the clerks be held under close guard. Then the labourers set to work. For a long while they toiled to shift the earth, until at last the water was revealed. They sent word to the king that they had uncovered the water, and he came in delight to see this wonder, bringing Merlin with him. The king saw the water and how immense it was, and he called two of his best advisers and said to them: ‘This man is wise indeed, knowing this water to lie beneath the earth. And he said that two dragons lie under it. No matter what the cost I’m going to do as he says, for I want to see the dragons!’

  ‘Vortigern,’ said Merlin, ‘you won’t know the full truth of my story until you’ve seen them.’

  And Vortigern said: ‘Merlin, how can we clear away this water?’

  And Merlin replied: ‘We’ll channel it far from here along great ditches.’

  Orders were given at once for ditches to be dug to drain away the water. And Merlin said: ‘Vortigern, as soon as the dragons under the water see each other they’ll join in terrible battle. I command you to summon all the worthy men of your land to witness the contest.’

  Vortigern willingly agreed, and sent word throughout the land; and when all the worthy men were assembled he told them the amazing things Merlin had said, and how the two dragons were about to do battle. They said to each other: ‘This should be worth seeing!’

  They asked the king if Merlin had predicted which dragon would win, the red or the white, but he said he had not revealed that yet. The workmen channelled the water across the fields, and when it had all drained away they saw the rocks that sat at the bottom, beneath which lay the dragons. When Merlin saw them he said to the king: ‘Vortigern, do you see those great stones?’

  ‘Yes, brother,’ the king replied.

  And Merlin said: ‘Beneath those stones are the two dragons.’

  ‘Merlin,’ said the king, ‘how can they be released?’

  ‘Very easily,’ Merlin replied. ‘They won’t move until they feel each other, but as soon as they do they’ll join in a battle to the death.’

  ‘Merlin,’ said Vortigern, ‘will you tell me which of them will be defeated?’

  ‘Their battle,’ Merlin said, ‘will have great significance. What I can reveal must be in private, in the presence of just three or four of your barons.’

  Then Vortigern called four of his most trusted barons and told them what Merlin had said. They encouraged him to ask privately which of the two dragons would be defeated, and Merlin said: ‘Vortigern, are these four men completely trustworthy?’

  ‘Yes,’ he replied, and Merlin said: ‘So I can safely reveal what you ask in their presence?’

  ‘You can indeed,’ the king replied.

  ‘I tell you truly,’ said Merlin, ‘that the white dragon will kill the red, but not without a mighty struggle. And to those who understand, the killing of the red by the white will have great significance. But I’ll tell you nothing more until the battle is done.’

  Thereupon the people gathered, and the workmen shifted the rocks away and drew forth the white dragon. When the people beheld it, so fierce and hideous, they were filled with terror and drew back; but the workmen released the other dragon, the sight of which made the people even more aghast, for it was even bigger and more hideous than the white, more terrifying still. Vortigern was certain that the red would defeat the white. Merlin said to him: ‘Vortigern, now my pledge is surely fulfilled.’

  ‘It is,’ the king replied.

  At that moment one of the dragons moved so close to the other that their rumps touched; they swung round and assailed each other with teeth and claws. Never did two creatures fight so savagely: all day and all night the battle raged, and the next day until noon; and all the while everyone thought the red would defeat the white. On they fought until finally the white flung fire from its mouth and nose and consumed the red in flame; and when the red dragon was dead, the white drew back and lay down, and lived only three days more. The people declared it the greatest wonder ever seen; and Merlin said: ‘Now, Vortigern, you can build your tower as tall as you like; however great and strong you care to make it, it will never fall.’

  Then Vortigern gave orders for workmen to set about it, and he made it as tall and strong as it could possibly be. Then he asked Merlin to tell him the significance of the two dragons, and how the white had come to defeat the red when the red had so long had the better of it; and Merlin said: ‘Everything that’s happened – and is still to happen – has significance. If I told you the truth about what you ask, and you promised to do no harm to me or to anyone in your kingdom, I’d explain the significance of all these things to you and your closest advisers.’

  Vortigern gave him these assurances, and Merlin said: ‘First have the clerks brought to me.’

  He did so, and Merlin told them: ‘You were very foolish not to act with due goodness, sense and decency. Through your folly and dishonesty you failed to achieve your aims. By the power of the elemental arts you saw things of which you had no understanding, for you are not worthy to know them; but you saw very clearly that I had been born. And the one who showed you that vision of me gave you to believe that you were to die on my account. He did so because of his anguish at having lost me: for he was my father, and would have rejoiced had you killed me. But I have a Lord who’ll protect me well, if it please Him, from the wiles of my father and his fellow demons. And I’ll ensure that they lied to you, for I’ll do nothing to bring about your deaths if you’ll promise to do as I ask.’

  When the clerks heard him offer a reprieve from death, they said: ‘We’ll do whatever you command if it’s in our power, for it’s clear you’re the wisest man alive.’

  ‘You must swear to me,’ said Merlin, ‘that you’ll never again meddle in this art. For having done so, I command you to make confession and abandon sin, and subject your bodies to penance so that you do not lose your souls. If you promise what I ask, I’ll let you go.’

  And they gave their word to do as he commanded. So it was that Merlin set the clerks free; and the people, knowing Merlin had dealt with them so generously, admired him all the more. Then Vortigern and his counsellors came to him and said: ‘Merlin, explain the significance of the two dragons.’

  And Merlin replied: ‘The red dragon signifies you, Vortigern, and the white signifies the sons of Constans.’

  When Vortigern heard this he was downcast. Merlin saw this clearly and said: ‘I’ll say no more if you prefer. I’ve no wish to upset you.’

  But Vortigern replied: ‘Only my closest counsellors are here, and I want you to tell me: spare me nothing.’

  And Merlin said: ‘I told you what the red dragon signified; let
me explain why. You’re well aware that the sons of Constans were still young when their father died, and if you’d behaved as you should you’d have given them protection and advice and defended them against all men on Earth. You know, too, how you won the hearts of their people so that you could take over their land and their wealth; and when you were certain of the people’s love you withdrew your services so that they’d be desperate for your help, until the people of the land came to you and said that Moine was unworthy to be king and you should take his place. You wickedly replied that you couldn’t be king as long as Moine lived – a cunning answer, for they understood well enough that you wanted him killed, and kill him they did. Afterwards, the two remaining sons of Constans fled in fear of you, so you became king and have their inheritance still. But when Moine’s killers came to you, you had them executed, to give the impression that his death grieved you. But nothing could have been further from the truth; you took their lands and hold them still. You built your tower to protect yourself from your enemies; but the tower can’t save you – and you’ve no real wish to save yourself.’

  Vortigern heard every word that Merlin said, and knew it to be true. And he said: ‘Merlin, it’s clear you’re the wisest man in the world. I beg and entreat you to advise me in these matters, and to tell me what death I shall die.’

  And Merlin replied: ‘I can’t tell you the significance of the two dragons without revealing how you’ll die.’

  Vortigern implored Merlin to tell him, and said how grateful he would be; and Merlin answered: ‘Vortigern, I’d have you know that the red dragon signifies your wicked heart and mind, and his massive size your kingship and power. The other, the white, signifies the rightful inheritance of the children who fled in fear of your justice. The length of the dragons’ combat denotes the long time you’ve held their inheritance. And when you saw the white dragon consume the red in flame, it signified that those children will destroy you with the fire of their power. Don’t imagine that your tower or any other fortress can save you from certain death.’

  Vortigern was appalled by Merlin’s words, and asked him: ‘Where are the children?’

  ‘Crossing the sea,’ he replied, ‘with a great army. They’re coming to their land to bring you to justice, declaring that you prompted their brother’s death. And know this: they’ll land in three months at the port of Winchester.’

  Vortigern was deeply dismayed by the news of this advancing army, and he asked Merlin: ‘Can this be avoided?’

  ‘No,’ was Merlin’s reply. ‘You’re doomed to die by the fire of Constans’ children, just as you saw the white dragon consume the red.’

  So it was that Merlin told Vortigern the significance of the two dragons; and Vortigern, knowing that the children were advancing with a great army, called upon his people to muster at the time announced by Merlin, to confront them when they landed – though when they came and assembled, they did not know why their king had summoned them.

  Meanwhile Merlin went to Northumberland to tell Blaise of these events, and Blaise wrote them down – and it is by his writings that we have knowledge of them still. Merlin stayed with his master for a long while, until Constans’ sons sent men to find him.

  So Vortigern was at the port of Winchester with all his army, and on the very day Merlin had predicted they saw sails on the sea: it was the fleet led by Constans’ sons. As soon as Vortigern saw them he ordered his men to arm and prepare to defend themselves. But as Constans’ children neared the shore, the people on land saw Constans’ royal banner and were amazed; and when the ships drew in and Vortigern’s people realised they were the sons of their lord Constans with a huge army, most of them went over to the children’s side. Seeing his men defecting, Vortigern was terrified; and he fled to one of his castles with those retainers who could not desert him. Pendragon and his brother Uther followed him there and began a mighty siege. They hurled fire into the castle, and it caught and spread and engulfed the place, and in that fire Vortigern died.

  *

  So it was that Constans’s children reclaimed their land, and their coming was proclaimed throughout the kingdom. The people were overjoyed at the news and acknowledged them as their lords. And so the two brothers returned to their inheritance, and Pendragon was made king. But the Saxons whom Vortigern had installed in the land held on to their castles and waged frequent war on Pendragon, sometimes defeated and sometimes victorious. The time came when Pendragon laid siege to Hengist in his castle. So long was the siege that he frittered away more than half a year, until he summoned his barons to a council of war. Five of them had been present when Merlin told Vortigern about the two dragons and his death, and they called Pendragon and Uther to one side and told them that Merlin was the greatest seer ever known, and that if he wanted he could say whether Hengist’s castle would ever be taken. Hearing this, Pendragon said: ‘Where is this great seer to be found?’

  ‘We don’t know,’ they replied, ‘but we can assure you, he’ll already know we’re talking about him! He’d come if he wished, and we know he’s in this land.’

  ‘If he is,’ said Pendragon, ‘I shall find him.’

  And he sent men across the land in search of Merlin. And Merlin, knowing Pendragon had done this, set off immediately. After speaking with Blaise he headed for the town that Pendragon’s messengers had reached. He came disguised as a woodcutter – a great axe on his shoulder, big boots laced on, and wearing a tattered jacket – with his hair lank and matted and his beard very long. He came to the house where the messengers were lodging, and when they set eyes on him they gazed at him in amazement and said to each other: ‘What an awful-looking man!’

  Merlin stepped forward and said: ‘Sirs, you’re not following your lord Pendragon’s orders very well: he commanded you to find the seer named Merlin.’

  Hearing this, they cried: ‘What demons told this old wretch?’ Then they asked him: ‘Have you ever seen the man?’

  ‘I have indeed,’ Merlin replied, ‘and I know where he lives. He’s well aware you’re looking for him, but you won’t find him unless he wants you to. You’re wasting your time, he’d have you know, because he wouldn’t go with you even if you found him. You can tell the men who told Pendragon that the great seer was in this land that they were right. And when you get back, tell your lord that he’ll never take the castle until Hengist is dead. And know this: there were five of the army who spoke privately about me to Pendragon, but you’ll find only three on your return. Tell Pendragon that if he came to this country and scoured these forests he would find Merlin; but he must come in person: nobody will be able to fetch him and take him back.’

  They heard what Merlin said and turned aside, and the moment they did so he was gone. They crossed themselves and said: ‘We’ve been talking to a demon! What shall we do about what he told us?’ They discussed this and decided: ‘We’ll go back and report the wonders we’ve seen and heard to our lord and those who sent us here. And we’ll find out if those two men have died.’

  So the messengers set off, and rode day after day until they arrived back at the king’s army. As soon as he saw them he asked: ‘Sirs, have you found the man you went to seek?’

  ‘Sire,’ they replied, ‘something happened to us that we must report. Summon your counsellors and the men who first told you about the seer.’

  The king did so, and when they arrived he took them aside to talk in private. The messengers told them all about their journey and their amazing encounter, and about the predicted deaths of the two men. They asked for news about this, and were told that the two men had indeed died. They were astonished, and said to the king: ‘Sire, we think the man we spoke to was Merlin. And he said he’d never be found unless the king himself went in search of him.’

  ‘Where was it you found him?’ he asked, and they replied: ‘In Northumberland.’

  The king declared he would go in search of him, and he rode at once to Northumberland, where he enquired after Merlin but could find no-one with
any information. So the king said he would seek him in the forests, and he and his party rode through the deep woods until one of his knights came upon a great flock of animals tended by an ugly, deformed herdsman. The knight asked him where he came from, and he said he was from Northumberland, so the knight said: ‘Can you tell me anything about a man named Merlin?’

  ‘No,’ replied the herdsman, ‘but a man passed by who said the king was looking for him here in these forests. Do you know anything about that?’

  The knight said it was true that the king was seeking him, and asked: ‘Can you put me on the right track?’

  And the herdsman said: ‘There’s something I’d tell the king that I wouldn’t tell you.’

  ‘Come then,’ said the knight, ‘and I’ll take you to him.’

  ‘I’d hardly be a good herdsman if I did that – and it doesn’t bother me whether I see him or not! If he comes here to me I’ll tell him how to find Merlin.’

  So the knight rode back to the king and told him what had happened, and the king said: ‘Lead me to him!’

  He did so, and said: ‘Here! I bring you the king!’

  ‘Pendragon,’ said the herdsman, ‘you’re looking for Merlin, but you won’t find him until he wants you to. Go to one of your towns nearby, and when he knows you’re waiting for him he’ll come to you.’

  ‘How do I know you’re telling the truth?’ said the king.

  ‘If you don’t believe me,’ he replied, ‘ignore me! It’s crazy to trust bad advice!’

  ‘Are you saying your advice is bad?’ said the king.

  ‘No, but you are!’ he answered. ‘But I tell you, I know better than you.’

  ‘I’ll believe you,’ said the king, and he rode to one of his towns, as close as possible to the forest; and there he stayed until there came to his lodging a very smart man, in fine clothes and shoes, who said to one of his knights: ‘Sir, take me to the king.’ And when he came into his presence he said: ‘Sire, Merlin sends me to you with his greetings, and to tell you that he was the man you found in the woods tending the flock, who told you he’d come to you when he wished. That was true, but you don’t need him yet. When you do, he’ll gladly come.’