Merlin and the Grail

by Robert de Boron

  Then the king went to his pavilion and gave Merlin a joyful greeting. And Merlin asked him if he would swear to give him whatever he asked for, and the king replied: ‘I will indeed, gladly.’

  Then Merlin asked Ulfin if he would swear likewise, and Ulfin answered: ‘I’m sorry I haven’t already done so!’

  Merlin laughed at this and said: ‘When the oaths are made, I’ll tell you how to fulfil your wish.’

  Then the king called for holy relics to be brought upon a book, and he and Ulfin made their oaths as Merlin had requested, promising to give him whatever he craved. When the vows were made Merlin came to the king and said: ‘Sire, you’ll have to act very boldly if you’re to get into Igerne’s presence, for she’s a wise lady and very loyal both to God and to her husband. But now you’ll see what power I have to accomplish your desire.’ Then he said: ‘Sire, I’m going to give you the appearance of the duke: she won’t be able to tell you apart. The duke has two knights specially close to him – one named Bretel and the other Jordan. I’m going to give Ulfin the appearance of Jordan and I’ll take the shape of Bretel, and I’ll have the gate of Igerne’s castle opened and you shall lie with her. But you’ll have to leave very early, for the morning will bring chilling news. And make sure you don’t tell anyone where you’re going.’

  The king swore he would tell no-one, and Merlin said: ‘Let’s go; I’ll give you your new guises on the way.’

  The king prepared to do Merlin’s bidding with all possible speed, and Merlin came to him and said: ‘I’ve done my work – now get ready to do yours.’

  They rode on till they neared Tintagel. Then Merlin said to the king: ‘Wait here, sire; Ulfin and I will go on ahead.’ Then he turned to the king with a herb and said: ‘Rub this on your face.’

  The king took the herb and did so, and thereupon he looked exactly like the duke. And Merlin took the shape of Bretel and gave Ulfin the appearance of Jordan. Then they rode to Tintagel and called for the gate to be opened, and people rushed to tell the duchess that the duke had arrived.

  When the king entered the city Merlin led him into the palace and took him aside, and told him to put on his happiest face. Then all three of them went to Igerne’s chamber. As soon as Igerne heard that the duke had come she had taken to her bed, and when Uther saw her lying there in all her beauty, the blood stirred throughout his body. Merlin and Ulfin removed their lord’s boots as fast as they could, and saw him to bed.

  Utherpendragon and Igerne lay together that night. And he begat an heir who was later to be called King Arthur.

  In the morning news came that the duke was dead and his castle taken. When Merlin and Ulfin heard this they roused their lord from his bed with all possible speed. The king kissed Igerne at their parting. And when they were outside in the open fields Merlin said: ‘I’ve kept my promise to you, my lord king; now keep yours to me. I want you to know that you’ve conceived an heir – make a written record of the night it happened. And I want to have the child.’

  ‘I give him to you,’ said the king, ‘for I promised to grant whatever you asked.’

  So Ulfin recorded the night of the child’s conception. Then Merlin took the king aside and said: ‘Sire, make sure Igerne never knows you lay with her or fathered the child. That way she is surer to turn to you, and it’ll be easier for me to acquire the child.’

  With that Merlin took his leave of the king, and the king returned to his army and Merlin to Blaise in Northumberland. The king asked his men to guide him in resolving the matter in hand, and they said: ‘Sire, we advise you to make peace with the duchess and the duke’s supporters: it will earn you great respect.’

  The king commanded them to go to Tintagel and speak to the duchess – ‘and tell her she cannot hold out against me’ – and if her counsellors agreed, he would offer them peace on their terms. With that the barons rode to Tintagel, while the king took Ulfin aside and said: ‘Ulfin, what do you think about this peace? I think it was your idea.’

  ‘If it was,’ Ulfin replied, ‘you can say whether you like it.’

  ‘I do,’ said the king.

  ‘Don’t concern yourself with the business,’ Ulfin said. ‘Just agree to peace and I’ll arrange it.’

  The king was very grateful. Meanwhile his messengers arrived at Tintagel and found the duchess and the duke’s supporters, and made it plain that the duke was dead – and through his own misdeeds – and that the king was very sorry and wished to make peace now with the lady and her friends. They realised they had no defence against him, and that the king was offering peace, and they said they would discuss it. So the duke’s men withdrew to a chamber, taking the duchess with them, and advised her to make peace, saying that of two evils it was best to choose the lesser. And the lady replied: ‘I’ll take your advice, sirs, for I trust no-one as much as you.’

  They returned from their council, and one of the worthiest spoke to the king’s messengers, saying: ‘Sirs, what reparation will the king make to our lady for the death of her husband?’

  ‘Dear sir,’ they replied, ‘we don’t know our lord’s own will. But he said he would do as the duchess’s men advised.’

  ‘We cannot ask for more,’ said her followers, and they agreed to make peace in fifteen days. So the date was set, and the king’s messengers returned and reported what had happened. While the fifteen days passed the king spoke to Ulfin of many things. Then the lady asked safe conduct of the king to come into his army on the day set to make peace. The king assured her of the safest conduct, and sent his barons to escort her. When the lady arrived the king assembled all his barons, and asked her men what reparation she would like for her husband’s death. Her friends replied: ‘Sire, the lady hasn’t come here to plead, but to know what amends you’d like to make.’

  Then the king called his barons and said: ‘Sirs, what peace terms should I offer this lady?’

  And they replied: ‘You know your own heart better than we do.’

  ‘Then I’ll tell you what I wish, and swiftly,’ said the king. ‘Sirs, you are all my liegemen and counsellors and I defer in this matter entirely to you. But be careful now in advising your lord, for I’ll do whatever you say.’

  ‘No-one could ask more of his lord,’ they replied. ‘But it’s a very great responsibility: are you sure you’ll bear us no ill-will?’

  ‘Sirs!’ said Ulfin. ‘You seem to think your king’s a fool! Don’t you believe a word he says?’

  ‘We do, Ulfin,’ they replied, ‘we do indeed, but we beg the king to send you to our council, and that you give us your soundest, best advice.’

  When the king heard them ask for Ulfin’s guidance he pretended to be angry; but to Ulfin he said: ‘Go, Ulfin, and do your best to steer them to my will!’

  And Ulfin answered: ‘Gladly!’

  Then they all withdrew and asked him: ‘Ulfin, what do you advise?’

  ‘I’ll tell you what I think,’ he replied. ‘And what I say here I’d say anywhere. You know very well that the king has brought about the duke’s death by force, and whatever wrong the duke might have done him it wasn’t enough to deserve death. Isn’t that the truth? And know this now: the lady has been left heavy with child, while the king has laid waste her land; and she’s the finest lady in the world, the wisest and most beautiful. And I tell you, the duke’s kin have suffered a great loss by his death, and if the king is to retain their friendship it’s only right that he should compensate them for a large part of that loss. It seems to me he can make amends only by taking her as his wife. Not only will it make amends; it’ll gain the admiration of all in the kingdom who hear the news. And he should marry the duke’s daughter to King Lot of Orkney: then he’ll be deemed a most loyal king. That’s my advice,’ said Ulfin. ‘Now tell me yours, if you disagree with what I’ve said.’

  ‘You’ve given the noblest advice,’ they replied, ‘that any man could conceive. If the king agrees, we do so heartily!’

  ‘A brief answer,’ said Ulfin. ‘But if you
all fully agree I’ll report your decision to the king. But what of King Lot of Orkney here, on whom I’ve placed part of the peace terms?’

  ‘Whatever you may have laid upon me,’ said King Lot, ‘I’ll not stand in the way of peace.’

  Hearing King Lot’s approval, they all agreed wholeheartedly. They came before Utherpendragon, and Ulfin said: ‘My lord, will you accept these worthy men’s plan for peace?’

  ‘I will,’ he replied, ‘if the lady and her supporters are in agreement.’

  So Ulfin told him of the terms suggested, and the king said: ‘If King Lot of Orkney accepts, then I accept also.’

  ‘I do indeed,’ said King Lot; so Ulfin came to the lady’s messengers and said: ‘Do you agree to these terms?’

  And they replied: ‘Never has a king made such fine reparations to a liegeman! We accept them fully.’

  Then both parties exchanged vows of peace. And so it was that the king married Igerne. She had had three daughters by the duke: King Lot of Orkney took one of them as his wife, and from their marriage came Mordred and Sir Gawain and Guirret and Gariet. King Niautre of Garlerot took another of the daughters, whose name was Batarde. And the third daughter’s name was Morgan; and by the advice of her friends she was sent away to study in a nunnery – and study she did, until she knew a good deal about the secret arts, and much about astronomy and physic; and she made use of her knowledge, until people were so amazed by her deeds that they called her Morgan the Fay. The upbringing of the other children was arranged by the king.

  And so the king took Igerne as his wife. And at night while he was lying with her he asked her by whom she was with child, for it could not be by him or the duke, as the duke had not lain with her for a good while before his death. Then the queen began to cry, and said:

  ‘If you promise to do me no harm, I’ll tell you truly.’

  And the king said to Igerne: ‘You may tell.’

  The queen was relieved to hear him grant her freedom to speak; and she told him how a man had lain with her in the semblance16 of her lord – the story that the king knew so well. And when she had finished the king said: ‘Make sure no-one learns of this, for it would bring you great shame. And since this child is rightly neither yours nor mine, I want you to give it to the person I choose, so that it stays forever secret.’

  ‘Sir,’ she replied, ‘I and all I possess are at your command.’

  Then the king came to Ulfin and told him of his conversation with the queen, and Ulfin said: ‘Now you can see, my lord, what a wise and loyal lady she is, revealing such a great and dark secret. And you’ve arranged Merlin’s business perfectly, for he would otherwise not have had the child!’

  So matters stayed for six months, when Merlin had vowed to return. He duly did so, and spoke secretly to Ulfin to ask him the news he sought, and Ulfin told him truly all he knew. After they had spoken together the king sent Ulfin to fetch Merlin, and when all three were together the king told Merlin how he had arranged matters with the queen and married her when they had made peace.

  ‘My lord,’ Merlin replied, ‘Ulfin is absolved of his sin in arranging the affair between you and the queen. But I’m not yet absolved of my part in helping you with my trickery and in the conception of the child she bears, whose fathering is a mystery to her.’

  ‘But you’re so clever,’ said the king, ‘that you’ll know how to absolve yourself!’

  ‘I’ll need you to help me, my lord,’ said Merlin.

  The king said he would gladly do so, and Merlin said: ‘Sire, in this town there’s a worthy man with a very worthy wife who’s about to have a son. But he’s not at all wealthy. I want you to make a deal with him: such that he’ll give his child to be nursed by another woman, while a child will be brought to him to be fed with his own wife’s milk.’

  ‘Very well,’ said the king. Then Merlin went to Blaise in Northumberland, while the king summoned the worthy man, who was a knight, and welcomed him with great joy. The knight could not understand why the king made such a fuss of him. Then the king said: ‘Dear friend, I’ve a secret to share with you, and you must keep it to yourself.’

  ‘I’ll do whatever you ask, my lord,’ he replied, and the king said: ‘In my sleep I had a marvellous dream in which your wife bore you a son.’

  ‘That’s true, my lord!’ the knight said.

  ‘Now,’ said the king, ‘I want you to send the child away and have him raised by any woman you choose, and have your wife nurse another child that will be brought to you. A man will deliver him, and you must give him to your wife to feed.’

  ‘Very well,’ the knight replied; and he returned home and persuaded his wife to send their son to be nursed elsewhere in the town, though she felt very ashamed.

  The time then came for the queen to give birth. The day before the child was due Merlin came to court in secret and spoke to Ulfin, saying: ‘I’m very pleased with the king, Ulfin: he’s done exactly as I asked. Now bid him go to the queen and tell her that she’ll have the child tomorrow after midnight, and to instruct her to give the child to the first man found outside the chamber. I must be gone.’

  ‘Aren’t you going to speak to the king?’ said Ulfin.

  ‘Not for now,’ Merlin replied, and Ulfin went to the king and told him what Merlin had said. The king went to tell the queen, saying: ‘Lady, you’ll be delivered of the child tonight. Have one of your women carry him from the chamber, and tell her to give him to the first man she finds.’

  ‘I will indeed,’ Igerne replied, ‘if God grants me life.’

  That was the end of their conversation. And the queen gave birth at the time the king had said, and gave the child to a woman, saying: ‘Take my child and carry him to the door, and give him to the man you find there.’

  She did as her lady asked. She came to the door and gave the child to a most handsome man she found, though she did not know him. It was Merlin. And he went to the worthy knight who was to be his guardian, and said: ‘I bring you a child, and I pray you raise him better than you would your own. I’d have you know that I am Merlin, and this is King Utherpendragon’s child, who will in time be likewise king of this land. And you must have him baptised.’

  ‘I will, sir, gladly,’ said the knight. ‘And what’s to be his name?’

  And Merlin replied: ‘His name will be Arthur. I’m going now, for my business here is ended.’

  With that they parted. The name of the knight who was to care for the child was Entor; and he came to his wife and said: ‘My lady, this is the child I’ve asked you to take.’

  ‘Has he been baptised?’ she said.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘and his name is Arthur.’

  And she began to nurse him.

  *

  So matters stayed. And Utherpendragon ruled his land for a long time, until he fell very ill. Then the Saxons rose up in many parts of his land; and he summoned his barons, who said he should take revenge if he could. He told them to go and fight as worthy men should for their lord, and they replied: ‘We’ll go!’

  And they did, and were routed, and the king lost many of his men. When the king heard the news he was most distressed. The remnants of his army returned, but the Saxons, having won the battle, gathered forces in ever greater numbers. Merlin knew all this, and came to Utherpendragon, who had little time left. The king was overjoyed at his coming, and Merlin said: ‘You seem very afraid, my lord.’

  ‘And with good cause, Merlin,’ he replied. ‘Those who should be my subjects have destroyed my kingdom and routed and killed my men. Tell me what I can do.’

  ‘I will,’ said Merlin. ‘Summon your people and have them bear you in a litter and go and do battle with your enemies. And know that you will defeat them. When the battle is won, distribute all your wealth; then you will die.’

  ‘Merlin,’ the king replied, ‘how is the child who was delivered to you?’

  ‘I tell you,’ said Merlin, ‘he is fair and tall and well cared for.’

  Then the ki
ng said: ‘Merlin, will I ever see you again?’

  And Merlin answered: ‘Yes, once, but no more.’

  With that the king and Merlin parted, and the king summoned his people and declared that he was going to do battle with his enemies. And he went, carried on a litter. And they confronted the Saxons and engaged them and defeated them, inspired by their lord, and killed a huge number. And so it was that he conquered his enemies and peace was restored to the king’s land. He then returned to Logres17 and, remembering what Merlin had said, distributed all his wealth under the guidance of the ministers of Holy Church, until none remained to him: thus he humbled himself before God. Then his illness worsened, and his people assembled at Logres, feeling great sorrow as they realised his death was near. He had become so ill that he was losing the power of speech, and he did not speak for three days. Then Merlin, who knew all that had happened, made his way to the town, and the worthy men led him before the people and said: ‘Merlin, the king whom you loved so dearly is dead.’

  But Merlin answered: ‘You’re wrong. No-one will die as good a death as he, but he is not yet gone.’

  ‘He is,’ they replied. ‘He hasn’t spoken for three days, and he’ll never speak again.’

  ‘Yes, he will, if it please God,’ said Merlin. ‘Come now, and I’ll make him speak.’

  ‘That would be the greatest wonder in the world,’ they said, and Merlin replied: ‘Come; I shall make him speak.’

  So they went to where the king lay, and opened all the windows. And the king looked at Merlin and turned towards him and seemed to recognise him. And Merlin said: ‘If you wish to hear the king’s words, come forward, and you will hear.’

  ‘Merlin,’ they said, ‘do you think he can speak?’

  ‘You’ll see well enough,’ Merlin answered; and he turned to the king and whispered softly in his ear: ‘Utherpendragon, you have made a very good end, if you are inwardly as you outwardly seem. I can tell you that your son Arthur will be lord of this kingdom after you, and will complete the Round Table that you have begun.’