So to King Uther came Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and said, “I will seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy so that your heart shall be pleased.” So Ulfius departed, and by adventure met Merlin in beggar’s array, and made him promise to be not long behind in riding to Uther’s pavilion. He made her great cheer out of measure, and desired to have her love in return but she would not assent unto him, and for pure anger and for great love of fair Igraine King Uther fell sick.Īt that time there lived a powerful magician named Merlin, who could appear in any place he chose, could change his looks as he liked, and at will could do wonderful things to help or to harm knights and ladies.
Ten miles away from his castle, called Terrabil, there was, in the castle Tintagil, Igraine of Cornwall, that King Uther liked and loved well, for she was a good and fair lady, and passing wise. And the duke was named the Duke of Tintagil. It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against him a long time. STORIES OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS (1904) From Stories of King Arthur and his Knights
