Chapter XII

           Afterthesethings,MerlinfellintoadotageofloveforadamseloftheLadyoftheLake,andwouldletherhavenorest,butfollowedherineveryplace.Andeversheencouragedhim,andmadehimwelcometillshehadlearnedallhiscraftsthatshedesiredtoknow.

           ThenuponatimeshewentwithhimbeyondtheseatothelandofBenwicke,andastheywentheshowedhermanywonders,tillatlengthshewasafraid,andwouldfainhavebeendeliveredfromhim.

           AndastheywereintheforestofBroceliande,theysattogetherunderanoak-tree,andthedamselprayedtoseeallthatcharmwherebymenmightbeshutupyetaliveinrocksortrees.Butherefusedheralongtime,fearingtoletherknow,yetintheend,herprayersandkissesovercamehim,andhetoldherall.Thendidshemakehimgreatcheer,butanon,ashelaydowntosleep,shesoftlyrose,andwalkedabouthimwavingherhandsandmutteringthecharm,andpresentlyenclosedhimfastwithinthetreewherebyheslept.Andtherefromnevermorehecouldbyanymeanscomeoutforallthecraftsthathecoulddo.AndsoshedepartedandleftMerlin.

           AtthevigilofthenextFeastofPentecost,whenalltheKnightsoftheRoundTableweremettogetheratCamelot,andhadheardmass,andwereabouttositdowntomeat,thererodeintothehallafairladyonhorseback,whowentstraightuptoKingArthurwherehesatuponhisthrone,andreverentlysalutedhim.

           “Godbewiththee,fairdamsel,”quoththeking;“whatdesirestthouofme?”

           “Ipraytheetellme,lord,”sheanswered,“whereSirLancelotis.