Chapter VI

           Itbefelluponacertainday,thatKingArthursaidtoMerlin,“Mylordsandknightsdodailypraymenowtotakeawife;butIwillhavenonewithoutthycounsel,forthouhasteverhelpedmesinceIcamefirsttothiscrown.”

           “Itiswell,”saidMerlin,“thatthoushouldsttakeawife,fornomanofbounteousandnoblenatureshouldlivewithoutone;butisthereanyladywhomthoulovestbetterthananother?”

           “Yea,”saidKingArthur,“IloveGuinevere,thedaughterofKingLeodegrance,ofCamelgard,whoalsoholdethinhishousetheRoundTablethathehadfrommyfatherUther;andasIthink,thatdamselisthegentlestandthefairestladyliving.”

           “Sir,”answeredMerlin,“asforherbeauty,sheisoneofthefairestthatdolive;butifyehadnotlovedherasyedo,Iwouldfainhavehadyechoosesomeotherwhowasbothfairandgood.Butwhereaman’sheartisset,hewillbeloathtoleave.”ThisMerlinsaid,knowingthemiserythatshouldhereafterhappenfromthismarriage.

           ThenKingArthursentwordtoKingLeodegrancethathemightilydesiredtowedhisdaughter,andhowthathehadlovedhersincehesawherfirst,whenwithKingsBanandBorsherescuedLeodegrancefromKingRyenceofNorthWales.