ing Pellinore
brought to court, and she was one of the damosels of the lake, that
hight Nimue. But Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would
be with her. And ever she made Merlin good cheer till she had learned
of him all manner thing that she desired; and he was assotted upon her,
that he might not be from her. So on a time he told King Arthur that
he should not dure long, but for all his crafts he should be put in the
earth quick. And so he told the king many things that should befall, but
always he warned the king to keep well his sword and the scabbard, for
he told him how the sword and the scabbard should be stolen by a woman
from him that he most trusted. Also he told King Arthur that he should
miss him,--Yet had ye liefer than all your lands to have me again. Ah,
said the king, since ye know of your adventure, purvey for it, and put
away by your crafts that misadventure. Nay, said Merlin, it will not be;
so he departed from the king. And within a while the Damosel of the Lake
departed, and Merlin went with her evermore wheresomever she went. And
ofttimes Merlin would have had her privily away by his subtle crafts;
then she made him to swear that he should never do none enchantment upon
her if he would have his will. And so he sware; so she and Merlin went
over the sea unto the land of Benwick, whereas King Ban was king that
had great war against King Claudas, and there Merlin spake with King
Ban's wife, a fair lady and a good, and her name was Elaine, and there
he saw young Launcelot. There the queen made great sorrow for the mortal
war that King Claudas made on her lord and on her lands. Take none
heaviness, said Merlin, for this same child within this twenty year
shall revenge you on King Claudas, that all Christendom shall speak of
it; and this same child shall be the most man of worship of the world,
and his first name is Galahad, that know I well, said Merlin, and since
ye have confirmed him Launcelot. That is truth, said the queen, his
first name was Galahad. O Merlin, said the queen, shall I live to see my
son such a man of prowess? Yea, lady, on my peril ye shall see it, and
live many winters after.

And so, soon after, the lady and Merlin departed, and by the way Merlin
showed her many wonders, and came into Cornwall. And always Merlin lay
about the lady to have her maidenhood, and she was ever passing weary
of him, and fain would have been delivered of him, for she was afeard
of him because