erous plot, to aid which she had used all her power of necromancy,
that she felt it safe to complete her scheme. Seeing her husband, King
Uriens, lying asleep upon his couch, she called a maiden, who was in her
confidence, and said,--

"Bring me my lord's sword. Now shall my work be ended."

"Oh, madam," cried the damsel, "would you slay your lord! If you do so
you can never escape."

"Leave that to me, girl. Bring me the sword at once; I am the best judge
of what it is fit to do."

The damsel departed with a heavy heart, but finding Sir Uwaine, King
Uriens' son, asleep in another chamber, she waked him and said,--

"Rise at once and go to your mother. She has vowed to kill the king,
your father, and has sent me in all haste for his sword."

"To kill him!" cried Uwaine. "What treachery is this?--But go, bring the
sword as she bids. Leave it to me to deal with her."

The damsel did as she was bidden, and brought the sword to the queen,
giving it to her with hands that quaked with fear. Morgan seized it with
a firm grasp, and went boldly to the bedside, where she stood looking
with cruel eyes on the sleeping king. As she lifted the sword for the
murderous blow, Uwaine, who had silently entered, sprang upon her and
seized her hand in a crushing grip.

"You fiend, what would you do?" he fiercely cried. "If you were not my
mother I would smite off your head with this sword. Men say that Merlin
was born of a devil; but well I believe that I have an earthly fiend for
mother. To kill my father thus!--in his slumber!--what foul device is
this?"

His face and voice were so full of righteous fury that the queen quaked
to her heart with fear, and she clasped her hands in terror upon her
throat.

"Oh, Uwaine, my dear son, have mercy on me! The foul fiend tempted me to
this deed. Let me live to repent of this base intent, which I pray you
to keep secret. I swear never again to attempt so foul a deed."

"Can I trust you? Truth and murder do not go together."

"On my soul, I vow to keep my word!"

"Live, then; but beware you rouse me not again by such a murderous
thought."

Hardly had the false-hearted queen escaped from the indignation of her
son when tidings came to her which filled her with as deep a dread as
when Uwaine had threatened her with the sword, while the grief it
brought her was deeper than her fear. For she learned that Accolan had
been slain in the battle, and that his dead body had been sent her.
Soon