en were greatly displeased with Sir Gawaine, and by ordinance of the
Queen there was set a quest of ladies on Sir Gawaine, and they ordered
him for ever while he lived to be with all ladies, and to fight for
their quarrels; and that ever he should be courteous, and never refuse
mercy to him that asketh mercy. Thus was Gawaine sworn upon the four
Evangelists that he should never be against lady nor gentlewoman,
except if he fought for a lady and his adversary fought for another.

Thus endeth the adventure of Sir Gawaine, that he did at the marriage
of King Arthur.

CHAPTER VII

WISE MERLIN'S FOOLISHNESS

Arthur was now established as king over all the land. The great
council hall at Camelot, that is Winchester, had been built, some say
by Merlin's skill; and the most loyal and the bravest knights of the
world had been gathered at Arthur's court to do honour to him and his
fair Queen Guenever.

Merlin was Arthur's wisest helper and most powerful friend, as he had
before been the helper and friend of his father Uther, for whom he had
made the Round Table, signifying the roundness of the world. We have
seen how he hid the young Arthur away from the jealousy of the wild
barons, and how, by his power over men and his knowledge of what would
be, he had saved the King's life and guided his wise rule. The old
magician Bleise, that dwelt in Northumberland, was Merlin's master, and
he it was that wrote down all the battles of Arthur with his enemies
word by word as Merlin told him, and all the battles that were done in
Arthur's days, until Merlin was lost, as we shall see, through his own
foolishness.

On a time Merlin told King Arthur that he should not endure long, but
for all his crafts he should be put in the earth alive. Also he told
many things that should befall, and how the king would miss him, so
that rather than all his lands he would wish to have him again.

"Ah," said King Arthur, "since ye know of this, provide against it, and
put away by your crafts that misadventure."

"Nay," said Merlin, "it cannot be done." For Merlin, now grown an old
man in his dotage, had fallen under the spell of a damsel of the court
named Nimue. With her he soon departed from the King, and evermore
went with her wheresoever she went. Ofttimes he wished to break away
from her, but he was so held that he could not be out of her presence.
Ever she made him good cheer, till she had learned from him all she
desired of his