The vain clouds of the candle, book, and bell.
Domestic plots, and stratagems abroad,
French machines, and the Italianated god,
The Spanish engine, Portuguized Jew,
The Jesuitic mine, and politic crew
Of home-bred vipers: let their menaces come
By private pistol, or by hostile drum;
Though all these dogs chase her with open cry,
Live shall she, lov'd and fear'd, then sainted die."

Merlin's early history was as strange as his prophecies were singular.
For reasons best known to herself, his mother refused to reveal his
father's name. She was daughter of King Demetrius, who reigned about
two hundred years after Christianity was introduced into England. King
Vortigern was obliged to fly into Wales from the fury of Hengist, and,
fearing that he would be pursued thither, commenced building a
stronghold on the Welsh soil. Though the ground appeared to be firm,
it turned out that every stone laid sank suddenly into the ground.
With the intention of discovering the cause of this mystery, the king
sent for his wizards and bards. After consultation, the wise men
informed him that his castle could never be built until the stones
were cemented with the blood of a male child begotten without a
father. The king, believing what he was told, sent his servants to
search for such a child. On their way the messengers arrived at
Marlborough, where they observed two boys fighting. One of these was
young Merlin, whom they heard taunted by his youthful antagonist of
being an imp that never had a father. This was enough: Merlin and his
mother were seized and carried before the king.

In answer to the king's inquiries, the mother, not knowing the danger
to which she was exposing little Merlin, told him that her boy never
had a father. Her tale was believed; but Vortigern had compassion on
the youth, who was fair and comely, and not only spared his life, but
took him into his house. When Merlin learned all the particulars
regarding the mysterious disappearance of the foundation stones, and
the charm proposed by the wizards and bards, he told the king that his
wise men were alike destitute of learning and natural penetration.
"Know," said he, "that under the ground where your Majesty intends to
build your castle is a deep lake, which has swallowed up all your
building materials, and that under the water there are two stone
caverns which contain two dragons. Dig deep into the earth, and you
will discover th