ho spoke,
and it troubled him that he had not known his best friend.

Afterward, on a day when Arthur had been hunting in the forest, and
while he sat in deep thought over a strange dream he had dreamed and
some sinful deeds he had done, there came to him a child of fourteen
years, and asked him why he was so pensive.

"I may well be so," replied Arthur, "for I have much to make me think."

"I know that well," said the seeming child, "also who thou art and all
thy thoughts. I can tell thee who was thy father and how and when thou
wert born."

"That is false," rejoined the king. "How should a boy of your years know
my father?"

"He was Uther Pendragon, the king," replied the seeming boy, "and you
are of royal blood."

"How can you know that? I will not believe you without better proof,"
said Arthur.

At these words the child departed, but quickly after there came to the
king an old man of fourscore years.

"Why are you so sad?" asked the old man.

"For many things," replied Arthur. "Here but now was a child who told me
things which it seems to me he could not know."

"He told you the truth," said the old man, "and would have told you more
if you had listened. This I am bidden to tell you, that you have done
things which have displeased God, and that your sister shall bear a son
who will destroy you and all the knights of your land. That is the
meaning of your dream in which griffons and serpents burnt and slew all
before them, and wounded you to the death."

"Who are you," said Arthur, "that tell me these things?"

"I am Merlin," replied the old man. "And I was the child who came to
you."

"You are a marvellous man," replied Arthur. "But how can you know that I
shall die in battle?"

"How I know matters not, but this much more I am bidden to tell you:
your death will be a noble one; but I shall die a shameful death, and
shall be put in the earth alive for my follies. Such is the voice of
destiny."

While they conversed thus, horses were brought to the king, and he and
Merlin mounted and rode to Carlion. Here Arthur told Sir Hector what he
had heard, and asked if it were true.

"I believe it to be the truth," answered the old baron. "Merlin has told
me that the child he brought to my castle was the son of King Uther
Pendragon and of Queen Igraine, his wife."

But Arthur was not yet convinced, and sent in all haste for Queen
Igraine, who dwelt in a castle not far away, and came quickly with
Morgan l