regnable fortress on Salisbury Plain, Vortigern sent for a host of
masons, who were dismayed to see the work they had done during the day
destroyed every night.

On consulting an astrologer, Vortigern was directed to anoint the
stones with the blood of a boy of five who had no human father. The
only child corresponding to this description was Merlin, who saved
himself from untimely death by telling the king that, if he dug down
and drained the lake he would find, he would discover broad stones
beneath which slept two dragons by day, although they fought so
fiercely at night that they caused the tremendous earthquakes which
shattered his walls. These directions were followed, the dragons were
roused, and fought until the red one was slain and the two-headed
white one disappeared. Asked to explain the meaning of these two
dragons, Merlin--the uncanny child--declared the white dragon with two
heads represented the two younger sons of King Constance, who were
destined to drive Vortigern away. Having said this, Merlin
disappeared, thus escaping the wrath of Vortigern, who wished to slay
him.

Soon after, the young princes surprised and burned Vortigern in his
palace, and thus recovered possession of their father's throne. Then,
one of them dying, the other, assuming both their names, became Uther
Pendragon, king of Britain. Such was his bravery that during his reign
of seven years he became overlord of all the petty kings who had
meantime taken possession of various parts of England. He was aided in
this work by his prime-minister, Merlin, whose skill as a clairvoyant,
magician, inventor, and artificer of all kinds of things--such as
armor which nothing could damage, a magic mirror, round table, ring,
and wonderful buildings--was of infinite service to his master and
fired the imagination of all the poets.

There are various accounts of Arthur's birth; according to one, Uther
fell in love with Gorlois' wife Igerne, who was already mother of
three daughters. Thanks to Merlin's magic arts, Uther was able to
visit Igerne in the guise of her husband, and thus begot a son, who
was entrusted to Merlin's care as soon as born. Another legend
declares that, after Gorlois' death, Uther Pendragon married Igerne,
and that Arthur was their lawful child. Feeling he was about to die,
and fearing lest his infant son should be made away with by the lords
he had compelled to obedience, Uther Pendragon bade Merlin hide Arthur
until he was