"The King, who had heard the prophecy, approaching tie stone, stopped for a short time at the foot of it, and, looking earnestly at it, boldly passed over; then, turning round, and looking towards the stone, thus indignantly inveighed against the prophet: 'Who will hereafter give credit to the lying Merlin?' A person standing by, and observing what had passed, in order to vindicate the injury done to the prophet, replied, with a loud voice, 'Thou art not that King of whom Ireland is to be conquered, or of whom Merlin prophesied!'" According to an ancient tradition, this stone spoke or groaned once when a corpse was carried over it. I was informed by many persons who live in the neighbourhood of Abergwili, near Carmarthen, that Merlin was such a giant that he could jump over the Vale of Towy. MERLIN'S FATE. The end or final fate of Merlin is surrounded by mysteries. A few years ago when I was staying in the neighbourhood of Carmarthen, Merlin's Hill (Bryn Myrddin) was pointed out to me where the great magician still lives (so they say) in a cave in that hill, and held there in imprisonment by an artful woman who contrived his disappearance from among human beings. Moreover, it is added, that if you listen in the twilight, you will hear his groans, and also the clanking of the iron chains which hold him bound. Others say he is heard working in this underground prison. It seems from Spenser's "Faerie Queen," however, that according to another ancient tradition, Merlin's place of confinement is, or was, a cave near Dynevor, in the neighbourhood of Llandilo: "And if you ever happen that same way to traveill, go to see that dreadful place. It is an hideous hollow cave (they say) under a rock that lyes a little apace emongst the woody hilles of Dynevowre (Dynevor), etc." Some stories describe Merlin as being held spellbound in a bush of white thorns in the woods of Bresilien in Brittany. Others say that he died, and was buried at Bardsey Island. But according to the Triads he went to sea and sailed in a house of glass, and was never heard of any more. In this voyage, Merlin took with him the thirteen curiosities of Britain, which were:-- 1. Llen Arthur (the veil of Arthur), which made the person who put it on invisible. 2. Dyrnwyn. 3. Corn Brangaled (the horn of Brangaled), which furnished any liquor desired. 4. Cadair, neu car Morgan mwynfawr (the chair or car of Morgan Mwynfawr), which would carry a person seated in it wherever he wished to go. 5. Mwys Gwyddno (the hamper of Gwyddno), meat for one being put into it, would become meat for a hundred. 6. Hogalen Tudno (the whetstone of Tudno), which would sharpen none but the weapon of a brave man. 7. Pais Padarn (the cloak of Padarn). 8. Pair Drynog (the caldron of Drynog), none but the meat of a brave man would boil in it. 9. Dysgyl a gren Rhydderch (the dish and platter of Rhydderch), any meat desired would appear on it.