The cause some say is this: A litle while x Before that _Merlin_ dyde, he did intend, A brasen wall in compas to compile About _Cairmardin_, and did it commend Vnto these Sprights, to bring to perfect end. During which worke the Ladie of the Lake, Whom long he lou’d, for him in hast did send, Who thereby forst his workemen to forsake, Them bound till his returne, their labour not to slake. In the meane time through that false Ladies traine, xi He was surprisd, and buried vnder beare, Ne euer to his worke returnd againe: Nath’lesse those feends may not their worke forbeare, So greatly his commaundement they feare, But there doe toyle and trauell day and night, Vntill that brasen wall they vp doe reare: For _Merlin_ had in Magicke more insight, Then euer him before or after liuing wight. For he by words could call out of the sky xii Both Sunne and Moone, and make them him obay: The land to sea, and sea to maineland dry, And darkesome night he eke could turne to day: Huge hostes of men he could alone dismay, And hostes of men of meanest things could frame, When so him list his enimies to fray: That to this day for terror of his fame, The feends do quake, when any him to them does name. And sooth, men say that he was not the sonne xiii Of mortall Syre, or other liuing wight, But wondrously begotten, and begonne By false illusion of a guilefull Spright, On a faire Ladie Nonne, that whilome hight _Matilda_, daughter to _Pubidius_, Who was the Lord of _Mathrauall_ by right, And coosen vnto king _Ambrosius_: Whence he indued was with skill so maruellous. They here ariuing, staid a while without, xiv Ne durst aduenture rashly in to wend, But of their first intent gan make new dout For dread of daunger, which it might portend: Vntill the hardie Mayd (with loue to frend) First entering, the dreadfull Mage there found Deepe busied bout worke of wondrous end, And writing strange characters in the ground, With which the stubborn feends he to his seruice bound. He nought was moued at their entrance bold: xv For of their comming well he wist afore, Yet list them bid their businesse to[909] vnfold, As if ought in this world in secret store Were from him hidden, or vnknowne of yore. Then _Glauce_ thus, Let[910] not it thee offend, That we thus rashly through thy darkesome dore, Vnwares haue prest: for either fatall end, Or other mightie cause vs two did hither send.