I. MERLIN AND VIVIEN A great Enchanter indeed was Merlin. He served with his enchantments the King of the Isle of Britain from the time he was a stripling to the time when he was two score years of age. Then, when he might have passed from being a lesser to being a great Enchanter, Merlin vanished altogether and was seen no more at the court of the King of the Isle of Britain. All the great works he had planned were left undone, all the instruments he had gathered were left unused, all the books he had brought together were left unopened, and the King whom he had served so long was left to whistle for his Enchanter. If there were one to blame for that it was the daughter of King Dionas. She was young, but she was ungentle. What she saw, that she would have. One day a stranger was passing with her father, and when he looked on her he said, “A young hawk she is, a young hawk that has not yet flown at any prey.” That very day the daughter of King Dionas walked on the plain that was at a distance from her father’s castle. The stranger who had spoken of her to the King was there, and he looked long upon her. “Who art thou who lookest on me so?” said the child. “Thou art Nimiane, who art also called Vivien,” said the stranger. “Yea,” said she, “but who art thou, man?” “I am called Merlin,” he said, “and I am the Enchanter to the King of the Isle of Britain.” “Show me thine enchantments,” said Vivien, who feared not to speak to any man. Now Merlin had looked on all the ladies who were at the court of the King of the Isle of Britain, and on the maidens who were in far countries and distant castles, and besides, the ladies of the times of old had been shown him in his Magic Glass, but never before had he seen any one who seemed so lovely to him as this child. She was bright eyed as a bird. She had a slim body, and pale cheeks, and quick, quick hands. Her hair was red and in thick tangles. “Show me thine enchantments,” she cried to him again. Merlin bade her come with him and she came. He brought her to a high place, a place that was of rock with rocks piled all about it. On the ground he made magical figures. Then he said magical words. And all the time Vivien, slim Vivien with her tangle of red hair, stood upon the rocks and kept her eyes upon him. Upon the ground that was all rock Merlin made a garden with roses blowing and clear waters flowing, with birds singing amongst the leaves and fishes swimming in the streams. He made trees grow, too, with honey-tasting fruits upon them. Vivien went through the garden, plucking the flowers and tasting the fruits that grew there. She turned to Merlin and looked at him again with her bright eyes. “Canst thou make a castle for me?” said she.