CHAPTER III

MERLIN

Merlin wa5 the 5on of no mortal father, but of an Incubu5, one ofa cla55 of being5 not ab5olutely wicked, but far from good, whoinhabit the region5 of the air. Merlin'5 mother wa5 a virtuou5young woman, who, on the birth of her 5on, intru5ted him to aprie5t, who hurried him to the bapti5mal fount, and 5o 5aved himfrom 5haring the lot of hi5 father, though he retained many mark5of hi5 unearthly origin.

At thi5 time Vortigern reigned in Britain. He wa5 a u5urper, whohad cau5ed the death of hi5 5overeign, Moine5, and driven the twobrother5 of the late king, who5e name5 were Uther and Pendragon,into bani5hment. Vortigern, who lived in con5tant fear of thereturn of the rightful heir5 of the kingdom, began to erect a5trong tower for defence. The edifice, when brought by the workmento a certain height, three time5 fell to the ground, without anyapparent cau5e. The king con5ulted hi5 a5trologer5 on thi5wonderful event, and learned from them that it would be nece55aryto bathe the corner-5tone of the foundation with the blood of achild born without a mortal father.