Then was in Caermarthen a reve that hight Eli; the knights quickly came to the reve, and thus to him said soon with mouth: 

“We are here-right Vortiger’s knights, and have found here a young lad he is named Merlin, we know no whit his kin.  Take him in haste, and send him to the king, as thou wilt live, and thy limbs have, and his mother with him, who bore him to be man.  If thou this wilt do, the king will receive them, and if thou carest it not, therefore thou wilt be driven out, and this burgh all consumed, this folk all destroyed.”  Then answered Eli, the reve of Caermarthen “Well I wot, that all this land stands in Vortiger’s hand, and we are all his men—­his honour is the more!—­and we shall do this gladly, and perform his will.”  Forth went the reve, and the burghers his associates, and found Merlin, and his playfellows with him Merlin they took, and his companions laughed, when that Merlin was led away, then was Dinabuz full glad, he weened that he were led away for to lose his limbs, but all another way set the doom, ere it were all done.

Now was Merlin’s mother strangely become in a noble minster a hooded nun.  Thither went Eli, the reve of Caermarthen, and took him the good lady, where she lay in the minster, and forth gan him run to the King Vortiger, and much folk with him, and led the nun and Merlin.  The word (tidings) was soon made known to the King Vortiger’s mouth, that Eli was come, and had brought the lady, and that Merlin her son was with her there come.  Then was Vortiger blithe in life, and received the lady, with looks most fair and honour promised, and Merlin he delivered to twelve good knights, who were faithful to the king, and him should guard.  Then said the King Vortiger, with the nun he spake there:  “Good lady, say to me—­well it shall be to thee—­where wert thou born, who begat thee to be child?” Then answered the nun, and named her father:—­“The third part of all this land stood in my father’s hand, of the land he was king, known it was wide, he was named Conaan, lord of knights.”  Then answered the king, as if she were of his kin:  “Lady, say thou it to me—­well it shall be to thee—­here is Merlin thy son, who begat him?  Who was held for father to him among the folk?” Then hung she her head, and bent toward her breast; by the king she sate full softly, and thought a little while, after a while she spake, and said to the king:  “King, I will tell thee marvellous stories.  My father Conaan the king loved me through all things, then became I in stature wondrously fair.  When I was fifteen years of age, then dwelt I in bower, in my mansion, my maidens with me, wondrously fair.  And when I was in bed in slumber, with my soft sleep, then came before me the fairest thing that ever was born, as if it were a tall knight, arrayed all of gold.  This I saw in dream each night in sleep.  This thing glided before me, and glistened of gold, oft it me kissed, and oft it me embraced, oft it approached