they came soon, and quickly they attacked, fell the fated men, the ground they sought; there was much blood shed, harm was among the folk; amidst the fight full certainly men slew the Earl Gorlois.  Then gan his men to flee, and the others to pursue after, they came to the castle, and within they thrust.  Soon it came within, both the two hosts; there lasted the fight throughout the daylight; ere the day were all gone, the castle was won; was there no swain so mean, that he was not a well good thane.

The tidings came into Tintageol in haste, forth into the castle wherein Uther was, that the good earl their lord Gorlois was slain full truly, and all his soldiers, and his castle taken.  The king heard this, where he lay in amorous play, and leapt out of bower, as if it were a lion.  Then quoth the King Uther, of this tiding he was ware:  “Be still, be still, knights in hall!  Here I am full truly, your lord Gorlois; and Jordan, my chamberlain, and Britael, my steward.  I and these two knights leapt out of the fight, and in hither we are arrived—­we were not there slain.  But now I will march, and assemble my host; and I and my knights shall all by night proceed into a town, and meet Uther Pendragon, and unless he speak of reconciliation, I will worthily avenge me!  And inclose ye this castle most fast, and bid Ygaerne that she mourn not.  Now go I forth-right, have ye all good night!” Merlin went before, and the thane Ulfin, and afterwards Uther Pendragon, out of Tintageol’s town; ever they proceeded all night, until it was daylight.

When he came to the spot where his army lay, Merlin had on the king set his own features through all things, then his knights knew their sovereign; there was many a bold Briton filled with bliss; then was in Britain bliss enow; horns there blew, gleemen gan chant, glad was every knight, all arrayed with pall!  Three days was the king dwelling there; and on the fourth day he went to Tintaieol.  He sent to the castle his best thanes, and greeted Ygaerne, noblest of women, and sent her token what they spake in bed; and ordered her that she should yield the castle quickly—­there was no other counsel, for her lord was dead.  Yet Ygaerne weened that it were sooth, that the dead earl had sought his people, and she all believed, that it were false, that the King Uther had ever come down.  Knights went to counsel, knights went to communing, they resolved that they would not hold the castle any longer, their bridge they let down and delivered it to Uther Pendragon.  Then stood all this kingdom eft in Uther’s own hand.

There Uther the king took Ygaerne for queen; Ygaerne was with child by Uther the king, all through Merlin’s craft, before she was wedded.  The time came that was chosen, then was Arthur born.  So soon as he came on earth, elves took him; they enchanted the child with magic most strong, they gave him might to be the best of all knights; they gave him another thing, that he should be a rich king, they gave him