as her playthings and companions, in vain did he send sweet minstrelsy to sound in her ears as she lay down to sleep. She recked not of his gifts, she hearkened not to his words, she only sought to free herself from him, for she too was an enchantress, though so much less mighty than he, that she feared that no spell of hers might prevail against those of her wizard lover.

She treated him then as if she had become more favourable to his suit. She accepted his gifts, she praised his spirit music, and when he asked of her to ride through the forest of Broceliande, she willingly consented. The day was fair, the sun shone cheerily through the boughs, and merrily sang the little birds. The Lady smiled and did not turn away when Merlin spake to her, but replied with soft words that so delighted him, that he scarcely knew what he said.

"And, prithee," thus asked the Lady of the Lake, " is it true, as men say, that thou dost bear a charmed life, so that neither steel, nor cord, nor drugged potion, hath power to work thee ill?"

"Even so, fair one," Merlin made reply. "No danger comes near me. Age itself cannot end my life."

Then, verily, there is nothing that can harm thee,” said the wily damsel.

If Merlin had hearkened to the raven that stood croaking on the thorn hard by, he might have heard a warning, but he had yielded all his senses up to the enchantress and her flattering speech, and his skill was of no avail. Smiling, he told her that one spell alone could bind his power.

"When a maiden's veil shall be nine times waved over me, and she shall nine times pace around me, repeating certain words, I shall be bound to the spot where I shall then be for evermore.” "The words must be strange if they have so mighty a force. pray you let me hear them.”

I

Merlin rehearsed the words so as to satisfy her, and she thanked him, and put more questions and yet more, respecting his magic. By and by they came to a mossy bank, shaded by a hawthorn, its branches loaded with blossom like snow, close beside a clear spring of fresh water, glancing where the sunbeams peeped through the branches, and tipped its ripples with light.

Viviana declared that she was weary with riding, and Merlin lifted her down from the saddle, and seated her on the soft cushion of moss beneath the thorn. There she began to sing in a voice passing sweet, and as the melody went on, mingling with the notes of the thrushes and blackbirds, with the rippling of the stream, and the hum of the bees and gnats in the sunshine, a drowsiness fell upon Merlin, and he stretched himself on the bank to enjoy the gentle sounds, that lulled him more and more, until he fell into a sound slumber.

Viviana arose from the ground. Nine times she waved her veil, nine times she paced around the sleeping wizard, nine times she spoke the magic words. The spell was finished; she mounted her palfrey, and rode away to seek her own lake, and

plunge beneath its waters to the castle where she was sovereign lady.

Merlin remained a captive beneath the hawthorn.16 His life was charmed and he could not die; but little did this avail him, and there he remained fixed without release, betrayed by his own weak yielding to the faithless damsel, whom he had taught to work his own woe. His body pined and dwindled till it disappeared, and nothing was left but his voice and his cunning skill, so useless to himself. But there these still abide, and when any man or woman desires an answer to some deep and strange question, let him seek the charmed well in the wood of Broceliande, and ask it boldly, hearkening in the woodland echoes for the voice of the Wizard Merlin.

CHAPTER IV.

HOW TOM THUMB WAS BORN.

A son was

HERE was much wonder and some joy.
born in the cottage by the wood side, but had ever
man such a son? He was no larger than the green
lip of the twayblade blossom, and though perfect in
all his limbs, it was not possible to feel that a thing

so light and soft rested on the hand; and his mother, as she laid him gently on the thistle-down with which she had filled an acorn cup, knew not whether she were glad or grieved that she had the wish fulfilled which she had spoken. Owen gently sighed, and thereby almost blew his son away; and his old aunt loudly spoke her mind, "See what comes of discontent!" said she. "See what you get by dealing with strangers, and saying any folly that crosses your brain! You are a mark for the country. You have an Elf child now! rid of the little wretch."

But I will be

The mother gathered the acorn cradle within both her hands, and looked earnestly at her husband, and Owen said, “Nay, I

feel something that will not let me do any hurt to the poor

little thing."

"Pooh!" said the old aunt, "I will soon show you what he is! Let me heat the poker in the fire, and I will put him to flight! Else you may bear the name of a harbourer of witches."17 "Here is the priest coming," said Owen.

"And see what he will say to your doings!" said the aunt, going to open the door; and as the good father entered, it was she that took the first word, and told how Owen and his wife had murmured for a child, and the unknown wizard stranger had come to them, and, without doubt, sent them this elvish imp in mockery. A fit punishment for them, she said; and she trusted the good father would back her in ridding them of the little wretch.

"Let me see him," said the priest; and so gently did he speak, that the mother scarcely feared to trust the acorn cup in his hand. He put on his spectacles, and gravely looked through them at the little infant. No mis-shapen limbs, no contorted features were there, but all was sweet and beautiful, the bright eyes like blue speedwell buds, and the delicate little frame fresh and fair as the young blossom on the sweet-briar bough. Long the good priest looked, so lovely was the sight, and then he signed the blessed rood* in the air. The aunt watched to see the babe twist and turn as though tortured, and Owen and the housewife almost feared to look; but no, the little creature lay Ever the test of witchery.