The Beguiling of Merlin

This is a painting I love, The Beguiling of Merlin by Burne-Jones. There is more information about it here: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/collections/merlin.asp Sir Thomas Malory's account of this episode in his Le Morte d'Arthur is superb. This is an edited version of it, Bk.4, ch.1: "So after these quests of Sir Gawain, Sir Tor, & King Pellinor, it fell so that Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinor brought to court, & she was one of the damosels of the lake, that hight Nimue. But Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would be with her. & ever she made Merlin good cheer till she had learned of him all manner of thing that she desired; & he was assotted upon her, that he might not be from her ....... & within a while the Damosel of the Lake [i.e. Nimue] departed, & Merlin went with her evermore wheresomever she went. & oft times Merlin would have had her privily away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that he would never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will. & so he sware; so she & Merlin went over the sea unto the land of Benwick ...... & so soon after the lady & Merlin departed, & by the way Merlin showed her many wonders, & came into Cornwall. & always Merlin lay about the lady to have her maidenhood, & she was ever passing weary of him, & fain would have been delivered of him, for she was afeared of him because he was a devil's son, & she could not beskift him by no mean. & so on a time it happened that Merlin showed to her in a rock whereas was a great wonder, & wrought by enchantment, that went under a great stone. So by her subtle working she made Merlin to go under that stone to let her wit of the marvels there, but she wrought so there for him that he came never out for all the craft he could do. & so she departed & left Merlin." hight = called,named; beskift = be rid of Aubrey Beardsley did a fantastic illustration of this episode as well: