dubious whether Arthur is son of Gorlois, husband of Ygerne, or of
Uther, who slew Gorlois and married her:-


"Enforced she was to wed him in her tears."


The Celtic custom of fosterage is overlooked, and Merlin gives the
child to Anton, not as the customary dalt, but to preserve the babe
from danger. Queen Bellicent then tells Leodogran, from the evidence
of Bleys, Merlin's master in necromancy, the story of Arthur's
miraculous advent.


"And down the wave and in the flame was borne
A naked babe, and rode to Merlin's feet,
Who stoopt and caught the babe, and cried 'The King!
Here is an heir for Uther!'"


But Merlin, when asked by Bellicent to corroborate the statement of
Bleys, merely


"Answer'd in riddling triplets of old time."


Finally, Leodogran's faith is confirmed by a vision. Thus
doubtfully, amidst rumour and portent, cloud and spiritual light,
comes Arthur: "from the great deep" he comes, and in as strange