became the strongest in the world. Some of the many legends place this
tower in the forest of Broceliande; while others transport it afar to a
magic island, where Merlin dwells with his nine bards, and where Vivian
alone can come or go through the magic walls. Some legends describe it as
an enclosure "neither of iron nor steel nor timber nor of stone, but of
the air, without any other thing but enchantment, so strong that it may
never be undone while the world endureth." Here dwells Merlin, it is said,
with nine favorite bards who took with them the thirteen treasures of
England. These treasures are said to have been:--

1. A sword; if any man drew it except the owner, it burst into a flame
from the cross to the point. All who asked it received it; but because of
this peculiarity all shunned it.

2. A basket; if food for one man were put into it, when opened it would
be found to contain food for one hundred.

3. A horn; what liquor soever was desired was found therein.

4. A chariot; whoever sat in it would be immediately wheresoever he wished.

5. A halter, which was in a staple below the feet of a bed; and whatever
horse one wished for in it, he would find it there.

6. A knife, which would serve four-and twenty men at meat all at once.

7. A caldron; if meat were put into it to boil for a coward, it would
never be boiled; but if meat were put in it for a brave man, it would be
boiled forthwith.