The Departure of Merlin

Cover illustration by Edmund Dulac, 1933*

"And then, soon after, the Lady of the Lake [Nimue] and Merlin departed; and by the way as they went Merlin showed her many wonders, and came into Cornwall.

…And so, upon a time, it happened that Merlin showed to her a rock where there was a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, which went under a stone.   So, by her subtle craft and working, she made Merlin to go under the stone to let her wit of the marvels there; but she wrought so there for him, that he came out never, for all the craft that he could do: and so she departed, and left Merlin."

The Noble and Joyous History of King Arthur:  the Book of Morgan le Fay  Sir Thomas Malory

* Dulac returned to this theme for The American Weekly in March 1940 (see Colin White)