I come to thee upon a graver matter.

Arthur. Yea Merlin! speak on.

Merlin. Arthur, I speak now to no puling youth,

No mere sin-pricked conscience in a human form,

But bring a kingly matter to a king,

Whereof that he may do the kingliest deed

That he may hap on in the unknown lease

[Pg 9]

[Pg 9]

Of all his kingship. I have kept this matter,

The deepest and the dreadest concerning thee

And all the workings of thy coming fate,

Until the hour when thou didst feel thee king

In more than seeming outward human choice,

And thou wert at thy greatest, even that I,

In all his power, might see the King I made,

Not in all the glory of his court,

His people’s laudings sounding in his ears,

Not in all the shout of battle victory;

But in that dread and secret solemn hour,

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