"Mary Stewart - The Arthurian Saga 01 - The Crystal Cave2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stewart Mary)

Edwin Muir's poem "Merlin' is
reprinted by permission of Faber and Faber Ltd.

from the Collected Poems, 1921-58.

The poem on page 222 is a free translation of verses appearing in Barzaz
Breiz; Chants Populaires de la Bretagne, by the Vicomte de la
Villemarque (Paris, 1867).

The Legend of Merlin is based on the translation of Geoffrey of
Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain which was first published in
the Everyman's Library, Vol 577, by J. & M. Dent in 1912.

Contents

Prologue: The Prince of Darkness 11
Book I The Dove 15
Book II The Falcon 117

Book III The Wolf 215

Book IV The Red Dragon 307

Book V The Coming of the Bear 385

The Legend of Merlin 457

Author's Note

To the Memory of MOLLIE CRAIG with my love

Merlin in your
crystal cave Deep in the diamond of the day Will there ever be a singer
Whose music will smooth away The Furrow drawn by Adam's finger Across

the meadow and the wave?

Or a runner who'll outrun Man's long shadow driving on, Burst through
the gates of history, And hang the apple on the tree?

Will your sorcery ever show The sleeping bride shut in her bower, The
day wreathed in its mound of snow, And Time locked in his tower?

Edwin Muir

Prologue
THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

I am an old man now, but then I was already past my prime when Arthur