"Merlin, having become enamored of the fair Viviane, the Lady of
the Lake, was weak enough to impart to her various important secrets
of his art, being impelled by a fatal destiny, of which he was at
the same time fully aware. The lady, however, was not content with his
devotion, unbounded as it seems to have been, but "cast about," the
Romance tells us, how she might "detain him for evermore," and one day
addressed him in these terms: "Sir, I would that we should make a fair
place and a suitable, so contrived by art and by cunning that it might
never be undone, and that you and I should be there in joy and
solace." "My lady," said Merlin, "I will do all this." "Sir," said
she, "I would not have you do it, but you shall teach me, and I will
do it, and then it will be more to my mind." "I grant you this,"
said Merlin."