146 MERLIN SYLVESTER, THE WILD. 



" Merlin had fled to the forest in a state of distraction ; 

 and looking upon the stars one clear evening, he discovered, 

 from his astrological knowledge, that his wife Guendolen 

 had resolved upon the next morning to take another 

 husband. As he had presaged to her that this would 

 happen, and had promised her a nuptial gift (cautioning 

 her, however, to keep the bridegroom out of his sight), he 

 now resolved to make good his word. Accordingly, he 

 collected all the stags and lesser game in the neighbour- 

 hood, and having seated himself upon a hart, drove the 

 herd before him to the capital of Cumberland, where 

 Guendolen resided ; but her lover's curiosity leading him 

 to inspect too nearly this extraordinary cavalcade, Merlin's 

 rage was awakened, and he slew him with the stroke of an 

 antler of the stag." 



Formerly, it seems, the hunters went to the chase 

 armed at all points, like the redoubted Alderman Saw- 

 bridge. Wilson, the historian, records an escape that 

 befel him in the hazardous sport, whilst a youth and a 

 follower of the Earl of Essex. 



" Sir Peter Lee, of Lime, in Cheshire, invited my lord, 

 one summer, to hunt the stagg ; and having a great stagg 

 in chase, and many gentlemen in pursuit, the stagg took 

 Soyle ; and divers, whereof I was one, alighted and stood, 

 with swords drawn, to have a cut at him at his coming out 

 of the water ; the stagg then being wonderfully fierce and 

 dangerous, made us youths more eager to be at him, but he 

 escaped us all ; and it was my misfortune to be hindered 

 of my coming nere him (the way being sliperie) by a fall ; 

 which gave occasion to some who did not know mee, to 

 speak as if I had falne for fear ; which being told mee, I 



