Of some things that Merlin further did we must here speak. While Arthur dwelt in the castle of Bedegraine, Merlin came to him so disguised that the king knew him not. He was all befurred in black sheepskins, with a great pair of boots and a bow and arrows, and brought wild geese in his hand, as though he had been a huntsman.
"Sir," he said to the king, "will you give me a gift?"
"Why should I do so, churl?" asked the king.
"You had better give me a gift from what you have in hand than to lose great riches which are now out of your reach; for here, where the battle was fought, is great treasure hidden in the earth."
Then was the king abashed, for he now knew that it was Merlin who spoke, and it troubled him that he had not known his best friend.
Afterward, on a day when Arthur had been hunting in the forest, and while he sat in deep thought over a strange dream he had dreamed and some sinful deeds he had done, there came to him a child of fourteen years, and asked him why he was so pensive.
"I may well be so," replied Arthur, "for I have much to make me think."
"I know that well," said the seeming child, "also who thou art and all thy thoughts. I can tell thee who was thy father and how and when thou wert born."
"That is false," rejoined the king. "How should a boy of your years know my father?"
"He was Uther Pendragon, the king," replied the seeming boy, "and you are of royal blood."
"How can you know that? I will not believe you without better proof," said Arthur.
At these words the child departed, but quickly after there came to the king an old man of fourscore years.
"For many things," replied Arthur. "Here but now was a child who told me things which it seems to me he could not know."
"He told you the truth," said the old man, "and would have told you more if you had listened. This I am bidden to tell you, that you have done things which have displeased God, and that your sister shall bear a son who will destroy you and all the knights of your land. That is the meaning of your dream in which griffons and serpents burnt and slew all before them, and wounded you to the death."
"Who are you," said Arthur, "that tell me these things?"
"I am Merlin," replied the old man. "And I was the child who came to you."