The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-25

the old idea that Stonehenge was the
original of the famous temple of Apollo
in the island of the Hyperboreans, the
stories about which were based in the
first instance most likely on the journal
of Pytheas' travels"
The Godfrey referred to is, of course
Godfrey of Monmouth and the legends
associating Stonehenge with the enchan-
ter Merlin are the most curious of ro-
mantle fiction. Before the great stones
were erected a terrible tragedy had been
enacted upon their site and the bloody
deed was known as the Treachery of the
Long Knives, or the Massacre of Stone
henge. When Hengist chief of the Jutes
was ravaging England he invited his al
lies against the Picts to participate in a
royal banquet at Stonehenge. To this
feast came the unsuspecting Nortigern
and great number of other British chief
tains Hengist arranged to have a Saxon
seated at the table alternately aside of
Briton and each of the former carried
long knife concealed in the sole of his
boot. Hengist himself was to give sig
nal by exclaiming "Nemet oure saxas"
at which the Saxons were to draw their
cruel knives and slay the guests. The
diabolical scheme was executed to the
very letter, for when all were merry Hen
gist grasped Vortigern and held him by
his royal robes as he uttered the fatal
words when the treacherous knives of
the hosts flashed In the light and the
throats of 460 earls and barons were cut
without further ceremony The Britons,
however, died nobly; they had come un-
armed but discovering the treachery of
their host, they defended themselves with
the stones that lay around. Eidol, earl
of Gloucester, was fortunate enuogh to
escape alive, but in the battle he is ac-
credited with having slain 20 Saxons with
his own hand, though the Welsh Triads
fafa 0F - t.
ess at 660.
Some time afterwards Eidol allied him,
self with Aurelius and when he related
to him the story of the dastardly treach-
cry and the gallant defense of the Brit
ons, the King was anxious to honor the
memory of the brave victims and ordered
the present monoliths to be erected in
their honor. And here comes in the mys-
terious feature of the story. No architect
was to be found in the kingdom who
deemed himself competent to erect the
memorial wheron upon the Archbishop of
Caerleon advised the King to summon
Merlin, the enchanter, to undertake the
task Merlin came and advised the mon
arch that II he desired burial place
for the Britons which should endure for
ever he should send for the Dance of
the Giants, a structure of stone on Kill
laraus, mountain of Ireland. Aurelus
was prone to laugh at the advice, say
cently large for the temple, but Merlin
replied, informing him that a mystery
lay in each stone of the Dance of the
Giants. healing virtue for they were
originally baths brought by the giants
from the furthest ends. of Africa and
could cure wounds as well maadies
She King was convinced and as the Irish
resented the deportation of the stones, an
army of 5000 men was employed to fetch
them to Stonehenge, under the direction
of Merlin.
The army reached the mountain of
Killaraus but their engines and imple-
ments were inadequate to move the mann
moth stones. Merlin laughed at their
futile e:orts and finally moved the stones
by his magic from the mountain to the
ships and from the ships to their pres
ent site In Stonehenge. / love to read Of
this Merlin for he is still said to be
alive. 1t will be remembered that his
sweetheart, Nivien, induced him to teach
her some of the screts of his magical
art He told her how to temporarily en-
close him in hawthorn bush. but forgot
to impart to her the spell by which she
would be enabled to release him, and
there he is to this day. Nivien was
shocked with grief and despair and il
one listens now when the wind is blow
ing he may hear the hawthorn bush the
sad voice of the imprisoned Merlin vain
ly crying to be released
But Merlin was real person who took
the name of Ambose and was bard
living in the sixth century of our error
He accompanied his King in many bat
ties and bein ga poet the sight of car
mage and slaughter was most odious to
him. consequently, on the horrible battle
field at Solway Firth he lost his reason
broke his sword and forsook human So
ciety. He was at last found dead upon
the bank of a river.
The stories of the Legendary Merlin
are of intense interest and | have been
in the romantic mountain of Snowdon.