who had, by their magical arts, contrived to render the king blind whenever he went out of his palace, in order that they might increase their own wealth by defrauding him and the people. The child Merlin advises the king to put his seven evil counsellors to death, after which his sight would be restored; this the king does accordingly, and afterwards raises Merlin to the highest offices of state.—The tale is taken from the romance of Merlin.

Wright has remarked that this story is of Indian origin, and is found in several Eastern collection,s but he does not specify any of them.

XII—The Sixth Master relates the story of