Lady of the Lake

( A ), a harlot. (Anglo-Saxon, lác , “a present.”) A “guinea-fowl” or “guinea-hen” is a similar term. But for the difference marriage makes ’Twixt wives and “ladies of the lake.” S. Butler, Hudibras , iii. 1 (1668) Lady of the Lake (The), Nimue [ sic ], one of the damsels of the lake, that King Pellinore took to his court. Merlin, in his dotage, fell in love with her, when she wheedled him out of all his secrets, and enclosed him in a rock, where he died. Subsequently, Nimue married Sir Pelleas. ⁂ Tennyson, in his Idylls of the King (“Merlin and Vivien”), makes Vivien the enchantre who wheedled old Merlin out of his secrets; and then, “in a hollow oak,” she shut him fast, and there “he lay as dead, and lost to life and use, and name, and fame.” Tennyson takes a poet’s privilege, and varies the old legend at pleasure. Lady of the Lake (The) , Nineve. The name of the Lady of the Lake is variously spelled in the old editions of the Mort d’ Arthur . We find: 1, Nimue; 2, Nineve; 3, Vivien; 4, Vivienne. 4 is the French of 3; 1 is probably a misprint for Ninve; and 1, 2, 3 are probably anagrams. Lady of the Lake ( The ). Vivienne ( 3 syl. ) is called La Dame du Lac , and dwelt en la marc he de la petite Bretaigne . She stole Lance lot in his infancy, and plunged with him into her home lake; hence was Lance lot called du Lac . When her protégé was grown to manhood, she presented him to King Arthur. Lady of the Lake ( The ), Ellen Douglas, once a favorite of King James; but when her father fell into disgrace, she retired with him into the vicinity of Loch Katrine.—Sir W. Scott, Lady of the Lake (1810). **Lady of the Lake and Arthur’s Sword** The lady of the Lake gave to King Arthur the sword “Excalibur.” “Well,” said she, “go into yonder barge and row yourself to the sword, and take it.” So Arthur and Merlin came to the sword that a hand held up, and took it by the handles, and the arm and hand went under the lake again (pt. i. 23). The Lady of the Lake asked in recompense, the head of Sir Balin, because he had slain her brother; but the king refused the request. Then said Balin, “Evil be ye found! Ye would have my head; therefore ye shall lose thine own.” So saying, with his sword he smote off her head in the presence of King Arthur.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur , i. 28 (1470).