1. Dark iron he could turn to silver
Bright silver turn to yellow gold
A wizard as wise in the world and its ways
And as tall as all the tales that have ever been told !
2. Who was he who was he?
Mighty was his power and fame
Who was he who was he?
Merlin Merlin was his name !
3. Tales and tidings came to Merlin
Of a strong and a strange enchantress
As fierce and as fair as frost and fire
Wild as wintry wind the queen of air and darkness !
4. Who was she who was she?
Sea-dark her hair her green eyes starry
Who was she who was she?
The moon-with of the wood Trinali!
5. Her words could turn men to worms and serpents asses and swine
She never cared a penny for them left them all to peak and pine
Lord Merlin swore to seek her out and shame her
Into some quite other creature he took oath that he would change her
6. By the sun he swore and the wand he bore
He would transform that witch or die
By the ring she wore and by the moon she swore
She would change him or destroy him by and by
7. Crying ‘Down with the master magician! Listen who will it be
Who will win and prove the wiser witch or wizard? We shall see!’
And she vowed aloud to find and vanquish Merlin
Crying ‘I’ll bewitch the wizard into some strange shape I’ll turn him!’
8. See the vixen scent her quarry
See the falcon sight his prey
So the witch sought the wizard the wizard the witch
Just as light follows night in its flight and the dark the day
9. Away went she away went he
Through shady wood and shining meadow
Away went he away went she
He in sunshine she in shadow
10. One evening where the meadows meet the greenwood
Soft rain fell a wind began to rise
She met a trav’ller as straight as a tree
And in the glade he met a lady with all Eden in her eyes
11. She and he he and she
The moon had risen but the sun not set
He and she she and he
Under the apple-tree they met
12. Faint and far-off lightning flickered
Treetops swayed and whispered in the darkness
The sun set the rain passed in the moonlight they paused
Still they stood the wood-doves stirred above them in the branches
13. He and she she and he
Beneath the tree both had taken shelter
She and he he and she
The rain had touched each leaf with silver
14. He spoke to her very lovingly and suddenly she
Was falling deep in love with Merlin and so with her was he
Soon they’d said ‘I love you’ to each other
Soon they were sitting under one cloak kissing close together
15. Once he knew she loved him soon he
Knew he loved her and then both knew
She and he he and she
The more they looked the more love grew
16. ‘Stay with me stranger and lie beside me do not say no!’
‘Lady I can stay no longer now I cannot linger so!’
Then Merlin murmured softly ‘I am sorry
But listen lady let me tell you why it is I cannot tarry
17. ‘I seek a sorceress I swore to punish’
‘And I seek a sorcerer too’ she cried
‘But do not go my love !’ He said ‘My dear don’t leave!
Tell me who is he?’ ‘Why Merlin sir!’ she sighed
18. ‘It is him you see! Who are you?’ said he
‘Add one to one these two things tally
Who are you?’ said he ‘It is him you see!
Lady speak your name!’ She spoke ‘Trinali!’
19. An oath by any witch or wizard
By the sun or by the moon on high
All they have sworn by the the moon or the sun
Fulfil it they will or fail they must do it or die
20. ‘Do you see my dear’ said she
‘How love has brought this curse upon us?’
‘Indeed’ said he ‘but can’t you see
How love can lift this burden from us?’
21. Merlin spoke to dark Trinali
‘This riddle has a nice and easy answer
Lie with me while we may I’ll be you you’ll be me
We’ll be at once at one entwined like dance and dancer’
22. ‘Come lie with me my love ’ said she
‘I shall change you use your might on me’
‘Come vie with me my dear’ said he
‘Change me no spell shall take you from me!’
23. Night flies and dies when the day breaks day fades into dim night
Does the light embrace the darkness or the dark embrace the light?
Darkness embraces day day enters darkness
So did the witch the wizard the enchanter the enchantress
24. He and she she and he
The witch of the night and the wizard of the day
She and he he and she
Under the apple tree they lay
25.Which is the face of the penny when it’s spinning around
The lady by the sea or the king without his crown?
When two lovers lie in love together
Which of them is the beloved which of them the lover?
26. Love’s a powerful magician
Combining twining two in one
Joining woman and man beneath the pale silver moon
Or by the brighter light of her brother the golden sun
27. Some say she some say he
Conquered the other and won the glory
Some say he some say she
Some say Merlin some Trinali !
1997
From a Welsh Gipsy tale: see Charles Leland, The Gipsies, 1882