THE WIZARD AND THE FARMER
Here's a folktale from Cheshire, England. It is a very old tale, about a very famous wizard.
Once upon a time a farmer was travelling from Mobberley to Macclesfield market to sell a horse. He was hopeful of getting a good price for the horse, because it was the finest he had seen - pure milk white in colour and a beauty. As he was crossing the sandstone cliff called Alderley Edge he was surprised to see an old man with a long white beard and strange clothes.
The old man greeted him and asked to buy the horse. The farmer refused thinking he might get more money at the market. The old man smiled and said, "Do as you please. Go to Macclesfield, but you won't sell the horse and this evening you will sell the horse to me."
The farmer laughed and went on his way. At the market the horse was much admired, but no one would buy the fine creature. The farmer had to turn around and go home with the horse. As he was returning over the Edge, suddenly the old man appeared. "Follow me," said the old man and led the farmer to a great rock.
Just as the farmer was wondering where he was being taken, the old man touched the rock with his staff and two large iron gates appeared. With a loud crash the gates opened, the horse reared at the sound and sent the farmer tumbling on to the ground. "Don't be afraid," said the old man and led the farmer and horse into the cave beyond the gates.
Inside the cave, the farmer looked from side to side. All around lay sleeping knights and their horses. All the horses were milk white. On and on the old man led the farmer through countless caverns all filled with sleeping men and horses - a huge army sleeping and waiting to rise. In the innermost cave the old man stopped and pointed at a huge pile of gold and jewels, telling the farmer to take his payment for the horse. The old man explained that one day when England was in great danger the army would wake and ride out onto the Cheshire plain to save the country. One soldier didn't have a horse, which is why the old man wanted the farmer's.
The farmer grabbed some gold, stuffed it into his pocket and staggered out of the cave. The great doors clanged behind him. The farmer ran on. When he had gone a little distance he turned around, but all he saw was the rock. No one has found the door since. On Alderley Edge you can see the Wizard's Well and on it you can read these words:
Drink of this and take thy fill,
For the water falls by the wizard's will.
Is it the same wizard, who met with the farmer? What is his name? And what is the name of the leader of the army who sleeps under the hill, waiting for the time when England needs him? The local people think they know the answer - they think the wizard is Merlin and the sleeping king is Arthur. The legend has it that King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table will one day return in England's hour of greatest need.
Courtesy of
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/conkers-and-ghosts/alderley-edge.htm
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