Lines 1–4

"Merlin Enthralled" opens with the Knights of the Round Table already engulfed in the mystery of Merlin's vanishing act. From the outset, the phrase "after a while" subtly hints at their prolonged wait for news, or perhaps a stirring leader to guide them into action. Their bewilderment is starkly illustrated as they wander "aimlessly riding," uncertain of where to begin their quest. The mention of "drained cups" suggests they delayed their search until all drinks were consumed, a poignant image of idle inaction. By line four, the absence of any "unnatural sound" weaves a captivating paradox. While silence might seem benign, suggesting no sorcery is at play, it also insinuates a more chilling possibility: that Merlin, a being beyond nature, might no longer be alive.

Lines 5–8

In the realm of line five, "mystery" springs to life as if it were a sentient being, a departure from its typical role as a mere mood. Wilbur animates this concept, allowing it to "watch" with a human-like gaze and "darkle," a verb invoking a shadowy shroud of intrigue. By line seven, "mystery" finds its voice in the whispers of wind dancing through leaves. Squirrels, meanwhile, make an "alien" racket as they dart about, their restlessness set against the "ancient" stoicism of the trees, unmoving and enduring.

Lines 9–12

The third stanza harks back to the warped reality insinuated throughout the poem. Rather than detailing the cause of the knights' abrupt halt or their instincts about Merlin's proximity to the lake, Wilbur opts for the ambiguous term "something" in line nine. In this rare moment of stillness, the knights begin to notice nature's minutiae, often overlooked in their haste—frogs frolicking and insects flitting. Line eleven paints a vivid picture of insects skimming atop a "shut" lake surface, a barrier seemingly impenetrable. In line twelve, the sun blazes fiercely enough to parch algae clinging to a log.

Lines 13–16

The fourth stanza unveils Niniane through subtle implication rather than direct exposition. The knights never directly encounter her, nor are they informed of her role in Merlin's disappearance. Instead, Gawen thinks he hears a whitehorn deer murmur her name, though he remains uncertain. Wilbur portrays Niniane's actions explicitly, leaving an enigma for readers: are these events genuine, or merely figments of Gawen's imagination?

Lines 17–20

This stanza delves into Niniane's masterful dominion over Merlin. Line nineteen reveals Merlin enmeshed in Niniane's enchantment, hinting at her superior magical prowess, especially in line twenty. Line eighteen plays with dual meanings of "sound": as an audible phenomenon and as the Old English "sund," alluding to a watery inlet.

Lines 21–24

In this sixth stanza, Merlin gradually drifts away from the tangible world. The first two lines depict death as a physical entity, with shapes "escaping" from him in a reversal of reality's grasp. In the latter lines, death is framed within a temporal context. As Merlin fades, history dissolves, intertwining with him. Line twenty-four poetically portrays death as "the mists of time," merging a physical metaphor—time as condensing mist—with the temporal notion of time's cessation as death.

Lines 25–28

This stanza melds Merlin's consciousness with Niniane's influence, weaving water's symbolism throughout. Line twenty-five describes "mountain water," signifying the clarity of Merlin's thoughts under the sorceress's spell. The verb "raveling" in line twenty-six is intriguingly dual, meaning both "entangled" and "untangled." Wilbur's intent is ambiguous, allowing for both interpretations. By calling the dream "deep" and "transparent," line twenty-six links dreaming with water. This connection deepens in line twenty-eight, where Merlin's bond with Niniane is metaphorically likened to a river meeting the sea. The pause between lines twenty-six...