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Age and build

appears as a child of fourteen years old

“Right so came by him Merlin like a child of fourteen year of age” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

appears as an old man of fourscore years

“came again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

described as having vast wit and hundred winters

“mage Merlin, whose vast wit And hundred winters are but as the hands Of loyal vassals toiling for their liege” (Idylls Of The King, part 1)

Face and hair

has a great beard in old age

“Made with her right a comb of pearl to part The lists of such a beard as youth gone out Had left in ashes” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

beard is vast and shaggy

“The vast and shaggy mantle of his beard” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

Dress

wears a beggar's array when first met

“by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar’s array” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

dressed in black sheep-skins with boots and russet gown

“he was all befurred in black sheep-skins, and a great pair of boots, and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

carries wild geese in his hand

“brought wild geese in his hand” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Voice and speech

speaks in riddling triplets of old time

“answered me In riddling triplets of old time” (Idylls Of The King, part 1)

tends to speak cryptically and with mystery

“At this time, said Merlin, I will not tell it thee” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Signature words

uses 'well' frequently in affirmation

“Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

says 'by my faith' in oaths

“By my faith, said Arthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

uses 'sir' in formal address

“Sir, said Merlin, I know all your heart every deal” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

employs 'nay' in negation

“Nay, said Merlin, not so, for I could save myself an I would” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

says 'care ye not' in reassurance

“Care ye not, said Merlin, for he is wholer than ye” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

Gait and mannerisms

can vanish and appear suddenly

“Therewith Merlin vanished away suddenly” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

rides on a great black horse

“With that came Merlin on a great black horse” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

tends to laugh at mysteries and riddles

“He laughed as is his wont, and answered me In riddling triplets of old time” (Idylls Of The King, part 1)

sometimes appears mute and withdrawn

“he was mute” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

Strengths

knows all things and can see the future

“I know all your heart every deal” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

can transform appearances and cast enchantments

“Merlin cast an enchantment to the knight, that he fell to the earth in a great sleep” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

built Camelot and shaped its architecture

“Merlin’s hand, the Mage at Arthur’s court, Knowing all arts, had touched, and everywhere At Arthur’s ordinance, tipt with lessening peak” (Idylls Of The King, part 2)

created the Round Table and Siege Perilous

“Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness of the world” (Morte Darthur 2, part 14)

Flaws

becomes infatuated with Vivien and loses his power

“Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinore brought to court” (Morte Darthur 1, part 8)

becomes overtalked and overworn, yielding to Vivien

“Merlin, overtalked and overworn, Had yielded, told her all the charm, and slept” (Idylls Of The King, part 7)

foresees his own doom but cannot prevent it

“he should not dure long, but for all his crafts he should be put in the earth quick” (Morte Darthur 1, part 8)

Traits

wise and all-knowing

“the wise man that ever served King Uther through his magic art” (Idylls Of The King, part 1)

devoted to Arthur's welfare and the realm

“for the most part the days of his life he was ruled much by the counsel of Merlin” (Morte Darthur 1, part 7)

mysterious and enigmatic in nature

“I know not whether of himself he came, Or brought by Merlin, who, they say, can walk Unseen at pleasure” (Idylls Of The King, part 1)

capable of great sorrow and melancholy

“So dark a forethought rolled about his brain” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

values use and service over fame

“Use gave me Fame at first, and Fame again Increasing gave me use” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

Lines in their own words

declares his power to help the king

“I shall cause him to have all his desire” (Morte Darthur 1, part 5)

warns Arthur of his fate

“thou art more near thy death than I am, for thou goest to the deathward, an God be not thy friend” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

counsels Arthur to withdraw from battle

“Thou hast never done! Hast thou not done enough? of three score thousand this day hast thou left alive but fifteen thousand” (Morte Darthur 1, part 6)

speaks to Vivien of his fears

“I rather dread the loss of use than fame” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

laments his own weakness in love

“I never was less wise, however wise, Too curious Vivien, though you talk of trust” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)

speaks of his service to mankind

“Fame with men, Being but ampler means to serve mankind, Should have small rest or pleasure in herself” (Idylls Of The King, part 6)