I saw I had made a blunder. I must get back my
lost ground. After a deep reflection and careful plan-
ning, I said:

"Sire, I have been misunderstood. I will explain.
There are two kinds of prophecy. One is the gift to
foretell things that are but a little way off, the other is
the gift to foretell things that are whole ages and
centuries away. Which is the mightier gift, do you
think?"

"Oh, the last, most surely!"

"True. Does Merlin possess it?"