Besides straightening out and tightening the development Le Morte d'Arthur 19 of plot, Malory departs from his source for "Merlin" in two main ways: in the characterization of Arthur, King Lot, and Merlin, and in his grouping of tribute demands at the end of this episode. The effectiveness of the characterization is partly a product of Malory's style — his swift presentation of action, his blunt realism, his habit of avoiding any complicated analysis of emotion. For example:
So whan the duke and his wyf were comyn unto the kynge, by the meanes of grete lordes they were accorded bothe. The kynge lyked and loved this lady wel, and he made them grete chere out of mesure and desyred to have lyen by her, but she was a passyng good woman and wold not assente unto the kynge.
When the duke and his wife have retreated and the siege is underway, Malory says:
Thenne for pure angre and for grete love of fayr Igrayne the kyng Uther felle seke. So came to the kynge Utber syre Ulfius, a noble knyght, and asked the kynge why he was seke.
"I shall telle the," said the kynge. "I am seke for angre
and for love of fayre Igrayne, that I may not be hool."
"Well, my lord," said syre Ulfius, "I shal seke Merlyn
and he shalle do yow remedy, that youre herte shal be
pleasyd."
