Merlin, the enchanter, is not dead, but “sleeps and sighs in an old tree, spell-bound by Vivien.”--British Legend.
St. David was thrown into an enchanted sleep by Ormandine, but after sleeping for seven years, was awoke by Merlin.
French Legend. The French slain in the Sicilian Vespers are not really dead, but they sleep for the time being, awaiting the day of retribution.
German Legends. Barbarossa, with six of his knights, sleeps in Kyffhaüsberg, in Thuringia, till the fulness of time, when they will awake and make Germany the foremost kingdom of the earth. The beard of the red king has already grown through the table slab at which he is sitting, but it must wind itself three times round the table before his second event. Barbarossa occasionally wakes and asks, “Is it time?” when a voice replies, “Not yet. Sleep on.”
Charlemagne is not dead, but only asleep in Untersberg, near Saltzburg, waiting for the advent of Antichrist, when he will rouse from his slumber, go forth conquering, and will deliver Christendom that it may be fit for the second advent and personal reign of Christ.
Charles V., kaiser of Germany, is only asleep, waiting his time, when he will awake, return to earth, “resume the monarchy over Germany, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark, putting all enemies under his feet.”
Knez Lazar, of Servia, supposed to have been slain by the Turks in 1389, is not really dead, but has put on sleep for a while, and at an allotted moment he will re-appear in his full strength.
Grecian Legends. Endym´ion, a beautiful youth, sleeps a perpetual sleep in Latmos. Selēnê (the moon) fell in love with him, kissed him, and still lies by his side. In the British Museum is an exquisite statue of Endymion asleep.--Greek Fable.
Epimen´ides (5 syl.), the Cretan poet, was sent in boyhood to search for a stray sheep; being heated and weary, he stepped into a cave, and fell asleep for fifty-seven years. Epimenidês, we are told, attained the age of 154, 157, 229, and some say 289 years.--Pliny, History, vii. 12.
Irish Traditions. Brian, surnamed “Boroimhe,” king of Ireland, who conquered the Danes in twenty pitched battles, and was supposed to have been slain in the battle of Clontarf, in 1014, was only stunned. He still sleeps in his castle of Kincora, and the day of Ireland’s necessity will be Brian’s opportunity.