Inscribed top right ARMS OF LANCELOT In an original heraldic invention, Burne-Jones has chosen to represent the Arms of Lancelot as Niniane, the Dame du Lac, which is taken from the thirteenth century prose Lancelot. The lady is standing before a symbolic representation of the Lake holding a book possibly full of spells. Niniane, Nymenche or Uiuiane was the Lady of the Lake, who appeared in the Vulgate Cycle. Niniane was often called Vivien and Nimue. This may imply that Burne-Jones identified with Lancelot since in The Beguiling of Merlin the artist revealed an autobiography regarding his relationship with Maria.