NIGHTBRINGER | The Arthurian Encyclopedia

Arlecchino

Harlequin, Hellekin

The name by which Hellekin became known in the Italian commedia dell’arte, and under which guise he appeared in the Arthurian pantomime Merlin (1734) by Lewis Theobald.

Merlin stole his lover, Columbine, but she returned to Harlequin after using Merlin’s wand to turn Merlin into a donkey.