CHAPTER III. THE DEEDS AND DEATH OF BALIN
WHILE the king was yet holding high festival in Camelot, before he wasmarried to Guenever, there happened another adventure. As Arthur wassitting one day in the great hall of the palace, holding council withhis barons, there came a damsel bearing to him a message from the greatLady Lyle of Avallon. She wore a mantle richly furred; and when shelet it drop from her shoulders, it was seen that at her side she wore anoble sword. At this the king marvelled, and said,--
"Damsel, for what cause art thou girt with that sword? Such gear befitsnot a lady."
"Sir," answered the damsel, "this sword I carry not with any goodwill of mine own. It is to me a cause of great sorrow; but I cannot bedelivered of it save by a good knight, who must be not only strong ofhis hands, but clean of any shame with man or woman. If I can find sucha knight, then may he draw the sword from the scabbard, and so shall Ibe rid of the enchantment that belongs to it. But never yet have I foundany knight that could draw the sword. One time I was at the court ofKing Rience, because I had heard that there were many noble knights;but though he and all his court essayed it, there was not one that couldprevail."
When King Arthur heard this he marvelled still more.
"Damsel," he said, "I will myself essay to draw out the sword, notpresuming upon myself that I am the best knight, but to give example tomy barons, that they also may essay it."
So the king took the sword by the hilt, and pulled eagerly at it, but itcame not forth.
"Sir," said the damsel, "you need not pull at it half so hard, for hethat shall draw it forth will be able to do so with little might."
"Then," answered Arthur smiling--though in truth he did not well likehis misadventure--"this achievement is not for me. So now, my barons,let all of you essay it; but beware that ye are not defiled with shame,treachery, or guile."
"That will not be enough," said the damsel; "for he that draweth thesword must be mighty of his hands as well as a clean knight, and ofnoble descent, both on the father's and mother's side."
Then all the knights and barons that were at that time about King Arthuressayed the sword; but when all of them had striven, it still remainedfast in the scabbard. Then the damsel made great moan, saying thatshe had thought in this court to find a good knight that was withoutdefilement.
"Well," said the king, "by my faith I have here as good knights as anythat are in the world at this time, but it seems there is not any ofthem that has grace to help you."
Now it happened that there was in the hall at that time a poor knightof Northumberland, named Balin le Savage, who did not belong to Arthur'scourt, but had been kept prisoner by the king for some time for havingslain a knight of his kin. But though he had no estate, yet was he ofgood blood and of great prowess; and some of the barons had obtained hispardon, because it was in fair fight that he had killed the knight forwhose death he was imprisoned. And he stood and watched the king and allhis barons essay the sword; and when none of them could achieve it,he greatly desired to attempt it in his turn, but was ashamed to standforward because, having but just come out of prison, he was in meanattire. But at last, when the damsel had made her obeisance to KingArthur and the lords, and was about to leave the hall, Balin took heart,and said to her,--
"Damsel, I pray you of your courtesy to suffer me to essay that sword;for though I be poorly clothed, yet am I a knight, and it may happenthat the adventure shall fall to me."
Then the damsel looked at him, and saw that he was a likely man of hisbody; but because of his mean array she could not believe him to be aman of high lineage without shame. So she said,--
"Sir, there is no need to put me to further trouble in this matter, forthere is scant likelihood that you will speed well where so many greatlords and brave knights have failed."
But Balin answered her that worthiness and manhood were not in raiment,but in him that wore it; and again he besought her to essay the sword.So without more words she assented, and, lo! when he took the hilt inhis hand he drew forth the sword easily. The king and all his baronsmarvelled much that Balin should have been able to do that which theycould not, and some of the knights were passing wroth.
"Truly," said the damsel, "thou art the best knight that ever I found,and the most of worship, without any shame or treachery, and manymarvellous deeds wilt thou accomplish gentle and courteous knight," shesaid, "give me the sword again."
But Balin found the sword exceedingly fair to look upon, and he wouldnot give it up. The damsel entreated him, and warned him that it wouldbring about his destruction; but of that he took no heed, so she leftthe court, sorrowing much that he would not give her the sword again.Then Balin got his armour and his horse, and made ready to ride forth.The king begged him to stay in his court, promising to make amends forall the harm he had done him, and to give him advancement. Balin thankedhim for his graciousness, but said that at that time he must depart.
But while Balin was making ready, there came into the hall that lady ofthe lake who had given to King Arthur his sword Excalibur. She enteredon horseback, richly clad, and saluted the king, and said she had cometo claim the boon he had promised her.
"Ask what you will," answered the king, "and you shall have it, if it bein my power to give it."
"Well," said the lady, "I ask the head of that knight who hath won thesword, or else the head of the damsel that brought it; and though I haveboth their heads I shall sorrow, for he slew my brother, who was a goodknight and true, and that damsel was the cause of my father's death."
"Truly," replied King Arthur, "I cannot grant you the head of either ofthem with honour; therefore ask what else you will, and I shall fulfilyour desire."
But the lady would not ask nor have anything else. And now it chancedthat Balin saw her, and she was his worst enemy, for she had broughtabout the death of his mother. When it was told him that she had askedhis head of the king, he was exceedingly wrathful. He went straight upto her, and said,--
"Evil be thou found! Thou wouldst have my head, and therefore shalt thoulose thine own." And suddenly he raised the sword and struck off herhead in presence of the king and all the court.
Then the king was full of anger against Balin, and reproached himsharply. Balin excused himself as well as he could, saying that the ladyhad, by witchcraft, been the destroyer of many good knights, and thatshe had been the means of the death of his mother. But Arthur answeredhim full sternly, "Whatsoever cause of complaint you had against her,you should have forborne her in my presence. Such a despite was neverbefore done me in my court, and therefore you will do well to begonewith what speed you may."
So the dead lady was buried with great pomp, and Balin set forthsorrowfully because of the king's anger. Now there was at the courta knight named Sir Lanceor, the son of a king in Ireland. He was veryproud, and counted himself one of the best knights, and he had a spiteat Balin because of the achievement of the sword Therefore he askedleave of the king to ride after Balin and avenge the despite that thatknight had done. The king granted his request, and bade him do his best,for he wished that Balin might be punished for the deed he had wrought.
Sir Lanceor armed himself, and took spear and shield, and rode hotlyafter Balin. After a while he came in sight of him, and called upon himto stop. When Balin heard him he turned his horse, and asked him if hedesired to joust.
"Yes," answered the knight. "For that cause am I come."
"Peradventure," said Balin, "you had done better to stay at home, formany a man who seeks to put his enemy to rebuke is himself put to shame.But whence come you?"
"I come from the court of King Arthur," said the knight of Ireland, "toavenge the insult you have given there this day."
"I should be loath to have ado with you," answered Balin, "for I wouldnot give more offence to the king than there is already. Moreover, thereis not need for you to take up the quarrel of that lady that I slew, forshe was an enemy to all good knights."
"Make you ready," said Sir Lanceor, "and meet me, for one
of us shallabide in the field."
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It befell as he had said; for when the two knights encountered, SirLanceor broke his spear on Balin's shield. But Balin gave so fierce athrust that he ran his spear through the other's armour and themiddle of his body, and he fell back dead from his horse. Immediatelythereafter Sir Lanceor's damsel came up, and when she saw him dead shegrieved out of measure, and before Balin could prevent it she had killedherself with her lover's sword; at which piteous sight Balin was rightsorrowful. While he stood there, there came up to him another knight,and when he approached, Balin knew from the arms he bore that it washis brother Balan, who was well-nigh of as much prowess as himself. Theywere heartily rejoiced to meet; and while they were telling eachother their adventures, there passed by a knight called King Marke ofCornwall. When he saw Lanceor and his damsel lying dead, he made inquiryas to the cause, and Balin told him. King Marke was filled with pitythat such true lovers should have ended thus sadly, and he pitched histent at that place, and caused his squires to put the dead knight andlady in a rich tomb, on the which he had this inscription written: "Herelieth Lanceor, a king's son of Ireland, that at his own request wasslain by the hands of Balin; and his lady Colombe, who slew herself withher lover's sword out of dole and sorrow." While King Marke was erectingthe tomb, Merlin came, and foretold that at that place there shouldhereafter be a great battle betwixt the two best knights of the world.Also he warned Balin that, because of the death of the lady Colombe, heshould strike the most dolorous stroke that ever man struck since thedeath of our Lord, for it would cause three kingdoms to be in greatpoverty, misery, and wretchedness for twelve years. Therewith Merlinsuddenly vanished; and so Balin and Balan rode on their way, and hadmany adventures together. But after a while they separated, and eachsought adventures for himself.
Within a day or two Balin came where King Arthur, feeling weary of hislife in court, had set up a pavilion in a meadow, and was lying thereinon a pallet. Just before Balin came, a knight had passed making greatsorrow; and when the king had asked him the cause, he had refused totell it. So after Balin had courteously saluted the king, Arthur askedhim to go after that knight, and make him return either of his owngood will or by force. This Balin readily undertook, and rode after theknight, whom he found with a damsel in a forest. When Balin bade himreturn, at first he would not; but when Balin made ready to fight, heconsented, and rode back, leaving the damsel behind him. But just asthey reached the king's pavilion, suddenly there came one invisible andsmote the stranger-knight through the body with a spear.
"Alas!" said the knight, "now am I done to death while under yourconduct and guard. He that has slain me is a traitorous knight namedGarlon, that goes always invisible. I pray you ride with the damsel, andfollow the quest that I was in, where she will lead you, and avenge mydeath when you may."
This Balin swore to do, and then departed; and King Arthur caused themurdered knight, whose name was Sir Herleus le Berbeus, to be honourablyburied.
Balin rode on with the damsel, and as they journeyed through the forest,a worthy knight named Sir Perin de Mountbeliard, who had been hunting,met and saluted them, and asked Balin why he seemed so sorrowful. Whenhe had heard the story, he proffered to go with them; but as they wereall three of them riding past a hermitage, the false knight Garlonagain came invisible and struck down Sir Perin, even as he had slain SirBerleus. Then the hermit and Balin buried him, and placed a tomb overhim; and after that Balin and the damsel continued their journey. Atnightfall they came to a castle, and as the gates were open, they wentup with intent to enter and spend the night there. Balin went first, andas soon as he had ridden within the gate, the portcullis was suddenlydropped behind him, and at the same time many men rushed out of anambush and seized the damsel. When Balin saw that he could not ride backto her help he dismounted, got upon the wall, and leaped down into theditch. Then he drew his sword and rushed upon the men that were aboutthe damsel. But they were no more than squires and churls, and theywould not fight him, but said that they were only observing the customof the castle. Their lady was sick of a disease which had held her manyyears, and she might not be made whole save by a silver dish full ofblood taken from a clean maid and king's daughter; and thus no maid wasallowed to pass the castle without being bled.
"Well," said Balin, "she may give you as much of her blood as she will,but she shall not give more while I have life to defend her."
But the damsel of her own free will gave them a silver dish full ofher blood, and though it did not help the lady, she and Balin wereentertained in the castle all night, and had right good cheer. The nextday they continued their journey, and at night rested with a knight thathad a great castle and kept a rich table. While they sat at supper Balinheard some one crying as if in pain, and he asked what was the matter.
"I will tell you," said his host. "I was lately at a tournament, andjousted twice with a knight who is brother to King Pellam, and twice Ismote him down. Then he promised to have vengeance on my best friend,and he has sore wounded my son, who cannot be healed till I have someof that knight's blood. He often rides invisible, but I do not know hisname."
"But I know it," answered Balin. "His name is Garlon, and by histreachery he has slain two knights that were with me. I had rather meetwith him than have all the gold in this realm." The other then toldhim that King Pellam had appointed to hold a great feast at his cityof Listenise, and that if they went thither they should see his brotherGarlon. At hearing this Balin was blithe, and the next day they set out.After a long journey they reached Listenise, and were well received atthe king's castle. Balin was led to a chamber where they unarmed him,gave him rich robes, and would have taken his sword from him, but hewould not consent, for he said it was the custom in his country for aknight always to keep his sword at his side. So he was allowed to keephis sword; and then he went down into the great hall with his damsel,and was set at the high table. Soon Balin asked a knight if there wasnot a lord in that court named Garlon. The other said yes, and pointedout Garlon where he sat. Balin gazed earnestly at him, pondering what heshould do; for to set on him before all those knights would, he thought,be perilous. But Garlon, when he saw how Balin looked at him, went up tohim and smote him on the face with the back of his hand, saying,--
"Knight, why dost thou behold me in such fashion? For shame eat thymeat, and do that for which thou earnest hither."
"Thou sayest well," answered Balin. "This is not the first despite thouhast done me, and therefore I will do that for which I came."
Then he rose up and smote Garlon with his sword so fiercely as to cleavehis head to the shoulders. Then he called the knight who had brought himto Listenise, and said he might now get blood enough to heal his son.
But all the knights rose up from the table to smite Balin, and KingPellam cried, "Knight, why hast thou slain my brother? For this deedshalt thou die."
"Well," said Balin, "do thou thyself slay me."
"Yes," the king cried fiercely, "none other but myself shall have to dowith thee, for my brother's sake."
So all the other knights stood back, and King Pellam came right fiercelyat Balin with an iron mace. Balin warded the blow with his sword, butthe heavy mace shivered the sword to pieces in his hand. Then he turnedabout, and ran about the chamber seeking a weapon, but could find none.So he fled into another chamber, still looking for a weapon, and KingPellam followed after; and at last Balin came to a great chamber thatwas splendidly garnished, and in it stood a bed arrayed with cloth ofgold of the richest sort. By the bed was a table of pure gold standingon four silver pillars, and on the table stood a marvellous spear,strangely wrought. Balin seized it without regarding aught but the perilhe was in. Then he turned on King Pellam, who was following hard afterhim, and smote him with the spear. Immediately the king sank down in aswoon as though he had been dead, and the castle walls were rivenand fell in ruins. Few of all the great company that were within themescaped; for the spear with which Balin had wounded King Pellam was thesame
with which our Lord was wounded on the cross, and now Balin hadstruck the dolorous stroke of which Merlin had forewarned him. For threedays Balin lay insensible within the ruins; and then Merlin came to himand restored him, and got him a good horse, and bade him ride out ofthat country. Balin would have taken his damsel with him, but she hadperished in the falling of the castle. For twelve years King Pellamsuffered grievously from the wound Balin had given him, and could neverbe healed till the good prince Galahad healed him in the quest of theHoly Grail; and through this same stroke all King Pellams countries weresuddenly reduced to great misery.
As for Balin, he rode on his way with a heavy heart, and had some otheradventures, the which need not be recounted here; for as it had beenaforetime, ever since he took the sword from the damsel in King Arthur'scourt, he brought nothing but woe to all that had to do with him, albeithe was ever pure in his life and did all knightly. At last he came toa castle where there were many knights and ladies, and they greeted himright nobly. But after he had been thus entertained, the chief lady ofthe castle told him that he must joust with a knight who kept an islandclose by, for it was a custom of the castle that no man might passexcept he jousted.
"It is an unhappy custom," said Balin, "that I must joust whether I bewilling or not. However, since so it is, I am ready. Though my horse beweary with travel, my heart is not weary; but I should grieve little ifI were going to my death," For he saw that the curse of the sword he hadtaken abode ever with him.
"Sir," said one of the knights of the castle, "methinks your shield isnot good. I will lend you a better." And he gave Balin a shield with astrange device, and Balin left behind him his own shield, which borehis arms. Then he rode to meet the knight with whom he was to joust, whocame forth armed all in red. This was none other than his brother Balan,but he knew not Balin because of the strange device on his shield. Sothe two knights ran together with such might that both were overthrown.After that they drew their swords and fought for a long time with suchmight and hardihood as had never before been seen, and each gave theother mortal wounds. At last Balan withdrew a little and lay down on theground, that was all wet with the blood of both.
"What knight art thou?" said Balin. "Never before now found I any knightthat matched me as thou hast done."
The other answered him, "I am Balan, brother to the good knight Balin leSavage."
"Alas!" said Balin, "that ever I should see this day." And he fell backin a swoon.
Then Balan crept to him and unloosed his helmet, and found that it washis brother. When Balin came to himself again, both lamented sorely, andBalin told how a knight of the castle had changed shields with him, sothat Balan should not know him. Within a little while both of them died,and the chief lady of the castle caused both to be buried in one tomb.On the morrow Merlin came, and wrote on the tomb an inscription inletters of gold, telling how Balin le Savage, that had achieved thesword and struck the dolorous stroke, lay there with his brother, thetwo having met in mortal combat without knowing each other. Merlin alsowrought many marvellous enchantments at the tomb, and predicted thatBalin's sword should come into the hands of the best knight of theworld.
Thus piteously died Balin le Savage, who was as good a knight as anythat lived in his days, and a man of great nobleness, but who everbrought sorrow to others and to himself after he had kept the swordwhich he achieved before King Arthur.