Chapter Chapter 31 · How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight’s head that

. How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight’s head that

had won the sword, or the maiden’s head.

The meanwhile, that this knight was making him ready to depart, there

came into the court a lady that hight the Lady of the Lake. And she

came on horseback, richly beseen, and saluted King Arthur, and there

asked him a gift that he promised her when she gave him the sword. That

is sooth, said Arthur, a gift I promised you, but I have forgotten the

name of my sword that ye gave me. The name of it, said the lady, is

Excalibur, that is as much to say as Cut-steel. Ye say well, said the

king; ask what ye will and ye shall have it, an it lie in my power to

give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight that hath

won the sword, or else the damosel’s head that brought it; I take no

force though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a good

knight and a true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father’s

death. Truly, said King Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads

with my worship, therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil

your desire. I will ask none other thing, said the lady. When Balin was

ready to depart, he saw the Lady of the Lake, that by her means had

slain Balin’s mother, and he had sought her three years; and when it

was told him that she asked his head of King Arthur, he went to her

straight and said, Evil be you found; ye would have my head, and

therefore ye shall lose yours, and with his sword lightly he smote off

her head before King Arthur. Alas, for shame! said Arthur, why have ye

done so? ye have shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I

was beholden to, and hither she came under my safe-conduct; I shall

never forgive you that trespass. Sir, said Balin, me forthinketh of

your displeasure, for this same lady was the untruest lady living, and

by enchantment and sorcery she hath been the destroyer of many good

knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt, through her

falsehood and treachery. What cause soever ye had, said Arthur, ye

should have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the

contrary, ye shall repent it, for such another despite had I never in

my court; therefore withdraw you out of my court in all haste ye may.

Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to his

hostelry, and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had

displeased King Arthur and so they rode forth out of the town. Now,

said Balin, we must depart, take thou this head and bear it to my

friends, and tell them how I have sped, and tell my friends in

Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them how I am out of

prison, and what adventure befell me at the getting of this sword.

Alas! said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease King

Arthur. As for that, said Balin, I will hie me, in all the haste that I

may, to meet with King Rience and destroy him, either else to die

therefore; and if it may hap me to win him, then will King Arthur be my

good and gracious lord. Where shall I meet with you? said the squire.

In King Arthur’s court, said Balin. So his squire and he departed at

that time. Then King Arthur and all the court made great dole and had

shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the king buried her

richly.