Bab Bab 34 · How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for

. How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for

love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan.

Then he looked by him, and was ware of a damosel that came riding full

fast as the horse might ride, on a fair palfrey. And when she espied

that Lanceor was slain, she made sorrow out of measure, and said, O

Balin, two bodies thou hast slain and one heart, and two hearts in one

body, and two souls thou hast lost. And therewith she took the sword

from her love that lay dead, and fell to the ground in a swoon. And

when she arose she made great dole out of measure, the which sorrow

grieved Balin passingly sore, and he went unto her for to have taken

the sword out of her hand, but she held it so fast he might not take it

out of her hand unless he should have hurt her, and suddenly she set

the pommel to the ground, and rove herself through the body. When Balin

espied her deeds, he was passing heavy in his heart, and ashamed that

so fair a damosel had destroyed herself for the love of his death.

Alas, said Balin, me repenteth sore the death of this knight, for the

love of this damosel, for there was much true love betwixt them both,

and for sorrow might not longer behold him, but turned his horse and

looked toward a great forest, and there he was ware, by the arms, of

his brother Balan. And when they were met they put off their helms and

kissed together, and wept for joy and pity. Then Balan said, I little

weened to have met with you at this sudden adventure; I am right glad

of your deliverance out of your dolorous prisonment, for a man told me,

in the castle of Four Stones, that ye were delivered, and that man had

seen you in the court of King Arthur, and therefore I came hither into

this country, for here I supposed to find you. Anon the knight Balin

told his brother of his adventure of the sword, and of the death of the

Lady of the Lake, and how King Arthur was displeased with him.

Wherefore he sent this knight after me, that lieth here dead, and the

death of this damosel grieveth me sore. So doth it me, said Balan, but

ye must take the adventure that God will ordain you. Truly, said Balin,

I am right heavy that my Lord Arthur is displeased with me, for he is

the most worshipful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love

will I get or else will I put my life in adventure. For the King Rience

lieth at a siege at the Castle Terrabil, and thither will we draw in

all haste, to prove our worship and prowess upon him. I will well, said

Balan, that we do, and we will help each other as brethren ought to do.