Le Morte Darthur
how there was slain Herlews le Berbeus, and by whom the treachery was
done,—the knight Garlon. But ever the damsel bare the truncheon of the
spear with her that Sir Herlews was slain withal.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Balin and the damsel met with a knight which was in likewise
slain, and how the damsel bled for the custom of a castle._
So Balin and the damsel rode into a forest, and there met with a knight
that had been on hunting, and that knight asked Balin for what cause he
made so great sorrow. Me list not to tell you, said Balin. Now, said
the knight, and I were armed as ye be I would fight with you. That
should little need, said Balin; I am not afeard to tell you; and told
him all the cause, how it was. Ah, said the knight, is this all: here I
ensure you by the faith of my body never to depart from you while my
life lasteth. And so they went to the hostry and armed them, and so
rode forth with Balin. And as they came by an hermitage even by a
churchyard, there came the knight Garlon invisible, and smote this
knight, Perin de Mountbeliard, through the body with a spear. Alas,
said the knight, I am slain by this traitor knight that rideth
invisible. Alas, said Balin, it is not the first despite that he hath
done me. And there the hermit and Balin buried the knight under a rich
stone, and a tomb royal. And on the morn they found letters of gold
written, how Sir Gawaine shall revenge his father’s death, king Lot, on
the king Pellinore. Anon after this Balin and the damsel rode till they
came to a castle, and there Balin alighted, and he and the damsel wend
to go into the castle. And anon as Balin came within the castle gate
the portcullis fell down at his back, and there fell many men about the
damsel, and would have slain her. When Balin saw that, he was sore
grieved, for he might not help the damsel. And then he went up into the
tower, and lept over the walls into the ditch, and hurt him not; and
anon he pulled out his sword, and would have foughten with them. And
they all said nay, they would not fight with him, for they did nothing
but the old custom of the castle, and told him how their lady was sick,
and had lain many years, and she might not be whole, but if she had a
dish of silver full of blood of a maid and a king’s daughter; and
therefore the custom of this castle is that there shall no damsel pass
this way, but that she shall bleed of her blood in a silver dish full.
Well, said Balin, she shall bleed as much as she may bleed, but I will
not lose the life of her while my life lasteth. And so Balin made her
to bleed by her good-will, but her blood helped not the lady. And so he
and she rested there all night, and had there right good cheer, and on
the morn they passed on their ways. And as it telleth after in the
Sangreal, that Sir Percivale’s sister helped that lady with her blood,
whereof she died.
CHAP. XIV.
_How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast, and there he
slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son of his host._
Then they rode three or four days and never met with adventure, and by
hap they were lodged with a gentleman that was a rich man and well at
ease. And as they sat at their supper, Balin heard one complain
grievously by him in a chair. What is this noise? said Balin. Forsooth,
said his host, I will tell you. I was but late at a justing, and there
I justed with a knight that is brother unto king Pellam, and twice
smote I him down; and then he promised to quit me on my best friend,
and so he wounded my son, that cannot be whole till I have of that
knight’s blood, and he rideth alway invisible, but I know not his name.
Ah, said Balin, I know that knight, his name is Garlon, he hath slain
two knights of mine in the same manner, therefore I had rather meet
with that knight than all the gold in this realm, for the despite he
hath done me. Well, said his host, I shall tell you, king Pellam of
Listeneise hath made cry in all this country a great feast that shall
be within these twenty days, and no knight may come there but if he
bring his wife with him, or his love; and that knight, your enemy and
mine, ye shall see that day. Then I promise you, said Balin, part of
his blood to heal your son withal. We will be forward to-morrow, said
his host. So on the morn they rode all three toward Pellam, and they
had fifteen days’ journey or they came thither; and that same day began
the great feast. And so they alight and stabled their horses, and went
into the castle; but Balin’s host might not be let in because he had no
lady. Then Balin was well received, and brought unto a chamber and
unarmed him, and they brought him robes to his pleasure, and would have
had Balin leave his sword behind him. Nay, said Balin, that do I not,
for it is the custom of my country a knight alway to keep his weapon
with him, and that custom will I keep, or else I will depart as I came.
Then they gave him leave to wear his sword, and so he went unto the
castle, and was set among knights of worship, and his lady afore him.
Soon Balin asked a knight, Is there not a knight in this court whose
name is Garlon? Yonder he goeth, said a knight, he with the black face;
he is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many
good knights, for he goeth invisible. Ah, well, said Balin, is that he?
Then Balin advised him long:—If I slay him here I shall not escape,
and if I leave him now peradventure I shall never meet with him again
at such a good time, and much harm he will do and he live. Therewith
this Garlon espied that this Balin beheld him, and then he came and
smote Balin on the face with the back of his hand, and said, Knight,
why beholdest thou me so? for shame, therefore, eat thy meat, and do
that thou came for. Thou sayest sooth, said Balin, this is not the
first despite that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do that I
came for; and rose up fiercely, and clave his head to the shoulders.
Give me the truncheon, said Balin to his lady, wherewith he slew your
knight. Anon she gave it him, for alway she bare the truncheon with
her; and therewith Balin smote him through the body, and said openly,
With that truncheon thou hast slain a good knight, and now it sticketh
in thy body. And then Balin called to him his host, saying, Now may ye
fetch blood enough to heal your son withal.
CHAP. XV.
_How Balin fought with king Pellam, and how his sword brake, and how he
gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke._
Anon all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balin. And king
Pellam himself arose up fiercely, and said, Knight, hast thou slain my
brother? thou shalt die therefore or thou depart. Well, said Balin, do
it yourself. Yes, said king Pellam, there shall no man have ado with
thee but myself, for the love of my brother. Then king Pellam caught in
his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly at Balin, but Balin put the
sword betwixt his head and the stroke, and therewith his sword burst in
sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran into a chamber for to seek
some weapon, and so from chamber to chamber, and no weapon he could
find, and alway king Pellam after him. And at the last he entered into
a chamber that was marvellously well dight and richly, and a bed
arrayed with cloth of gold, the richest that might be thought, and one
lying therein, and thereby stood a table of clean gold, with four
pillars of silver that bare up the table, and upon the table stood a
marvellous spear, strangely wrought. And when Balin saw that spear he
gat it in his hand, and turned him to king Pellam, and smote him
passingly sore with that spear, that king Pellam fell down in a swoon,
and therewith the castle roof and walls brake and fell to the earth,
and Balin fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And so the
most part of the castle that was fallen down through that dolorous
stroke lay upon Pellam and Balin three days.
CHAP. XVI.
_How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that would have
slain himself for love._
Then Merlin came thither and took up Balin, and gat him a good horse,
for his was dead, and bade him ride out of that country. I would have
my damsel, said Balin. Lo, said Merlin, where she lieth dead. And king
Pellam lay so many years sore wounded, and might never be whole, till
Galahad, the haut prince, healed him in the quest of the Sangreal; for
in that place was part of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
Joseph of Arimathea brought into this land, and there himself lay in
that rich bed. And that was the same spear that Longius smote our Lord
to the heart; and king Pellam was nigh of Joseph’s kin, and that was
the most worshipful man that lived in those days, and great pity it was
of his hurt, for that stroke turned to great dole, trouble, and grief.
Then departed Balin from Merlin, and said, In this world we meet never
no more. So he rode forth through the fair countries and cities, and
found the people dead, slain on every side. And all that were alive
cried, O Balin, thou hast caused great damage in these countries; for
the dolorous stroke thou gavest unto king Pellam three countries are
destroyed, and doubt not but the vengeance will fall on thee at the
last. When Balin was past those countries he was passing glad. So he
rode eight days or he met with adventure. And at the last he came into
a fair forest in a valley, and was ware of a tower, and there beside he
saw a great horse of war tied to a tree, and there beside sat a fair
knight on the ground and made great mourning; and he was a likely man
and a well made. Balin said, God save you, why be ye so heavy? tell me,
and I will amend it and I may to my power. Sir knight, said he again,
thou doest me great grief, for I was in merry thoughts, and now thou
puttest me to more pain. Balin went a little from him, and looked on
his horse; then heard Balin him say thus: Ah, fair lady, why have ye
broken my promise, for thou promisedst me to meet me here by noon, and
I may curse thee that ever ye gave me this sword, for with this sword I
slay myself,—and pulled it out; and therewith Balin start unto him,
and took him by the hand. Let go my hand, said the knight, or else I
shall slay thee. That shall not need, said Balin, for I shall promise
you my help to get you your lady, and ye will tell me where she is.
What is your name? said the knight. My name is Balin le Savage. Ah,
sir, I know you well enough; ye are the knight with the two swords, and
the man of most prowess of your hands living. What is your name? said
Balin. My name is Garnish of the Mount, a poor man’s son, but by my
prowess and hardiness a duke hath made me knight, and gave me lands;
his name is duke Hermel, and his daughter is she that I love, and she
me as I deemed. How far is she hence? said Balin. But six mile, said
the knight. Now ride we hence, said these two knights. So they rode
more than a pace till they came to a fair castle, well walled and
ditched. I will into the castle, said Balin, and look if she be there.
So he went in, and searched from chamber to chamber, and found her bed,
but she was not there; then Balin looked into a fair little garden, and
under a laurel tree he saw her lie upon a quilt of green samite, and a
knight with her, and under their heads grass and herbs. When Balin saw
her with the foulest knight that ever he saw, and she a fair lady, then
Balin went through all the chambers again, and told the knight how he
found her, as she had slept fast, and so brought him in the place where
she lay fast sleeping.
CHAP. XVII.
_How that knight slew his love and a knight with her, and after how he