The Junior Classics, vol 4 | Page 8

took her leave of King Arthur and the barons, this knight, Balin, called
unto her, and said, "Damsel, I pray you of your courtesy, to suffer me
as well to assay as these lords; though I be poorly clothed, in mine
heart meseemeth I am fully assured as some of these other lords, and
meseemeth in my heart to speed right well." The damsel beheld the
poor knight, and saw he was a likely man; but, because of his poor
array, she thought he should be of no worship without villany or
treachery. And then she said to the knight Balin, "Sir, it is no need to
put me to any more pain or labour; for beseemeth not you to speed
there as others have failed." "Ah, fair damsel," said Balin, "worthiness
and good graces and good deeds are not all only in raiment, but
manhood and worship is hid within man's person; and many a
worshipful knight is not known unto all people; and therefore worship
and hardiness is not in raiment and clothing."--"By God!" said the

damsel, "ye say truth; therefore ye shall assay to do what ye may."
Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and scabbard, and drew it out
easily; and when he looked upon the sword, it pleased him well. * * *
Anon after Balin sent for his horse and his armour, and so would depart
from the court, and took his leave of King Arthur.
The meanwhile that this knight was making him ready to depart, there
came into the court a lady, which 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 had promised her when she gave him the
sword.
"That is sooth," said King Arthur, "a gift I promised you; but I have
forgotten the name of the sword which ye gave me." "The name of it,"
said the lady, "is Excalibur; that is as much to say _cut-steel_."-- "Ye
say well," said King Arthur. "Ask what ye will, and ye shall have it, if
it lie in my power to give it." "Well," said the Lady of the Lake, "I ask
the head of the knight that hath won the sword, or else the damsel's
head that brought it. And though I have both their heads I care not; for
he slew my brother, a full good knight and true, and the gentlewoman
was causer of my father's death."--"Truly," said King Arthur, "I may
not grant you either of their heads with my worship; therefore ask what
ye will else, and I shall fulfil your desire." "I will ask none other thing
of you," said the lady. When Balin was ready to depart, he saw the
Lady of the Lake there, by whose means was slain his own mother, and
he had sought her three years. And when it was told him that she
demanded his head of King Arthur, he went straight to her, and said,
"Evil be ye found. Ye would have my head, and therefore ye shall lose
yours!" And with his sword lightly he smote off her head, in the
presence of King Arthur. "Alas! for shame," said the king. "Why have
you done so? You have shamed me and all my court. For this was a
lady that I was much beholden unto; and hither she came under my safe
conduct. I shall never forgive you that trespass." "My lord," said Balin,
"me forethinketh much of your displeasure; for this lady was the
untruest lady living; and by her enchantment and witchcraft she hath
been the destroyer of many good knights, and she was the causer that
my mother was burnt, through her falsehood and treachery." Then King
Arthur and all his court made great dole, and had great shame of the
death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the king full richly buried her.

* * * "My time hieth fast," said King Arthur unto Sir Bedivere;
"therefore take thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it unto
yonder water-side; and when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw
my sword into that water, and come again and tell me what thou shalt
see there." "My lord," said Sir Bedivere, "your command shall be done,
and lightly bring you word again." And so Sir Bedivere departed, and
by the way he beheld that noble sword, where the pommel and the haft
were all of precious stones. And then he said to himself, "If I throw this
rich sword into the water, thereof shall never come good, but harm and
loss." And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree; and as soon as
he might, he came again unto King Arthur, and said he had