At that instant the castle gate was raised and there appeared many knights and ladies welcoming Balin into the castle.  So he entered, and presently they were all seated at supper.  Then the lady of the castle said to Balin:  “Sir Knight, to-morrow thou must have ado with a knight that keeps an island near-by; else mayest thou not pass that way.”  “That is an evil custom,” answered Balin; “but if I must, I must.”  So that night he rested, but with the dawn he arose, and was arming himself for battle when there came to him a knight and said:  “Sir, your shield is not good; I pray you, take mine which is larger and stouter.”  In an evil hour, Balin suffered himself to be persuaded, and taking the stranger’s shield, left; behind his own on which his arms were blazoned.  Then, entering a boat, he was conveyed to the island where the unknown knight held the ford.

No sooner was he landed, than there came riding to him a knight armed all in red armour, his horse, too, trapped all in red; and without word spoken, they charged upon each other, and each bore the other from the saddle.  Thus for a while they lay, stunned by the fall.  The Red Knight was the first to rise, for Balin, all wearied by his travels and many encounters, was sore shaken by the fall.  Then they fought together right fiercely, hacking away great pieces of armour, and dealing each other dreadful wounds.  But when they paused to take breath, Balin, looking up, saw the battlements of the castle filled with knights and ladies watching the struggle, and immediately, shamed that the conflict should have so long endured, he rushed again upon the Red Knight, aiming at him blows that might have felled a giant.  So they fought together a long while; but at the last, the Red Knight drew back a little.  Then cried Balin:  “Who art thou? for till now, never have I met my match.”  Then said the Red Knight:  “I am Balan, brother to the noble knight, Sir Balin”; and with the word, he fell to the ground as one dead.  “Alas!” cried Balin, “that I should have lived to see this day!” Then, as well as he might, for his strength was almost spent, he crept on hands and knees to his brother’s side and opened the vizor of his helmet, and when he saw his brother’s face all ghastly, as it was, he cried:  “O Balan, I have slain thee, as thou hast also slain me!  Oh! woeful deed I never to be forgotten of men!” Then Balan, being somewhat recovered, told Balin how he had been compelled by those at the castle to keep the ford against all comers, and might never depart; and Balin told of the grievous chance by which he had taken another’s shield.

So these two died, slain by each other’s hands.  In one tomb they were buried; and Merlin, passing that way, inscribed thereon the full story of their deaths.

BOOK II

SIR LAUNCELOT

CHAPTER VIII

SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC