as an example to all the barons, so that every one of them will try after I have tried.” Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and girdle and pulled at it strongly, but the sword would not come out.
“Sir,” said the damsel, “you don’t need to pull so hard, for he that is able to pull out the sword will be able to do it quite easily.”
“You are right,” said Arthur. “Now, all my barons, you try!”
“But beware if you are tainted with shame, treachery or guile, for then it will be no use,” said the damsel. “For he must be a pure knight without any villainy and of noble birth on both his father’s and mother’s side.”
The greater part of the barons of the Round Table who there at that time tried one after another, but none had any success. Because of this the damsel made great sorrow out of measure and said, “Alas! I thought that in this country I would find the best knights of the world without treachery or treason.”
“By my faith,” said Arthur, “I believe the knights here are as good as any in the world, but it is not their fortune to be able to help you, for which I am sorry.”
CII.2
It happened that at that time there was a poor knight at King Arthur’s court who had been a prisoner for half a year because he had killed a knight who was King Arthur’s cousin. The name of this knight was Balin, and through the influence of the barons he was brought out of prison; he had a reputation as a strong knight, and he had been born in Northumberland.
So he went secretly to the court and saw the marvel of the sword, which lifted his spirits; he would have liked to have tried as the other knights did, but as he was poor and poorly outfitted, he did not put himself forward. But in his heart he believed that he could do as well as any knight there if luck was with him. As the damsel took her leave of Arthur and all the barons, Balin called out to her as she was departing and said, “Damsel, I pray you of your courtesy to allow me to try as these other lords have, although I am poorly outfitted. In my heart I believe that I am as likely as any of these others to succeed.”
This damsel looked at the poor knight and saw that he was a handsome man, but his shabby clothes made her think that any honor he had achieved was done through villainy and treachery.
Then she said to that knight, “Sir, you don’t need to bother, because I doubt that you would succeed where all these knights have failed.”
“Ah, fair damsel,” said Balin, “worthiness and good character and good deeds are not to be found in one’s outward appearance; manhood and worship are found within a man’s person. Many a noble knight is unknown to the people, as honor and fortitude are not to be found in clothing.”
“By God,” said the damsel, “what you say is true. Therefore you may try if you would like.” Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath and drew it out easily, and when he looked at the sword he was very pleased with it. Then the king and all the court marveled that Balin had achieved that adventure, and many knights were upset with him.
“For certain,” said the damsel, “this is a very good knight—the best I ever found—and the one who is of greatest worship without treason or felony; he shall perform many marvels. Now, gentle and courteous knight, give the sword back to me.”
“Nay,” said Balin, “I will keep this sword unless someone takes it from me by force.”
“Well,” said the damsel, “you are not wise to do so, for with that sword you will slay your best friend and the man whom you love most in this world, and that sword will cause your destruction.”
“I will take the adventure,” said Balin, “that God will ordain for me. You shall not have the sword at this time, by the faith of my body.”
“You will repent of this shortly,” said the damsel, “for I ask for the sword back more for your benefit than for mine. I am very sad for your sake, because if you will not give up that sword it will cause your destruction, and that is a great pity.”
With that, the damsel departed making great sorrow. And at once Balin called for his horse and armor—as he wished to depart from the court—and he took his leave of King Arthur.
“Nay,” said King Arthur, “do not think you will depart so easily from this fellowship. I suppose that you are unhappy that I have treated you unkindly, but don’t blame me, as it seems I was misinformed about you. I did not know that you were such a noble knight of worship and prowess, as you obviously are. If you would stay in this court among my fellowship, I will raise your status as it may please you.”
“God thank you, your highness,” said Balin. “No man is able to praise even half the value of your generosity, but at this time I must depart, although I ask your good grace to do so.”
“Truly,” said the king, “I am quite upset at your departing. But I pray you, fair knight, not to stay away too long; you will be very welcome by me and my barons, and I will make amends for all that was wrongly done to you.”
“God thank your good grace,” said Balin, and made himself ready to depart. Then most of the knights said that Balin had succeeded in this adventure not through might but through witchcraft.
As Balin was making himself ready to depart, the Lady of the Lake came to court. She arrived on horseback richly outfitted, greeted King Arthur, and asked him to grant her the gift he had promised her when she gave him the sword.
CII.3
“That is true,” said Arthur, “that I promised you a gift; but I have forgotten the name of the sword you gave me.”
“The name of it,” said the lady, “is Excalibur, which means ‘cut steel.’”
“You say well,” said the king. “Ask what you would like and you shall have it if it lies in my power to give it to you.”
“Well,” said the lady, “then I ask for the head of this knight who has won the sword, or else the head of the damsel who brought the sword to court. It would be fine with me to have both their heads, for he killed my brother, who was a good and true knight, and that gentlewoman caused my father’s death.”
“Truly,” said King Arthur, “I cannot grant you either of their heads and keep my honor. Ask for something else, and I will grant you your desire.”
“I will ask for nothing else,” said the lady.
As Balin was getting ready to depart, he saw the Lady of the Lake, who had been the cause of his mother’s death; he had been seeking her for three years. And when he was told that she had asked King Arthur for his head, went straight up to her and said, “Evil be you found! You would have had my head, so you shall lose yours!” And with his sword he quickly struck off her head right in front of King Arthur.
“Alas, for shame!” said the king. “Why did you do that? You have shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady to whom I owed a great deal, and she came here under my safe-conduct. I will never forgive you for this crime!”
“Sir,” said Balin, “I am sorry about your displeasure, but this lady was the falsest lady alive; through enchantment and sorcery she has destroyed many good knights, and she caused my mother to be burned through her falsehood and treachery.”
“Whatever reason you had,” said Arthur, “you should have restrained yourself in my presence—don’t dare to think the contrary! You will be sorry for this, for I have never had such a foul act committed in my court. Therefore leave my court as quickly as you are able.”
Then Balin took up the head of the lady and carried it with him to his lodgings. There he met up with his squire, who was sorry that he had displeased King Arthur, and they rode out of town.
“Now,” said Balin, “we must depart. Take this head and bring it to my friends and tell them what I have done, and tell the people of Northumberland that my greatest foe is dead. Also, tell them how I got out of prison, and the adventure that I had in achieving the sword.”
“Alas!”