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CHAPTER VI
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.
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