s done, the knight Garlon. But ever the damosel
bare the truncheon of the spear with her that Sir Herlews was slain
withal.

CHAPTER XIII. How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in
likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of a castle.

So Balin and the damosel rode into a forest, and there met with a knight
that had been a-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, an 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 hostelry 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 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 damosel rode till they came to a castle, and there Balin
alighted, and he and the damosel went to go into the castle, and anon
as Balin came within the castle's gate the portcullis fell down at his
back, and there fell many men about the damosel, and would have slain
her. When Balin saw that, he was sore aggrieved, for he might not help
the damosel. Then he went up into the tower, and leapt over 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 clean
maid and a king's daughter; and therefore the custom of this castle is,
there shall no damosel pass this way but 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 whiles my life lastet