e had another shield I deemed ye had been another knight. Alas, said
Balin, all that made an unhappy knight in the castle, for he caused me
to leave my own shield to our both's destruction, and if I might live
I would destroy that castle for ill customs. That were well done, said
Balan, for I had never grace to depart from them since that I came
hither, for here it happed me to slay a knight that kept this island,
and since might I never depart, and no more should ye, brother, an ye
might have slain me as ye have, and escaped yourself with the life.

Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six ladies
and six yeomen unto them, and there she heard how they made their moan
either to other, and said, We came both out of one tomb, that is to say
one mother's belly, and so shall we lie both in one pit. So Balan prayed
the lady of her gentleness, for his true service, that she would bury
them both in that same place there the battle was done. And she granted
them, with weeping, it should be done richly in the best manner. Now,
will ye send for a priest, that we may receive our sacrament, and
receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ? Yea, said the lady,
it shall be done; and so she sent for a priest and gave them their
rights. Now, said Balin, when we are buried in one tomb, and the mention
made over us how two brethren slew each other, there will never good
knight, nor good man, see our tomb but they will pray for our souls. And
so all the ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity. Then anon Balan died,
but Balin died not till the midnight after, and so were they buried
both, and the lady let make a mention of Balan how he was there slain by
his brother's hands, but she knew not Balin's name.

CHAPTER XIX. How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of Balin's
sword.

IN the morn came Merlin and let write Balin's name on the tomb with
letters of gold, that Here lieth Balin le Savage that was the Knight
with the Two Swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke. Also Merlin
let make there a bed, that there should never man lie therein but he
went out of his wit, yet Launcelot de Lake fordid that bed through his
noblesse. And anon after Balin was dead, Merlin took his sword, and took
off the pommel and set on another pommel. So Merlin bade a knight that
stood afore him handle that sword, and he assayed, and he might not
handle it. Then Merlin laughed. Why laugh ye? said the knight. This is
the caus