o give."

Thereupon she demanded Balin's head, and would take none other thing.

"Truly," said King Arthur, "I may not grant this with my honour," and
Balin was allowed to make ready for the adventure with King Ryons.

But ere he had left the court he saw the Lady of the Lake. He went
straight to her, and with his sword lightly smote off her head before
King Arthur, for he knew her as the untruest lady living, one that by
enchantment and sorcery had been the destroyer of many good knights.

"Alas! for shame," said Arthur. "Why have ye done so? Ye have shamed
me and all my court, for this was a lady that I was beholden to, and
hither she came under my safe conduct. I shall never forgive you that
trespass. What cause soever ye had, ye should have spared her in my
presence; therefore withdraw you out of my court in all haste that ye
may."

So Balin,--called Balin the Wild for his savage and reckless
nature,--departed with his squire, and King Arthur and all the court
made great mourning, and had shame at the death of the Lady of the
Lake. Then the King buried her richly.

In sorrow over the evil he had wrought and the disfavour of his king,
Balin turned his horse towards a great forest, and there by the armour
he was ware of his brother Balan. And when they were met, they put off
their helms and kissed together, and wept for joy.

Anon the knight Balin told his brother of the death of the Lady of the
Lake, and said: "Truly I am right heavy of heart that my lord Arthur is
displeased with me, for he is the most honourable knight that reigneth
on earth, and his love I will get or else I will put my life in
adventure with King Ryons, that lieth now at the castle Terrabil.
Thither will we ride together in all haste, to prove our honour and
prowess upon him."

"I will gladly do that," said Balan; "we will help each other as
brothers ought to do."

So they took their way to find King Ryons, and as they rode along
together they encountered him in a straight way with threescore
knights. Anon Balin and Balan smote him down from his horse, and slew
on the right hand and the left hand more than forty of his men. The
remnant fled, and King Ryons yielded him unto their grace as prisoner.
So they laid him on a horse-litter, for he was fiercely wounded, and
brought him to Camelot. There they delivered him to the porters and
charged them with him; and then they two returned to further adventure.

And Balin rode toward