g to set him free, which Arthur did willingly.
When Balin, standing apart beheld the Knights one by one try the
sword, and fail to draw it, his heart beat fast, yet he shrank from
taking his turn, for he was meanly dressed, and could not compare with
the other Barons. But after the damsel had bid farewell to Arthur and
his Court, and was setting out on her journey homewards, he called to
her and said, 'Damsel, I pray you to suffer me to try your sword, as
well as these lords, for though I am so poorly clothed, my heart is as
high as theirs.' The damsel stopped and looked at him, and answered,
'Sir, it is not needful to put you to such trouble, for where so many
have failed it is hardly likely that you will succeed.' 'Ah! fair
damsel,' said Balin, 'it is not fine clothes that make good deeds.'
'You speak truly,' replied the damsel, 'therefore do what you can.'
Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath, and pulled it out
easily, and when he looked at the sword he was greatly pleased with
it. The King and the Knights were dumb with surprise that it was Balin
who had triumphed over them, and many of them envied him and felt
anger towards him. 'In truth,' said the damsel, 'this is the best
Knight that I ever found, but, Sir, I pray you give me the sword
again.'

'No,' answered Balin, 'I will keep it till it is taken from me by
force.' 'It is for your sake, not mine, that I ask for it,' said the
damsel, 'for with that sword you shall slay the man you love best, and
it shall bring about your own ruin.' 'I will take what befalls me,'
replied Balin, 'but the sword I will not give up, by the faith of my
body.' So the damsel departed in great sorrow. The next day Sir Balin
left the Court, and, armed with his sword, set forth in search of
adventures, which he found in many places where he had not thought to
meet with them. In all the fights that he fought, Sir Balin was the
victor, and Arthur, and Merlin his friend, knew that there was no
Knight living of greater deeds, or more worthy of worship. And he was
known to all as Sir Balin le Savage, the Knight of the two swords.

One day he was riding forth when at the turning of a road he saw a
cross, and on it was written in letters of gold, 'Let no Knight ride
towards this castle.' Sir Balin was still reading the writing when
there came towards him an old man with white hair, who said, 'Sir
Balin le Savage, this is not the way for you, so turn again and choose
some other pa