The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights Page 7

  "What message do you bring?" asked Arthur.

  Then the damsel opened her richly furred cloak and it was seen that from her belt there hung a noble sword.

  The king said, "It is not seemly for a maiden to go armed. Why do you wear a sword?"

  "I wear it because I have no choice," the damsel said. "And I must wear it until it is taken from me by a knight who is brave and honorable, of good repute and without stain. Only such a knight may draw this sword from its scabbard. I have been to the camp of Lord Royns where I was told were good knights, but neither he nor any of his followers could draw the blade."

  Arthur said, "Here are good men, and I myself will try to draw it, not that I am the best, but because if I try first my barons and knights will feel free to follow me."

  Then Arthur grasped sheath and girdle and pulled eagerly at the sword, but it did not move.

  "Sir," said the damsel, "you need not use strength. It will come out easily in the hands of the knight for whom it is destined."

  Arthur turned to his men and said, "Now all of you try it one by one."

  The damsel said, "Be sure, you who try, that you have no shame or guile or treachery before you try. Only a clean and unstained knight may draw it and he must be of noble blood on both his mother's and his father's side."

  Then most of the gathered knights attempted to draw the sword and none succeeded. Then the maiden said sadly, "I believed that here I would find blameless men and the best knights in the world."

  Arthur was displeased and he said, "These are as good or better knights than you will find anywhere. I am unhappy that it is not their fortune to help you."

  A knight named Sir Balin of Northumberland had remained apart. It had been his misfortune in fair fight to kill a cousin of the king, and the quarrel being misrepresented, he had been a prisoner for half a year. Only recently had some of his friends explained the matter and had him released. He watched the trial anxiously, but because he had been in prison and because he was poor and his clothing worn and dirty, he did not come forward until all had tried and the damsel was ready to depart. Only then did Sir Balin call to her, saying, "Lady, I beg you out of your courtesy to let me try. I know I am poorly dressed, but I feel in my heart that I may succeed."

  The damsel looked at his ragged cloak and she could not believe him a man of honor and of noble blood. She said, "Sir, why do you wish to put me to more pain when all of these noble knights have failed?"

  Sir Balin said, "Fair lady, a man's worth is not in his clothing. Manhood and honor are hidden inside. And sometimes virtues are not known to everyone."

  "That is the truth," said the damsel, "and I thank you for reminding me. Here, grasp the sword and see what you can do."

  Then Balin went to her and drew the sword easily, and he looked at the shining blade and it pleased him very much. Then the king and many others applauded Sir Balin, but some of the knights were filled with jealous spite.

  The damsel said, "You must be the best and most blameless knight I have found or you could not have done it. Now, gentle and courteous knight, please give me the sword again."

  "No," said Balin. "I like this sword, and I will keep it until someone is able to take it from me by force."

  "Do not keep it," the damsel cried. "It is not wise to keep it. If you do, you will use it to kill the best friend and the man you love best in the world. That sword will destroy you."

  Balin said, "I will accept any adventure God sends me, Lady, but I will not return the sword to you."

  "Then in a short time you will be sorry for it," the lady said. "I do not want the sword for myself. If you take it, the sword will destroy you and I pity you."

  Then Sir Balin sent for his horse and armor and he begged the king's permission to depart.

  Arthur said, "Do not leave us now. I know you are angered by your unjust imprisonment, but false evidence was brought against you. If I had known your honor and your bravery, I would have acted differently. Now, if you will stay in my court and in this fellowship, I will advance you and make amends."

  "I thank Your Highness," said Balin. "Your bounty is well known. I have no resentment toward you, but I must go away and I beg that your grace may go with me."

  "I am not glad of your departure," said the king. "I ask you, good sir, not to be long away from us. We shall welcome your return and I will repay you for the injustice done against you."

  "God thank your good grace," replied the knight, and he made ready to depart. And there were some jealous men in the court who whispered that witchcraft rather than knightly virtue was responsible for his good fortune.

  While Balin armed himself and his horse, the Lady of the Lake rode into Arthur's court, and she was richly dressed and well mounted. She saluted the king and then reminded him of the gift he had promised her when she gave him the sword of the lake.

  "I remember my promise," said Arthur, "but I have forgotten the name of the sword, if you ever told it to me."

  "It is called Excalibur," the lady said, "and that means Cut Steel."

  "Thank you, lady," said the king. "And now, what gift do you ask? I will give you anything in my power."

  Then the lady said savagely, "I want two heads--that of the knight who drew the sword and the head of the damsel who brought it here. I will not be content until I have both heads. That knight killed my brother and the damsel caused my father's death. This is my demand."

  The king was taken aback at the ferocity. He said, "I cannot in honor kill these two for your vengeance. Ask for anything else and I will give it."

  "I ask for nothing else," said the lady.

  Now Balin was ready to depart and he saw the Lady of the Lake and knew her for the one who by secret craft had brought death to his mother three years before. And when he was told that she had demanded his head, he strode near to her and cried, "You are an evil thing. You want my head? I shall have yours." And he drew his sword and slashed her head from her body with one stroke.

  "What have you done?" Arthur cried. "You have brought shame to me and to my court. I was in this lady's debt, and moreover she was under my protection. I can never forgive this outrage."

  "My lord," said Balin, "I am sorry for your displeasure, but not for my deed. This was an evil witch. By enchantment and sorcery she killed many good knights, and by craft and falsehood she caused my mother to be burned to death."

  The king said, "No matter what your reason, you had no right to do this and in my presence. It was an ugly deed and an insult to me. Now leave my court. You are no longer welcome here."

  Then Balin took up the head of the Lady of the Lake by the hair and carried it to his lodging, where his squire awaited him, and they mounted their horses and rode out of the town.

  And Balin said, "I want you to take this head to my friends and relatives in Northumberland. Tell them my most dangerous enemy is dead. Tell them that I am free from prison and how I got this second sword."

  "I am sad that you have done this," said the squire. "You are greatly to blame for losing the friendship of the king. No one doubts your courage, but you are a headstrong knight and when you choose a way you cannot change your course even if it lead to your destruction. That is your fault and your destiny."

  Then Balin said, "I have thought of a way to win the king's affection. I will ride to the camp of his enemy Lord Royns and I will kill him or be killed. If it should happen that I win, King Arthur will be my friend again."

  The squire shook his head at such a desperate plan, but he said, "Sir, where shall I meet you?"

  "In King Arthur's court," said Balin confidently, and he sent his squire away.

  Meanwhile, the king and all his followers were sad and shamed at Balin's deed and they buried the Lady of the Lake richly and with all ceremony.

  In the court at that time there was a knight who was most jealous of Balin for his success in drawing the magic sword. He was Sir Launceor, son of the King of Ireland, a proud and ambitious man who believed himself to be o
ne of the best knights in the world. He asked the king's permission to ride after Sir Balin to avenge the insult to Arthur's dignity.

  The king said, "Go--and do your best. I am angry with Balin. Wipe out the outrage to my court."

  And when Sir Launceor had gone to his quarters, to make ready for the field, Merlin came before King Arthur, and he heard how the sword was drawn and how the Lady of the Lake was slaughtered.

  Then Merlin looked at the damsel of the sword who had remained in the court. And Merlin said, "Look at this damsel standing here. She is a false and evil woman and she cannot deny it. She has a brother, a brave knight and a good and true man. This damsel loved a knight and became his paramour. And her brother, to wipe away the shame, challenged her lover and killed him in fair fight. Then in her rage, this damsel took his sword to the lady Lyle of Avalon and asked help to be revenged on her own brother."

  And Merlin said, "The lady Lyle took the sword and cast a spell on it and laid a curse on it. Only the best and bravest of knights would be able to draw it from its sheath, and he who drew it would kill his brother with it." And Merlin turned again on the damsel. "This was your spiteful reason for coming here," he said. "Don't deny it. I know it as well as you do. I wish to God you had not come, for wherever you go you carry harm and death.

  "The knight who drew the sword is the best and bravest, and the sword he drew will destroy him. For everything he does will turn to bitterness and death through no fault of his own. The curse of the sword has become his fate. My lord," Merlin said to the king, "that good knight has little time to live, but before he dies he will do you a service you will long remember." And King Arthur listened in sad wonder.

  By now Sir Launceor of Ireland had armed himself at all points. He dressed his shield on his shoulder and took a spear in his hand and he urged his horse at utmost speed along the path Sir Balin had taken. It was not long before he overtook his enemy on the top of a mountain. And Sir Launceor shouted, "Stop where you are or I will make you stop. Your shield will not protect you now."

  Balin answered lightly, "You might better have remained at home. A man who threatens his enemy often finds his promise turns back on himself. From what court do you come?"

  "From King Arthur's court," said the Irish knight. "And I come to avenge the insult you have put on the king this day."

  Sir Balin said, "If I must fight you, I must. But believe me, sir, I am grieved that I have injured the king or any of his court. I know your duty is plain, but before we fight, know that I had no choice. The Lady of the Lake not only did me mortal injury but demanded my life as well."

  Sir Launceor said, "Enough of talking. Make ready, for only one of us will leave this field."

  Then they couched their spears and thundered together, and Launceor's spear splintered, but Balin's lanced through shield and armor and chest and the Irish knight went crashing to the ground. When Balin had turned his horse and drawn his sword, he saw his enemy lying dead on the grass. And then he heard galloping hooves and he saw a damsel ride toward them as fast as she could. When she drew up and saw Sir Launceor dead, she burst into wild sorrow.

  "Balin!" she cried. "Two bodies you have killed in one heart and two hearts in one body and two souls you have released." Then she dismounted and took up her lover's sword and fell fainting to the ground. And when her senses returned she screamed her sorrow and Balin was filled with pain. He went to her and tried to take the sword from her, but she clung to it so desperately that for fear he might hurt her he released his hold. Then suddenly she reversed the sword and placed the pommel on the ground and drove her body on the point, and the blade pierced her and she died.

  Balin stood with heavy heart and he was ashamed that he had caused her death. And he cried aloud, "What love there must have been between these two, and I have destroyed them!" He could not bear the sight of them, and he mounted and rode sadly away toward the forest.

  In the distance he saw a knight approaching, and when he could see the device on the shield, Balin knew it was his brother, Balan. And when they met they tore off their helmets and kissed each other and wept for joy.

  Balan said, "My brother, I could not have hoped to meet you so soon. I came upon a man at the castle of the four catapults and he told me that you were released from prison and that he had seen you in King Arthur's court. And I rode from Northumberland to look for you."

  Then Balin told his brother about the damsel and the sword and how he had killed the Lady of the Lake and so angered the king, and he said, "Yonder a knight lies dead who was sent after me, and beside him his love who destroyed herself, and I am heavy-hearted and grieved."

  "It is a sad thing," Balan said, "but you are a knight and you know you must accept whatever God ordains for you."

  "I know that," said Balin, "but I am sorrowful that King Arthur is displeased with me. He is the best and greatest king who reigns on earth. And I will get back his love or leave my life."

  "How will you do that, my brother?"

  "I will tell you," said Balin. "King Arthur's enemy, Lord Royns, has laid siege to the castle Terrabil in Cornwall. I will ride there and prove my honor and courage against him."

  "I hope it may be," Balan said. "I will go with you and venture my life with yours as a brother should."

  "How good it is that you are here, dear brother," Balin said. "Let us ride on together."

  As they talked a dwarf came riding from the direction of Camelot, and when he saw the bodies of the knight and his beloved damsel he tore his hair and cried out to the brothers, "Which of you has done this deed?"

  "What right have you to ask?" said Balan.

  "Because I want to know."

  And Balin answered him, "It was I. I killed the knight in fair combat in self-defense and the damsel destroyed herself in sorrow, and I am grieved. For her sake I will serve all women while I live."

  The dwarf said, "You have done great damage to yourself. This dead knight was the son of the King of Ireland. His kin will take vengeance on you. They will follow you all over the world until they have killed you."

  "That does not frighten me," said Balin. "My pain is that I have doubly displeased my lord King Arthur by killing his knight."

  Then King Mark of Cornwall came riding by and saw the bodies, and when he was told the story of their death, he said, "They must have loved each other truly. And I will see that they have a tomb in their memory." Then he ordered his men to pitch their tents and he searched the country for a place to bury the lovers. In a church nearby he had a great stone raised from the floor in front of the high altar and he buried the knight and his damsel together, and when the stone was lowered back, King Mark had words carved on it saying, "Here lies Sir Launceor, son of Ireland's king, slain in combat with Sir Balin and beside him his love the lady Colombe, who in sorrow slew herself with her lover's sword."

  Merlin entered the church and he said to Balin, "Why did you not save this lady's life?"

  "I swear I could not," said Balin. "I tried to save her but she was too quick."

  "I am sorry for you," Merlin said. "In punishment for the death you are destined to strike the saddest blow since the lance pierced the side of our Lord Jesus Christ. With your stroke you will wound the best knight living and you will bring poverty and misery and despair to three kingdoms."

  And Balin cried out, "This can't be true. If I believed it I would kill myself now and make you a liar."

  "But you will not," said Merlin.

  "What is my sin?" Balin demanded.

  "Ill fortune," said Merlin. "Some call it fate." And suddenly he vanished.

  And after a time the brothers took leave of King Mark.

  "First, tell me your names," he asked.

  And Balan answered, "You see that he wears two swords. Call him the Knight with the Two Swords."

  Then the two brothers took their way toward the camp of Royns. And on a broad and windswept moor they came upon a stranger muffled in a cloak who asked them where they were going.
r />   "Why should we tell you?" they replied, and Balin said, "Tell us your name, stranger."

  "Why should I, when you are secret?" said the man.

  "It's an evil sign when a man will not tell his name," said Balan.

  "Think what you wish," the stranger said. "What would you think if I told you that you ride to find Lord Royns and that you will fail without my help?"

  "I would think that you are Merlin, and if you are, I would ask your help."

  "You must be brave, for you will need courage," said Merlin.

  Sir Balin said, "Don't worry about courage. We will do what we can."

  They came to the edge of a forest and dismounted in a dim and leafy hollow, and they unsaddled their horses and put them to graze. And the knights lay under the sheltering branches of the trees and fell asleep.

  When it was near midnight Merlin awakened them quietly. "Make ready quickly," he said. "Your chance is coming. Royns has stolen from his camp with only a bodyguard to pay a midnight visit of love to Lady de Vance."

  From cover of the trees they saw horsemen coming.

  "Which is Royns?" Balin asked.

  "The tall one in the middle," Merlin said. "Hold back until they come abreast."

  And when the cavalcade was passing in the starlit dark, the brothers charged out from their concealment and struck Royns from his saddle, and they turned on his startled men, striking right and left with their swords, and some went down and the rest turned tail and fled.

  Then the brothers returned to the felled Royns to kill him, but he yielded and asked mercy. "Brave knights, do not murder me," he said. "My life is valuable to you and my death worth nothing."

  "That is true," the brothers said, and they raised up the wounded Royns and helped him to his horse. And when they looked for Merlin he was gone, for he by his magic arts had flown ahead to Camelot. And he told Arthur that his worst enemy, Lord Royns, was overthrown and captured.

  "By whom?" the king demanded.

  "By two knights who wish your friendship and your grace more than anything in the world. They will be here in the morning and you will see who they are," Merlin said and he would not speak further.

  Very early the two brothers brought their wounded prisoner, Royns, to the gates of Camelot and delivered him into the safe-keeping of the warders and they rode away into the dawning day.