ThenhadthekngandallthebaronsgreatmarvelthatBalnhaddonethatadventure，andmanyknghtshadgreatdespteofBaln。
　　Certes，sadthedamosel，thssapassnggoodknght，andthebestthateverfound，andmostofworshpwthouttreason，treachery，orvllany，andmanymarvelsshallhedo。Now，gentleandcourteousknght，gvemetheswordagan。Nay，sadBaln，forthsswordwllkeep，buttbetakenfrommewthforce。Well，sadthedamosel，yearenotwsetokeeptheswordfromme，foryeshallslaywththeswordthebestfrendthatyehave，andthemanthatyemostloventheworld，andtheswordshallbeyourdestructon。shalltaketheadventure，sadBaln，thatGodwllordanme，buttheswordyeshallnothaveatthstme，bythefathofmybody。Yeshallrepenttwthnshorttme，sadthedamosel，forwouldhavetheswordmoreforyouravalthanformne，forampassngheavyforyoursake；
　　foryewllnotbelevethatswordshallbeyourdestructon，andthatsgreatpty。Wththatthedamoseldeparted，maknggreatsorrow。
　　Anonafter，Balnsentforhshorseandarmour，andsowoulddepartfromthecourt，andtookhsleaveofKngArthur。Nay，sadthekng，supposeyewllnotdepartsolghtlyfromthsfellowshp，supposeyearedspleasedthathaveshewedyouunkndness；blamemetheless，forwasmsnformedaganstyou，butweenedyehadnotbeensuchaknghtasyeare，ofworshpandprowess，andfyewllabdenthscourtamongmyfellowshp，shallsoadvanceyouasyeshallbepleased。Godthankyourhghness，sadBaln，yourbountyandhghnessmaynomanprasehalftothevalue；butatthstmemustneedsdepart，beseechngyoualwayofyourgoodgrace。Truly，sadthekng，amrghtwrothforyourdepartng；prayyou，farknght，thatyetarrynotlong，andyeshallberghtwelcometome，andtomybarons，andshallamendallmssthathavedoneaganstyou；Godthankyourgreatlordshp，sadBaln，andtherewthmadehmreadytodepart。ThenthemostpartoftheknghtsoftheRoundTablesadthatBalnddnotthsadventureallonlybymght，butbywtchcraft。
　　HowtheLadyoftheLakedemandedtheknght’sheadthathadwonthesword，orthemaden’shead。
　　THEmeanwhle，thatthsknghtwasmaknghmreadytodepart，therecamentothecourtaladythathghttheLadyoftheLake。
　　Andshecameonhorseback，rchlybeseen，andsalutedKngArthur，andthereaskedhmagftthathepromsedherwhenshegavehmthesword。Thatssooth，sadArthur，agft
　　promsedyou，buthaveforgottenthenameofmyswordthatyegaveme。Thenameoft，sadthelady，sExcalbur，thatsasmuchtosayasCut-steel。Yesaywell，sadthekng；askwhatyewllandyeshallhavet，antlenmypowertogvet。
　　Well，sadthelady，asktheheadoftheknghtthathathwonthesword，orelsethedamosel’sheadthatbroughtt；takenoforcethoughhaveboththerheads，forheslewmybrother，agoodknghtandatrue，andthatgentlewomanwascauserofmyfather’sdeath。Truly，sadKngArthur，maynotgrantnetheroftherheadswthmyworshp，thereforeaskwhatyewllelse，andshallfulflyourdesre。wllasknoneotherthng，sadthelady。WhenBalnwasreadytodepart，hesawtheLadyoftheLake，thatbyhermeanshadslanBaln’smother，andhehadsoughtherthreeyears；andwhentwastoldhmthatsheaskedhsheadofKngArthur，hewenttoherstraghtandsad，Evlbeyoufound；yewouldhavemyhead，andthereforeyeshallloseyours，andwthhsswordlghtlyhesmoteoffherheadbeforeKngArthur。Alas，forshame!sadArthur，whyhaveyedoneso？yehaveshamedmeandallmycourt，forthswasaladythatwasbeholdento，andhthershecameundermysafe-
　　conduct；shallneverforgveyouthattrespass。Sr，sadBaln，meforthnkethofyourdspleasure，forthssameladywastheuntruestladylvng，andbyenchantmentandsorceryshehathbeenthedestroyerofmanygoodknghts，andshewascauserthatmymotherwasburnt，throughherfalsehoodandtreachery。Whatcausesoeveryehad，sadArthur，yeshouldhaveforbornehernmypresence；therefore，thnknotthecontrary，yeshallrepentt，forsuchanotherdesptehadnevernmycourt；thereforewthdrawyououtofmycourtnallhasteyemay。
　　ThenBalntookuptheheadofthelady，andbaretwthhmtohshostelry，andtherehemetwthhssqure，thatwassorryhehaddspleasedKngArthurandsotheyrodeforthoutofthetown。Now，sadBaln，wemustdepart，takethouthsheadandbearttomyfrends，andtellthemhowhavesped，andtellmyfrendsnNorthumberlandthatmymostfoesdead。Alsotellthemhowamoutofprson，andwhatadventurebefellmeatthegettngofthssword。Alas!sadthesqure，yearegreatlytoblamefortodspleaseKngArthur。Asforthat，sadBaln，
　　wllheme，nallthehastethatmay，tomeetwthKngRenceanddestroyhm，etherelsetodetherefore；andftmayhapmetownhm，thenwllKngArthurbemygoodandgracouslord。Whereshallmeetwthyou？sadthesqure。nKngArthur’scourt，sadBaln。Sohssqureandhedepartedatthattme。ThenKngArthurandallthecourtmadegreatdoleandhadshameofthedeathoftheLadyoftheLake。Thenthekngburedherrchly。
　　HowMerlntoldtheadventureofthsdamosel。
　　ATthattmetherewasaknght，thewhchwasthekng’ssonofreland，andhsnamewasLanceor，thewhchwasanorgulousknght，andcountedhmselfoneofthebestofthecourt；andhehadgreatdespteatBalnfortheachevngofthesword，thatanyshouldbeaccountedmorehardy，ormoreofprowess；andheaskedKngArthurfhewouldgvehmleavetordeafterBalnandtorevengethedesptethathehaddone。Doyourbest，sadArthur，amrghtwrothwthBaln；wouldhewerequtofthedesptethathehathdonetomeandtomycourt。ThenthsLanceorwenttohshostelrytomakehmready。nthemeanwhlecameMerlnuntothecourtofKngArthur，andtherewastoldhmtheadventureofthesword，andthedeathoftheLadyoftheLake。Nowshallsayyou，sadMerln；thssamedamoselthatherestandeth，thatbroughtthesworduntoyourcourt，shalltellyouthecauseofhercomng：shewasthefalsestdamoselthatlveth。Saynotso，sadthey。Shehathabrother，apassnggoodknghtofprowessandafulltrueman；andthsdamosellovedanotherknghtthatheldhertoparamour，andthsgoodknghtherbrothermetwththeknghtthatheldhertoparamour，andslewhmbyforceofhshands。Whenthsfalsedamoselunderstoodths，shewenttotheLadyLleofAvelon，andbesoughtherofhelp，tobeavengedonherownbrother。
　　HowBalnwaspursuedbySrLanceor，knghtofreland，andhowhejoustedandslewhm。
　　ANDsothsLadyLleofAvelontookherthsswordthatshebroughtwthher，andtoldthereshouldnomanpulltoutofthesheathbutfhebeoneofthebestknghtsofthsrealm，andheshouldbehardandfullofprowess，andwththatswordheshouldslayherbrother。Thswasthecausethatthedamoselcamentothscourt。knowtaswellasye。WouldGodshehadnotcomentothscourt，butshecamenevernfellowshpofworshptodogood，butalwaysgreatharm；andthatknghtthathathachevedtheswordshallbedestroyedbythatsword，forthewhchwllbegreatdamage，fortherelvethnotaknghtofmoreprowessthanhes，andheshalldountoyou，myLordArthur，greathonourandkndness；andtsgreatptyheshallnotendurebutawhle，forofhsstrengthandhardnessknownothsmatchlvng。
　　Sotheknghtofrelandarmedhmatallponts，anddressedhssheldonhsshoulder，andmounteduponhorseback，andtookhsspearnhshand，androdeafteragreatpace，asmuchashshorsemghtgo；andwthnalttlespaceonamountanhehadasghtofBaln，andwthaloudvocehecred，Abde，knght，foryeshallabdewhetheryewllornll，andthesheldthatsto-foreyoushallnothelp。WhenBalnheardthenose，heturnedhshorsefercely，andsad，Farknght，whatwllyewthme，wllyejoustwthme？Yea，sadthershknght，thereforecomeafteryou。Peradventure，sadBaln，thadbeenbettertohaveholdenyouathome，formanyamanweenethtoputhsenemytoarebuke，andofttfallethtohmself。Ofwhatcourtbeyesentfrom？sadBaln。amcomefromthecourtofKngArthur，sadtheknghtofreland，thatcomehtherfortorevengethedespteyeddthsdaytoKngArthurandtohscourt。Well，sadBaln，seewellmusthaveadowthyou，thatmeforthnkethfortogreveKngArthur，oranyofhscourt；andyourquarrelsfullsmple，sadBaln，untome，fortheladythatsdead，ddmegreatdamage，andelsewouldhavebeenloathasanyknghtthatlvethfortoslayalady。Makeyouready，sadtheknghtLanceor，anddressyouuntome，forthatoneshallabdenthefeld。Thentheytooktherspears，andcametogetherasmuchastherhorsesmghtdrve，andthershknghtsmoteBalnonthesheld，thatallwentshversoffhsspear，andBalnhthmthroughthesheld，andthehauberkpershed，andsopercedthroughhsbodyandthehorse’scroup，andanonturnedhshorsefercely，anddrewouthssword，andwstnotthathehadslanhm；andthenhesawhmleasadeadcorpse。
　　Howadamosel，whchwaslovetoLanceor，slewherselfforlove，andhowBalnmetwthhsbrotherBalan。
　　THENhelookedbyhm，andwaswareofadamoselthatcamerdngfullfastasthehorsemghtrde，onafarpalfrey。AndwhensheespedthatLanceorwasslan，shemadesorrowoutofmeasure，andsad，OBaln，twobodesthouhastslanandoneheart，andtwoheartsnonebody，andtwosoulsthouhastlost。
　　Andtherewthshetooktheswordfromherlovethatlaydead，andfelltothegroundnaswoon。Andwhenshearoseshemadegreatdoleoutofmeasure，thewhchsorrowgrevedBalnpassnglysore，andhewentuntoherfortohavetakentheswordoutofherhand，butsheheldtsofasthemghtnottaketoutofherhandunlessheshouldhavehurther，andsuddenlyshesetthepommeltotheground，androveherselfthroughthebody。WhenBalnespedherdeeds，hewaspassngheavynhsheart，andashamedthatsofaradamoselhaddestroyedherselffortheloveofhsdeath。Alas，sadBaln，merepentethsorethedeathofthsknght，fortheloveofthsdamosel，fortherewasmuchtruelovebetwxtthemboth，andforsorrowmghtnotlongerbeholdhm，butturnedhshorseandlookedtowardagreatforest，andtherehewasware，bythearms，ofhsbrotherBalan。
　　Andwhentheyweremettheyputofftherhelmsandkssedtogether，andweptforjoyandpty。ThenBalansad，lttleweenedtohavemetwthyouatthssuddenadventure；amrghtgladofyourdelveranceoutofyourdolorousprsonment，foramantoldme，nthecastleofFourStones，thatyeweredelvered，andthatmanhadseenyounthecourtofKngArthur，andthereforecamehtherntothscountry，forhere
　　supposedtofndyou。AnontheknghtBalntoldhsbrotherofhsadventureofthesword，andofthedeathoftheLadyoftheLake，andhowKngArthurwasdspleasedwthhm。Whereforehesentthsknghtafterme，thatlethheredead，andthedeathofthsdamoselgrevethmesore。Sodothtme，sadBalan，butyemusttaketheadventurethatGodwllordanyou。Truly，sadBaln，amrghtheavythatmyLordArthursdspleasedwthme，forhesthemostworshpfulknghtthatregnethnowonearth，andhslovewllgetorelsewllputmylfenadventure。FortheKngRencelethatasegeattheCastleTerrabl，andththerwllwedrawnallhaste，toproveourworshpandprowessuponhm。wllwell，sadBalan，thatwedo，andwewllhelpeachotherasbrethrenoughttodo。
　　HowadwarfreprovedBalnforthedeathofLanceor，andhowKngMarkofCornwallfoundthem，andmadeatomboverthem。
　　Nowgowehence，sadBaln，andwellbewemet。Themeanwhleastheytalked，therecameadwarffromthectyofCamelotonhorseback，asmuchashemght；andfoundthedeadbodes，whereforehemadegreatdole，andpulledouthsharforsorrow，andsad，Whchofyouknghtshavedonethsdeed？Wherebyaskestthout？sadBalan。Forwouldwtt，sadthedwarf。
　　twas，sadBaln，thatslewthsknghtnmydefence，forhtherhecametochaseme，andethermustslayhmorheme；
　　andthsdamoselslewherselfforhslove，whchrepentethme，andforhersakeshalloweallwomenthebetterlove。Alas，sadthedwarf，thouhastdonegreatdamageuntothyself，forthsknghtthatsheredeadwasoneofthemostvalantestmenthatlved，andtrustwell，Baln，theknofthsknghtwllchaseyouthroughtheworldtlltheyhaveslanyou。Asforthat，sadBaln，fearnotgreatly，butamrghtheavythat