{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart031.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart031.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart031.htm","text":"CHAPTER V\nHow Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland,\nand how he jousted and slew him.\nAND so this Lady Lile of Avelion took her this sword that she\nbrought with her, and told there should no man pull it out of the\nsheath but if he be one of the best knights of this realm, and he\nshould be hard and full of prowess, and with that sword he should\nslay her brother. This was the cause that the damosel came into\nthis court. I know it as well as ye. Would God she had not come\ninto this court, but she came never in fellowship of worship to\ndo good, but always great harm; and that <56>knight that hath\nachieved the sword shall be destroyed by that sword, for the\nwhich will be great damage, for there liveth not a knight of more\nprowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my Lord Arthur,\ngreat honour and kindness; and it is great pity he shall not\nendure but a while, for of his strength and hardiness I know not\nhis match living.\nSo the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his\nshield on his shoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his\nspear in his hand, and rode after a great pace, as much as his\nhorse might go; and within a little space on a mountain he had a\nsight of Balin, and with a loud voice he cried, Abide, knight,\nfor ye shall abide whether ye will or nill, and the shield that\nis to-fore you shall not help. When Balin heard the noise, he\nturned his horse fiercely, and said, Fair knight, what will ye\nwith me, will ye joust with me? Yea, said the Irish knight,\ntherefore come I after you. Peradventure, said Balin, it had\nbeen better to have holden you at home, for many a man weeneth to\nput his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of\nwhat court be ye sent from? said Balin. I am come from the court\nof King Arthur, said the knight of Ireland, that come hither for\nto revenge the despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his\ncourt. Well, said Balin, I see well I must have ado with you,\nthat me forthinketh for to grieve King Arthur, or any of his\ncourt; and your quarrel is full simple, said Balin, unto me, for\nthe lady that is dead, did me great damage, and else would I have\nbeen loath as any knight that liveth for to slay a lady. Make\nyou ready, said the knight Lanceor, and dress you unto me, for\nthat one shall abide in the field. Then they took their spears,\nand came together as much as their horses might drive, and the\nIrish knight smote Balin on the shield, that all went shivers off\nhis spear, and Balin hit him through the shield, and the hauberk\nperished, and so pierced through his body and the horse's croup,\nand anon turned his horse fiercely, and drew out his sword, and\nwist not that he had slain him; and then he saw him lie as a dead\ncorpse.\n<57>","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK II CHAPTER V","type":"page"}