marvellous
spear strangely wrought. And when Balin saw that spear, he gat it in his
hand and turned him to King Pellam, and smote him passingly sore with
that spear, that King Pellam fell down in a swoon, and therewith the
castle roof and walls brake and fell to the earth, and Balin fell down
so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And so the most part of the
castle, that was fallen down through that dolorous stroke, lay upon
Pellam and Balin three days.

CHAPTER XVI. How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that
would have slain himself for love.

THEN Merlin came thither and took up Balin, and gat him a good horse,
for his was dead, and bade him ride out of that country. I would have
my damosel, said Balin. Lo, said Merlin, where she lieth dead. And King
Pellam lay so, many years sore wounded, and might never be whole till
Galahad the haut prince healed him in the quest of the Sangreal, for in
that place was part of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Joseph
of Arimathea brought into this land, and there himself lay in that rich
bed. And that was the same spear that Longius smote our Lord to the
heart; and King Pellam was nigh of Joseph's kin, and that was the most
worshipful man that lived in those days, and great pity it was of his
hurt, for through that stroke, turned to great dole, tray and tene. Then
departed Balin from Merlin, and said, In this world we meet never no
more. So he rode forth through the fair countries and cities, and found
the people dead, slain on every side. And all that were alive cried,
O Balin, thou hast caused great damage in these countries; for the
dolorous stroke thou gavest unto King Pellam three countries are
destroyed, and doubt not but the vengeance will fall on thee at the
last. When Balin was past those countries he was passing fain.

So he rode eight days or he met with adventure. And at the last he
came into a fair forest in a valley, and was ware of a tower, and there
beside he saw a great horse of war, tied to a tree, and there beside sat
a fair knight on the ground and made great mourning, and he was a likely
man, and a well made. Balin said, God save you, why be ye so heavy?
tell me and I will amend it, an I may, to my power. Sir knight, said he
again, thou dost me great grief, for I was in merry thoughts, and now
thou puttest me to more pain. Balin went a little from him, and looked
on his horse; then heard Balin him say thus: Ah, fair lady, why have