Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK II

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BOOK II CHAPTER I Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard.
BOOK II CHAPTER II How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the sword, which afterward was the cause of his death.
BOOK II CHAPTER III How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight's head that had won the sword, or the maiden's head.
BOOK II CHAPTER IV How Merlin told the adventure of this damosel.
BOOK II CHAPTER V How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, and how he jousted and slew him.
BOOK II CHAPTER VI How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan.
BOOK II CHAPTER VII How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of Lanceor, and how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb over them.
BOOK II CHAPTER VIII How Merlin prophesied that two the best knights of the world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram.
BOOK II CHAPTER IX How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of Merlin, took King Rience and brought him to King Arthur.
BOOK II CHAPTER X How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and King Lot of Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve kings were slain.
BOOK II CHAPTER XI Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke.
BOOK II CHAPTER XII How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, and how Balin fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight invisible.
BOOK II CHAPTER XIII How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of a castle.
BOOK II CHAPTER XIV How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast, and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son of his host.
BOOK II CHAPTER XV How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how his sword brake, and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke.
BOOK II CHAPTER XVI How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that would have slain himself for love.
BOOK II CHAPTER XVII How that knight slew his love and a knight lying by her, and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and how Balin rode toward a castle where he lost his life.
BOOK II CHAPTER XVIII How Balin met with his brother Balan, and how each of them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to death.
BOOK II CHAPTER XIX How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of Balin's sword.