Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter V
Butpresently,whenSirBalincameto,hesaid,“Oh!Balan,mineownbrother,thouhastslainme,andIthee!Allthewideworldsawnevergreatergrief!”
“Alas!”saidSirBalan,“thatIeversawthisday;andthroughmishapaloneIknewtheenot,forwhenIsawthytwoswords,ifithadnotbeenforthystrangeshield,Ishouldhaveknowntheeformybrother.”
“Alas!”saidBalin,“allthissorrowliethatthedoorofoneunhappyknightwithinthecastle,whomademechangemyshield.IfImightlive,Iwoulddestroythatcastleanditsevilcustoms.”
“Itwerewelldone,”saidBalan,“forsinceIfirstcamehitherIhaveneverbeenabletodepart,forheretheymademefightwithonewhokeptthisisland,whomIslew,andbyenchantmentImightneverquititmore;norcouldstthou,brother,hadstthouslainme,andescapedwiththineownlife.”
Anoncametheladyofthecastle,andwhensheheardtheirtalk,andsawtheirevilcase,shewrungherhandsandweptbitterly.SoSirBalanprayedtheladyofhergentlenessthat,forhistrueservice,shewouldburythembothtogetherinthatplace.Thisshegranted,weepingfullsore,andsaiditshouldbedonerightsolemnlyandrichly,andinthenoblestmannerpossible.Thendidtheysendforapriest,andreceivedtheholysacramentathishands.AndBalinsaid,“Writeoverusuponourtomb,thatheretwobrethrensleweachother;thenshallnevergoodknightorpilgrimpassthiswaybuthewillprayforbothoursouls.”AndanonSirBalandied,butSirBalindiednottillthemidnightafter;andthentheybothwereburied
