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Chapter IV
Hebeingsecretlypresentatthecourtsawthisadventure,andfelthisheartrisehighwithinhim,andlongedtotrytheswordasdidtheothers;butbeingpoorandpoorlyclad,hewasashamedtocomeforwardinthepressofknightsandnobles.Butinhishearthefeltassuredthathecoulddobetter—ifHeavenwilled—thananyknightamongthemall.
Soasthedamsellefttheking,hecalledtoherandsaid,“Damsel,Ipraytheeofthycourtesy,suffermetotrytheswordaswellasalltheselords;forthoughIbebutpoorlyclad,Ifeelassuranceinmyheart.”
Thedamsellookingathim,sawinhimalikelyanhonestman,butbecauseofhispoorgarmentscouldnotthinkhimtobeanyknightofworship,andsaid,“Sir,thereisnoneedtoputmetoanymorepainorlabour;whyshouldstthousucceedwheresomanyworthyoneshavefailed?”
“Ah,fairlady,”answeredBalin,“worthinessandbravedeedsarenotshownbyfairraiment,butmanhoodandtruthliehidwithintheheart.Therebemanyworshipfulknightsunknowntoallthepeople.”
“Bymyfaith,thousayesttruth,”repliedthedamsel;“trytherefore,ifthouwilt,whatthoucanstdo.”
SoBalintooktheswordbythegirdleandhilt,anddrewitlightlyout,andlookingonitsworkmanshipandbrightness,itpleasedhimgreatly.
ButthekingandallthebaronsmarvelledatSirBalin’sfortune,andmanyknightswereenviousofhim,for,“Truly,”saidthedamsel,“thisisapassinggoodknight,andthebestmanIhaveeverfound,andthemostworshipfullyfreefromtreason,treachery,orvillainy,andmanywondersshallheachieve.
