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Chapter IV
”
“Godthankthee,Lord,”againsaidBalin,andmadereadytodepart.
Butmeanwhilecameintothecourtaladyuponhorseback,fullrichlydressed,andsalutedKingArthur,andaskedhimforthegiftthathehadpromisedherwhenshegavehimhisswordExcalibur,“for,”saidshe,“Iamtheladyofthelake.”
“Askwhatthouwilt,”saidtheking,“andthoushalthaveit,ifIhavepowertogive.”
“Iask,”saidshe,“theheadofthatknightwhohathjustachievedthesword,orelsethedamsel’sheadwhobroughtit,orelseboth;fortheknightslewmybrother,andtheladycausedmyfather’sdeath.”
“Truly,”saidKingArthur,“Icannotgranttheethisdesire;itwereagainstmynatureandagainstmyname;butaskwhateverelsethouwilt,andIwilldoit.”
“Iwilldemandnootherthing,”saidshe.
AndasshespakecameBalin,onhiswaytoleavethecourt,andsawherwhereshestood,andknewherstraightwayforhismother’smurderess,whomhehadsoughtinvainthreeyears.AndwhentheytoldhimthatshehadaskedKingArthurforhishead,hewentupstraighttoherandsaid,“Mayevilhavethee!Thoudesirestmyhead,thereforeshaltthoulosethine;”andwithhisswordhelightlysmoteherheadoff,inthepresenceofthekingandallthecourt.
“Alas,forshame!”criedoutKingArthur,risingupinwrath;“whyhastthoudonethis,shamingbothmeandmycourt?Iambeholdengreatlytothislady,andundermysafeconductcameshehere;thydeedispassingshameful;nevershallIforgivethyvillainy
