Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу
Chapter V
Andastheywent,agoodknight,PerindeMountbelgard,joinedtheircompany,andvowedtotakeadventurewiththemwheresoevertheymightgo.Butpresentlyastheypassedahermitagefastbyachurchyard,cametheknightGarlon,againinvisible,andsmoteSirPerinthroughthebodywithaspear,andslewhimashehadslainSirHerleus.Whereat,SirBalingreatlyraged,andsworetohaveSirGarlon’slife,whenevernexthemightencounterandbeholdhiminhisbodilyshape.Anon,heandthehermitburiedthegoodknightSirPerin,androdeonwiththedamseltilltheycametoagreatcastle,whereintotheywereabouttoenter.ButwhenSirBalinhadpassedthroughthegateway,theportcullisfellbehindhimsuddenly,leavingthedamselontheouterside,withmenaroundher,drawingtheirswordsasiftoslayher.
Whenhesawthat,SirBalinclimbedwitheagerhastebywallandtower,andleapedintothecastlemoat,andrushedtowardsthedamselandherenemies,withhissworddrawn,tofightandslaythem.Buttheycriedout,“Putupthysword,Sirknight,wewillnotfighttheeinthisquarrel,forwedonothingbutanancientcustomofthiscastle.”
Thentheytoldhimthattheladyofthecastlewassick,andhadlainillformanyyears,andmightnevermorebecured,unlessshehadasilverdishfullofthebloodofapuremaidandaking’sdaughter.Whereforethecustomofthecastlewas,thatnevershouldadamselpassthatwaybutshemustgiveadishfullofherblood.ThenSirBalinsufferedthemtobleedthedamselwithherownconsent,butherbloodhelpednottheladyofthecastle.
