Howthatknghtslewhsloveandaknghtlyngbyher，andafter，howheslewhmselfwthhsownsword，andhowBalnrodetowardacastlewherehelosthslfe。
ANDwhenGarnshbeheldhersolyng，forpuresorrowhsmouthandnoseburstouta-bleedng，andwthhsswordhesmoteoffboththerheads，andthenhemadesorrowoutofmeasure，andsad，OBaln，muchsorrowhastthoubroughtuntome，forhadstthounotshewedmethatsghtshouldhavepassedmysorrow。
Forsooth，sadBaln，ddttothsntentthattshouldbetterthycourage，andthatyemghtseeandknowherfalsehood，andtocauseyoutoleaveloveofsuchalady；Godknowethddnoneotherbutaswouldyeddtome。Alas，sadGarnsh，nowsmysorrowdoublethatmaynotendure，nowhaveslanthatmostlovednallmylfe；andtherewthsuddenlyherovehmselfonhsownsworduntothehlts。WhenBalnsawthat，hedressedhmthenceward，lestfolkwouldsayhehadslanthem；
andsoherodeforth，andwthnthreedayshecamebyacross，andthereonwerelettersofgoldwrtten，thatsad，tsnotfornoknghtalonetordetowardthscastle。Thensawheanoldhoargentlemancomngtowardhm，thatsad，BalnleSavage，thoupassestthyboundstocomethsway，thereforeturnaganandtwllavalthee。Andhevanshedawayanon；andsoheheardanhornblowasthadbeenthedeathofabeast。Thatblast，sadBaln，sblownforme，foramtheprzeandyetamnotdead。Anonwthalhesawanhundredladesandmanyknghts，thatwelcomedhmwthfarsemblant，andmadehmpassnggoodcheeruntohssght，andledhmntothecastle，andtherewasdancngandmnstrelsyandallmannerofjoy。Thenthechefladyofthecastlesad，KnghtwththeTwoSwords，yemusthaveadoandjoustwthaknghtherebythatkeepethansland，fortheremaynomanpassthswaybuthemustjoustorhepass。Thatsanunhappycustom，sadBaln，thataknghtmaynotpassthswaybutfhejoust。Yeshallnothaveadobutwthoneknght，sadthelady。
Well，sadBaln，snceshalltheretoamready，buttravellngmenareoftwearyandtherhorsestoo，butthoughmyhorsebewearymyheartsnotweary，wouldbefantheremydeathshouldbe。Sr，sadaknghttoBaln，methnkethyoursheldsnotgood，wlllendyouabgger。Thereofprayyou。Andsohetookthesheldthatwasunknownandlefthsown，andsorodeuntothesland，andputhmandhshorsenagreatboat；andwhenhecameontheothersdehemetwthadamosel，andshesad，OknghtBaln，whyhaveyeleftyourownsheld？alasyehaveputyourselfngreatdanger，forbyyoursheldyeshouldhavebeenknown；tsgreatptyofyouaseverwasofknght，forofthyprowessandhardnessthouhastnofellowlvng。Merepenteth，sadBaln，thatevercamewthnthscountry，butmaynotturnnowaganforshame，andwhatadventureshallfalltome，betlfeordeath，wlltaketheadventurethatshallcometome。Andthenhelookedonhsarmour，andunderstoodhewaswellarmed，andtherewthblessedhmandmounteduponhshorse。
HowBalnmetwthhsbrotherBalan，andhoweachofthemslewotherunknown，tlltheywerewoundedtodeath。
THENaforehmhesawcomerdngoutofacastleaknght，andhshorsetrappedallred，andhmselfnthesamecolour。WhenthsknghtntheredbeheldBaln，hmthoughttshouldbehsbrotherBalnbycauseofhstwoswords，butbycauseheknewnothssheldhedeemedtwasnothe。Andsotheyaventrydtherspearsandcamemarvellouslyfasttogether，andtheysmoteeachotherntheshelds，buttherspearsandthercourseweresobgthattbaredownhorseandman，thattheylaybothnaswoon。ButBalnwasbrusedsorewththefallofhshorse，forhewaswearyoftravel。AndBalanwasthefrstthatroseonfootanddrewhssword，andwenttowardBaln，andhearoseandwentagansthm；butBalansmoteBalnfrst，andheputuphssheldandsmotehmthroughthesheldandtamedhshelm。ThenBalnsmotehmaganwththatunhappysword，andwell-nghhadfelledhsbrotherBalan，andsotheyfoughttheretogethertlltherbreathsfaled。ThenBalnlookeduptothecastleandsawthetowersstandfulloflades。Sotheywentuntobattleagan，andwoundedeverychotherdolefully，andthentheybreathedofttmes，andsowentuntobattlethatalltheplacethereastheyfoughtwasbloodred。Andatthattmetherewasnoneofthembothbuttheyhadethersmttenothersevengreatwounds，sothattheleastofthemmghthavebeenthedeathofthemghtestgantnthsworld。
Thentheywenttobattleagansomarvellouslythatdoubttwastohearofthatbattleforthegreatblood-sheddng，andtherhauberksunnaledthatnakedtheywereoneverysde。AtlastBalantheyoungerbrotherwthdrewhmalttleandladhmdown。ThensadBalnleSavage，Whatknghtartthou？forornowfoundnevernoknghtthatmatchedme。Mynames，sadhe，Balan，brotheruntothegoodknght，Baln。Alas，sadBaln，thatevershouldseethsday，andtherewthhefellbackwardnaswoon。ThenBalanyedeonallfourfeetandhands，andputoffthehelmoffhsbrother，andmghtnotknowhmbythevsagetwassofulhewnandbled；butwhenheawokehesad，OBalan，mybrother，thouhastslanmeandthee，whereforeallthewdeworldshallspeakofusboth。Alas，sadBalan，thateversawthsday，thatthroughmshapmghtnotknowyou，forespedwellyourtwoswords，butbycauseyehadanothershelddeemedyehadbeenanotherknght。Alas，sadBaln，allthatmadeanunhappyknghtnthecastle，forhecausedmetoleavemyownsheldtoourboth’sdestructon，andfmghtlvewoulddestroythatcastleforllcustoms。
Thatwerewelldone，sadBalan，forhadnevergracetodepartfromthemsncethatcamehther，forherethappedmetoslayaknghtthatkeptthssland，andsncemghtneverdepart，andnomoreshouldye，brother，anyemghthaveslanmeasyehave，andescapedyourselfwththelfe。
Rghtsocametheladyofthetowerwthfourknghtsandsladesandsyeomenuntothem，andtheresheheardhowtheymadethermoanethertoother，andsad，Wecamebothoutofonetomb，thatstosayonemother’sbelly，andsoshallwelebothnonept。SoBalanprayedtheladyofhergentleness，forhstrueservce，thatshewouldburythembothnthatsameplacetherethebattlewasdone。Andshegrantedthem，wthweepng，tshouldbedonerchlynthebestmanner。Now，wllyesendforaprest，thatwemayreceveoursacrament，andrecevetheblessedbodyofourLordJesusChrst？Yea，sadthelady，tshallbedone；andsoshesentforaprestandgavethemtherrghts。Now，sadBaln，whenweareburednonetomb，andthementonmadeoverushowtwobrethrensleweachother，therewllnevergoodknght，norgoodman，seeourtombbuttheywllprayforoursouls。Andsoalltheladesandgentlewomenweptforpty。ThenanonBalanded，butBalndednottllthemdnghtafter，andsoweretheyburedboth，andtheladyletmakeamentonofBalanhowhewasthereslanbyhsbrother’shands，butsheknewnotBaln’sname。
HowMerlnburedthembothnonetomb，andofBaln’ssword。
NthemorncameMerlnandletwrteBaln’snameonthetombwthlettersofgold，thatHerelethBalnleSavagethatwastheKnghtwththeTwoSwords，andhethatsmotetheDolorousStroke。AlsoMerlnletmakethereabed，thatthereshouldnevermanletherenbuthewentoutofhswt，yetLauncelotdeLakeforddthatbedthroughhsnoblesse。AndanonafterBalnwasdead，Merlntookhssword，andtookoffthepommelandsetonanotherpommel。SoMerlnbadeaknghtthatstoodaforehmhandlethatsword，andheassayed，andhemghtnothandlet。ThenMerlnlaughed。Whylaughye？sadtheknght。
Thssthecause，sadMerln：thereshallnevermanhandlethsswordbutthebestknghtoftheworld，andthatshallbeSrLauncelotorelseGalahadhsson，andLauncelotwththsswordshallslaythemanthatntheworldhelovedbest，thatshallbeSrGawane。Allthsheletwrtenthepommelofthesword。
ThenMerlnletmakeabrdgeofronandofsteelntothatsland，andtwasbuthalfafootbroad，andthereshallnevermanpassthatbrdge，norhavehardnesstogoover，butfhewereapassnggoodmanandagoodknghtwthouttreacheryorvllany。AlsothescabbardofBaln’sswordMerlnlefttonthssdethesland，thatGalahadshouldfndt。AlsoMerlnletmakebyhssubtltythatBaln’sswordwasputnamarblestonestandnguprghtasgreatasamllstone，andthestonehovedalwaysabovethewaterandddmanyyears，andsobyadventuretswamdownthestreamtotheCtyofCamelot，thatsnEnglshWnchester。AndthatsamedayGalahadthehautprncecamewthKngArthur，andsoGalahadbroughtwthhmthescabbardandachevedtheswordthatwastherenthemarblestonehovnguponthewater。AndonWhtsundayheachevedtheswordastsrehearsednthebookofSangreal。
SoonafterthswasdoneMerlncametoKngArthurandtoldhmofthedolorousstrokethatBalngavetoKngPellam，andhowBalnandBalanfoughttogetherthemarvellestbattlethateverwasheardof，andhowtheywereburedbothnonetomb。Alas，sadKngArthur，thssthegreatestptythateverheardtelloftwoknghts，forntheworldknownotsuchtwoknghts。ThusendeththetaleofBalnandofBalan，twobrethrenbornnNorthumberland，goodknghts。
Sequturlber。
HowKngArthurtookawfe，andweddedGuenever，daughtertoLeodegrance，KngoftheLandofCamelard，wthwhomhehadtheRoundTable。
NthebegnnngofArthur，afterhewaschosenkngbyadventureandbygrace；forthemostpartofthebaronsknewnotthathewasUtherPendragon’sson，butasMerlnmadetopenlyknown。
Butyetmanykngsandlordsheldgreatwaragansthmforthatcause，butwellArthurovercamethemall，forthemostpartthedaysofhslfehewasruledmuchbythecounselofMerln。SotfellonatmeKngArthursaduntoMerln，Mybaronswllletmehavenorest，butneedsmusttakeawfe，andwllnonetakebutbythycounselandbythneadvce。tswelldone，sadMerln，thatyetakeawfe，foramanofyourbountyandnoblesseshouldnotbewthoutawfe。Nowsthereanythatyelovemorethananother？Yea，sadKngArthur，loveGueneverthekng’sdaughter，LeodegranceofthelandofCamelard，thewhchholdethnhshousetheTableRoundthatyetoldhehadofmyfatherUther。Andthsdamoselsthemostvalantandfarestladythatknowlvng，oryetthatever
couldfnd。Sr，sadMerln，asofherbeautyandfarnessshesoneofthefarestalve，but，anyelovedhernotsowellasyedo，shouldfndyouadamoselofbeautyandofgoodnessthatshouldlkeyouandpleaseyou，anyourheartwerenotset；butthereasaman’sheartsset，hewllbeloathtoreturn。
Thatstruth，sadKngArthur。ButMerlnwarnedthekngcovertlythatGueneverwasnotwholesomeforhmtotaketowfe，forhewarnedhmthatLauncelotshouldloveher，andshehmagan；andsoheturnedhstaletotheadventuresofSangreal。
ThenMerlndesredofthekngfortohavemenwthhmthatshouldenqureofGuenever，andsotheknggrantedhm，andMerlnwentforthuntoKngLeodegranceofCamelard，andtoldhmofthedesresofthekngthathewouldhaveuntohswfeGueneverhsdaughter。Thatstome，sadKngLeodegrance，thebesttdngsthateverheard，thatsoworthyakngofprowessandnoblessewllwedmydaughter。Andasformylands，wllgvehm，wsttmghtpleasehm，buthehathlandsenow，hmneedethnone；butshallsendhmagftshallpleasehmmuchmore，forshallgvehmtheTableRound，thewhchUtherPendragongaveme，andwhentsfullcomplete，theresanhundredknghtsandffty。Andasforanhundredgoodknghts
havemyself，butfauteffty，forsomanyhavebeenslannmydays。AndsoLeodegrancedelveredhsdaughterGueneveruntoMerln，andtheTableRoundwththehundredknghts，andsotheyrodefreshly，wthgreatroyalty，whatbywaterandwhatbyland，tllthattheycamenghuntoLondon。
HowtheKnghtsoftheRoundTablewereordanedandthersegesblessedbytheBshopofCanterbury。
WHENKngArthurheardofthecomngofGueneverandthehundredknghtswththeTableRound，thenKngArthurmadegreatjoyforhercomng，andthatrchpresent，andsadopenly，Thsfarladyspassngwelcomeuntome，forhavelovedherlong，andthereforetheresnothngsoleftome。AndtheseknghtswththeRoundTablepleasememorethanrghtgreatrches。Andnallhastethekngletordanforthemarrageandthecoronatonnthemosthonourablewsethatcouldbedevsed。
Now，Merln，sadKngArthur，gothouandespymenallthslandfftyknghtswhchbeofmostprowessandworshp。WthnshorttmeMerlnhadfoundsuchknghtsthatshouldfulfltwentyandeghtknghts，butnomorehecouldfnd。ThentheBshopofCanterburywasfetched，andheblessedthesegeswthgreatroyaltyanddevoton，andtheresettheeghtandtwentyknghtsntherseges。AndwhenthswasdoneMerlnsad，Farsrs，yemustallarseandcometoKngArthurfortodohmhomage；hewllhavethebetterwlltomantanyou。Andsotheyaroseandddtherhomage，andwhentheyweregoneMerlnfoundneverysegeslettersofgoldthattoldtheknghts’
namesthathadsttentheren。Buttwosegeswerevod。AndsoanoncameyoungGawaneandaskedthekngagft。Ask，sadthekng，andshallgranttyou。Sr，askthatyewllmakemeknghtthatsamedayyeshallwedfarGuenever。wlldotwthagoodwll，sadKngArthur，anddountoyoualltheworshpthatmay，formustbyreasonyearemynephew，mysster’sson。