and so he rode forth, and within three days he came by a cross,
and thereon were letters of gold written, that said, It is not
for no knight alone to ride toward this castle. Then saw he an
old hoar gentleman coming toward him, that said, Balin le Savage,
thou passest thy bounds to come this way, therefore turn again
and it will avail thee. And he vanished away anon; and so he
heard an horn blow as it had been the death of a beast. That
blast, said Balin, is blown for me, for I am the prize and yet am
I not dead. Anon withal he saw an hundred ladies and many
knights, that welcomed him with fair semblant, and made him
passing good cheer unto his sight, and led him into the castle,
and there was dancing and minstrelsy and all manner of joy. Then
the chief lady of the castle said, Knight with the Two Swords, ye
must have ado and joust with a <74>knight hereby that keepeth an
island, for there may no man pass this way but he must joust or
he pass. That is an unhappy custom, said Balin, that a knight
may not pass this way but if he joust. Ye shall not have ado but
with one knight, said the lady.

Well, said Balin, since I shall thereto I am ready, but
travelling men are oft weary and their horses too, but though my
horse be weary my heart is not weary, I would be fain there my
death should be. Sir, said a knight to Balin, methinketh your
shield is not good, I will lend you a bigger. Thereof I pray
you. And so he took the shield that was unknown and left his
own, and so rode unto the island, and put him and his horse in a
great boat; and when he came on the other side he met with a
damosel, and she said, O knight Balin, why have ye left your own
shield? alas ye have put yourself in great danger, for by your
shield ye should have been known; it is great pity of you as ever