a knight that kept this island, and since might I never depart,
and no more should ye, brother, an ye might have slain me as ye
have, and escaped yourself with the life.

Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six
ladies and six yeomen unto them, and there she heard how they
made their moan either to other, and said, We came both out of
one tomb, that is to say one mother's belly, and so shall we lie
both in one pit. So Balan prayed the lady of her gentleness, for
his true service, that she would bury them both in that same
place there the battle was done. And she granted them, with
weeping, it should be done richly in the best manner. Now, will
ye send for a priest, that we may receive our sacrament, and
receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ? Yea, said the
lady, it shall be done; and so she sent for a priest and gave
them their rights. Now, said Balin, when we are buried in one
tomb, and the mention made over us how two brethren slew each
other, there will never good knight, nor good man, see our tomb
but they will pray for our souls. And so all the ladies and
gentlewomen wept for pity. Then anon Balan died, but Balin died
not till the midnight after, and so were they buried both, and
the lady let make a mention of Balan how he was there slain by
his brother's hands, but she knew not Balin's name.



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CHAPTER XIX

How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of