Page:The Garden of Romance - 1897.djvu/76

64 So, at the interment, came King Lot's wife, Morgause, with her four sons, Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. Also there came thither King Urience, Sir Ewaine's father, and Morgan le Fay, his wife, that was King Arthur's sister: all these came to the interment. But of all these twelve knights King Arthur let make the tomb of King Lot passing richly, and his tomb stood by itself apart. And then King Arthur let make twelve images of latten and of copper, and made them to be overgilt with fine gold, in sign and token of the twelve kings; and every image held a taper of wax, which burnt night and day. And King Arthur was made in sign of a figure standing above them all, with a sword drawn in his hand; and all the twelve figures had countenances like unto men that were overcome. All this made Merlin by his subtle craft, and there he said to King Arthur, "When I am dead the twelve tapers shall burn no longer; and, soon after this, the adventures of the Holy Sancgreal shall come among you, and shall also be achieved." Also he told unto King Arthur, how Balin, the worshipful knight, should give the dolorous stroke, whereof shall fall great vengeance. "And where is Balin, and Balan, and Pellinore?" said King Arthur.

"As for Sir Pellinore," said Merlin, "he will meet with you anon; and as for Balin, he will not be long from you; but the other brother, Balan, will depart, and ye shall see him no more." "Now, by my faith," said King Arthur, "they are two marvellous knights, and namely, Balin passeth of prowess far of any knight that ever I found; for I am much beholden unto him. Would to God that he would abide still with me." "Sir," aidsaid [sic] Merlin, "look that ye keep well the scabbard of