ThenhadthekngandallthebaronsgreatmarvelthatBalnhaddonethatadventure，andmanyknghtshadgreatdespteofBaln。
Certes，sadthedamosel，thssapassnggoodknght，andthebestthateverfound，andmostofworshpwthouttreason，treachery，orvllany，andmanymarvelsshallhedo。Now，gentleandcourteousknght，gvemetheswordagan。Nay，sadBaln，forthsswordwllkeep，buttbetakenfrommewthforce。Well，sadthedamosel，yearenotwsetokeeptheswordfromme，foryeshallslaywththeswordthebestfrendthatyehave，andthemanthatyemostloventheworld，andtheswordshallbeyourdestructon。shalltaketheadventure，sadBaln，thatGodwllordanme，buttheswordyeshallnothaveatthstme，bythefathofmybody。Yeshallrepenttwthnshorttme，sadthedamosel，forwouldhavetheswordmoreforyouravalthanformne，forampassngheavyforyoursake；
foryewllnotbelevethatswordshallbeyourdestructon，andthatsgreatpty。Wththatthedamoseldeparted，maknggreatsorrow。
Anonafter，Balnsentforhshorseandarmour，andsowoulddepartfromthecourt，andtookhsleaveofKngArthur。Nay，sadthekng，supposeyewllnotdepartsolghtlyfromthsfellowshp，supposeyearedspleasedthathaveshewedyouunkndness；blamemetheless，forwasmsnformedaganstyou，butweenedyehadnotbeensuchaknghtasyeare，ofworshpandprowess，andfyewllabdenthscourtamongmyfellowshp，shallsoadvanceyouasyeshallbepleased。Godthankyourhghness，sadBaln，yourbountyandhghnessmaynomanprasehalftothevalue；butatthstmemustneedsdepart，beseechngyoualwayofyourgoodgrace。Truly，sadthekng，amrghtwrothforyourdepartng；prayyou，farknght，thatyetarrynotlong，andyeshallberghtwelcometome，andtomybarons，andshallamendallmssthathavedoneaganstyou；Godthankyourgreatlordshp，sadBaln，andtherewthmadehmreadytodepart。ThenthemostpartoftheknghtsoftheRoundTablesadthatBalnddnotthsadventureallonlybymght，butbywtchcraft。
HowtheLadyoftheLakedemandedtheknght’sheadthathadwonthesword，orthemaden’shead。