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〃But travelling men whose goal afar
Shines as a cloud…constraining star
Are often weary； and wearier are
Their steeds that feel each fret and jar
Wherewith the wild ways wound them： yet；
Albeit my horse be weary； still
My heart is nowise weary； will
Sustains it even till death fulfil
My trust upon him set。〃
〃Sir；〃 said a knight thereby that stood；
〃Meseems your shield is now not good
But worn with warrior work； nor could
Sustain in strife the strokes it would：
A larger will I lend you。〃 〃Ay；
Thereof I thank you；〃 Balen said；
Being single of heart as one that read
No face aright whence faith had fled；
Nor dreamed that faith could fly。
And so he took that shield unknown
And left for treason's touch his own；
And toward that island rode alone；
Nor heard the blast against him blown
Sound in the wind's and water's sound；
But hearkening toward the stream's edge heard
Nought save the soft stream's rippling word；
Glad with the gladness of a bird；
That sang to the air around。
And there against the water…side
He saw； fast moored to rock and ride；
A fair great boat anear abide
Like one that waits the turning tide；
Wherein embarked his horse and he
Passed over toward no kindly strand：
And where they stood again on land
There stood a maiden hard at hand
Who seeing them wept to see。
And 〃O knight Balen；〃 was her cry；
〃Why have ye left your own shield？ why
Come hither out of time to die？
For had ye kept your shield； thereby
Ye had yet been known； and died not here。
Great pity it is of you this day
As ever was of knight； or may
Be ever； seeing in war's bright way
Praise knows not Balen's peer。〃
And Balen said； 〃Thou hast heard my name
Right： it repenteth me； though shame
May tax me not with base men's blame；
That ever； hap what will； I came
Within this country； yet； being come；
For shame I may not turn again
Now； that myself and nobler men
May scorn me： now is more than then；
And faith bids fear be dumb。
〃Be it life or death； my chance I take；
Be it life's to build or death's to break：
And fall what may； me lists not make
Moan for sad life's or death's sad sake。〃
Then looked he on his armour； glad
And high of heart； and found it strong：
And all his soul became a song
And soared in prayer that soared not long；
For all the hope it had。
Then saw he whence against him came
A steed whose trappings shone like flame；
And he that rode him showed the same
Fierce colour； bright as fire or fame；
But dark the visors were as night
That hid from Balen Balan's face；
And his from Balan： God's own grace
Forsook them for a shadowy space
Where darkness cast out light。
The two swords girt that Balen bare
Gave Balan for a breath's while there
Pause； wondering if indeed it were
Balen his brother； bound to dare
The chance of that unhappy quest：
But seeing not as he thought to see
His shield； he deemed it was not he；
And so； as fate bade sorrow be；
They laid their spears in rest。
So mighty was the course they ran
With spear to spear so great of span；
Each fell back stricken； man by man；
Horse by horse； borne down： so the ban
That wrought by doom against them wrought：
But Balen by his falling steed
Was bruised the sorer； being indeed
Way…weary； like a rain…bruised reed；
With travel ere he fought。
And Balen rose again from swoon
First； and went toward him： all too soon
He too then rose； and the evil boon
Of strength came back； and the evil tune
Of battle unnatural made again
Mad music as for death's wide ear
Listening and hungering toward the near
Last sigh that life or death might hear
At last from dying men。
Balan smote Balen first； and clove
His lifted shield that rose and strove
In vain against the stroke that drove
Down： as the web that morning wove
Of glimmering pearl from spray to spray
Dies when the strong sun strikes it； so
Shrank the steel； tempered thrice to show
Strength； as the mad might of the blow
Shore Balen's helm away。
Then turning as a turning wave
Against the land…wind； blind and brave
In hope that dreams despair may save；
With even the unhappy sword that gave
The gifts of fame and fate in one
He smote his brother； and there had nigh
Felled him： and while they breathed； his eye
Glanced up； and saw beneath the sky
Sights fairer than the sun。
The towers of all the castle there
Stood full of ladies； blithe and fair
As the earth beneath and the amorous air
About them and above them were：
So toward the blind and fateful fight
Again those brethren went； and sore
Were all the strokes they smote and bore；
And breathed again； and fell once more
To battle in their sight。
With blood that either spilt and bled
Was all the ground they fought on red；
And each knight's hauberk hewn and shred
Left each unmailed and naked； shed
From off them even as mantles cast：
And oft they breathed； and drew but breath
Brief as the word strong sorrow saith；
And poured and drank the draught of death；
Till fate was full at last。
And Balan； younger born than he
Whom darkness bade him slay； and be
Slain； as in mist where none may see
If aught abide or fall or flee；
Drew back a little and laid him down；
Dying： but Balen stood； and said；
As one between the quick and dead
Might stand and speak； 〃What good knight's head
Hath won this mortal crown？
〃What knight art thou？ for never I
Who now beside thee dead shall die
Found yet the knight afar or nigh
That matched me。〃 Then his brother's eye
Flashed pride and love； he spake and smiled
And felt in death life's quickening flame；
And answered： 〃Balan is my name；
The good knight Balen's brother； fame
Calls and miscalls him wild。〃
The cry from Balen's lips that sprang
Sprang sharper than his sword's stroke rang。
More keen than death's or memory's fang；
Through sense and soul the shuddering pang
Shivered： and scarce he had cried； 〃Alas
That ever I should see this day；〃
When sorrow swooned from him away
As blindly back he fell； and lay
Where sleep lets anguish pass。
But Balan rose on hands and knees
And crawled by childlike dim degrees
Up toward his brother； as a breeze
Creeps wingless over sluggard seas
When all the wind's heart fails it： so
Beneath their mother's eyes had he；
A babe that laughed with joy to be；
Made toward him standing by her knee
For love's sake long ago。
Then； gathering strength up for a space；
From off his brother's dying face
With dying hands that wrought apace
While death and life would grant them grace
He loosed his helm and knew not him；
So scored with blood it was； and hewn
Athwart with darkening wounds： but soon
Life strove and shuddered through the swoon
Wherein its light lay dim。
And sorrow set these chained words free：
〃O Balan； O my brother！ me
Thou hast slain； and I； my brother； thee
And now far hence； on shore and sea；
Shall all the wide world speak of us。〃
〃Alas；〃 said Balan； 〃that I might
Not know you； seeing two swords were dight
About you； now the unanswering sight
Hath here found answer thus。
〃Because you bore another shield
Than yours； that even ere youth could wield
Like arms with manhood's tried and steeled
Shone as my star of battle…field；
I deemed it surely might not be
My brother。〃 Then his brother spake
Fiercely： 〃Would God； for thy sole sake；
I had my life again； to take
Revenge for only thee！
〃For all this deadly work was wrought
Of one false knight's false word and thought；
Whose mortal craft and counsel caught
And snared my faith who doubted nought；
And made me put my shield away。
Ah； might I live； I would destroy
That castle for its customs： joy
There makes of grief a deadly toy；
And death makes night of day。〃
〃Well done were that； if aught were done
Well ever here beneath the sun；〃
Said Balan： 〃better work were none：
For hither since I came and won
A woful honour born of death；
When here my hap it was to slay
A knight who kept this island way；
I might not pass by night or day
Hence； as this token saith。
〃No more shouldst thou； for all the might
Of heart and hand that seals thee knight
Most noble of all that see the light；
Brother； hadst thou but slain in fight
Me； and arisen unscathed and whole；
As would to God thou hadst risen！ though here
Light is as darkness； hope as fear；
And love as hate： and none draws near
Save toward a mortal goal。〃
Then； fair as any poison…flower
Whose blossom blights the withering bower
Whereon its blasting breath has power；
Forth fared the lady of the tower
With many a lady and many a knight；
And came across the water…way
Even where on death's dim border lay
Those brethren sent of her to slay
And die in kindless fight。
And all those hard light hearts were swayed
With pity passing like a shade
That stays not； and may be not stayed；
To hear the mutual moan they made；
Each to behold his brother die；
Saying； 〃Both we came out of one tomb；
One star…crossed mother's woful womb；
And so within one grave…pit's gloom
Untimely shall we lie。〃
And Balan prayed； as God should bless
That lady for her gentleness；
That where the battle's mortal stress
Had made for them perforce to press
The bed whence never man may rise
They twain； free now from hopes and fears；
Might sleep； an