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Nor fate nor fear might overcast
The soul now near its peace at last。
Suddenly； thence as forth he past；
A mighty and a deadly blast
Blown of a hunting…horn he heard；
As when the chase hath nobly sped。
〃That blast is blown for me；〃 he said；
〃The prize am I who am yet not dead；〃
And smiled upon the word。
As toward a royal hart's death rang
That note； whence all the loud wood sang
With winged and living sound that sprang
Like fire； and keen as fire's own fang
Pierced the sweet silence that it slew。
But nought like death or strife was here：
Fair semblance and most goodly cheer
They made him； they whose troop drew near
As death among them drew。
A hundred ladies well arrayed
And many a knight well weaponed made
That kindly show of cheer： the glade
Shone round them till its very shade
Lightened and laughed from grove to lawn
To hear and see them： so they brought
Within a castle fair as thought
Could dream that wizard hands had wrought
The guest among them drawn。
All manner of glorious joy was there：
Harping and dancing； loud and fair；
And minstrelsy that made of air
Fire； so like fire its raptures were。
Then the chief lady spake on high：
〃Knight with the two swords； one of two
Must help you here or fall from you：
For needs you now must have ado
And joust with one hereby。
〃A good knight guards an island here
Against all swords that chance brings near；
And there with stroke of sword and spear
Must all for whom these halls make cheer
Fight； and redeem or yield up life。〃
〃An evil custom；〃 Balen said；
〃Is this； that none whom chance hath led
Hither； if knighthood crown his head；
May pass unstirred to strife。〃
〃You shall not have ado to fight
Here save against one only knight；〃
She said； and all her face grew bright
As hell…fire； lit with hungry light
That wicked laughter touched with flame。
〃Well； since I shall thereto；〃 said he；
〃I am ready at heart as death for me：
Fain would I be where death should be
And life should lose its name。
〃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 sto