Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/122

 'Alas,' the woful weakling said, 'I have slain what most I loved: I have shed The blood most near my heart: the head Lies cold as earth, defiled and dead, That all my life was lighted by, That all my soul bowed down before, And now may bear with life no more: For now my sorrow that I bore Is twofold, and I die.'

Then with his red wet sword he rove His breast in sunder, where it clove Life, and no pulse against it strove, So sure and strong the deep stroke drove Deathward: and Balen, seeing him dead, Rode thence, lest folk would say he had slain Those three: and ere three days again Had seen the sun's might wax and wane, Far forth he had spurred and sped.