Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/123

 And riding past a cross whereon Broad golden letters written shone, Saying, 'No knight born may ride alone Forth toward this castle,' and all the stone Glowed in the sun's glare even as though Blood stained it from the crucified Dead burden of one that there had died, An old hoar man he saw beside Whose face was wan as woe.

'Balen the Wild,' he said, 'this way Thy way lies not: thou hast passed to-day Thy bands: but turn again, and stay Thy passage, while thy soul hath sway Within thee, and through God's good power It will avail thee:' and anon His likeness as a cloud was gone, And Balen's heart within him shone Clear as the cloudless hour.