Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/135

 '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.