Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/137

 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!