Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/34

 Before the king she bowed and spake: 'King, for thine old faith's plighted sake To me the lady of the lake, I come in trust of thee to take The guerdon of the gift I gave, Thy sword Excalibur.' And he Made answer: 'Be it whate'er it be, If mine to give, I give it thee, Nor need is thine to crave.'

As when a gleam of wicked light Turns half a low-lying water bright That moans beneath the shivering night With sense of evil sound and sight And whispering witchcraft's bated breath, Her wan face quickened as she said: 'This knight that won the sword—his head I crave or hers that brought it. Dead, Let these be one in death.'