Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/35

 'Not with mine honour this may be; Ask all save this thou wilt,' quoth he, 'And have thy full desire.' But she Made answer: 'Nought will I of thee, Nought if not this.' Then Balen turned, And saw the sorceress hard beside By whose fell craft his mother died: Three years he had sought her, and here espied His heart against her yearned.

'Ill be thou met,' he said, 'whose ire Would slake with blood thy soul's desire: By thee my mother died in fire; Die thou by me a death less dire.' Sharp flashed his sword forth, fleet as flame, And shore away her sorcerous head. 'Alas for shame,' the high king said, 'That one found once my friend lies dead; Alas for all our shame!