Page:The tale of Balen (IA taleofbalen00swin).pdf/65

 'Two knights whose heart and hope are one And fain to win your grace have done This work whereby if grace be won Their hearts shall hail the enkindling sun With joy more keen and deep than day.' And ere the sundawn drank the dew Those brethren with their prisoner drew To the outer guard they gave him to And passed again away.

And Arthur came as toward his guest To greet his foe, and bade him rest As one returned from nobler quest And welcome from the stormbright west, But by what chance he fain would hear. 'The chance was hard and strange, sir king,' Quoth Ryons, bowed in thanksgiving. 'Who won you?' Arthur said: 'the thing Is worth a warrior's ear.'