THE TALE OF BALEN
89
'Yonder he goeth against the light,
He with the face as swart as night,'
Quoth the other: 'but he rides to fight
Hid round by charms from all men's sight,
And many a noble knight he hath slain,
Being wrapt in darkness deep as hell
And silence dark as shame.' 'Ah, well,'
Said Balen, 'is that he? the spell
May be the sorcerer's bane.'
Then Balen gazed upon him long,
And thought, 'If here I wreak my wrong,
Alive I may not scape, so strong
The felon's friends about him throng;
And if I leave him here alive,
This chance perchance may life not give
Again: much evil, if he live,
He needs must do, should fear forgive
When wrongs bid strike and strive.'
