THE TALE OF BALEN
53
'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.'
