So these departed. Early, one fair dawn, The light-winged spirit of his youth returned On Arthur’s heart; he armed himself and went, So coming to the fountain-side beheld Balin and Balan sitting statuelike, Brethren, to right and left the spring, that down, From underneath a plume of lady-fern, Sang, and the sand danced at the bottom of it. And on the right of Balin Balin’s horse Was fast beside an alder, on the left Of Balan Balan’s near a poplartree. “Fair Sirs,” said Arthur, “wherefore sit ye here?” Balin and Balan answered “For the sake Of glory; we be mightier men than all In Arthur’s court; that also have we proved; For whatsoever knight against us came Or I or he have easily overthrown.” “I too,” said Arthur, “am of Arthur’s hall, But rather proven in his Paynim wars Than famous jousts; but see, or proven or not, Whether me likewise ye can overthrow.” And Arthur lightly smote the brethren down, And lightly so returned, and no man knew. Then Balin rose, and Balan, and beside The carolling water set themselves again, And spake no word until the shadow turned; When from the fringe of coppice round them burst A spangled pursuivant, and crying “Sirs, Rise, follow! ye be sent for by the King,” They followed; whom when Arthur seeing asked “Tell me your names; why sat ye by the well?” Balin the stillness of a minute broke Saying “An unmelodious name to thee, Balin, ‘the Savage’—that addition thine— My brother and my better, this man here, Balan. I smote upon the naked skull A thrall of thine in open hall, my hand Was gauntleted, half slew him; for I heard He had spoken evil of me; thy just wrath Sent me a three-years’ exile from thine eyes. I have not lived my life delightsomely: For I that did that violence to thy thrall, Had often wrought some fury on myself, Saving for Balan: those three kingless years Have past—were wormwood-bitter to me. King, Methought that if we sat beside the well, And hurled to ground what knight soever spurred Against us, thou would’st take me gladlier back, And make, as ten-times worthier to be thine Than twenty Balins, Balan knight. I have said. Not so—not all. A man of thine today Abashed us both, and brake my boast. Thy will?” Said Arthur “Thou hast ever spoken truth; Thy too fierce manhood would not let thee lie. Rise, my true knight. As children learn, be thou Wiser for falling! walk with me, and move To music with thine Order and the King. Thy chair, a grief to all the brethren, stands Vacant, but thou retake it, mine again!”