Then turned he back toward Balen, mad
With grief, and said, 'The grief I had
Was nought: ere this my life was glad:
Thou hast done this deed: I was but sad
⁠And fearful how my hope might fare:
I had lived my sorrow down, hadst thou
Not shown me what I saw but now.'
The sorrow and scorn on Balen's brow
⁠Bade silence curb him there.

And Balen answered: 'What I did
I did to hearten thee and bid
Thy courage know that shame should rid
A man's high heart of love that hid
⁠Blind shame within its core:
God knows, I did, to set a bondman free,
But as I would thou hadst done by me,
That seeing what love must die to see
⁠Love's end might well be woe's.'