'A good knight guards an island here
Against all swords that chance brings near,
And there with stroke of sword and spear
Must all for whom these halls make cheer
⁠Fight, and redeem or yield up life.'
'An evil custom,' Balen said,
'Is this, that none whom chance hath led
Hither, if knighthood crown his head,
⁠May pass unstirred to strife.'

'You shall not have ado to fight
Here save against one only knight,'
She said, and all her face grew bright
As hell-fire, lit with hungry light
⁠That wicked laughter touched with flame.
'Well, since I shall thereto,' said he,
'I am ready at heart as death for me:
Fain would I be where death should be
⁠And life should lose its name.