And sorrow set these chained words free:
'O Balan, O my brother! me
Thou hast slain, and I, my brother, thee:
And now far hence, on shore and sea,
⁠Shall all the wide world speak of us.'
'Alas,' said Balan, 'that I might
Not know you, seeing two swords were dight
About you; now the unanswering sight
⁠Hath here found answer thus.

'Because you bore another shield
Than yours, that even ere youth could wield
Like arms with manhood's tried and steeled
Shone as my star of battle-field,
⁠I deemed it surely might not be
My brother.' Then his brother spake
Fiercely: 'Would God, for thy sole sake,
I had my life again, to take
⁠Revenge for only thee!