the tale of balen-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



The　wild　king　flushed　with　pride　and　shame；
Answering：　　〃I　know　not　either　name
Of　those　that　there　against　us　came
And　withered　all　our　strength　like　flame：
The　knight　that　bears　two　swords　is　one；
And　one　his　brother：　　not　on　earth
May　men　meet　men　of　knightlier　worth
Nor　mightier　born　of　mortal　birth
That　hail　the　sovereign　sun。〃

And　Arthur　said：　　〃I　know　them　not
But　much　am　I　for　this；　God　wet；
Beholden　to　them：　　Launcelot
Nor　Tristram；　when　the　war　waxed　hot
Along　the　marches　east　and　west；
Wrought　ever　nobler　work　than　this。〃
〃Ah；〃　Merlin　said；　〃sore　pity　it　is
And　strange　mischance　of　doom；　I　wis；
That　death　should　mar　their　quest。

〃Balen；　the　perfect　knight　that　won
The　sword　whose　name　is　malison；
And　made　his　deed　his　doom；　is　one：
Nor　hath　his　brother　Balan　done
Less　royal　service：　　not　on　earth
Lives　there　a　nobler　knight；　more　strong
Of　soul　to　win　men's　praise　in　song；
Albeit　the　light　abide　not　long
That　lightened　round　his　birth。

〃Yea；　and　of　all　sad　things　I　know
The　heaviest　and　the　highest　in　woe
Is　this；　the　doom　whose　date　brings　low
Too　soon　in　timeless　overthrow
A　head　so　high；　a　hope　so　sure。
The　greatest　moan　for　any　knight
That　ever　won　fair　fame　in　fight
Shall　be　for　Balen；　seeing　his　might
Must　now　not　long　endure。〃

〃Alas；〃　King　Arthur　said；　〃he　hath　shown
Such　love　to　me…ward　that　the　moan
Made　of　him　should　be　mine　alone
Above　all　other；　knowing　it　known
I　have　ill　deserved　it　of　him。〃　　〃Nay；〃
Said　Merlin；　〃he　shall　do　for　you
Much　more；　when　time　shall　be　anew；
Than　time　hath　given　him　chance　to　do
Or　hope　may　think　to　say。

〃But　now　must　be　your　powers　purveyed
To　meet；　ere　noon　of　morn　be　made
To…morrow；　all　the　host　arrayed
Of　this　wild　foe's　wild　brother；　laid
Around　against　you：　　see　to　it　well；
For　now　I　part　from　you。〃　　And　soon；
When　sundawn　slew　the　withering　moon；
Two　hosts　were　met　to　win　the　boon
Whose　tale　is　death's　to　tell。

A　lordly　tale　of　knights　and　lords
For　death　to　tell　by　count　of　swords
When　war's　wild　harp　in　all　its　chords
Rang　royal　triumph；　and　the　hordes
Of　hurtling　foemen　rocked　and　reeled
As　waves　wind…thwarted　on　the　sea；
Was　told　of　all　that　there　might　be；
Till　scarce　might　battle　hear　or　see
The　fortune　of　the　field。

And　many　a　knight　won　fame　that　day
When　even　the　serpent　soul　of　Kay
Was　kindled　toward　the　fiery　play
As　might　a　lion's　be　for　prey；
And　won　him　fame　that　might　not　die
With　passing　of　his　rancorous　breath
But　clung　about　his　life　and　death
As　fire　that　speaks　in　cloud；　and　saith
What　strong　men　hear　and　fly。

And　glorious　works　were　Arthur's　there；
That　lit　the　battle…darkened　air：
But　when　they　saw　before　them　fare
Like　stars　of　storm　the　knight　that　bare
Two　swords　about　him　girt　for　fray；
Balen；　and　Balan　with　him；　then
Strong　wonder　smote　the　souls　of　men
If　heaven's　own　host　or　hell's　deep　den
Had　sent　them　forth　to　slay。

So　keen　they　rode　across　the　fight；
So　sharp　they　smote　to　left　and　right；
And　made　of　hurtling　darkness　light
With　lightning　of　their　swords；　till　flight
And　fear　before　them　flew　like　flame；
That　Arthur's　self　had　never　known；
He　said；　since　first　his　blast　was　blown；
Such　lords　of　war　as　these　alone
That　whence　he　knew　not　came。

But　while　the　fire　of　war　waxed　hot
The　wild　king　hearkened；　hearing　not；
Through　storm　of　spears　and　arrow…shot；
For　succour　toward　him　from　King　Lot
And　all　his　host　of　sea…born　men；
Strong　as　the　strong　storm…baffling　bird
Whose　cry　round　Orkney's　headlands　heard
Is　as　the　sea's　own　sovereign　word
That　mocks　our　mortal　ken。

For　Merlin's　craft　of　prophecy；
Who　wist　that　one　of　twain　must　die；
Put　might　in　him　to　say　thereby
Which　head　should　lose　its　crown；　and　lie
Stricken；　though　loth　he　were　to　know
That　either　life　should　wane　and　fail；
Yet　most　might　Arthur's　love　avail；
And　still　with　subtly　tempered　tale
His　wile　held　fast　the　foe。

With　woven　words　of　magic　might
Wherein　the　subtle　shadow　and　light
Changed　hope　and　fear　till　fear　took　flight；
He　stayed　King　Lot's　fierce　lust　of　fight
Till　all　the　wild　Welsh　war　was　driven
As　foam　before　the　wind　that　wakes
With　the　all…awakening　sun；　and　breaks
Strong　ships　that　rue　the　mirth　it　makes
When　grace　to　slay　is　given。

And　ever　hotter　lit　and　higher；
As　fire　that　meets　encountering　fire；
Waxed　in　King　Lot　his　keen　desire
To　bid　revenge　within　him　tire
On　Arthur's　ravaged　fame　and　life：
Across　the　waves　of　war　between
Floated　and　flashed；　unseen　and　seen；
The　lustrous　likeness　of　the　queen
Whom　shame　had　sealed　his　wife。

But　when　the　woful　word　was　brought
That　while　he　tarried；　doubting　nought；
The　hope　was　lost　whose　goal　he　sought
And　all　the　fight　he　yearned　for　fought；
His　heart　was　rent　for　grief　and　shame；
And　half　his　hope　was　set　on　flight
Till　word　was　given　him　of　a　knight
Who　said：　　〃They　are　weary　and　worn　with　fight；
And　we　more　fresh　than　flame。〃

And　bright　and　dark　as　night　and　day
Ere　either　find　the　unopening　way
Clear；　and　forego　the　unaltering　sway；
The　sad　king's　face　shone；　frowning：　　〃Yea；
I　would　that　every　knight　of　mine
Would　do　his　part　as　I　shall　do；〃
He　said；　〃till　death　or　life　anew
Shall　judge　between　us　as　is　due
With　wiser　doom　than　thine。〃

Then　thundered　all　the　awakening　field
With　crash　of　hosts　that　clashed　and　reeled；
Banner　to　banner；　shield　to　shield；
And　spear　to　splintering　spear…shaft；　steeled
As　heart　against　high　heart　of　man；
As　hope　against　high　hope　of　knight
To　pluck　the　crest　and　crown　of　fight
From　war's　clenched　hand　by　storm's　wild　light；
For　blessing　given　or　ban。

All　hearts　of　hearkening　men　that　heard
The　ban　twin…born　with　blessing；　stirred
Like　springtide　waters；　knew　the　word
Whereby　the　steeds　of　storm　are　spurred
With　ravenous　rapture　to　destroy；
And　laughed　for　love　of　battle；　pierced
With　passion　of　tempestuous　thirst
And　hungering　hope　to　assuage　it　first
With　draughts　of　stormy　joy。

But　sheer　ahead　of　the　iron　tide
That　rocked　and　roared　from　side　to　side
Rode　as　the　lightning's　lord　might　ride
King　Lot；　whose　heart　was　set　to　abide
All　peril　of　the　raging　hour；
And　all　his　host　of　warriors　born
Where　lands　by　warring　seas　are　worn
Was　only　by　his　hands　upborne
Who　gave　them　pride　and　power。

But　as　the　sea's　hand　smites　the　shore
And　shatters　all　the　strengths　that　bore
The　ravage　earth　may　bear　no　more；
So　smote　the　hand　of　Pellinore
Charging；　a　knight　of　Arthur's　chief；
And　clove　his　strong　steed's　neck　in　twain；
And　smote　him　sheer　through　brow　and　brain；
Falling：　　and　there　King　Lot　lay　slain；
And　knew　not　wrath　or　grief。

And　all　the　host　of　Orkney　fled；
And　many　a　mother's　son　lay　dead：
But　when　they　raised　the　stricken　head
Whence　pride　and　power　and　shame　were　fled
And　rage　and　anguish　now　cast　out；
And　bore　it　toward　a　kingly　tomb；
The　wife　whose　love　had　wrought　his　doom
Came　thither；　fair　as　morning's　bloom
And　dark　as　twilight's　doubt。

And　there　her　four　strong　sons　and　his；
Gawain　and　Gareth；　Gaherys
And　Agravain；　whose　sword's　sharp　kiss
With　sound　of　hell's　own　serpent's　hiss
Should　one　day　turn　her　life　to　death；
Stood　mourning　with　her：　　but　by　these
Seeing　Mordred　as　a　seer　that　sees；
Anguish　of　terror　bent　her　knees
And　caught　her　shuddering　breath。

The　splendour　of　her　sovereign　eyes
Flashed　darkness　deeper　than　the　skies
Feel　or　fear　when　the　sunset　dies
On　his　that　felt　as　midnight　rise
Their　doom　upon　them；　there　undone
By　faith　in　fear　ere　thought　could　yield
A　shadowy　sense　of　days　revealed；
The　ravin　of　the　final　field；
The　terror　of　their　son。

For　Arthur's；　as　they　caught　the　light
That　sought　and　durst　not　seek　his　sight；
Darkened；　and　all　his　spirit's　might
Withered　within　him　even　as　night
Withers　when　sunrise　thrills　the　sea。
But　Mordred's　lightened　as　with　fire
That　smote　his　mother　and　his　sire
With　darkling　doom　and　deep　desire
That　bade　its　darkness　be。

And　heavier　on　their　hearts　the　weight
Sank　of　the　fear　that　brings　forth　fate；
The　bitter　doubt　whose　womb　is　great
With　all　the　grief　and　love　and　hate
That　turn　to　fire　men's　days　on　earth。
And　glorious　was　the　funeral　made；
And　dark　the　deepening　dread　that　swayed
Their　darkening　souls　whose　light　grew　shade
With　sense　of　death　in　birth。



VI



In　autumn；　when　the　wind　and　sea
Rejoice　to　live　and　laugh　to　be；
And　scarce　the　blast　that　curbs　the　tree
And　bids　before　it　quail　and　flee
The　fiery　foliage；　where　its　brand
Is　radiant　as　the　seal　of　spring；
Sounds　less　delight；　and　waves　a　wing
Less　lustrous；　life's　loud　thanksgiving
Puts　life　in　sea　and　land。

High　hope　in　Balen's　heart　alight
Laughed；　as　from　all　that　clamorous　fight
He　passed　and　sought　not　Arthur's　sight；
Who　fain　had　found　his　kingliest　knight
And　made　amend　for　Balen's　wrong。
But　Merlin　gave　his　soul　to　see
Fate；　rising　as　a　shoreward　sea；
And　all　the　sorrow　that　should　be
Ere　hope　or　fear　thought　long。

〃O　where　are　they　whose　hands　upbore
My　battle；〃　Arthur　said；　〃before
The　wild　Welsh　host's　wide　rage　and　roar？
Balen　and　Balan；　Pellinore；
Where　are　they？〃　　Merlin　answered　him：
〃Balen　shall　be　not　long　away
From　sight　of　you；　but　night　nor　day
Shall　bring　his　brother　back　to　say
If　life　burn　bright　or　dim。〃

〃Now；　by　my　faith；〃　said　Arthur　then；
〃Two　marvellous　knights　are　they；　whose　ken
Toward　battle　makes　the　twain　as　ten；
And　Balen　most　of　all　born　men
Passeth　of　prowess　all　I　know
Or　ever　found　or　sought　to　see：
Would　God　he　would　abide　with　me；
To　face　the　times　foretold　of　thee
And　all　the　latter　woe。〃

For　there　had　Merlin　shown　the　king
The　doom　that　songs　unborn　should　sing；
The　gifts　that　time　should　rise　and　bring
Of　blithe　and　bitter　days　to　spring
As　weeds　and　flowers　against　the　sun。
And　on　the　king　for　fear's　sake　fell
Sickness；　and　sorrow　deep　as　hell；
Nor　even　might　sleep　bid　fear　farewell
If　grace　to　sleep　were　won。

Down　in　a　meadow　green　and　still
He　bade　the　folk　that　wrought　his　will
Pitch　his　pavilion；　where　the　chill
Soft　night　would　let　not　rest　fulfil
His　heart　wherein　dark　fears　lay　deep。
And　sharp　against　his　hearing　cast
Came　a　sound　as　of　horsehoofs　fast
Passing；　that　ere　their　sound　were　past
Aroused　him　as　from　sleep。

And　forth　he　looked　along　the　grass
And　saw　before　his　portal　pass
A　knight　that　wailed　aloud；　〃Alas
That　life　should　find　this　dolorous　pass
And　find　no　shield　from　doom　and　dole！〃
And　hearing　all　his　moan；　〃Abide；
Fair　sir；〃　the　king　arose　and　cried；
〃And　say　what　sorrow　bids　you　ride
So　sorrowful　of　soul。〃

〃My　hurt　may　no　man　heal；　God　wot；
And　help　of　man　may　speed　me　not；〃
The　sad　knight　said；　〃nor　change　my　lot。〃
And　toward　the　castle　of　Melyot
Whose　towers　arose　a　league　away
He　passed　forth　sorrowing：　　and　anon；
Ere　well　the　woful　sight　were　gone；
Came　Balen　down　the　meads　that　shone；
Strong；　bright；　and　brave　as　day。

And　seeing　the　king　there　stand；　the　knight
Drew　rein　before　his　face　to　alight
In　reverence　made　for　love's　sake　bright
With　joy　that　set　his　face　alight
As　theirs　who　see；　alive；　above；
The　sovereign　of　their　souls；　whose　name
To　them　is　even　as　love's　own　flame
To　enkindle　hope　that　heeds　not　fame
And　knows　no