The　truest　eyes　that　ever　answered　Heaven；
  Behold　me　overturn　and　trample　on　him。
  Then；　had　you　cried；　or　knelt；　or　prayed　to　me；
  I　should　not　less　have　killed　him。　　And　so　you　came；
  But　once　you　came；and　with　your　own　true　eyes
  Beheld　the　man　you　loved　（I　speak　as　one
  Speaks　of　a　service　done　him）　overthrow
  My　proud　self；　and　my　purpose　three　years　old；
  And　set　his　foot　upon　me；　and　give　me　life。
  There　was　I　broken　down；　there　was　I　saved：
  Though　thence　I　rode　all…shamed；　hating　the　life
  He　gave　me；　meaning　to　be　rid　of　it。
  And　all　the　penance　the　Queen　laid　upon　me
  Was　but　to　rest　awhile　within　her　court；
  Where　first　as　sullen　as　a　beast　new…caged；
  And　waiting　to　be　treated　like　a　wolf；
  Because　I　knew　my　deeds　were　known；　I　found；
  Instead　of　scornful　pity　or　pure　scorn；
  Such　fine　reserve　and　noble　reticence；
  Manners　so　kind；　yet　stately；　such　a　grace
  Of　tenderest　courtesy；　that　I　began
  To　glance　behind　me　at　my　former　life；
  And　find　that　it　had　been　the　wolf's　indeed：
  And　oft　I　talked　with　Dubric；　the　high　saint；
  Who；　with　mild　heat　of　holy　oratory；
  Subdued　me　somewhat　to　that　gentleness；
  Which；　when　it　weds　with　manhood；　makes　a　man。
  And　you　were　often　there　about　the　Queen；
  But　saw　me　not；　or　marked　not　if　you　saw；
  Nor　did　I　care　or　dare　to　speak　with　you；
  But　kept　myself　aloof　till　I　was　changed；
  And　fear　not；　cousin；　I　am　changed　indeed。'
  He　spoke；　and　Enid　easily　believed；
  Like　simple　noble　natures；　credulous
  Of　what　they　long　for；　good　in　friend　or　foe；
  There　most　in　those　who　most　have　done　them　ill。
  And　when　they　reached　the　camp　the　King　himself
  Advanced　to　greet　them；　and　beholding　her
  Though　pale；　yet　happy；　asked　her　not　a　word；
  But　went　apart　with　Edyrn；　whom　he　held
  In　converse　for　a　little；　and　returned；
  And；　gravely　smiling；　lifted　her　from　horse；
  And　kissed　her　with　all　pureness；　brother…like；
  And　showed　an　empty　tent　allotted　her；
  And　glancing　for　a　minute；　till　he　saw　her
  Pass　into　it；　turned　to　the　Prince；　and　said：
  'Prince；　when　of　late　ye　prayed　me　for　my　leave
  To　move　to　your　own　land；　and　there　defend
  Your　marches；　I　was　pricked　with　some　reproof；
  As　one　that　let　foul　wrong　stagnate　and　be；
  By　having　looked　too　much　through　alien　eyes；
  And　wrought　too　long　with　delegated　hands；
  Not　used　mine　own：　　but　now　behold　me　come
  To　cleanse　this　common　sewer　of　all　my　realm；
  With　Edyrn　and　with　others：　　have　ye　looked
  At　Edyrn？　have　ye　seen　how　nobly　changed？
  This　work　of　his　is　great　and　wonderful。
  His　very　face　with　change　of　heart　is　changed。
  The　world　will　not　believe　a　man　repents：
  And　this　wise　world　of　ours　is　mainly　right。
  Full　seldom　doth　a　man　repent；　or　use
  Both　grace　and　will　to　pick　the　vicious　quitch
  Of　blood　and　custom　wholly　out　of　him；
  And　make　all　clean；　and　plant　himself　afresh。
  Edyrn　has　done　it；　weeding　all　his　heart
  As　I　will　weed　this　land　before　I　go。
  I；　therefore；　made　him　of　our　Table　Round；
  Not　rashly；　but　have　proved　him　everyway
  One　of　our　noblest；　our　most　valorous；
  Sanest　and　most　obedient：　　and　indeed
  This　work　of　Edyrn　wrought　upon　himself
  After　a　life　of　violence；　seems　to　me
  A　thousand…fold　more　great　and　wonderful
  Than　if　some　knight　of　mine；　risking　his　life；
  My　subject　with　my　subjects　under　him；
  Should　make　an　onslaught　single　on　a　realm
  Of　robbers；　though　he　slew　them　one　by　one；
  And　were　himself　nigh　wounded　to　the　death。'
  So　spake　the　King；　low　bowed　the　Prince；　and　felt
  His　work　was　neither　great　nor　wonderful；
  And　past　to　Enid's　tent；　and　thither　came
  The　King's　own　leech　to　look　into　his　hurt；
  And　Enid　tended　on　him　there；　and　there
  Her　constant　motion　round　him；　and　the　breath
  Of　her　sweet　tendance　hovering　over　him；
  Filled　all　the　genial　courses　of　his　blood
  With　deeper　and　with　ever　deeper　love；
  As　the　south…west　that　blowing　Bala　lake
  Fills　all　the　sacred　Dee。　　So　past　the　days。
  But　while　Geraint　lay　healing　of　his　hurt；
  The　blameless　King　went　forth　and　cast　his　eyes
  On　each　of　all　whom　Uther　left　in　charge
  Long　since；　to　guard　the　justice　of　the　King：
  He　looked　and　found　them　wanting；　and　as　now
  Men　weed　the　white　horse　on　the　Berkshire　hills
  To　keep　him　bright　and　clean　as　heretofore；
  He　rooted　out　the　slothful　officer
  Or　guilty；　which　for　bribe　had　winked　at　wrong；
  And　in　their　chairs　set　up　a　stronger　race
  With　hearts　and　hands；　and　sent　a　thousand　men
  To　till　the　wastes；　and　moving　everywhere
  Cleared　the　dark　places　and　let　in　the　law；
  And　broke　the　bandit　holds　and　cleansed　the　land。
  Then；　when　Geraint　was　whole　again；　they　past
  With　Arthur　to　Caerleon　upon　Usk。
  There　the　great　Queen　once　more　embraced　her　friend；
  And　clothed　her　in　apparel　like　the　day。
  And　though　Geraint　could　never　take　again
  That　comfort　from　their　converse　which　he　took
  Before　the　Queen's　fair　name　was　breathed　upon；
  He　rested　well　content　that　all　was　well。
  Thence　after　tarrying　for　a　space　they　rode；
  And　fifty　knights　rode　with　them　to　the　shores
  Of　Severn；　and　they　past　to　their　own　land。
  And　there　he　kept　the　justice　of　the　King
  So　vigorously　yet　mildly；　that　all　hearts
  Applauded；　and　the　spiteful　whisper　died：
  And　being　ever　foremost　in　the　chase；
  And　victor　at　the　tilt　and　tournament；
  They　called　him　the　great　Prince　and　man　of　men。
  But　Enid；　whom　her　ladies　loved　to　call
  Enid　the　Fair；　a　grateful　people　named
  Enid　the　Good；　and　in　their　halls　arose
  The　cry　of　children；　Enids　and　Geraints
  Of　times　to　be；　nor　did　he　doubt　her　more；
  But　rested　in　her　fealty；　till　he　crowned
  A　happy　life　with　a　fair　death；　and　fell
  Against　the　heathen　of　the　Northern　Sea
  In　battle；　fighting　for　the　blameless　King。
  Balin　and　Balan
  Pellam　the　King；　who　held　and　lost　with　Lot
  In　that　first　war；　and　had　his　realm　restored
  But　rendered　tributary；　failed　of　late
  To　send　his　tribute；　wherefore　Arthur　called
  His　treasurer；　one　of　many　years；　and　spake；
  'Go　thou　with　him　and　him　and　bring　it　to　us；
  Lest　we　should　set　one　truer　on　his　throne。
  Man's　word　is　God　in　man。'
  His　Baron　said
  'We　go　but　harken：　　there　be　two　strange　knights
  Who　sit　near　Camelot　at　a　fountain…side；
  A　mile　beneath　the　forest；　challenging
  And　overthrowing　every　knight　who　comes。
  Wilt　thou　I　undertake　them　as　we　pass；
  And　send　them　to　thee？'
  Arthur　laughed　upon　him。
  'Old　friend；　too　old　to　be　so　young；　depart；
  Delay　not　thou　for　aught；　but　let　them　sit；
  Until　they　find　a　lustier　than　themselves。'
  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　pastwere　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　sonot　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！'
  Thereafter；　when　Sir　Balin　entered　hall；
  The　Lost　one　Found　was　greeted　as　in　Heaven
  With　joy　that　blazed　itself　in　woodland　wealth
  Of　leaf；　and　gayest　garlandage　of　flowers；
  Along　the　wal