h his brother Balan, and how each of
them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to death.

THEN afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight, and his
horse trapped all red, and himself in the same colour. When this knight
in the red beheld Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin by
cause of his two swords, but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed
it was not he. And so they aventryd their spears and came marvellously
fast together, and they smote each other in the shields, but their
spears and their course were so big that it bare down horse and man,
that they lay both in a swoon. But Balin was bruised sore with the fall
of his horse, for he was weary of travel. And Balan was the first that
rose on foot and drew his sword, and went toward Balin, and he arose and
went against him; but Balan smote Balin first, and he put up his shield
and smote him through the shield and tamed his helm. Then Balin smote
him again with that unhappy sword, and well-nigh had felled his brother
Balan, and so they fought there together till their breaths failed. Then
Balin looked up to the castle and saw the towers stand full of ladies.
So they went unto battle again, and wounded everych other dolefully, and
then they breathed ofttimes, and so went unto battle that all the place
there as they fought was blood red. And at that time there was none of
them both but they had either smitten other seven great wounds, so that
the least of them might have been the death of the mightiest giant in
this world.

Then they went to battle again so marvellously that doubt it was to hear
of that battle for the great blood-shedding, and their hauberks unnailed
that naked they were on every side. At last Balan the younger brother
withdrew him a little and laid him down. Then said Balin le Savage, What
knight art thou? for or now I found never no knight that matched me. My
name is, said he, Balan, brother unto the good knight, Balin. Alas, said
Balin, that ever I should see this day, and therewith he fell backward
in a swoon. Then Balan yede on all four feet and hands, and put off the
helm off his brother, and might not know him by the visage it was so ful
hewn and bled; but when he awoke he said, O Balan, my brother, thou
hast slain me and I thee, wherefore all the wide world shall speak of us
both. Alas, said Balan, that ever I saw this day, that through mishap I
might not know you, for I espied well your two swords, but by cause
y