turn now again for shame, and what adventure shall fall to
me, be it life or death, I will take the adventure that shall come to
me."

Then he looked on his armour, and understood he was well armed, for
which he was thankful, and so he mounted upon his horse. Then before
him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight in red armour, and his
horse was all trapped in the same colour. When this knight in red
beheld Balin, he thought he was like his brother; but because he knew
not his shield, he deemed it was not he. And so they couched their
spears and came marvellously fast together, and they smote each other
in the shields; but their spears were so heavy and their course so
swift that horse and man were borne down, and both knights lay in a
swoon. Balin was bruised sore with the fall of his horse, for he was
weary with travel, and Balan (for the knight in red was none other) was
the first that rose to his feet. He drew his sword and went towards
Balin, who arose and went against him. But Balan smote Balin first,
striking through his shield and cleaving his helm. Then Balin smote
him in return with that unhappy sword that had already wrought so great
harm, and the blow well nigh felled his brother Balan. 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 to battle again and wounded each other dolefully.
Then they breathed ofttimes, and yet again went unto battle, until all
the place there was blood-red from the great wounds that either had
smitten other, and their hauberks became unriveted so that naked they
were on every side.

At last Balan, the younger brother, withdrew a little and laid himself
down. Then said Balin the Wild, "What knight art thou? for ere now I
found never a knight that matched me."

"My name is," said he, "Balan, brother to the good knight Balin."

"Alas!" said Balin, "that ever I should see this day." Thereupon he
fell backward in a swoon.

Then Balan crept on all fours to his brother and put oft his helm, but
he might not know him, his visage was so disguised by blood and wounds.
But when Balin 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 thee! Because thou hadst another shield I deemed thou
wert another knight."

"Alas!