The Tale Of Balen

By Algernon Charles Swinburne

The tale of Balen presents a reflective narrative shaped by the moral tensions and emotional forces that guide individuals caught between duty, impulse, and destiny. The poem centers on a knight whose rise to prominence becomes overshadowed by a curse that alters the course of his life, turning noble intentions into the source of profound misfortune. As he undertakes a journey meant to uphold honor, he encounters trials that test loyalty, courage, and inner resolve. The unfolding events highlight how misunderstanding and fractured judgment can deepen the divide between intention and outcome, creating circumstances in which even the most virtuous actions carry unintended consequences. Set within the larger world of legendary courts and wandering quests, the poem examines how pride, devotion, and longing shape choices that ripple outward, ultimately binding individuals to the very fate they hope to escape. Through its lyrical movement, the narrative portrays the sorrow that arises when heroism is entwined with loss, emphasizing how destiny often reveals itself through the most tragic intersections of human experience.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9375558207
• ISBN13: 9789375558200
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Double 9 Books
• Length: 68 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"