A Ballad of Two Knights

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<Helen of Troy and Other Poems

Two knights rode forth at early dawn
      A-seeking maids to wed,
Said one, "My lady must be fair,
      With gold hair on her head."

Then spake the other knight-at-arms:
      "I care not for her face,
But she I love must be a dove
      For purity and grace."

And each knight blew upon his horn
      And went his separate way,
And each knight found a lady-love
      Before the fall of day.

But she was brown who should have had
      The shining yellow hair --
I ween the knights forgot their words
      Or else they ceased to care.

For he who wanted purity
      Brought home a wanton wild,
And when each saw the other knight
      I ween that each knight smiled.