A Ballad of Two Knights

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.