Classic Poem

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 spoke 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—
The knights had both 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 think that each knight smiled.