THREE horsemen galloped the dusty way While sun and moon were both in the sky; An old crone crouched in the cactus' shade, And craved an alms as they rode by. A friendless hag she seemed to be, But the queen of a bandit crew was she. One horseman tossed her a scanty dole, A scoffing couplet the second trolled; But the third, from his blue eyes frank and free, No glance vouchsafed the beldam old; As toward the sunset and the sea, No evil fearing, rode the three. A curse she gave for the pittance small, A gibe for the couplet's ribald word; But that which once had been her heart At sight of the silent horseman stirred: And safe through the ambushed band they speed For the sake of the rider who would not heed! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FANCY, FR. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: FEBRUARY by EDMUND SPENSER DEATH AT DAYBREAK by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH THE VOICE IN THE GLOAMING by WILLIAM ALLAN LILIES: 7. BEHIND by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) TO THE WINDS by BERNARD BARTON EVENING SOLACE by CHARLOTTE BRONTE |