TWO AT THE CROSSROADS

The knight of battered and unblazoned arms

Reined up before the haster from the South

Whose red shield bore the crookt beast Glatysaunt,

(Also a scroll with “Pray for me!” entwined

With flowers and poison-leaves and Iseult’s name)

And cried “Where lies the sea-road?”; but the other

Seeming as mad as his own crest, replied

“Has the beast quested past you? have its dogs

Given sharp tongue along these drooping woods?