The Gardener of Sinope
They, being aroused, fell to and eat
Amain and drank right thirstily
The rustic feast before them set
And Phocas went and brought them fruit,
Honey, and cakes of wheat to boot.
And, when at last their feasting ends.
He saith: "I fain would ask ye, friends.
What errand took ye on the road
That only leads to my abode?"
The younger guest laughed out— "Not you—
Not to seek such as you we came.
But some foul Christian—what's his name?—
May Charon take him and his crew!"
"Nay, friend (the elder said), we bore
A message from the governor
To one called Phocas. Know ye him?"
Then before Phocas day grew dim
And Death came surging in his ears
Because the worst of all his fears
Grew plain before him. Quietly
He rose and answered: "I am he!"
"By Zeus, the god of strangers, then,"
Shouted the younger of the men,
"Get hence, and quickly, I pray you, fly!"
The elder said — " What, overbold.
Thou knowest well that thou and I
Must answer for him? Let him die!
Better he than us, for he is old . . ."
Whereat the younger said, " Outside
Last night in the cold we had surely died.
But that this gardener succoured us.
I will not slay him."
"Yet for us"
(The elder spake) " the dreadful night
And cruel storm and lightning bright
Were safer than our ruler's hate,"
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