Before a Judge two Arabs came, One to deny and one to claim: And one was young and one was old— They differed, like the tales they told. The young man spake: "Nine days have flown, Since the hot sands I crossed alone. My gold meanwhile I left in trust With yon old man, reputed just. My journey o'er, his tent I sought; He swears I trusted him with naught!" "Name," said the Judge, "the sum of gold: And where, I pray thee, was it told?" "Four score gold pieces did I tell, Beneath a palm-tree, by a well," Then spake the Judge: "Go seek that tree, And hither bid him come to me; But take my seal, that he may know To whom thou biddest him to go." The youth went out into the plain— The old man and the Judge remain. An hour passed by—and not a word From either of the twain was heard. At length the Judge: "He cometh not. Dost think the lad hath reached the spot?" The old man, startled, answered: "No— Far o'er the sands the tree doth grow." The Judge spake sternly, like a King: "How knowest where that palm doth spring? For in the desert, near and far, I trow that many palm-trees are." The youth came back and said: "The tree Returnëd answer none to me." "He hath been here," the Judge did say, "The gold is thine: go now thy way." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEDITATION ON A JUNE EVENING by CONRAD AIKEN SONATA IN PATHOS by CONRAD AIKEN AUGUST FIRST by HAYDEN CARRUTH SMALL COUNTRIES by JAMES GALVIN TO HORACE BUMSTEAD by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON BACCALAUREATE by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH ADELAIDE AND JOHN WILKES BOOTH by EDGAR LEE MASTERS IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCOIS-MARIE AROUET (DE VOLTAIRE) by EZRA POUND |