Robin Hood

In merry England in the time of old, when good King Henry the Second ruled the land, there lived within the green glades of Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham Town, a famous outlaw whose name was Robin Hood.  No archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning as his, nor were there ever such yeomen as the sevenscore merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades.  Right merrily they dwelt within the depths of Sherwood Forest.

    

"Nay," quoth Robin, laughing loudly, "many do like me and wish me well, but few call me honest."

Not only Robin himself but all the band were outlaws and dwelt apart from other men, yet they were beloved by the country people round about, for no one ever came to jolly Robin for help in time of need and went away again with an empty fist.

     
 
Allan a Dale

“What may be thy name?” asked Robin.

“Allan a Dale is my name, good master.”

“Allan a Dale,” repeated Robin, musing.  “Allan a Dale.  It doth seem to me that the name is not altogether strange to mine ears.  Yea, surely thou art the minstrel of whom we have been hearing lately, whose voice so charmeth all men.”

“Now Allan,” quoth Robin, “so much has been said of thy singing that we would fain have a taste of thy skill ourselves.  Canst thou not give us something?”

“Surely,” answered Allan, readily; for he was no third-rate songster that must be asked again and again, but said “yes” or “no” at the first bidding; so, taking up his lute, he ran his fingers lightly over the sweetly-sounding strings, and all was hushed about the cloth.  Then, backing his voice with sweet music on his lute, he sang.

Not a sound broke the stillness when Allan a Dale had done, but all sat gazing at the handsome singer, for so sweet was his voice and the music that each man sat with bated breath, lest one drop more should come and he should lose it.

“By my faith and my troth,” quoth Robin at last, drawing a deep breath, “lad, thou art—Thou must not leave our company, Allan!  Wilt thou not stay with us here in the sweet green forest?  Truly, I do feel my heart go out toward thee wtih great love.”

Then Allan took Robin’s hand and kissed it.  “I will stay with thee always, dear master,” said he, “for never have I known such kindness as thou hast shown me this day.”

Then Will Scarlet stretched forth his hand and shook Allan’s in token of fellowship, as did Little John likewise.  And thus the famous Allan a Dale became one of Robin Hood’s band.

 Friar Tuck

“But stay, now I bethink me, there is one thing reckoned not upon – the priest.  Truly, those of the cloth do not love me overmuch, and when it comes to doing as I desire in such a matter, they are like as not to prove stiff-necked,” said Robin.

“Nay,” quoth Will Scarlet, laughing, “so far as that goeth, I know of a certain friar that, couldst thou but get on the soft side of him, would do thy business even though Pope Joan herself stood forth to ban him.  He is known as the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey, and dwelleth in Fountain Dale.”

“I will seek this same Friar of Fountain Abbey to-morrow day, and I warrant I will get upon the soft side of him, even if I have to drub one soft.”

At this Will Scarlet laughed again.  “Be not too sure of that, good uncle,” quoth he; “nevertheless, from what I know of him, I think this curtal friar will gladly join two such fair lovers, more especially if there be good eating and drinking afoot thereafter.”

Here, with his broad back against the rugged trunk of the willow tree, sat a stour, brawny fellow, but no other man was there.  His cheeks were as red adn shining as a winter crab.  Beneath his bushy black brows danced a pair of little gray eyes that could not stand still for very drollery of humor.  No man could look into his face adn not feel his heartstrings tickled by the merriment of their look. 

“By my faith,” quoth Robin to himself, “I do verily believe that this is the merriest feast, the merriest wight, the merriest place, and the merriest sight in all merry England.  Methought there was another here, but it must have been this holy man talking to himself.”

So Robin lay watching the Friar, and the Friar, all unkonwing that he was so overlooked, ate his meal placidly.  At last he was done, and took up his flask and began talking to himself as though he were another man, and answering himself as though he were somebody else.

“Wilt thounot take a drink of good Malmsey?  After thee, lad, after thee.  Nay, I beseech thee, sweeten the draught with thy lips (here he passed the flask from his right hand to his left)… ”

All this time merry Robin lay upon the bank and listened, while his stomach so quaked with laughter that he was forced to press his palm across his mouth to keep it from bursting forth; for, truly, he would not have spoiled such a goodly jest for the half of Nottinghamshire. 

(The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle)

Maid Marian
 

1  A bonny fine maid of a noble degree,

Maid Marian calld by name,

    Did live in the North, of excellent worth,

For she was a gallant dame.

     

2  For favour and face, and beauty most rare,

Queen Hellen shee did excell;

    For Marian then was praisd of all men

That did in the country dwell.

3  'Twas neither Rosamond nor Jane Shore,

Whose beauty was clear and bright,

    That could surpass this country lass,

Beloved of lord and knight.

   

4  The Earl of Huntington, nobly born,

That came of noble blood,

    To Marian went, with a good intent,

By the name of Robin Hood.

(ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN
No. 150From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads
by Francis James Child, 1888.)

"Come, fill us some sack!" cried Robin. "Let us e're be merry while we may, for man is but dust, and he hath but a span to live here till the worm getteth him, as our good gossip Swanthold sayeth;

so let life be merry while it lasts, say I.”