Little John coud his curteysye,1 "Raynold Greenleaf," said the sheriff, "Where hast thou now be?" "I have be in this forést, It was one of the fairest sights His colour is of green, Seven score of deer upon an herd, Be with him all bedene; 2 His tynde3 are so sharp, mastér, Of sixty and well mo, That I durst not shoot for drede 730 740 750 66 Robin, now I pray thee, Smite off my head rather to-morn, And I forgive it thee. Let me go," then said the sheriff, "For saint Charité, And I will be thy best friend That ever yet had thee." "Thou shalt swear me an oath," said Robin, "On my bright brand, Thou shalt never awayte me scathe," By water ne by land; And if thou find any of my men, By night or by day, Upon thine oath thou shalt swear, Now have the sheriff iswore his oath, 780 790 800 810 THE FOURTH FYTTE. The sheriff dwelled in Nottingham, He was fain that he was gone, And Robin and his merry men Went to wood anone. "Go we to dinner," said Little John. Robin Hood said, "Nay; The day was all agone, Robin commanded Little John To draw off his hosen and his shone, "Have no doubt, master," said Little John, Much was ready with a bolt, Redly and anon, He set the monk tofore the breast, Of fifty-two wight young men, There abode not one, Save a little page, and a groom To lead the somers with Little John. They brought the monk to the lodge door, Whether he were loth or lief, For to speak with Robin Hood, Maugré in their teeth. Robin did adown his hood, The monk when that he see; The monk was not so courteyous, His hood then let he be. 890 900 The monk hath fifty-two men, 910 And seven somérs7 full strong, "That fellowship may us know." Seven score of wight ycomen, Brethren," said Little John, "Here are no more but we three; But we bring them to dinnér, Our master dare we not see. Bend your bows," said Little John, "Make all yon press to stand! The foremost monk, his life and his death, Is closed in my hand! Abide, churl monk," said Little John, "No farther that thou gone; If thou dost, by dere-worthy God, Thy death is in my hond. And evil thrift on thy head," said Little John, "Right under thy hat's bond, For thou hast made our master wroth, Came pricking on a row, And everich of them a good mantéll, Of scarlet and of ray,' 13 All they came to good Robin, To wite 14 what he would say. They made the monk to wash and wipe, And sit at his dinere, Robin Hood and Little John 870 920 930 This monk it hath brought, I dare well swear, 940 For he is of her abbay." 11 Wight, active. 13 Ray, a striped cloth. 12 No force, no matter. French "raie," a stripe. 14 Wite, know. First English "witan," whence "wit." 15 In fere, together. 16 Do gladly, that is, enjoy your dinner. 17 Gramercy (French "grand merci "), many thanks. 18 Avowe (French "avoué," attorney), the saint who pleads for you. 19 Mote I the, might I thrive. First English "ie théo," I thrive. "And she was a borow," said Robin, "Between a knight and me, Of a little money that I him lent, Under the green wood tree; And if thou hast that silver ibrought, I pray thee let me see, And I shall help thee eftsoons,2 If thou have need of me." "I make mine avow to God," said Robin, "Monk, thou art to blame, For God is hold a righteous man, And so is his dame. Thou toldest with thine own tongue, Thou may not say nay, How thou art her servant, And servest her every day, And thou art made her messenger, My money for to pay, Therefore I con thee more thank,3 Thou art come at thy day. What is in your coffers?" said Robin, "True then tell thou me." "I will not one penny; If thou hast mister5 of any more, Go now forth, Little John, And the truth tell thou me; If there be no more but twenty mark, No penny of that I see." Little John spread his mantle down, As he had done before, And he told out of the monkés mail, Eight hundred pound and more. Little John let it lie full still, And went to his master in haste; 980 That ever yet found I me. 1 Borow (First English "borh "), surety. 2 Eftsoons (First English "eft sona "), again soon, soon after. 3 Con thee more thank (Icelandic "kenna;" Gothic 66 'kunnan ;" First English "knawan," to ken or know; know as one's own, claim; know as belonging to another), owe you the more thanks. So Chaucer, in his "Treatise of the Astrolabe," says to his little son, Lewis, "If I show thee in my little English as true conclusions as be showed in Latin, con me the more thank, and pray God save the king that is lord of this language." 4 Mark, a silver coin, worth 13s. 4d. 5 Mister (Danish "miste"), want. I-wis (First English "gewis "), certainly. 7 Spending silver, that which you will need to spend upon your journey. 1030 First English He laughed and had good cheer. When Robín had told his tale, By my troth," then said the knight, "Your money is ready here." "Broke it well," said Robin, "Thou gentle knight so free; And welcome be thou, gentle knight, Under my trystell tree. But what shall these bows do?" sayd Robin, "And these arrows ifeathered free?" "[It is]," then said the knight, "A poor presént to thee." "Come now forth, Little John, And go to my treasury, And bring me there four hundred pound, The monk over-told it to me. Have here four hundred pound, "Welcome be thou, gentle knight, And right welcome to me." Thou gentle knight and true, And buy horse and harness good, And gild thy spurs all new: And if thou fail any spending, Come to Robin Hood, 1090 1100 Than bespake him Robin Hood, To that knight so free, "What need driveth thee to green wood? I pray thee, sir knight, tell me. And welcome be thou, gentle knight, Why hast thou be so long?" "For the abbot and the high justice Would have had my lond." "Hast thou thy land again ?" said Robin, "Truth then tell thou me." "Yea, fore God," said the knight, "And that thank I God and thee. But take not a grief," said the knight, "That I have been so long; I came by a wresteling, And there I did help a poor yeomán, With wrong was put behind." "Nay, fore God," said Robín, "Sir knight, that thank I thee; What man that helpeth a good ycomán, His friend then will I be." 1070 |