When dinner was over his chaplain said grace, 66 And "Be merry, my friends," said the squire; "It rains and it blows, but call for more ale, And lay some more wood on the fire. And now call ye my little John to me, For little John is a fine lad, At gambols, and jugglings, and twenty such tricks, [glad." As shall make you both merry and When Little John came, to gambols they went, Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown; And what do you think? why, as true as I live, Bold Robin Hood put them all down! And now you may think the right worshipful squire Was joyful this sight for to see ; For he said, "Cousin Robin, thou goest no more home, But shalt tarry and dwell here with me. Thou shalt have all my land when I die; and till then 66 66 66 Thou must be the staff of my age." Then grant me my boon, dear uncle," says Robin, 66 That Little John may be my page. 99 Kind cousin," he said, "I grant thee thy boon; With all my heart so let it be." Come here, Little John, then," said Robin Hood, 66 Come hither, my page, unto me. Go fetch me my bow, my longest yew bow, And broad arrows, one, two, or three; And when 'tis fair weather, we'll into Sherwood, Some merry pastime for to see." When Robin came into merry Sherwood, 66 Before Robin Hood did appear. Where are your companions?" said bold Robin Hood, 66 "For still I want forty-and-three;" Then said a bold yeoman, “Lo, yonder they stand, All under the greenwood tree." As that word was spoke Clorinda came by, The queen of all shepherds was she ; And her gown it was velvet as green as the grass, And her buskin did reach to her knee. Her eyebrows were black-ay, and so was her hair, And her skin was as smooth as a glass; Her visage spoke wisdom and modesty too Not with Robin Hood was such a lass. Said bold Robin Hood, "Lady fair, come with me A little, to yonder green bower; There sit down to rest you, and you may be sure Of a brace or a leash in an hour. And as they were going towards the green bower. Two hundred fat bucks they espied; She chose out the fattest that was in the herd, And shot him right through side and side. 66 "By the faith of my body," says bold Robin Hood, "I ne'er saw a woman like thee; And com'st thou from east, or com'st thou from west, Thou need'st not beg ven'son of me. Clorinda said, "Tell me your name, gentle sir." And he said, ""Tis bold Robin Hood; Squire Gamewell's my uncle: but all my delight Is to dwell here in merry Sherwood. For 'tis a fine life, and devoid of all strife." 66 So 'tis, sir," Clorinda replied; "But oh!" said bold Robin, "how sweet would it be If Clorinda would be my sweet bride!" She blushed at the motion, yet after a pause Said, "Yes, sir, and with all my heart." |