Adventures of Robin Hood

Howard Pyle

• Publisher: pubOne.info
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9782819929840
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

pubOne.info thank you for your continued support and wish to present you this new edition. You who so plod amid serious things that you feel it shame to give yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness in the land of Fancy; you who think that life hath nought to do with innocent laughter that can harm no one; these pages are not for you. Clap to the leaves and go no farther than this, for I tell you plainly that if you go farther you will be scandalized by seeing good, sober folks of real history so frisk and caper in gay colors and motley that you would not know them but for the names tagged to them. Here is a stout, lusty fellow with a quick temper, yet none so ill for all that, who goes by the name of Henry II. Here is a fair, gentle lady before whom all the others bow and call her Queen Eleanor. Here is a fat rogue of a fellow, dressed up in rich robes of a clerical kind, that all the good folk call my Lord Bishop of Hereford. Here is a certain fellow with a sour temper and a grim look- the worshipful, the Sheriff of Nottingham. And here, above all, is a great, tall, merry fellow that roams the greenwood and joins in homely sports, and sits beside the Sheriff at merry feast, which same beareth the name of the proudest of the Plantagenets- Richard of the Lion's Heart

The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son

WHEN THE four yeomen had traveled for a long time toward Sherwood again, high noontide being past, they began to wax hungry. Quoth Robin Hood, “I would that I had somewhat to eat. Methinks a good loaf of white bread, with a piece of snow-white cheese, washed down with a draught of humming ale, were a feast for a king. ”

“Since thou speakest of it, ” said Will Scarlet, “methinks it would not be amiss myself. There is that within me crieth out, 'Victuals, good friend, victuals! '”

“I know a house near by, ” said Arthur a Bland, “and, had I but the money, I would bring ye that ye speak of; to wit, a sweet loaf of bread, a fair cheese, and a skin of brown ale. ”

“For the matter of that, thou knowest I have money by me, good master, ” quoth Little John.

“Why, so thou hast, Little John, ” said Robin. “How much money will it take, good Arthur, to buy us meat and drink? ”

“I think that six broad pennies will buy food enow for a dozen men, ” said the Tanner.

“Then give him six pennies, Little John, ” quoth Robin, “for methinks food for three men will about fit my need. Now get thee gone, Arthur, with the money, and bring the food here, for there is a sweet shade in that thicket yonder, beside the road, and there will we eat our meal. ”

So Little John gave Arthur the money, and the others stepped to the thicket, there to await the return of the Tanner.

After a time he came back, bearing with him a great brown loaf of bread, and a fair, round cheese, and a goatskin full of stout March beer, slung over his shoulders. Then Will Scarlet took his sword and divided the loaf and the cheese into four fair portions, and each man helped himself. Then Robin Hood took a deep pull at the beer. “Aha! ” said he, drawing in his breath, “never have I tasted sweeter drink than this. ”

After this no man spake more, but each munched away at his bread and cheese lustily, with ever and anon a pull at the beer.

At last Will Scarlet looked at a small piece of bread he still held in his hand, and quoth he, “Methinks I will give this to the sparrows. ” So, throwing it from him, he brushed the crumbs from his jerkin.

“I, too, ” quoth Robin, “have had enough, I think. ” As for Little John and the Tanner, they had by this time eaten every crumb of their bread and cheese.

“Now, ” quoth Robin, “I do feel myself another man, and would fain enjoy something pleasant before going farther upon our journey. I do bethink me, Will, that thou didst use to have a pretty voice, and one that tuned sweetly upon a song. Prythee, give us one ere we journey farther. ”

“Truly, I do not mind turning a tune, ” answered Will Scarlet, “but I would not sing alone. ”

“Nay, others will follow. Strike up, lad, ” quoth Robin.

“In that case, 'tis well, ” said Will Scarlet. “I do call to mind a song that a certain minstrel used to sing in my father's hall, upon occasion. I know no name for it and so can give you none; but thus it is. ” Then, clearing his throat, he sang:

" In the merry blossom time,

When love longings food the breast,

When the flower is on the lime,

When the small fowl builds her nest,

Sweetly sings the nightingale

And the throstle cock so bold;

Cuckoo in the dewy dale

And the turtle in the word.

But the robin I love dear,

For he singeth through the year.

Robin! Robin!

Merry Robin!

So I'd have my true love be:

Not to fly

At the nigh

Sign of cold adversity .

" When the spring brings sweet delights,

When aloft the lark doth rise,

Lovers woo o' mellow nights,

And youths peep in maidens' eyes,

That time blooms the eglantine,

Daisies pied upon the hill,

Cowslips fair and columbine,

Dusky violets by the rill.

But the ivy green cloth grow

When the north wind bringeth snow.

Ivy! Ivy!

Stanch and true!

Thus I'd have her love to be:

Not to die

At the nigh

Breath of cold adversity . "

“'Tis well sung, ” quoth Robin, “but, cousin, I tell thee plain, I would rather hear a stout fellow like thee sing some lusty ballad than a finicking song of flowers and birds, and what not. Yet, thou didst sing it fair, and 'tis none so bad a snatch of a song, for the matter of that. Now, Tanner, it is thy turn. ”

“I know not, ” quoth Arthur, smiling, with his head on one side, like a budding lass that is asked to dance, “I know not that I can match our sweet friend's song; moreover, I do verily think that I have caught a cold and have a certain tickling and huskiness in the windpipe. ”

“Nay, sing up, friend, ” quoth Little John, who sat next to him, patting him upon the shoulder. “Thou hast a fair, round, mellow voice; let us have a touch of it. ”

“Nay, an ye will ha' a poor thing, ” said Arthur, “I will do my best. Have ye ever heard of the wooing of Sir Keith, the stout young Cornish knight, in good King Arthur's time? ”

“Methinks I have heard somewhat of it, ” said Robin; “but ne'ertheless strike up thy ditty and let us hear it, for, as I do remember me, it is a gallant song; so out with it, good fellow. ”

Thereupon, clearing his throat, the Tanner, without more ado, began to sing:

THE WOOING OF SIR KEITH

" King Arthur sat in his royal hall,

And about on either hand

Was many a noble lordling tall,

The greatest in the land.

"Sat Lancelot with raven locks,

Gawaine with golden hair,

Sir Tristram, Kay who kept the locks,

And many another there.

"And through the stained windows bright,

From o'er the red-tiled eaves,

The sunlight blazed with colored light

On golden helms and greaves.

"But suddenly a silence came

About the Table Round,

For up the hall there walked a dame

Bent nigh unto the ground.

"Her nose was hooked, her eyes were bleared,

Her locks were lank and white;

Upon her chin there grew a beard;

She was a gruesome sight.

"And so with crawling step she came

And kneeled at Arthur's feet;

Quoth Kay, 'She is the foulest dame

That e'er my sight did greet. '

"'O mighty King! of thee I crave

A boon on bended knee';

'Twas thus she spoke. 'What wouldst thou have. '

Quoth Arthur, King, 'of me ? '

" Quoth she, 'I have a foul disease

Doth gnaw my very heart,

And but one thing can bring me ease

Or cure my bitter smart.

"'There is no rest, no ease for me

North, east, or west, or south,

Till Christian knight will willingly

Thrice kiss me on the mouth.

"'Nor wedded may this childe have been

That giveth ease to me;

Nor may he be constrained, I ween,

But kiss me willingly.

"'So is there here one Christian knight

Of such a noble strain

That he will give a tortured wight

Sweet ease of mortal pain? '

"'A wedded man, ' quoth Arthur, King,

'A wedded man I be

Else would I deem it noble thing

To kiss thee willingly.

"'Now, Lancelot, in all men's sight

Thou art the head and chief

Of chivalry. Come, noble knight,

And give her quick relief. '

"But Lancelot he turned aside

And looked upon the ground,

For it did sting his haughty pride

To hear them laugh around.

"'Come thou, Sir Tristram, ' quoth the King.

Quoth he, 'It cannot be,

For ne'er can I my stomach bring

To do it willingly. '

"'Wilt thou, Sir Kay, thou scornful wight? '

Quoth Kay, 'Nay, by my troth!

What noble dame would kiss a knight

That kissed so foul a mouth ? '

"' Wilt thou, Gawaine? ' 'I cannot, King. '

'Sir Geraint? ' 'Nay, not I;

My kisses no relief could bring,

For sooner would I die. '

"Then up and spake the youngest man

Of all about the board,

'Now such relief as Christian can

I'll give to her, my lord. '

"It was Sir Keith, a youthful knight,

Yet strong of limb and bold,

With beard upon his chin as light

As finest threads of gold.

"Quoth Kay, 'He hath no mistress yet

That he may call his own,

But here is one that's quick to get,

As s...

Table of contents

• THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
• PREFACE
• How Robin Hood Cane to Be an Outlaw
• Robin Hood and the Tinker
• The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town
• Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions
• Robin Hood Turns Butcher
• Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair
• How Little John Lived at the Sheriff's
• Little John and the Tanner of Blyth
• Robin Hood and Will Scarlet
• The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son
• Robin Hood and Allan a Dale
• Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
• Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage
• Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight
• How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
• Little John Turns Barefoot Friar
• Robin Hood Turns Beggar
• Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor
• The Chase of Robin Hood
• Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne
• King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest
• Epilogue
• Copyright