Collected Poems Volume II Part 46

MINSTREL

And I ride Through all the world to seek and find my King!

[_He pa.s.ses through the fairy host and goes into the woods on the further side of the glade, continuing his song, which dies away in the distance._]

[_Song._]

"Death? What is death?" he cried.

"I must ride on, On to my true love's side, Up to her throne!"

[_Curtain._]

ACT III

SCENE I. _May-day. An open place (near NOTTINGHAM). A crowd of rustics and townsfolk a.s.sembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLET._

FIRST RUSTIC

A sad may-day! Where yonder gallows glowers, We should have raised the may-pole.

SECOND RUSTIC

Ay, no songs, No kisses in the ring, no country dances To-day; no lads and la.s.ses on the green, Crowning their queen of may.

[_Enter ROBIN HOOD, disguised as an old beggar, with a green patch on one eye._]

ROBIN

Is this the place, Masters, where they're a-goin' to hang Will Scarlet?

FIRST RUSTIC

Ay, father, more's the pity.

ROBIN

Eh! Don't ye think There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many That seems to like him well, here, roundabouts.

SECOND RUSTIC

Too many halberts round him. There's no chance.

ROBIN

I've heard the forest might break out, the lads In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did?

FIRST RUSTIC

There's many here would swing a cudgel and help To trip the Sheriff up. If Robin Hood Were only here! But then he's outlawed now.

SECOND RUSTIC

Ay, and there's big rewards out. It would be Sure death for him to try a rescue now.

The biggest patch of Lincoln Green we'll see This day, is that same patch on thy old eye, Eh, lads!

THIRD RUSTIC

What's more, they say Prince John is out This very day, scouring thro' Sherwood forest In quest of Lady Marian!

ROBIN

[_Sharply._]

You heard that?

THIRD RUSTIC

Ay, for they say she's flown to Sherwood forest.

SECOND RUSTIC

Ah! Ah? That's why he went. I saw Prince John!

With these same eyes I saw him riding out To Sherwood, not an hour ago.

ROBIN

You saw him?

SECOND RUSTIC

Ay, and he only took three men at arms.

FIRST RUSTIC

Three men at arms! Why then, he must ha' known That Robin's men would all be busy here!

He's none so bold, he would not risk his skin!

I think there'll be some scuffling after all.

ROBIN

Ay, tell 'em so--go, spread it thro' the crowd!

[_He mutters to himself._]

He'd take some time, to find her, but 'fore G.o.d We must be quick; 'fore G.o.d we must be quick!