Collected Poems Volume II Part 28

[_Enter LITTLE JOHN, a giant figure, leading a donkey, laden with a sack. On the other side, SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF trips, a slender figure in green trunk-hose and doublet.

He is tickling the donkey's ears with a long fern._]

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Gee! Whoa!

Neddy, my boy, have you forgot the Weaver, And how t.i.tania tickled your long ears?

Ha! ha! Don't ferns remind you?

LITTLE JOHN

Friends, my master Hath sent me to you, fearing ye might hunger.

FIRST OLD MAN

Thy master?

LITTLE JOHN

Robin Hood.

SECOND WOMAN

[_Falling on her knees._]

G.o.d bless his name.

G.o.d bless the kindly name of Robin Hood.

LITTLE JOHN

[_Giving them food._]

'Tis well nigh all that's left him; and to-night He goes to his betrothal feast.

[_All the outcasts except the first old man exeunt._]

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

[_Pointing to the donkey._]

Now look, There's nothing but that shadow of a cross On his grey back to tell you of the palms That once were strewn before my Lord, the King.

Won't ferns, won't branching ferns, do just as well?

There's only a dream to ride my donkey now!

But, Neddy, I'll lead you home and cry--HOSANNA!

We'll thread the glad Gate Beautiful again, Though now there's only a Fool to hold your bridle And only moonlit ferns to strew your path, And the great King is fighting for a grave In lands beyond the sea. Come, Neddy, come, Hosanna!

[_Exit SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF with the donkey. He strews ferns before it as he goes._]

FIRST OLD MAN

'Tis a strange creature, master! Thinkest There's fairy blood in him?

LITTLE JOHN

'Twas he that brought Word of your plight to Robin Hood. He flits Like Moons.h.i.+ne thro' the forest. He'll be home Before I know it. I must be hastening back.

This makes a sad betrothal night.

FIRST OLD MAN

That minds me, Couched in the thicket yonder, we overheard The Sheriff tell Prince John....

LITTLE JOHN

Prince John!

FIRST OLD MAN

You'd best Warn Robin Hood. They're laying a trap for him.

Ay! Now I mind me of it! I heard 'em say They'd take him at the castle.

LITTLE JOHN

To-night?

FIRST OLD MAN

To-night!

Fly, lad, for G.o.d's dear love. Warn Robin Hood!

Fly like the wind, or you'll be there too late.

And yet you'd best be careful. There's five score In ambush round the castle.

LITTLE JOHN

I'll be there An if I have to break five hundred heads!

[_He rushes off thro' the forest. The old man goes into the thicket after the others. The scene darkens. A soft light, as of the moon, appears between the ferns to the right of the glade, showing OBERON and t.i.tANIA._]

t.i.tANIA

Yet one night more the gates of fairyland Are opened by a mortal's kindly deed.

OBERON

Last night the gates were shut, and I heard weeping!

Men, women, children, beat upon the gates That guard our happy world. They could not sleep.

t.i.tania, must not that be terrible, When mortals cannot sleep?

t.i.tANIA