The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood quotes

Then one of them, with his mouth full, called out to Robin, "Hulloa, where goest thou, little lad, with thy one-penny bow and thy farthing shafts?"

Then Robin grew angry, for no stripling likes to be taunted with his green years.

"Now," quoth he, "my bow and eke mine arrows are as good as shine; and moreover, I go to the shooting match at Nottingham Town, which same has been proclaimed by our good Sheriff of Nottinghamshire;

Loud laughed Robin and cried, "Now well taken, Tinker, well taken!

Why, thy wits are like beer, and do froth up most when they grow sour!

But right art thou, man, for I love ale and beer right well.

So look well to thyself, I say, or ill may befall thee as well as all the thieving knaves in Nottinghamshire.

When the flood cometh it sweepeth away grain as well as chaff.

"

"Come, fill us some sack!" cried Robin. "

Let us e'er be merry while we may, for man is but dust, and he hath but a span to live here till the worm getteth him, as our good gossip Swanthold sayeth; so let life be merry while it lasts, say I.

Nay, never look down i' the mouth, Sir Sheriff. Who knowest but that thou mayest catch Robin Hood yet, if thou drinkest less good sack and Malmsey, and bringest down the fat about thy paunch and the dust from out thy brain. Be merry, man."

"Nay, good Cook, bear thou thyself more seemingly, or else I will come forth to thy dole.

At most times I am as a yearling lamb, but when one cometh between me and my meat, I am a raging lion, as it were.

"

"Glad am I thou likest it, sweet lad," said the Cook. "

Now sing thou one also, for ne'er should a man be merry alone, or sing and list not.

"

So, without more ado, off he strode down the path that lay the way of his likings.

Now there was no sign of any foul weather, but when one wishes to do a thing, as Little John did, one finds no lack of reasons for the doing.

Four merry wags were at the Blue Boar Inn; a butcher, a beggar, and two barefoot friars. Little John heard them singing from afar, as he walked through the hush of the mellow twilight that was now falling over hill and dale.

"Marry come up with a murrain!" cried the Tanner, for he, too, had talked himself into a fume. "

Big words ne'er killed so much as a mouse.

Who art thou that talkest so freely of cracking the head of Arthur a Bland?

"Alas!" said the stranger sadly, "it doth grieve me that this thing must be.

I fear much that I must slay thee, thou poor fellow!

" So saying, he drew his sword.

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.

"

"Nay, thou dost mistake," quoth Robin, "I meant that thou mightest perhaps have some heavy farthings or pence about thee, not to speak of silver and gold.

Our good Gaffer Swanthold sayeth that gold is an overheavy burden for a two-legged ass to carry; so we would e'en lift some of this load from thee.

"

Then catching up his great crabstaff, the Miller began laying about him as though he were clean gone mad.

This way and that skipped the four, like peas on a drumhead, but they could see neither to defend themselves nor to run away.

Thwack! thwack! went the Miller's cudgel across their backs, and at every blow great white clouds of flour rose in the air from their jackets and went drifting down the breeze.

At last the sun began to sink low in the heavens; the light grew red and the shadows long.

The air grew full of silence, the birds twittered sleepily, and from afar came, faint and clear, the musical song of the milkmaid calling the kine home to the milking.

Then Stutely arose from where he was lying. "A plague of such ill luck!" quoth he. "Here have we abided all day, and no bird worth the shooting, so to speak, hath come within reach of our bolt.

Then, when the others had gone, each man about his business, Robin turned once more to the youth. "Now, lad," said he, "tell us thy troubles, and speak freely.

A flow of words doth ever ease the heart of sorrows; it is like opening the waste weir when the mill dam is overfull.

Come, sit thou here beside me, and speak at thine ease."

"Truly," quoth he, "the dear world is as fair here as in the woodland shades. Who calls it a vale of tears?

Methinks it is but the darkness in our minds that bringeth gloom to the world.

For what sayeth that merry song thou singest, Little John? Is it not thus?

… lies ripening in the cellar, hams and bacon hang in the smoke-shed, and crabs are stowed away in the straw for roasting in the wintertime, when the north wind piles the snow in drifts around the gables and the fire crackles warm upon the hearth.

So passed the seasons then, so they pass now, and so they will pass in time to come, while we come and go like leaves of the tree that fall and are soon forgotten.

Quoth Robin Hood, snuffing the air, "Here is a fair day, Little John, and one that we can ill waste in idleness.

"Marry," quoth Robin, "that is a question hard to answer. One man calleth me kind, another calleth me cruel; this one calleth me good honest fellow, and that one, vile thief.

Truly, the world hath as many eyes to look upon a man withal as there are spots on a toad; so, with what pair of eyes thou regardest me lieth entirely with thine own self.

My name is Robin Hood."

"Now, I make my vow, Sir Knight," quoth Robin, "thou hast surely learned thy wisdom of good Gaffer Swanthold, for he sayeth, '

Fair words are as easy spoke as foul, and bring good will in the stead of blows.

' Now I will show thee the truth of this saying; for, if thou wilt go with me this day to Sherwood Forest, I will give thee as merry a feast as ever thou hadst in all thy life."

"Put up thy purse, Sir Richard," quoth Robin. "Far be it from me to doubt the word of so gentle a knight.

The proud I strive to bring low, but those that walk in sorrow I would aid if I could.

Come, Sir Richard, cheer up thy heart and go with us into the greenwood.

"Never a man," said Sir Richard. "While I was rich enow at home, and had friends, they blew great boasts of how they loved me.

But when the oak falls in the forest the swine run from beneath it lest they should be smitten down also.

So my friends have left me; for not only am I poor but I have great enemies."

"How now," broke in the Prior in a quivering voice, his eyes glistening and his cheeks red with anger, "dost thou prate to my very beard, sirrah?

By Saint Hubert, thou hadst best save thy breath to cool thy pottage, else it may scald thy mouth.

"

A merry feast it was to which Sir Richard came, but a sorry lot he left behind him, and little hunger had they for the princely food spread before them.

Only the learned doctor was happy, for he had his fee.

Now a twelvemonth and a day passed since Prior Vincent of Emmet sat at feast, and once more the mellow fall of another year had come. But the year had brought great change, I wot, to the lands of Sir Richard of the Lea;

"I thank you all deeply," said the Knight earnestly, "but think it not ill of me if I cannot take it. Gladly have I borrowed it from you, but it may not be that I can take it as a gift."

Then Robin Hood said no more but gave the money to Little John to put away in the treasury, for he had shrewdness enough to know that nought breeds ill will and heart bitterness like gifts forced upon one that cannot choose but take them.

Then Sir Richard had the packs laid upon the ground and opened, whereupon a great shout went up that made the forest ring again, for lo, there were tenscore bows of finest Spanish yew, all burnished till they shone again, and each bow inlaid with …

The plowboy shouted in the sun, and in the purple new-turned furrows flocks of birds hunted for fat worms.

All the broad moist earth smiled in the warm light, and each little green hill clapped its hand for joy.

On a deer's hide, stretched on the ground in the open in front of the greenwood tree, sat Robin Hood basking in the sun like an old dog fox.

Gaffer Swanthold speaks truly when he saith, '

Better a crust with content than honey with a sour heart.

'"

At this the jolly Beggar cocked his head on one side, like a rogue of a magpie. Quoth he, "

I am an ill jug to pour heavy things into, good friend, and, if I mistake not, thou hast few serious words to spare at any time.

"

likewise, when there is no ale to be had I wash the dust from out my throat with a trickle of cold water. I was sitting here, as thou camest upon me, bethinking myself whether I should break my fast or no.

I do love to let my hunger grow mightily keen ere I eat, for then a dry crust is as good to me as a venison pasty with suet and raisins is to stout King Harry.

I have a sharp hunger upon me now, but methinks in a short while it will ripen to a right mellow appetite."

I do love to let my hunger grow mightily keen ere I eat, for then a dry crust is as good to me as a venison pasty with suet and raisins is to stout King Harry.

I have a sharp hunger upon me now, but methinks in a short while it will ripen to a right mellow appetite.

"

… hands ere he drank, "methinks it is no more than seemly of you all to be glad to see me, seeing that I bring sight to the blind, speech to the dumb, hearing to the deaf, and such a lusty leg to a lame man.

I drink to your happiness, brothers, as I may not drink to your health, seeing ye are already hale, wind and limb.

"

Do we not make our livings by doing nought of any good? Do we not both live without touching palm to honest work? Have we either of us ever rubbed thumbs over honestly gained farthings? Go to!

We are brothers, I say; only thou art rich and I am poor; wherefore, I prythee once more, give me a penny.

"

"Stay, good friend," quoth he, between bursts of merriment, "thou art the slyest old fox that e'er I saw in all my life! —In the soles of his shoon, quotha!—

If ever I trust a poor-seeming man again, shave my head and paint it blue!

A corn factor, a horse jockey, an estate agent, and a jackdaw for cunningness, say I!" And he laughed again till he shook in his shoes with mirth.

Quoth merry Robin, "I ha' been a many things in my life before, but never have I been an honest cobbler. Come, friend, let us fall to and eat, for something within me cackles aloud for that good fat capon."

So both sat down and began to feast right lustily, so that when they were done the bones of the capon were picked as bare as charity.

Then Robin stretched his legs out with a sweet feeling of comfort within him. Quoth he, "By the turn of thy voice, good Quince, I know that thou hast a fair song or two running loose in thy head like colts in a meadow.

In the meantime the storm broke. Another gust of wind went rushing by, and with it fell a few heavy drops of rain, which presently came rattling down in showers, beating against the casements like a hundred little hands.

Bright flashes of lightning lit up every raindrop, and with them came cracks of thunder that went away rumbling and bumping as though Saint Swithin were busy rolling great casks of water across rough ground overhead.

The womenfolks screamed, and the merry wags in the taproom put their arms around their waists to soothe them into quietness.

In the meantime the storm broke.

Another gust of wind went rushing by, and with it fell a few heavy drops of rain, which presently came rattling down in showers, beating against the casements like a hundred little hands.

Bright flashes of lightning lit up every raindrop, and with them came cracks of thunder that went away rumbling and bumping as though Saint Swithin were busy rolling great casks of water across rough ground overhead.

Robin Hood and Little John walked down a forest path where all around the leaves danced and twinkled as the breeze trembled through them and the sunlight came flickering down. Quoth Robin Hood, "

I make my vow, Little John, my blood tickles my veins as it flows through them this gay morn.

What sayst thou to our seeking adventures, each one upon his own account?"

Robin Hood strolled onward till he came to where a broad woodland road stretched before him.

Overhead the branches of the trees laced together in flickering foliage, all golden where it grew thin to the sunlight; beneath his feet the ground was soft and moist from the sheltering shade.

Here in this pleasant spot the sharpest adventure that ever befell Robin Hood came upon him;

"Tut, tut," quoth merry Robin, "speak not so sourly, brother.

Hast thou fed upon vinegar and nettles this morning that thy speech is so stinging?

"

Then, as the yeomen ran to do their master's bidding, Tuck turned to one of the mock friars. "Hearest thou our master?" quoth he, with a sly wink. "

Whenever he cometh across some poor piece of wit he straightway layeth it on the shoulders of this Gaffer Swanthold—whoever he may be— so that the poor goodman goeth traveling about with all the odds and ends and tags and rags of our master's brain packed on his back.

" Thus spake Friar Tuck, but in a low voice so that Robin could not hear him, for he felt somewhat nettled at Robin's cutting his talk so short.

"It may not be," said merry Robin. "

I am king here, and no subject may raise hand against the king.

But even our great King Richard may yield to the holy Pope without shame, and even take a tap from him by way of penance;

"

I know not, Your Majesty," said Allan, shaking his head, "for ofttimes I sing that which I do not clearly understand mine own self.

"