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relieved him from a doubt that pressed heavily on his mind； as to whether
he was in the right road or the wrong； when the youth prevented the
inquiry by saying： 〃In God's name； sir knight； you are late to your meals。
My master has tarried dinner for you these three hours。〃
〃I doubt；〃 said the knight； 〃I am not he you wot of。 I am no where
bidden to day and I know none in this vicinage。〃
〃We feared；〃 said the youth； 〃your memory would be treacherous：
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therefore am I stationed here to refresh it。〃
〃Who is your master？〃 said the knight； 〃and where does he abide？〃
〃My master；〃 said the youth； 〃is called Robin Hood； and he abides
hard by。〃
〃And what knows he of me？〃 said the knight。
〃He knows you；〃 answered the youth 〃as he does every way…faring
knight and friar； by instinct。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the knight； 〃then I understand his bidding： but how if
I say I will not come？〃
〃I am enjoined to bring you；〃 said the youth。 〃If persuasion avail not；
I must use other argument。〃
〃Say'st thou so？〃 said the knight； 〃I doubt if thy stripling rhetoric
would convince me。〃
〃That；〃 said the young forester； 〃we will see。〃
〃We are not equally matched； boy；〃 said the knight。 〃I should get less
honour by thy conquest； than grief by thy injury。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the youth； 〃my strength is more than my seeming； and
my cunning more than my strength。 Therefore let it please your
knighthood to dismount。〃
〃It shall please my knighthood to chastise thy presumption；〃 said the
knight； springing from his saddle。
Hereupon； which in those days was usually the result of a meeting
between any two persons anywhere； they proceeded to fight。 The knight
had in an uncommon degree both strength and skill： the forester had less
strength； but not less skill than the knight； and showed such a mastery of
his weapon as reduced the latter to great admiration。
They had not fought many minutes by the forest clock； the sun； and
had as yet done each other no worse injury than that the knight had
wounded the forester's jerkin； and the forester had disabled the knight's
plume； when they were interrupted by a voice from a thicket； exclaiming；
〃Well fought； girl： well fought。 Mass； that had nigh been a shrewd hit。
Thou owest him for that； lass。 Marry； stand by； I'll pay him for thee。〃
The knight turning to the voice； beheld a tall friar issuing from the
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thicket； brandishing a ponderous cudgel。
〃Who art thou？〃 said the knight。
〃I am the church militant of Sherwood；〃 answered the friar。 〃Why art
thou in arms against our lady queen？〃
〃What meanest thou？〃 said the knight。
〃Truly； this；〃 said the friar； 〃is our liege lady of the forest； against
whom I do apprehend thee in overt act of treason。 What sayest thou for
thyself？〃
〃I say；〃 answered the knight； 〃that if this be indeed a lady； man never
yet held me so long。〃
〃Spoken；〃 said the friar； 〃like one who hath done execution。 Hast thou
thy stomach full of steel？ Wilt thou diversify thy repast with a taste of
my oak…graff？ Or wilt thou incline thine heart to our venison which truly
is cooling？ Wilt thou fight？ or wilt thou dine？ or wilt thou fight and dine？
or wilt thou dine and fight？ I am for thee； choose as thou mayest。〃
〃I will dine；〃 said the knight； 〃for with lady I never fought before； and
with friar I never fought yet； and with neither will I ever fight knowingly：
and if this be the queen of the forest； I will not； being in her own
dominions； be backward to do her homage。〃
So saying； he kissed the hand of Marian； who was pleased most
graciously to express her approbation。
〃Gramercy； sir knight；〃 said the friar； 〃I laud thee for thy courtesy；
which I deem to be no less than thy valour。 Now do thou follow me； while
I follow my nose； which scents the pleasant odour of roast from the depth
of the forest recesses。 I will lead thy horse； and do thou lead my lady。〃
The knight took Marian's hand； and followed the friar； who walked
before them； singing：
When the wind blows； when the wind blows From where under
buck the dry log glows； What guide can you follow； O'er
brake and o'er hollow； So true as a ghostly； ghostly nose？
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CHAPTER XVIII
Robin and Richard were two pretty men。 Mother Goose's Melody。
They proceeded； following their infallible guide； first along a light
elastic greensward under the shade of lofty and wide…spreading trees that
skirted a sunny opening of the forest； then along labyrinthine paths； which
the deer； the outlaw； or the woodman had made； through the close shoots
of the young coppices； through the thick undergrowth of the ancient
woods； through beds of gigantic fern that filled the narrow glades and
waved their green feathery heads above the plume of the knight。 Along
these sylvan alleys they walked in single file； the friar singing and
pioneering in the van； the horse plunging and floundering behind the friar；
the lady following 〃in maiden meditation fancy free；〃 and the knight
bringing up the rear； much marvelling at the strange company into which
his stars had thrown him。 Their path had expanded sufficiently to allow the
knight to take Marian's hand again； when they arrived in the august
presence of Robin Hood and his court。
Robin's table was spread under a high overarching canopy of living
boughs； on the edge of a natural lawn of verdure starred with flowers；
through which a swift transparent rivulet ran sparkling in the sun。 The
board was covered with abundance of choice food and excellent liquor；
not without the comeliness of snow…white linen and the splendour of
costly plate； which the sheri