ACT III
Scene I. May-day. An open place (near Nottingham). A crowd of rustics and townsfolk assembling 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 lasses 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 God
We must be quick; 'fore God we must be quick!
SECOND RUSTIC
Why, father, one would never think to see thee
Thou had'st so sound a heart!
FIRST RUSTIC
Ah, here they come!
The Sheriff and his men; and, in the midst,
There's poor Will Scarlet bound.
THE CROWD MURMURS
Ah, here they come!
Look at the halberts shining! Can you see him?
FIRST RUSTIC
There, there he is. His face is white: but, Lord,
He takes it bravely.
SECOND RUSTIC
He's a brave man, Will.
SHERIFF
Back with the crowd there, guards; delay no time!
SOME WOMEN IN THE CROWD
Ah, ah, poor lad!
ROBIN
[Eagerly.]
What are they doing now?
I cannot see!
FIRST RUSTIC
The Sheriff's angered now!
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, for they say a messenger has come
From that same godless hangman whose lean neck
I'd like to twist, saying he is delayed.
'Tis the first godly deed he has ever done.
THIRD RUSTIC
The Sheriff says he will not be delayed.
But who will take the hangman's office?
ROBIN
Masters,
I have a thought; make way; let me bespeak
The Sheriff!
RUSTICS
How now, father, what's to do?
ROBIN
Make way, I tell you. Here's the man they want!
SHERIFF
What's this?
ROBIN
Good master Sheriff, I've a grudge
Against Will Scarlet. Let me have the task
Of sending him to heaven!
CROWD
Ah-h-h, the old devil!
SHERIFF
Come on, then, and be brief!
ROBIN
I'm not a hangman;
But I can cleave your thinnest hazel wand
At sixty yards.
SHERIFF
Shoot, then, and make an end.
Make way there, clear the way!
[An opening is made in the crowd. Robin stands in the gap, Will Scarlet is not seen by the audience.]
CROWD
Ah-h-h, the old devil!
ROBIN
I'll shoot him one on either side, just graze him,
To show you how I love him; then the third
Slick in his heart.
[He shoots. A murmur goes up from the crowd. The crowd hides Will Scarlet during the shooting. But Robin remains in full view, in the opening.]
SHERIFF
[Angrily.]
Take care! You've cut the cord
That bound him on that side!
ROBIN
Then here's the second!
I will be careful!
[He takes a steady aim.]
A RUSTIC TO HIS NEIGHBOURS
I' faith, lads, he can shoot!
What do you think—that green patch on his eye
Smacks of the merry men! He's tricking them!
[Robin shoots. A louder murmur goes up from the crowd.]
SHERIFF
You have cut the rope again!
A CRY
He has cut him free!
ROBIN
All right! All right! It's just to tease the dog!
Here's for the third now!
[He aims and shoots quickly. There is a loud cry of a wounded man; then a shout from the crowd.]
THE CROWD
Ah-h-h, he has missed; he has killed
One of the guards!
FIRST RUSTIC
What has he done?
SECOND RUSTIC
He has killed
One of the Sheriff's men!
SHERIFF
There's treachery here!
I'll cleave the first man's heart that moves!
ROBIN
Will Scarlet,
Pick up that dead man's halbert!
SHERIFF
Treachery! Help!
Down with the villain!
ROBIN
[Throws off his beggar's crouch and hurls the Sheriff and several of his men back amongst the crowd. His cloak drops off.]
Sherwood! A merry Sherwood!
CROWD
Ah! ha! The Lincoln Green! A Robin Hood!
[A bugle rings out and immediately some of the yokels throw off their disguise and the Lincoln green appears as by magic amongst the crowd. The guards are rushed and hustled by them. Robin and several of his men make a ring round Will Scarlet.]
SHERIFF
It is the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon:
There is a great reward upon his head.
Down with him!
[The Sheriff's men make a rush at the little band. A Knight in jet black armour, with a red-cross shield, suddenly appears and forces his way through the mob, sword in hand.]
KNIGHT
What, so many against so few!
Back, you wild wolves. Now, foresters, follow me,
For our St. George and merry England, charge,
Charge them, my lads!
[The Foresters make a rush with him and the Sheriff and his men take to flight.]
ROBIN
Now back to Sherwood, swiftly!
A horse, or I shall come too late; a horse!
[He sees the Knight in armour standing by his horse.]
Your pardon, sir; our debt to you is great,
Too great almost for thanks; but if you be
Bound by the vows of chivalry, I pray you
Lend me your charger; and my men will bring you
To my poor home in Sherwood. There you'll find
A most abundant gratitude.
KNIGHT
Your name?
ROBIN
Was Huntingdon; but now is Robin Hood.
KNIGHT
If I refuse?
ROBIN
Then, sir, I must perforce
Take it. I am an outlaw, but the law
Of manhood still constrains me—'tis a matter
Of life and death—
KNIGHT
Take it and God be with you!
I'll follow you to Sherwood with your men.
[Robin seizes the horse, leaps to the saddle, and gallops away.]
[Curtain.]
Scene II. Sherwood Forest. Outside the cave. Jenny, Marian and Widow Scarlet.
MARIAN
This dreadful waiting! How I wish that Robin
Had listened to the rest and stayed with me.
How still the woods are! Jenny, do you think There will be fighting? Oh, I am selfish, mother;
You need not be afraid. Robin will bring
Will Scarlet safely back to Sherwood. Why,
Perhaps they are all returning even now!
Cheer up! How long d'you think they've been away,
Jenny, six hours or more? The sun is high,
And all the dew is gone.
JENNY
Nay, scarce three hours.
Now don't you keep a-fretting. They'll be back,
Quite soon enough. I've scarcely spoke with you,
This last three days and more; and even now
It seems I cannot get you to myself,
Two's quite enough.
[To Widow Scarlet.]
Come, widow, come with me.
I'll give you my own corner in the hut
And make you cosy. If you take a nap
Will Scarlet will be here betimes you wake.
[Takes her to the hut and shuts her in.]
There, drat her, for a mumping mumble-crust!
MARIAN
Come, Jenny, that's too bad; the poor old dame
Is lonely.
JENNY
She's not lonely when she sleeps,
And if I never get you to myself
Where was the good of trapesing after you
And living here in Sherwood like wild rabbits?
You ha'nt so much as let me comb your hair
This last three days and more.
MARIAN
Well, comb it, Jenny,
Now, if you like, and comb it all day long;
But don't get crabbed, and don't speak so crossly!
[Jenny begins loosening Marian's hair and combing it.]
JENNY
Why, Mistress, it grows longer every day.
It's far below your knees, and how it shines!
And wavy, just like Much the Miller's brook,
Where it comes tumbling out into the sun,
Like gold, red gold.
MARIAN
Ah, that's provoking, Jenny,
For you forgot to bring me my steel glass,
And, if you chatter so, I shall soon want it.
JENNY
I've found a very good one at a pinch.
There's a smooth silver pool, down in the stream,
Where you can see your face most beautiful.
MARIAN
So that's how Jenny spends her lonely hours,
A sad female Narcissus, while poor Much
Dwines to an Echo!
JENNY
I don't like those gods.
I never cared for them. But, as for Much,
Much is the best of all the merry men.
And, mistress, O, he speaks so beautifully,
It might be just an Echo from blue hills
Far, far away! You see he's quite a scholar:
Much, more an' most (That's what he calls the three
Greasy caparisons—much, more an' most)!
You see they thought that being so very small
They could not make him grow to be a man,
They'd make a scholar of him instead. The Friar
Taught him his letters. He can write his name,
And mine, and yours, just like a missal book,
In lovely colours; and he always draws
The first big letter of Jenny like a tree
With naked Cupids hiding in the branches. Mistress, I don't believe you hear one word
I ever speak to you! Your eyes are always
That far and far away.
MARIAN
I'm listening, Jenny!
JENNY
Well, when he draws the first big M of yours,
He makes it like a bridge from earth to heaven,
With white-winged angels passing up and down;
And, underneath the bridge, in a black stream,
He puts the drowning face of the bad Prince
Holding his wicked hands out, while a devil
Stands on the bank and with a pointed stake
Keeps him from landing—
Ah, what's that? What's that?
MARIAN
O Jenny, how you startled me!
JENNY
I thought
I saw that same face peering thro' the ferns
Yonder—there—see, they are shaking still.
[She screams.]
Ah! Ah!
[Prince John and another man appear advancing across the glade.]
JOHN
So here's my dainty tigress in her den,
And—Warman—there's a pretty scrap for you
Beside her. Now, sweet mistress, will you deign
To come with me, to change these cheerless woods
For something queenlier? If I be not mistaken,
You have had time to tire of that dark cave.
Was I not right, now? Surely you can see Those tresses were not meant to waste their gold
Upon this desert. Nay, but Marian, hear me.
I do not jest.
[At a sign from Marian, Jenny goes quickly inside the cave.]
That's well! Dismiss your maid!
Warman, remove a little.
[His man retires.]
I see you think
A little better of me! Out in the wood
There waits a palfrey for you, and the stirrup
Longs, as I long, to clasp your dainty foot.
I am very sure by this you must be tired
Of outlawry, a lovely maid like you.
[He draws nearer.]
MARIAN
Wait—I must think, must think.
JOHN
Give me your hand!
Why do you shrink from me? If you could know
The fire that burns me night and day, you would not
Refuse to let me snatch one cooling kiss
From that white hand of yours.
MARIAN
If you be prince,
You will respect my loneliness and go.
JOHN
How can I leave you, when by day and night
I see that face of yours.
I'll not pretend
I do not love you, do not long for you,
Desire and hunger for your kiss, your touch!
I'll not pretend to be a saint, you see!
I hunger and thirst for you. Marian, Marian.
MARIAN
JOHN
Ay, mad for you.
Body and soul
I am broken up with love for you. Your eyes
Flash like the eyes of a tigress, and I love them
The better for it.
Ah, do not shrink from me!
[Jenny comes out of the cave and hands Marian a bow. She leaps back and aims it at John.]
MARIAN
Back, you wild beast, or by the heaven above us,
I'll kill you! Now, don't doubt me. I can shoot
Truly as any forester. I swear,
Prince or no prince, king or no king, I'll kill you
If you should stir one step from where you stand.
JOHN
Come, come, sweet Marian, put that weapon down.
I was beside myself, was carried away.
I cannot help my love for—
MARIAN
I'll not hear
Another sickening word: throw down your arms,
That dagger at your side.
JOHN
Oh, that's too foolish,
Marian, I swear—
MARIAN
You see that rusty stain
Upon the silver birch down yonder? Watch.
[She shoots. Then swiftly aims at him again.]
Now, throw your weapon down.
[He pulls out the dagger and throws it down, with a shrug of his shoulders. One of his men steals up behind Marian.]
JENNY
Ah, Mistress Marian,
There's one behind you! Look!
[The man springs forward and seizes Marian's arms.]
JOHN
[Coming forward and taking hold of her also.]
So, my sweet tigress,
You're trapped then, are you? Well, we'll waste no time!
We'll talk this over when we reach the castle.
Keep off the maid, there, Warman; I can manage
This turbulent beauty. Ah, by God, you shall
Come! Ah? God's blood, what's this?
[Marian has succeeded in drawing her dagger and slightly wounding him. She wrests herself free.]
MARIAN
Keep back, I warn you!
JOHN
[Advancing slowly.]
Strike, now strike if you will. You will not like
To see the red blood spurting up your hand.
That's not maid's work. Come, strike!
[Robin Hood appears at the edge of the glade behind him]
You see, you cannot!
Your heart is tenderer than you think.
ROBIN
[Quietly.]
Prince John!
JOHN
[Turns round and confronts Robin.]
Out with your blade, Warman; call up the rest!
We can strike freely now, without a fear
Of marring the sweet beauty of the spoil.
We four can surely make an end of him. Have at him, lads, and swiftly, or the thieves
Will all be down on us.
[Robin draws his sword and sets his back to an oak. The other two followers of Prince John come out of the wood.]
ROBIN
Come on, all four!
This oak will shift its roots before I budge
One inch from four such howling wolves. Come on;
You must be tired of fighting women-folk.
Come on! By God, sir, you must guard your head
Better than that,
[He disarms Warman.]
Or you're just food for worms
Already; come, you dogs!
PRINCE JOHN
Work round, you three,
Behind him! Drive him out from that damned oak!
ROBIN
Oh, that's a princely speech! Have at you, sir!
[He strikes Prince John's sword out of his hand and turns suddenly to confront the others. John picks up a dagger and makes as if to stab Robin in the back. At the same instant, bugles are heard in the distance. The red-cross knight flashes between the trees and seizing John's arm in his gauntleted hand, disarms him, then turns to help Robin.]
KNIGHT
What, four on one! Down with your blades, you curs,
Or, by Mahound!—
[The three men take to flight. John stands staring at the newcomer. The Foresters appear, surrounding the glade.]
JOHN
[Muttering.]
What? Thou? Thou? Or his ghost?
No—no—it cannot be.
ROBIN
Let them yelp home,
The pitiful jackals. They have left behind
The prime offender. Ha, there, my merry lads,
All's well; but take this villain into the cave
And guard him there.
[The Foresters lead Prince John into the cave.]
JOHN
[To the Foresters.]
Answer me one thing: who
Is yonder red-cross knight?
A FORESTER
No friend of thine,
Whoe'er he be!
KNIGHT
[To Robin.]
I need not ask his name.
I grieve to know it!
ROBIN
Sir, I am much beholden
To your good chivalry. What thanks is mine
To give, is all your own.
KNIGHT
Then I ask this!
Give me that prisoner! I think his life is mine.
ROBIN
You saved my own, and more, you saved much more
Than my poor life is worth. But, sir, think well!
This man is dangerous, not to me alone,
But to the King of England; for he'll yet
Usurp the throne! Think well!
KNIGHT
I ask no more.
I have more reasons than you know.
ROBIN
So be it.
Ho! Bring the prisoner back!
[The Foresters bring Prince John back. He stares at the Knight as if in fear.]
Sir, you shall judge him.
This prisoner is your own.
KNIGHT
Then—let him go!
FORESTERS
What! Set him free?
ROBIN
Obey!
[They release Prince John.]
KNIGHT
Out of my sight;
Go!
PRINCE JOHN
What man is this?
KNIGHT
Quickly, get thee gone!
[Prince John goes out, shaken and white.]
ROBIN
We'll think no more of him! It is our rule
That whomsoe'er we meet in merry greenwood
Should dine with us. Will you not be our guest?
KNIGHT
That's a most happy thought! I have not heard
A merrier word than dinner all this day.
I am well-nigh starved.
ROBIN
Will you not raise your visor
And let us know to whose good knightly hand
We are so beholden?
KNIGHT
Sir, you will pardon me,
If, for a little, I remain unknown.
But, tell me, are you not that Robin Hood
Who breaks the forest laws?
ROBIN
That is my name.
We hold this earth as naturally our own
As the glad common air we breathe. We think
No man, no king, can so usurp the world
As not to give us room to live free lives,
But, if you shrink from eating the King's deer—
KNIGHT
Shrink? Ha! ha! ha! I count it as my own!
[The Foresters appear, preparing the dinner on a table of green turfs, beneath a spreading oak. Marian and Jenny appear at the door of the hut. Jenny goes across to help at the preparations for dinner.]
ROBIN
Ah, there's my Lady Marian! Will you not come
And speak with her?
[He and the Knight go and talk to Marian in the background.]
LITTLE JOHN
[At the table.]
The trenchers all are set;
Manchets of wheat, cream, curds and honey-cakes,
Venison pasties, roasted pigeons! Much,
Run to the cave; we'll broach our rarest wine
To-day. Old Much is waiting for thee there
To help him. He is growling roundly, too,
At thy delay.
MUCH
[Going towards the cave.]
Ah me, my poor old father!
JENNY
I've dressed the salt and strawed the dining hall
With flowers.
[Enter Friar Tuck with several more Foresters and Will Scarlet.]
ROBIN
Ah, good Will Scarlet, here at last!
FRIAR TUCK
We should ha' been here sooner; but these others
Borrowed a farmer's market cart and galloped
Ahead of us!
ROBIN
Thy mother is in the hut,
Sheer broken down with hope and fearfulness,
Waiting and trembling for thee, Will. Go in,
Put thy big arm around her.
[Will Scarlet goes into the hut with a cry.]
SCARLET
Mother!
FRIAR TUCK
You see,
My sons, you couldn't expect the lad to run!
There is a certain looseness in the limbs,
A quaking of the flesh that overcomes
The bravest who has felt a hangman's rope
Cuddling his neck.
ROBIN
You judge him by the rope
That cuddles your slim waist! Oh, you sweet armful,
Sit down and pant! I warrant you were glad
To bear him company.
FRIAR TUCK
I'll not deny it!
I am a man of solids. Like the Church,
I am founded on a rock.
[He sits down.]
ROBIN
Solids, i' faith!
Sir, it is true he is partly based on beef;
He grapples with it squarely; but fluids, too,
Have played their part in that cathedral choir
He calls his throat. One godless virtue, sir,
They seem to have given him. Never a nightingale
Gurgles jug! jug! in mellower tones than he
When jugs are flowing. Never a thrush can pipe
Sweet, sweet, so rarely as, when a pipe of wine
Summers his throttle, we'll make him sing to us
One of his heathen ditties—The Malmsey Butt,
Or Down the Merry Red Lane!
FRIAR TUCK
Oh, ay, you laugh,
But, though I cannot run, when I am rested
I'll challenge you, Robin, to a game of buffets,
One fair, square, stand-up, stand-still, knock-down blow
Apiece; you'll need no more. If you not kiss
The turf, at my first clout, I will forego
Malmsey for ever!
ROBIN
Friar, I recant;
You're champion there. Fists of a common size
I will encounter; but not whirling hams
Like thine!
FRIAR TUCK
I knew it!
JENNY
[Approaching.]
Please you, sirs, all is ready!
FRIAR TUCK
Ah, Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, that's good news!
[Will Scarlet comes out of the hut with his arm round his mother. They all sit down at the table of turfs. Enter Shadow-of-a-Leaf timidly.]
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Is there a place for me?
A FORESTER
Ay, come along!
FRIAR TUCK
Now, Robin, don't forget the grace, my son.
ROBIN
[Standing up.]
It is our custom, sir, since our repast
Is borrowed from the King, to drain one cup
To him, and his return from the Crusade,
Before we dine. That same wine-bibbing friar
Calls it our 'grace'; and constitutes himself
Remembrancer—without a cause, for never
Have we forgotten, never while bugles ring
Thro' Sherwood, shall forget—Outlaws, the King!
[All stand up except the Knight.]
CRIES
The King and his return from the Crusade!
[They drink and resume their seats.]
ROBIN
You did not drink the health, sir Knight. I hope
You hold with Lion-Heart.
KNIGHT
Yes; I hold with him.
You were too quick for me. I had not drawn
These gauntlets off.
But tell me, Lady Marian,
When is your bridal day with Robin Hood?
MARIAN
We shall be wedded when the King comes home
From the Crusade.
KNIGHT
Ah, when the King comes home!
That's music—all the birds of April sing
In those four words for me—the King comes home.
MARIAN
I am glad you love him, sir.
ROBIN
But you're not eating!
Your helmet's locked and barred! Will you not raise
Your visor?
KNIGHT
[Laughs.]
Ha! ha! ha! You see I am trapped!
I did not wish to raise it! Hunger and thirst
Break down all masks and all disguises, Robin.
[He rises and removes his helmet, revealing the face of Richard Cœur de Lion.]
ROBIN
The King!
[They all leap to their feet.]
OUTLAWS
The King! The King!
ROBIN
But oh, my liege,
I should have known, when we were hard beset
Around Will Scarlet by their swarming bands,
And when you rode out of the Eastern sky
And hurled our foemen down, I should have known
It was the King come home from the Crusade! And when I was beset here in the wood
By treacherous hounds again, I should have known
Whose armour suddenly burned between the leaves!
I should have known, either it was St. George
Or else the King come home from the Crusade!
RICHARD
Indeed there is one thing that might have told you,
Robin—a lover's instinct, since it seems
So much for you and Marian depends
On my return.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Sire, you will pardon me,
For I am only a fool, and yet methinks
You know not half the meaning of those words—
The King, the King comes home from the Crusade!
Thrust up your swords, heft uppermost, my lads,
And shout—the King comes home from the Crusade.
[He leaps on a seat, and thrusts up the King's sword, heft uppermost, as if it were a cross.]
ROBIN
Pardon him, sire, poor Shadow-of-a-Leaf has lost
His wits!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
That's what Titania said you'd say,
Poor sweet bells out of tune! But oh, don't leave,
Don't leave the forest! There's darker things to come!
Don't leave the forest! I have wits enough at least
To wrap my legs around my neck for warmth
On winter nights.
RICHARD
Well, you've no need to pass
The winter in these woods—
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
ROBIN
Shadow-of-a-Leaf, be silent!
[Shadow-of-a-Leaf goes aside and throws himself down sobbing among the ferns.]
RICHARD
When even your cave
Methinks can scarce be cheery. Huntingdon,
Your earldom we restore to you this day!
You and my Lady Marian shall return
To Court with us, where your true bridal troth
Shall be fulfilled with golden marriage bells.
Now, friends, the venison pasty! We must hear
The Malmsey Butt and Down the Merry Red Lane,
Ere we set out, at dawn, for London Town.
ROBIN
Allan-a-dale shall touch a golden string
To speed our feast, sire, for he soars above
The gross needs of the Churchman!
RICHARD
Allan-a-Dale?
WILL SCARLET
Our greenwood minstrel, sire! His harp is ours
Because we won his bride for him.
RICHARD
His bride?
REYNOLD GREENLEAF
Was to be wedded, sire, against her will
Last May, to a rich old baron.
RICHARD
Pigeon-pie—
And Malmsey—yes—a rich old baron—tell!
ROBIN
Sire, on the wedding day, my merry men
Crowded the aisles with uninvited guests;
And, as the old man drew forth the golden ring,
They threw aside their cloaks with one great shout
Of 'Sherwood'; and, for all its crimson panes,
The church was one wild sea of Lincoln green!
The Forest had broken in, sire, and the bride
Like a wild rose tossing on those green boughs,
Was borne away and wedded here by Tuck
To her true lover; and so—his harp is ours.
ALLAN-A-DALE
No feasting song, sire, but the royal theme
Of chivalry—a song I made last night
In yonder ruined chapel. It is called
The Old Knight's Vigil.
RICHARD
Our hearts will keep it young!
[Allan-a-dale sings, Shadow-of-a-Leaf raises his head among the ferns.]
[Song.]
I
Once, in this chapel, Lord
Young and undaunted,
Over my virgin sword
Lightly I chaunted,—
"Dawn ends my watch. I go
Shining to meet the foe!"
II
"Swift with thy dawn," I said,
"Set the lists ringing!
Soon shall thy foe be sped,
And the world singing!
Bless my bright plume for me,
Christ, King of Chivalry.
[Shadow-of-a-Leaf rises to his knees amongst the ferns.]
III
"War-worn I kneel to-night,
Lord, by Thine altar!
Oh, in to-morrow's fight,
Let me not falter!
Bless my dark arms for me,
Christ, King of Chivalry.
IV
"Keep Thou my broken sword
All the long night through
While I keep watch and ward!
Then—the red fight through,
Bless the wrenched haft for me,
Christ, King of Chivalry.
V
"Keep, in thy piercèd hands,
Still the bruised helmet:
Let not their hostile bands
Wholly o'erwhelm it!
Bless my poor shield for me,
Christ, King of Chivalry.
VI
"Keep Thou the sullied mail,
Lord, that I tender
Here, at Thine altar-rail!
Then—let Thy splendour
Touch it once ... and I go
Stainless to meet the foe."
[Shadow-of-a-Leaf rises to his feet and takes a step towards the minstrel.]
[Curtain.]