ROBIN HOOD AND THE RANGER; OR, TRUE FRIENDSHIP AFTER A FIERCE FIGHT.
“When Phœbus had melted the ‘sickles’ of ice,
And likewise the mountains of snow,
Bold Robin Hood he would ramble away,
To frolic abroad with his bow.
“He left all his merry men waiting behind,
Whilst through the green valleys he pass’d,
Where he did behold a forester bold,
Who cry’d out, ‘Friend, whither so fast?’
“I am going,’ quoth Robin, ‘to kill a fat buck,
For me and my merry men all;
Besides, ere I go, I’ll have a fat doe,
Or else it shall cost me a fall.’
“‘You’d best have a care,’ said the forester then,
‘For these are his majesty’s deer;
Before you shall shoot, the thing I’ll dispute,
For I am head forester here.’
“‘These thirteen long summers,’ quoth Robin, ‘I’m sure,
My arrows I here have let fly;
Where freely I range, methinks it is strange
You should have more power than I.
“‘This forest,’ quoth Robin, ‘I think is my own,
And so are the nimble deer too;
Therefore I declare, and solemnly swear,
I’ll not be affronted by you.’
“The forester he had a long quarter staff,
Likewise a broadsword by his side;
Without more ado, he presently drew,
Declaring the truth should be tried.
“Bold Robin Hood had a sword of the best,
Thus, ere he could take any wrong,
His courage was flush, he’d venture a brush,
And thus they fell to it ding dong.
“The very first blow that the forester gave,
He made his broad weapon cry twang;
’Twas over the head, he fell down for dead,
O that was a terrible bang!
“But Robin he soon recovered himself,
And bravely fell to it again;
The very next stroke their weapons they broke,
Yet never a man there was slain.
“At quarter staff then they resolved to play,
Because they would have the other bout;
And brave Robin Hood right valiantly stood;
Unwilling he was to give out.
“Bold Robin he gave him very hard blows,
The other return’d them as fast;
At every stroke their jackets did smoke;
Three hours the combat did last.
“At length in a rage the forester grew,
And cudgel’d bold Robin so sore
That he could not stand, so shaking his hand,
He cry’d, ‘Let us freely give o’er.
“‘Thou art a brave fellow, I needs must confess
I never knew any so good;
Thou art fitting to be a yeoman for me,
And range in the merry green-wood.’
“Robin Hood set his bugle horn to his mouth,
A blast then he merrily blows;
His yeomen did hear, and straight did appear
A hundred with trusty long bows.
“Now Little John came at the head of them all,
Cloth’d in a rich mantle of green;
And likewise the rest were gloriously drest,
A delicate sight to be seen!
“‘Lo! these are my yeomen,’ said bold Robin Hood,
‘And thou shalt be one of the train,
A mantle and bow, and quiver also,
I give them whom I entertain.’
“The forester willingly entered the list,
They were such a beautiful sight;
Then with a long bow they shot a fat doe,
And made a rich supper that night,
“What singing and dancing was in the green-wood,
For joy of another new mate!
With might and delight they spent all the night,
And liv’d at a plentiful rate.
“Quoth he, ‘My brave yeomen, be true to your trust,
And then we may range the woods wide.’
They all did declare, and solemnly swear,
They would conquer, or die by his side.”
This ballad was highly approved of; and when, as usual, a few remarks had been made upon the valour of the champions, I resumed my tales, and told of