MARIAN
The Queen—she came last night,
Made it an odious kind of praise to me
That he, not three months wedded to his bride,
Should—pah!
And then she said five hundred men
Were watching round the borders of the wood;
But she herself would take me safely through them,
Said that I should be safer here with Robin,
She had your name so pat—and I gave way.
[Enter Queen Elinor behind. She conceals herself to listen.]
ROBIN
Marian, she might have trapped you to Prince John.
MARIAN
No; no; I think she wanted me to guide her
Here to your hiding place. She wished to see you
Herself, unknown to John, I know not why.
It was my only way. Her skilful tongue
Quite won my father over, made him think,
Poor father, clinging to his lands again,
He yet might save them. And so, without ado
(It will be greatly to the joy of Much,
Your funny little man), I bade my maid
Jenny, go pack her small belongings up
This morning, and to follow with Friar Tuck
And Widow Scarlet. They'll be here anon.
ROBIN
Where did you leave the Queen?
MARIAN