"Marry gep with a wenion!" quod Arthur-a-Bland,
"Art thou such a goodly man?
I care not a fig for thy looking so big;
Mend thou thyself where thou can."
Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,45
And laid down his bow so long;
He took up a staff of another oke graff,
That was both stiff and strong.
"I'le yield to thy weapon," said jolly Robin,
"Since thou wilt not yield to mine;50
For I have a staff of another oke graff,
Not half a foot longer then thine.
"But let me measure," said jolly Robin,
"Before we begin our fray;
For I'le not have mine to be longer than thine,55
For that will be counted foul play."
"I pass not for length," bold Arthur reply'd,
"My staff is of oke so free;
Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,
And I hope it will knock down thee."60
Then Robin could no longer forbear;
He gave him such a knock,
Quickly and soon the blood came down,
Before it was ten a clock.
Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,65
And gave him such a knock on the crown,
That from every side of bold Robin Hoods head,
The blood came trickling down.
Then Robin raged like a wild boar,
As soon as he saw his own blood;70
Then Bland was in hast, he laid on so fast,
As though he had been cleaving of wood.
And about, and about, and about they went,
Like two wild bores in a chase;
Striving to aim each other to maim,75
Leg, arm, or any other place.
And knock for knock they lustily dealt,
Which held for two hours and more;
That all the wood rang at every bang,
They ply'd their work so sore.80