"My sword, which hangeth by my side,
Is my command I know;
Come, and let me taste of thy bottle,
Or it may breed thy woe."20
"The devil a drop, thou proud fellòw,
Of my bottle thou shalt see,
Until thy valour here be tried,
Whether thou wilt fight or flee."
"What shall we fight for?" cries Robin Hood,25
"Come tell it unto me;
Here is twenty pound in good red gold,
Win it, and take it thee."
The shepherd stood all in a maze,
And knew not what to say;30
"I have no money, thou proud fellow,
But bag and bottle I'le lay."
"I am content, thou shepherd swain,
Fling them down on the ground;
But it will breed thee mickle pain,35
To win my twenty pound."
"Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellow,
Thou standest too long to prate;
This hook of mine shall let thee know,
A coward I do hate."40
So they fell to it, full hard and sore;
It was on a summers day;
From ten till four in the afternoon
The shepherd held him play.
Robin's buckler proved his chiefest defence,45
And saved him many a bang,
For every blow the shepherd gave
Made Robins sword cry twang.
Many a sturdie blow the shepherd gave,
And that bold Robin found,50
Till the blood ran trickling from his head,
Then he fell to the ground.
"Arise, arise, thou proud fellow,
And thou shalt have fair play,
If thou wilt yield, before thou go,55
That I have won the day."