"Content, content," the beggar he cry'd,
"Thy part it will be the worse;
For I hope this bout to give thee the rout,
And then have at thy purse."
So the beggar he had a mickle long staffe,45
And [Robin] had a nut-brown sword;
So the beggar drew nigh, and at Robin let fly,
But gave him never a word.
"Fight on, fight on," said Robin Hood then,
"This game well pleaseth me;"50
For every blow that Robin gave,
The beggar gave buffets three.
And fighting there full hard and sore,
Not far from Nottingham town,
They never fled, till from Robin Hoods head55
The blood came trickling down.
"O hold thy hand," said Robin Hood then,
"And thou and I will agree;"
"If that be true," the beggar he said,
"Thy mantle come give unto me."60
"Now a change, a change," cri'd Robin Hood,
"Thy bags and coat give me;
And this mantle of mine Ile to thee resign,
My horse and my braverie."
When Robin Hood had got the beggars clothes,65
He lookèd round about;
"Methinks," said he, "I seem to be
A beggar brave and stout.
"For now I have a bag for my bread,
So have I another for corn;70
I have one for salt, and another for malt,
And one for my little horn.
"And now I will a begging goe,
Some charitie for to find:"
And if any more of Robin you'll know,75
In the second part 'tis behind.
[24]. Robin Hood.