Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe,
But he bends a right good bow,
[And the] best of all the herd he slew,
Forty good yards [him froe].
"Well shot, well shot," quod Robin Hood then,25
"That shot it was shot in time;
And if thou wilt accept of the place,
Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine."
"Go play the chiven," the stranger said,
"Make haste and quickly go,30
Or with my fist, be sure of this,
Ile give thee buffets sto'."
"Thou had'st not best buffet me," quod Robin Hood,
"For though I seem forlorn,
Yet I have those will take my part,35
If I but blow my horn."
"Thou wast not best wind thy horn," the stranger said,
"Beest thou never so much in haste,
For I can draw out a good broad sword,
And quickly cut the blast."40
Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,
To shoot, and that he would fain;
The stranger he bent a very good bow,
To shoot at bold Robin again.
"Hold thy hand, hold thy hand," quod Robin Hood,45
"To shoot it would be in vain;
For if we should shoot the one at the other,
The one of us may be slain.
"But let's take our swords and our broad bucklèrs,
And gang under yonder tree:"50
"As I hope to be sav'd," the stranger said,
"One foot I will not flee."
Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow,
'Most scar'd him out of his wit:
"Thou never [delt] blow," the stranger he said,55
"That shall be better quit."
The stranger he drew out a good broad sword,
And hit Robin on the crown,
That from every haire of bold Robins head,
The blood ran trickling down.60