'And wilt thou forsake thy pinder his craft,
And live in the green wood with me?'
* * * * * *
'At Michaelmas next my covenant comes out,
When every man gathers his fee;
I'le take my blew blade all in my hand,
And plod to the green wood with thee.'
'Hast thou either meat or drink,' said Robin Hood,
'For my merry men and me?'
* * * * * *
'I have both bread and beef,' said the pinder,
'And good ale of the best';
'And that is meat good enough,' said Robin Hood,
'For such unbidden guest.
'O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft
And go to the green wood with me?
Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,
The one green, the other brown shall be.'
'If Michaelmas day were once come and gone,
And my master had paid me my fee,
Then would I set as little by him
As my master doth set by me.'