Each singled out his man ;

Their arms in pieces soon were hew’d,

Blood sprang from every vain.

The prince he reacht Robin Hood a blow,

He struck with might and main,

Which forc’d him to reel about the field,

As though he had been slain.

God-a-mercy, quoth Robin, for that blow !

The quarrel shall soon be try’d ;

This stroke shall shew a full divorce