And he said kind Cousin I grant thee thy boon,
with all my heart to let it be,
Then come hither little John, said Robin Hood,
come hither my Page, unto me.
Go fetch me my Bow, my longest long Bow,
and broad Arrows one two or three;
For when it is fair Weather, we'll into Sherwood,
some merry Pastime to see.
When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,
he winded his bugle so clear;
And twice five and twenty good Yeomen and bold,
before Robin Hood did appear.
Where are your Companions all? (said Robin Hood)
for still I want forty and three.
Then said a bold Yeoman, Lo yonder they stand,
all under a green Wood Tree.
As that Word was spoke, Clorinda[17] came by,
the Queen of the Shepherds was she:
And her Gown was of Velvet, as green as the Grass,
and her Buskin did reach to her Knee.
Her Gate it was graceful, her Body was strait
and her Countenance free from Pride:
A Bow in her Hand, and Quiver and Arrows,
hung dangling by her sweet Side.
Her Eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her Hair,
and her Chin was as smooth as Glass;
Her Visage spoke Wisdom and Modesty too,
sets with Robin Hood such a Lass.
Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whether away,
oh whither fair Lady away?
And she made him Answer, to kill a fat Buck,
for to-morrow is Titbury[18] Day.
Said Robin Hood, Lady fair wander with me,
a little to yonder green Bower,
There sit down to rest you, and you shall be sure,
of a brace or a lease in an Hour.
And as we were going towards the green Bower,
two hundred good Bucks we espy'd:
She chose out the fattest that was in the Herd,
and she shot him through side and side.