The woodweel[3] sang, and would not cease,
Sitting upon the spray,
So loud, he wakened Robin Hood,
In the greenwood where he lay.
Now by my faith, said jolly Robin,
A sweaven[4] I had this night;
I dreamt me of two wight[5] yeomen
That fast with me can fight.
Methought they did me beat and bind,
And took my bow me fro';
If I be Robin alive in this land,
I'll be wroken[6] on them two.
Sweavens are swift, master, quoth John,
As the wind that blows o'er a hill;
For if it be never so loud this night,
To-morrow it may be still.
Busk ye, bowne[7] ye, my merry men all,
And John shall go with me,
For I'll go seek yon wight yeomen,
In the greenwood where they be.
Then they cast on their gowns of green,
And took their bows each one,
And they away to the green forèst,
A shooting forth are gone;
Until they came to the merry greenwood,
Where they had gladdest be,
There were they aware of a wight yeoman,
His body leaned to a tree.
A sword and a dagger he wore by his side,
Of many a man the bane;
And he was clad in his capull[8] hide
Top and tail and mane.
Stand you still, master, quoth Little John,
Under this tree so green,
And I will go to yon wight yeoman
To know what he doth mean.
Ah! John, by me thou settest no store,
And that I fairly find;
How oft send I my men before,
And tarry myself behind?