16 'O wha will be my bouer-woman?
Na bouer-woman is here;
O wha will be my bouer-woman,
Whan that sad time draws near?'
17 Then up bespak him Robin Hood,
At the foot o yon greenwud tree:
O hold your tongue, fair Rogee Roun,
For married ye sall be.
18 The tane was wedded to Robin Hood,
And the tither to Little John;
And it was a' owing to their stepmother,
That garrd them leave their hame.
A.
Written, like all the ballads in the MS., in stanzas of two long lines.
1. Anderson cites this stanza, giving the last line, Wist them twa little quee'd.
81. younges.
83. youngst.
131. greed.