CCCVII
‘God forbid,’ said little Much,
‘That died on a tree,
That thou shouldest, Little John,
Part our company.’
CCCVIII
Up Robin took him on his back,
And bare him well a mile;
Many a time he laid him down,
And shot another while.
CCCIX
Then was there a fair castèll,
A little within the wood;
Double-ditch’d it was about,
And wallèd, by the rood.
CCCX
And there dwelt that gentle Knight,
Sir Richard at the Lee,
That Robin haddè lent his good,
Under the green-wood tree.
CCCXI
In he took good Robin,
And all his company:
‘Welcome be thou, Robin Hood,
Welcome art thou to me;