CCCXII
‘And much I thank thee of thy comfort,
And of thy courtesy,
And of thy great kindness,
Under the green-wood tree;
CCCXIII
‘I love no man in all this world
So much as I do thee;
For all the proud Sheriff of Nottingham,
Right here shalt thou be.
CCCXIV
‘Shut the gates and draw the bridge,
And let no man come in,
And arm you well, and make you ready,
And to the walls ye win[874].
CCCXV
‘For one thing, Robin, I thee behote[875],
I swear by Saint Quintìn,
These twelve days thou wonest[876] with me,
To sup, eat, and dine.’
CCCXVI
Boards were laid, and cloths spread,
Readily and anon;
Robin Hood and his merry men
To meat gan they gone.