CCCXXXVI
‘God thee save, thou good Robin,
And all thy company;
For Ourè dearè Lady’s sake,
A boon grant thou me!
CCCXXXVII
‘Let thou never my wedded Lord
Shamefully slayen be;
He is fast bound at Nottingham,
For the love of thee.’
CCCXXXVIII
Anon then said good Robin,
To that lady free,
‘What man hath your lord i-take?’—
‘The proud Sheriff,’ then said she.
CCCXXXIX
‘The proud Sheriff hath him i-take
Forsooth as I thee say;
He is not yet three miles,
Passèd on his way.’
CCCXL
Up then started good Robin
As a man that had been wood[882];
‘Buskè you, my merry men,
For Him that died on rood!