[117. Robin Hood and the Monk]
I
In somer, when the shawes[956] be sheyne[957],
And leves be large and long,
Hit is full mery in feyre foreste
To here the foulys song:
II
To se the dere draw to the dale,
And leve the hillès hee,
And shadow hem in the levë’s grene,
Under the grene-wode tre.
III
Hit befel on Whitsontide,
Erly in a May mornyng,
The Son up feyre can shyne,
And the briddis mery can syng.
IV
‘This is a mery mornyng,’ seid Litull John,
‘Be Hym that dyed on tre;
A more mery man then I am one
Lyves not in Cristiantë.