ost dexterously the cuts and slashes of her two assailants； of whom Robin delivered her from one； while a well…applied blow of her sword struck off the helmet of the other； who fell on his knees to beg a boon； and she recognised Sir Ralph Montfaucon。 The men who were engaged with the baron and the peasant； seeing their leader subdued； immediately laid down their arms and cried for quarter。 The wife brought some strong rope； and the baron tied their arms behind them。
〃Now； Sir Ralph；〃 said Marian； 〃once more you are at my mercy。〃
〃That I always am； cruel beauty；〃 said the discomfited lover。
〃Odso！ courteous knight；〃 said the baron； 〃is this the return you make for my beef and canary； when you kissed my daughter's hand in token of contrition for your intermeddling at her wedding？ Heart； I am glad to see she has given you a bloody coxcomb。 Slice him down； Mawd！ slice him down； and fling him into the river。〃
〃Confess；〃 said Marian； 〃what brought you here； and how did you trace our steps？〃
〃I will confess nothing；〃 said the knight。
〃Then confess you； rascal；〃 said the baron； holding his sword to the throat of the captive squire。
〃Take away the sword；〃 said the squire； 〃it is too near my mouth； and my voice will not come out for fear： take away the sword； and I will confess all。〃 The baron dropped his sword； and the squire proceeded； 〃Sir Ralph met you； as you quitted Lady Falkland's castle； and by representing to her who you were； borrowed from her such a number of her retainers as he deemed must ensure your capture； seeing that your familiar the friar was not at your elbow。 We set forth without delay； and traced you first by means of a peasant who saw you turn into this valley； and afterwards by the light from the casement of this solitary dwelling。 Our design was to have laid an ambush for you in the morning； but the storm and your observation of my unlucky face through the casement made us change our purpose； and what followed you can tell better than I can； being indeed masters of the subject。〃
〃You are a merry knave；〃 said the baron； 〃and here is a cup of wine for you。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the squire； 〃and better late than never： but I lacked a cup of this before。 Had I been pot…valiant； I had held you play。〃
〃Sir knight；〃 said Marian； 〃this is the third time you have sought the life of my lord and of me； for mine is interwoven with his。 And do you think me so spiritless as to believe that I can be yours by compulsion？ Tempt me not again； for the next time shall be the last； and the fish of the nearest river shall commute the flesh of a recreant knight into the fast…day dinner of an uncarnivorous friar。 I spare you now； not in pity but in scorn。 Yet shall you swear to a convention never more to pursue or molest my lord or me； and on this condition you shall live。〃
The knight had no alternative but to comply； and swore； on the honour of knighthood； to keep the convention inviolate。 How well he kept his oath we shall have no opportunity of narrating： Di lui la nostra istoria piu non parla。
CHAPTER XVI
Carry me over the water； thou fine fellowe。 Old Ballad。
The pilgrims； without experiencing further molestation； arrived at the retreat of Sir Guy of Gamwell。 They found the old knight a cup too low； partly from being cut off from the scenes of his old hospitality and the shouts of his Nottinghamshire vassals； who were wont to make the rafters of his ancient hall re…echo to their revelry； but principally from being parted from his son； who had long been the better half of his flask and pasty。 The arrival of our visitors cheered him up； and finding that the baron was to remain with him； he testified his delight and the cordiality of his welcome by pegging him in the ribs till he made him roar。
Robin and Marian took an affectionate leave of the baron and the old knight； and before they quitted the vicinity of Barnsdale； deeming it prudent to return in a different disguise； they laid aside their pilgrim's attire； and assumed the habits and appurtenances of wandering minstrels。
They travelled in this character safely and pleasantly； till one evening at a late hour they arrived by the side of a river； where Robin looking out for a mode of passage perceived a ferry…boat safely moored in a nook on the opposite bank； near which a chimney sending up a wreath of smoke through the thick…set willows； was the only symptom of human habitation； and Robin naturally conceiving the said chimney and wreath of smoke to be the outward signs of the inward ferryman； shouted 〃Over！〃 with much strength and clearness； but no voice replied； and no ferryman appeared。 Robin raised his voice； and shouted with redoubled energy； 〃Over； Over； O…o…o…over！〃 A faint echo alone responded 〃Over！〃 and again died away into deep silence： but after a brief interval a voice from among the willows； in a strange kind of mingled intonation that was half a shout and half a song； answered：
Over； over； over； jolly； jolly rover； Would you then come over？ Over； over； over？ Jolly； jolly rover； here's one lives in clover： Who finds the clover？ The jolly； jolly rover。 He finds the clover； let him then come over； The jolly； jolly rover； over； over； over；
〃I much doubt；〃 said Marian； 〃if this ferryman do not mean by clover something more than the toll of his ferry…boat。〃
〃I doubt not；〃 answered Robin； 〃he is a levier of toll and tithe； which I shall put him upon proof of his right to receive； by making trial of his might to enforce。〃
The ferryman emerged from the willows and stepped into his boat。 〃As I live；〃 exclaimed Robin； 〃the ferryman is a friar。〃
〃With a sword；〃 said Marian； 〃stuck in his rope girdle。〃
The friar pushed his boat off manfully； and was presently half over the river。
〃It is friar Tuck；〃 said Marian。
〃He will scarcely know us；〃 said Robin； 〃and if he do not； I will break a staff with him for sport。〃
The friar came singing across the water： the boat touched the land： Robin and Marian stepped on board： the friar pushed off again。
〃Silken doublets； silken doublets；〃 said the friar： 〃slenderly lined； I bow： your wandering minstrel is always poor toll： your sweet angels of voices pass current for a bed and a supper at the house of every lord that likes to hear the fame of his valour without the trouble of fighting for it。 What need you of purse or pouch？ You may sing before thieves。 Pedlars； pedlars： wandering from door to door with the small ware of lies and cajolery： exploits for carpet…knights； honesty for courtiers； truth for monks； and chastity for nuns： a good saleable stock that costs the vender nothing； defies wear and tear； and when it has served a hundred customers is as plentiful and as marketable as ever。 But； sirrahs； I'll none of your balderdash。 You pass not hence without clink of brass； or I'll knock your musical noddles together till they ring like a pair of cymbals。 That will be a new tune for your minstrelships。〃
This friendly speech of the friar ended as they stepped on the opposite bank。 Robin had noticed as they passed that the summer stream was low。
〃Why； thou brawling mongrel；〃 said Robin； 〃that whether thou be thief； friar； or ferryman； or an ill…mixed compound of all three； passes conjecture； though I judge thee to be simple thief； what barkest thou at thus？ Villain； there is clink of brass for thee。 Dost thou see this coin？ Dost thou hear this music？ Look and listen： for touch thou shalt not： my minstrelship defies thee。 Thou shalt carry me on thy back over the water； and receive nothing but a cracked sconce for thy trouble。〃
〃A bargain；〃 said the friar： 〃for the water is low； the labour is light； and the reward is alluring。〃 And he stooped down for Robin； who mounted his back； and the friar waded with him over the river。
〃Now； fine fellow；〃 said the friar； 〃thou shalt carry me back over the water； and thou shalt have a cracked sconce for thy trouble。〃
Robin took the friar on his back； and waded with him into the middle of the river； when by a dexterous jerk he suddenly flung him off and plunged him horizontally over head and ears in the water。 Robin waded to shore； and the friar； half swimming and half scrambling； followed。
〃Fine fellow； fine fellow；〃 said the friar； 〃now will I pay thee thy cracked sconce。〃
〃Not so；〃 said Robin； 〃I have not earned it： but thou hast earned it； and shalt have it。〃
It was not； even in those good old times； a sight of every day to see a troubadour and a friar playing at single…stick by the side of a river； each aiming with fell intent at the other's coxcomb。 The parties were both so skilled in attack and defence； that their mutual efforts for a long time expended themselves in quick and loud rappings on each other's oaken staves。 At length Robin by a dexterous feint contrived to score one on the friar's crown： but in the careless moment of triumph a splendid sweep of the friar's staff struck Robin's out of his hand into the middle of the river； and repaid his crack on the head with a degree of vigour that might have passed the bounds of a jest if Marian had not retarded its descent by catching the friar's arm。
〃How now； recreant friar；〃 said Marian； 〃what have you to say why you should not suffer instant execution； being detected in open rebellion against your liege lord？ Therefore kneel down； traitor； and submit your neck to the sword of the offended law。〃
〃Benefit of clergy；〃 said the friar： 〃I plead my clergy。 And is it you indeed； ye scapegraces？ Ye are well disguised： I knew ye not； by my flask。 Robin； jolly Robin； he buys a jest dearly that pays for it with a bloody coxcomb。 But here is balm for all bruises； outward and inward。 （The friar produced a flask of canary。） Wash thy wound twice and thy throat thrice with this solar concoction； and thou shalt marvel where was thy hurt。 But what moved ye to this frolic？ Knew ye not that ye could not appear in a mask more fashioned to move my bile than in that of these gilders and lackerers of the smooth surface of worthlessness； that bring the gold of true valour into disrepute； by stamping the baser metal with the fairer im…pression？ I marvelled to find any such given to fighting （for they have an old instinct of self…preservation）： but I