But such a wondrous wedding day；
They never saw before。
But none could check and none could stay；
The swans that bore the bride away_。〃
Not a sound broke the stillness when Allan a Dale had done；
but all sat gazing at the handsome singer； for so sweet was
his voice and the music that each man sat with bated breath；
lest one drop more should come and he should lose it。
〃By my faith and my troth；〃 quoth Robin at last； drawing a deep breath；
〃lad； thou artThou must not leave our company； Allan！ Wilt thou not
stay with us here in the sweet green forest？ Truly； I do feel my heart
go out toward thee with great love。〃
Then Allan took Robin's hand and kissed it。 〃I will stay with thee always；
dear master；〃 said he； 〃for never have I known such kindness as thou hast
shown me this day。〃
Then Will Scarlet stretched forth his hand and shook Allan's
in token of fellowship； as did Little John likewise。
And thus the famous Allan a Dale became one of Robin Hood's band。
Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
THE STOUT YEOMEN of Sherwood Forest were ever early risers of a morn；
more especially when the summertime had come； for then in the freshness
of the dawn the dew was always the brightest； and the song of the small
birds the sweetest。
Quoth Robin； 〃Now will I go to seek this same Friar of Fountain Abbey
of whom we spake yesternight； and I will take with me four of my
good men； and these four shall be Little John； Will Scarlet； David
of Doncaster； and Arthur a Bland。 Bide the rest of you here；
and Will Stutely shall be your chief while I am gone。〃
Then straightway Robin Hood donned a fine steel coat of chain mail；
over which he put on a light jacket of Lincoln green。
Upon his head he clapped a steel cap； and this he covered by one
of soft white leather； in which stood a nodding cock's plume。
By his side he hung a good broadsword of tempered steel；
the bluish blade marked all over with strange figures of dragons；
winged women； and what not。 A gallant sight was Robin so arrayed；
I wot； the glint of steel showing here and there as the sunlight
caught brightly the links of polished mail that showed beneath
his green coat。
So； having arrayed himself； he and the four yeomen set forth upon
their way； Will Scarlet taking the lead； for he knew better than
the others whither to go。 Thus； mile after mile； they strode along；
now across a brawling stream； now along a sunlit road； now adown some
sweet forest path； over which the trees met in green and rustling canopy；
and at the end of which a herd of startled deer dashed away；
with rattle of leaves and crackle of branches。 Onward they walked
with song and jest and laughter till noontide was passed； when at last
they came to the banks of a wide； glassy； and lily…padded stream。
Here a broad； beaten path stretched along beside the banks； on which path
labored the horses that tugged at the slow…moving barges； laden with
barley meal or what not； from the countryside to the many…towered town。
But now； in the hot silence of the midday； no horse was seen nor
any man besides themselves。 Behind them and before them stretched
the river； its placid bosom ruffled here and there by the purple dusk
of a small breeze。
〃Now； good uncle；〃 quoth Will Scarlet at last； when they
had walked for a long time beside this sweet； bright river；
〃just beyond yon bend ahead of us is a shallow ford which in no
place is deeper than thy mid…thigh； and upon the other side
of the stream is a certain little hermitage hidden amidst
the bosky tangle of the thickets wherein dwelleth the Friar
of Fountain Dale。 Thither will I lead thee； for I know the way；
albeit it is not overhard to find。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth jolly Robin； stopping suddenly； 〃had I thought
that I should have had to wade water； even were it so crystal
a stream as this； I had donned other clothes than I have upon me。
But no matter now； for after all a wetting will not wash the skin away；
and what must be； must。 But bide ye here； lads； for I would
enjoy this merry adventure alone。 Nevertheless； listen well；
and if ye hear me sound upon my bugle horn； come quickly。〃
So saying； he turned and left them； striding onward alone。
Robin had walked no farther than where the bend of the road
hid his good men from his view； when he stopped suddenly；
for he thought that he heard voices。 He stood still and listened；
and presently heard words passed back and forth betwixt what seemed
to be two men； and yet the two voices were wondrously alike。
The sound came from over behind the bank； that here was steep
and high； dropping from the edge of the road a half a score
of feet to the sedgy verge of the river。
〃'Tis strange；〃 muttered Robin to himself after a space； when the voices
had ceased their talking； 〃surely there be two people that spoke
the one to the other； and yet methinks their voices are mightily alike。
I make my vow that never have I heard the like in all my life before。
Truly； if this twain are to be judged by their voices； no two peas
were ever more alike。 I will look into this matter。〃 So saying；
he came softly to the river bank and laying him down upon the grass；
peered over the edge and down below。
All was cool and shady beneath the bank。 A stout osier grew；
not straight upward； but leaning across the water； shadowing the spot
with its soft foliage。 All around grew a mass of feathery ferns
such as hide and nestle in cool places； and up to Robin's nostrils
came the tender odor of the wild thyme； that loves the moist verges
of running streams。 Here； with his broad back against the rugged
trunk of the willow tree； and half hidden by the soft ferns
around him； sat a stout； brawny fellow； but no other man was there。
His head was as round as a ball； and covered with a mat of
close…clipped； curly black hair that grew low down on his forehead。
But his crown was shorn as smooth as the palm of one's hand；
which； together with his loose robe； cowl； and string of beads；
showed that which his looks never would have done； that he was a friar。
His cheeks were as red and shining as a winter crab； albeit they
were nearly covered over with a close curly black beard；
as were his chin and upper lip likewise。 His neck was thick
like that of a north country bull； and his round head closely set
upon shoulders e'en a match for those of Little John himself。
Beneath his bushy black brows danced a pair of little gray
eyes that could not stand still for very drollery of humor。
No man could look into his face and not feel his heartstrings tickled
by the merriment of their look。 By his side lay a steel cap；
which he had laid off for the sake of the coolness to his crown。
His legs were stretched wide apart； and betwixt his knees he held
a great pasty compounded of juicy meats of divers kinds made savory
with tender young onions； both meat and onions being mingled
with a good rich gravy。 In his right fist he held a great piece
of brown crust at which he munched sturdily； and every now and then
he thrust his left hand into the pie and drew it forth full of meat；
anon he would take a mighty pull at a great bottle of Malmsey
that lay beside him。
〃By my faith；〃 quoth Robin to himself； 〃I do verily believe that this
is the merriest feast； the merriest wight； the merriest place；
and the merriest sight in all merry England。 Methought there was
another here； but it must have been this holy man talking to himself。〃
So Robin lay watching the Friar； and the Friar； all unknowing that
he was so overlooked； ate his meal placidly。 At last he was done；
and； having first wiped his greasy hands upon the ferns and wild thyme
（and sweeter napkin ne'er had king in all the world）； he took up
his flask and began talking to himself as though he were another man；
and answering himself as though he were somebody else。
〃Dear lad； thou art the sweetest fellow in all the world；
I do love thee as a lover loveth his lass。 La； thou dost
make me shamed to speak so to me in this solitary place；
no one being by； and yet if thou wilt have me say so；
I do love thee as thou lovest me。 Nay then； wilt thou not
take a drink of good Malmsey？ After thee； lad； after thee。
Nay； I beseech thee； sweeten the draught with thy lips
（here he passed the flask from his right hand to his left）。
An thou wilt force it on me so； I must needs do thy bidding；
yet with the more pleasure do I so as I drink thy very great health
（here he took a long； deep draught）。 And now； sweet lad；
'tis thy turn next （here he passed the bottle from his left
hand back again to his right）。 I take it； sweet chuck；
and here's wishing thee as much good as thou wishest me。〃
Saying this； he took another draught； and truly he drank
enough for two。
All this time merry Robin lay upon the bank and listened； while his
stomach so quaked with laughter that he was forced to press his palm
across his mouth to keep it from bursting forth； for； truly； he would
not have spoiled such a goodly jest for the half of Nottinghamshire。
Having gotten his breath from his last draught； the Friar began talking
again in this wise： 〃Now； sweet lad； canst thou not sing me a song？
La； I know not； I am but in an ill voice this day； prythee ask me not；
dost thou not hear how I croak like a frog？ Nay； nay； thy voice
is as sweet as any bullfinch； come； sing； I prythee； I would rather
hear thee sing than eat a fair feast。 Alas； I would fain not sing
before one that can pipe so well and hath heard so many goodly songs
and ballads； ne'ertheless； an thou wilt have it so； I will do my best。
But now methinks that thou and I might sing some fair song together；
dost thou not know a certain dainty little catch called ‘The Loving Youth
and the Scornful Maid'？ Why； truly； methinks I have heard it ere now。
Then dost thou not think that thou couldst take the lass's part gif
I take the lad's？ I know not but I will try； begin thou with the lad
and I will follow with the lass。〃
Then； singing first with a voice deep and gruff； and anon in one high
and squeaking； he blithely trolled the merry catch of
THE LOVING YOUTH AND THE SCORNFUL MAID _HE
〃Ah； it's wilt thou come with me； my love？
And it's wilt thou； love； he mine