Robin Hood and Clorinda
When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,
He winded his bugle so clear;
And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold,
Before Robin Hood did appear.
“Where are your companions all?” said Robin Hood,
“For still I want forty and three.”
Then said a bold yeoman, “Lo, yonder they stand,
All under the green-wood tree.”
As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by,
The queen of the shepherds was she;
And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass,
And her buskin did reach to her knee.
Her gait it was graceful, her body was straight,
And her countenance free from pride;
A bow in her hand, and quiver and arrows
Hung dangling by her sweet side.
Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair,
And her skin was as smooth as glass;
Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too;
Sets with Robin Hood such a lass!
Said Robin Hood, “Lady fair, whither away?
O whither, fair lady, away?”
And she made him answer, “To kill a fat buck;
For to-morrow is Titbury day.”
Said Robin Hood, “Lady fair, wander with me
A little to yonder green bower,
There set down to rest you, and you shall be sure
Of a brace or a lease, in an hour.”
And as we were going towards the green bower,
Two hundred good bucks we espy’d;
She chose out the fattest that was in the herd,
And she shot him through side and side.
“By the faith of my body,” said bold Robin Hood,
“I never saw woman like thee;
And com’st thou from east, ay, or com’st thou from west,
Thou needst not beg venison of me.
“However, along to my bower you shall go,
And taste of a forrester’s meat:”
And when we come thither we found as good cheer
As any man needs for to eat.
For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold,
Cream clouted, with honey-combs plenty;
And the sarvitors they were, besides Little John,
Good yeomen at least four and twenty.
Clorinda said, “Tell me your name, gentle sir:”
And he said, “’Tis bold Robin Hood:
Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delight
Is to dwell in the merry Sherwood;
“For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife.”
“So ’tis, sir,” Clorinda reply’d.
“But oh!” said bold Robin, “how sweet would it be,
If Clorinda would be my bride!”
She blusht at the motion; yet, after a pause,
Said, “Yes, sir, and with all my heart.”
“Then let us send for a priest,” said Robin Hood,
“And be married before we do part.”
When dinner was ended, Sir Roger, the parson
Of Dubbridge, was sent for in haste:
He brought his mass-book, and he bade them take hands,
And joyn’d them in marriage full fast.
And then, as bold Robin Hood and his sweet bride
Went hand in hand to the green bower,
The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood,
And ’t was a most joyful hour.
And when Robin came in the sight of the bower,
“Where are my yeomen?” said he:
And Little John answer’d, “Lo, yonder they stand,
All under the green-wood tree.”
Then a garland they brought her, by two and by two,
And plac’d them upon the bride’s head:
The music struck up, and we all fell to dance,
So the bride and bridegroom were wed.
(Condensed)