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meth to be pretty, not to say gay. So not only will I change
clothes, but I will give thee two golden angels to boot. I have
brought my stout staff with me, thinking that I might have
to rap some one of the brethren of thy cloth over the head
by way of argument in this matter, but I love thee so much
for the feast thou hast given me that I would not lift even my
little finger against thee, so thou needst not have a crumb
of fear.’
To this the Beggar listened with his knuckles resting
against his hips, and when Robin had ended he cocked his
head on one side and thrust his tongue into his cheek.
‘Marry, come up,’ quoth he at last. ‘Lift thy finger against
me, forsooth! Art thou out of thy wits, man? My name is
Riccon Hazel, and I come from Holywell, in Flintshire, over
by the River Dee. I tell thee, knave, I have cracked the head
of many a better man than thou art, and even now I would
scald thy crown for thee but for the ale thou hast given me.
Now thou shalt not have so much as one tag-rag of my coat,
even could it save thee from hanging.’
‘Now, fellow,’ said Robin, ‘it would ill suit me to spoil thy
pretty head for thee, but I tell thee plainly, that but for this
feast I would do that to thee would stop thy traveling the
country for many a day to come. Keep thy lips shut, lad, or
thy luck will tumble out of thy mouth with thy speech!’
‘Now out, and alas for thee, man, for thou hast bred thy-
self ill this day!’ cried the Beggar, rising and taking up his
staff. ‘Take up thy club and defend thyself, fellow, for I will
not only beat thee but I will take from thee thy money and
leave thee not so much as a clipped groat to buy thyself a

0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood