Page 295 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Bright thy crystal waters flow,
Sliding where the aspens shiver,
Gliding where the lilies blow,

‘Singing over pebbled shallows,
Kissing blossoms bending low,
Breaking ‘neath the dipping swallows,
Purpling where the breezes blow.

‘Floating on thy breast forever
Down thy current I could glide;
Grief and pain should reach me never
On thy bright and gentle tide.

‘So my aching heart seeks thine, love,
There to find its rest and peace,
For, through loving, bliss is mine, love,
And my many troubles cease.’

Thus Allan sang, and as he sang all eyes dwelled upon
him and not a sound broke the stillness, and even after he
had done the silence hung for a short space. So the time
passed till the hour drew nigh for the holding of the great
archery match in Finsbury Fields.
A gay sight were famous Finsbury Fields on that bright
and sunny morning of lusty summertime. Along the end
of the meadow stood the booths for the different bands of
archers, for the King’s yeomen were divided into compa-
nies of fourscore men, and each company had a captain over

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood