Page 382 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

it strangely moves my heart. But what doleful ditty is this
for the lips of a stout yeoman? I would rather hear thee sing
a song of love and battle than a sad thing like that. More-
over, I understand it not; what meanest thou by the words?’
‘I know not, Your Majesty,’ said Allan, shaking his head,
‘for ofttimes I sing that which I do not clearly understand
mine own self.’
‘Well, well,’ quoth the King, ‘let it pass; only I tell thee
this, Allan, thou shouldst turn thy songs to such matters
as I spoke of, to wit, love or war; for in sooth thou hast a
sweeter voice than Blondell, and methought he was the best
minstrel that ever I heard.’
But now one came forward and said that the feast was
ready; so Robin Hood brought King Richard and those with
him to where it lay all spread out on fair white linen cloths
which lay upon the soft green grass. Then King Richard sat
him down and feasted and drank, and when he was done he
swore roundly that he had never sat at such a lusty repast in
all his life before.
That night he lay in Sherwood Forest upon a bed of sweet
green leaves, and early the next morning he set forth from
the woodlands for Nottingham Town, Robin Hood and all
of his band going with him. You may guess what a stir there
was in the good town when all these famous outlaws came
marching into the streets. As for the Sheriff, he knew not
what to say nor where to look when he saw Robin Hood in
such high favor with the King, while all his heart was filled
with gall because of the vexation that lay upon him.
The next day the King took leave of Nottingham Town;

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