MUCH. But I cry no to it. What shall I do with Jenny then? SCAR. Peace, Much: go forward with the orders, fellow John. LIT. JOHN. Fourthly, no passenger with whom ye meet Shall ye let pass, till he with Robin feast; Except a post, a carrier, or such folk As use with food to serve the market towns. ALL. An order which we gladly will observe. LIT. JOHN. Fifthly, you never shall the poor man wrong, Nor spare a priest, a usurer, or a clerk. MUCH. Nor a fair wench, meet we her in the dark! LIT. JOHN. Lastly, you shall defend with all your power Maids, widows, orphans, and distressed men. ALL. All these we vow to keep as we are men. ROB. H. Then wend ye to the greenwood merrily, And let the light roes bootless from ye run. Marian and I, as sovereigns of your toils, Will wait within our bower your bent bows' spoils. MUCH. I will among them, master. [_Exeunt winding their horns_. ROB. H. Marian, thou seest, though courtly pleasures want, Yet country sport in Sherwood is not scant: For the soul-ravishing, delicious sound Of instrumental music we have found The winged quiristers with divers notes Sent from their quaint recording[201] pretty throats, On every branch that compasseth our bow'r, Without command contenting us each hour. For arras hangings and rich tapestry We have sweet nature's best embroidery. For thy steel glass, wherein thou wont'st to look, Thy crystal eyes gaze in a crystal brook. At court a flower or two did deck thy head, Now with whole garlands is it circled. For what in wealth we want, we have in flowers, And what we lose in halls, we find in bowers. MAR. Marian hath all, sweet Robert, having thee, And guesses thee as rich in having me. ROB. H. I am indeed; For, having thee, what comfort can I need? MAR. Go in, go in. To part such true love, Robin, it were sin. [_Exeunt_. _Enter_ PRIOR, SIR DONCASTER, FRIAR TUCK. PRIOR. To take his body, by the blessed rood, 'Twould do me more than any other good. DON. O, 'tis an unthrift, still the churchmen's foe; An ill-end will betide him, that I know. 'Twas he that urged the king to 'sess the clergy, When to the holy land he took his journey; And he it is that rescued those two thieves, Scarlet and Scathlock, that so many griefs To churchmen did: and now, they say, He keeps in Sherwood, and himself doth play The lawless reaver:[202] hear you, my Lord Prior, He must be taken, or it will be wrong. TUCK. Ay, ay, soon said; But ere he be, many will lie dead, Except it be by sleight. DON. Ay, there, there, Friar.