MARIAN If you be prince, You will respect my loneliness and go. JOHN How can I leave you, when by day and night I see that face of yours. I'll not pretend I do not love you, do not long for you, Desire and hunger for your kiss, your touch! I'll not pretend to be a saint, you see! I hunger and thirst for you. Marian, Marian. MARIAN You are mad! JOHN Ay, mad for you. Body and soul I am broken up with love for you. Your eyes Flash like the eyes of a tigress, and I love them The better for it. Ah, do not shrink from me! [_JENNY comes out of the cave and hands MARIAN a bow. She leaps back and aims it at JOHN._] MARIAN Back, you wild beast, or by the heaven above us, I'll kill you! Now, don't doubt me. I can shoot Truly as any forester. I swear, Prince or no prince, king or no king, I'll kill you If you should stir one step from where you stand. JOHN Come, come, sweet Marian, put that weapon down. I was beside myself, was carried away. I cannot help my love for-- MARIAN I'll not hear Another sickening word: throw down your arms, That dagger at your side. JOHN Oh, that's too foolish, Marian, I swear-- MARIAN You see that rusty stain Upon the silver birch down yonder? Watch. [_She shoots. Then swiftly aims at him again._] Now, throw your weapon down. [_He pulls out the dagger and throws it down, with a shrug of his shoulders. One of his men steals up behind MARIAN._] JENNY Ah, Mistress Marian, There's one behind you! Look! [_The man springs forward and seizes MARIAN'S arms._] JOHN [_Coming forward and taking hold of her also._] So, my sweet tigress, You're trapped then, are you? Well, we'll waste no time! We'll talk this over when we reach the castle. Keep off the maid, there, Warman; I can manage This turbulent beauty. Ah, by God, you shall Come! Ah? God's blood, what's this? [_MARIAN has succeeded in drawing her dagger and slightly wounding him. She wrests herself free._] MARIAN Keep back, I warn you! JOHN [_Advancing slowly._] Strike, now strike if you will. You will not like To see the red blood spurting up your hand. That's not maid's work. Come, strike! [_ROBIN HOOD appears at the edge of the glade behind him_] You see, you cannot! Your heart is tenderer than you think. ROBIN [_Quietly._] Prince John! JOHN [_Turns round and confronts ROBIN._]