SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Dead? OBERON Dead! In a few brief hours the news will reach The wicked Prince. He will be King of England, With Marian in his power! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF No way to save them! OBERON We cannot break our fairy vows of silence. A mortal, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, can break those vows, But only on pain of death. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Oberon, I, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, the fool, must break my vows! I must save Robin Hood that he may save Marian from worse than death. OBERON Shadow-of-a-Leaf, Think what death means to you, never to join Our happy sports again, never to see The moonlight streaming through these ancient oaks Again, never to pass the fairy gates Again. We cannot help it. They will close Like iron in your face, and you will hear Our happy songs within; but you will lie Alone, without, dying, and never a word To comfort you, no hand to touch your brow. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF So be it. I shall see them entering in! The time is brief. Quick, tell me, where is Robin? Quick, or the news that makes Prince John a king Will ruin all. OBERON Robin is even now Thrust in the great dark tower beyond the wood, The topmost cell where foot can never climb. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Cannot an arrow reach it? Ay, be swift; Come, lead me thither. OBERON I cannot disobey The word that kills the seed to raise the wheat, The word that--Shadow-of-a-Leaf, I think I know Now, why great kings ride out to the Crusade. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Quickly, come, quickly! [_Exeunt OBERON and SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF. PUCK remains staring after them, then vanishes with a sob, between the trees. LITTLE JOHN and SCARLET appear once more at the mouth of the cave._] SCARLET I thought I heard a voice. LITTLE JOHN 'Twas only Shadow-of-a-Leaf again. He talks For hours among the ferns, plays with the flowers, And whispers to the mice, perfectly happy! SCARLET I cannot rest for thinking that some harm Hath chanced to Robin. Call him yet once more. [_LITTLE JOHN blows his bugle. All is silent. They stand listening._] SCENE III. _A gloomy cell. ROBIN bound. PRINCE JOHN and two mercenaries. A low narrow door in the background, small barred window on the left._ PRINCE JOHN [_To the Mercenaries._] Leave us a moment. I have private matters To lay before this friend of all the poor. You may begin to build the door up now, So that you do not wall me in with him. [_The two men begin filling up the doorway with rude blocks of masonry._]