I cannot see What fascinates him. MASKER No, you are right, nor I. PRINCE JOHN Come, Lady Marian, let me lead you out To tread a measure. MARIAN Pray, sir, pardon me! I am tired. FITZWALTER [_Whispering angrily to her._] Now, Marian, be not so ungracious. You both abuse him and disparage us. His courtiers led the ladies they did choose. Do not displease him, girl. I pray you, go! Dance out your galliard. God's dear holy-bread, Y'are too forgetful. Dance, or by my troth, You'll move my patience. I say you do us wrong. MARIAN I will do what you will. Lead, lead your dance. [_Exeunt JOHN and MARIAN._] FIRST MASKER [_To a lady, as they come up from the garden._] Will you not let me see your face now, sweet? LADY You hurt my lip with that last kiss of yours. Hush, do not lean your face so close, I pray you; Loosen my fingers. There's my lord. FIRST MASKER Where? Where? Now, if I know him, I shall know your name! LADY That tall man with the damozel in red. FIRST MASKER Oh, never fear him. He, too, wore a mask! I saw them-- [_They pass out talking._] SECOND MASKER [_Looking after them._] Saw you those two turtle-doves! SECOND LADY Yes. SECOND MASKER Come with me, I'll show you where I caught them Among the roses, half an hour ago. [_They laugh and exeunt into the gardens. The music swells up and more dancers appear._] [_Enter ROBIN HOOD, still in his forester's garb, but wearing a mask. He walks as if wounded and in pain. He sits down in the shadow of a pillar watching, and partly concealed from the throng._] THIRD LADY Remember now to say you did not see me Here at the masque. THIRD MASKER Or shall I say that I Was out in Palestine? [_They pass. Enter little ARTHUR PLANTAGENET. He comes up to ROBIN HOOD._] ARTHUR Are you not Robin Hood? ROBIN Hush, Arthur. Don't you see I wear a mask Like all the rest to-night? ARTHUR Why do they wear Masks? ROBIN They must always wear some sort of mask At court. Sometimes they wear them all their lives. ARTHUR You are jesting, Robin. Now I wanted you To tell me tales of Sherwood. Tell me how You saved Will Scarlet. ROBIN Why, I've told you that A score of times. ARTHUR I know, I want to hear it Again. Well, tell me of that afternoon When Lion-Heart came home from the Crusade. I have often thought of that. It must have been Splendid! You weren't expecting it at all? ROBIN