Wait till my son Comes back. He's a rare hunter is my boy. You need not fret, poor little one. My son Is much too quick and clever for the Sheriff. He'll bring you something good. Why, ha! ha! ha! Friends, I've a thought--the Sheriff's lit the fire Ready for us to roast our meat. Come, come, Let us be merry while we may! My boy Will soon come back with food for the old folks. The fire burns brightly, eh? SECOND OLD MAN The fire that feeds On hope and eats our hearts away. They've burnt Everything, everything! THE BLIND MAN Ah, princes are princes! But when the King comes home from the Crusade, We shall have better times. FIRST OLD MAN Ay, when the King Comes home from the Crusade. CHILD Mother, I'm hungry. SECOND WOMAN Oh, but if I could only find a crust Left by the dogs. Masters, the child will starve. We must have food. THE BLIND MAN I tell you when my boy Comes back, we shall have plenty! FIRST WOMAN God pity thee! THE BLIND MAN What dost thou mean? SECOND WOMAN Masters, the child will starve. FIRST OLD MAN Hist, who comes here--a forester? THE BLIND MAN We'd best Slip back into the dark. FIRST WOMAN [_Excitedly._] No, stay! All's well. There's Shadow-of-a-Leaf, good Lady Marian's fool Beside him! THE BLIND MAN Ah, they say there's fairy blood In Shadow-of-a-Leaf. But I've no hopes of more From him, than wild bees' honey-bags. [_Enter LITTLE JOHN, a giant figure, leading a donkey, laden with a sack. On the other side, SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF trips, a slender figure in green trunk-hose and doublet. He is tickling the donkey's ears with a long fern._] SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Gee! Whoa! Neddy, my boy, have you forgot the Weaver, And how Titania tickled your long ears? Ha! ha! Don't ferns remind you? LITTLE JOHN Friends, my master Hath sent me to you, fearing ye might hunger. FIRST OLD MAN Thy master? LITTLE JOHN Robin Hood. SECOND WOMAN [_Falling on her knees._] God bless his name. God bless the kindly name of Robin Hood. LITTLE JOHN [_Giving them food._] 'Tis well nigh all that's left him; and to-night He goes to his betrothal feast. [_All the outcasts except the first old man exeunt._] SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF [_Pointing to the donkey._]