Come in, my scraps of Lincoln green; come in, My slips of greenwood. You're much wanted here! Head, heart and eyes, we are all pent up in walls Of stone--nothing but walls on every side-- And not a rose to break them--big blind walls, Neat smooth stone walls! Come in, my ragged robins; Come in, my jolly minions of the moon, My straggling hazel-boughs! Hey, bully friar, Come in, my knotted oak! Ho, little Much, Come in, my sweet green linnet. Come, my cushats, Larks, yellow-hammers, fern-owls, Oh, come in, Come in, my Dian's foresters, and drown us With may, with blossoming may! FITZWALTER Out, Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Welcome, welcome, good friends of Huntingdon, Or Robin Hood, by whatsoever name You best may love him. CRIES Robin! Robin! Robin! [_Enter ROBIN HOOD._] FITZWALTER Robin, so be it! Myself I am right glad To call him at this bright betrothal feast My son. [_Lays a hand on ROBIN'S shoulder._] Yet, though I would not cast a cloud Across our happy gathering, you'll forgive An old man and a father if he sees All your glad faces thro' a summer mist Of sadness. ROBIN Sadness? Yes, I understand. FITZWALTER No, Robin, no, you cannot understand. ROBIN Where's Marian? FITZWALTER Ay, that's all you think of, boy. But I must say a word to all of you Before she comes. ROBIN Why--what?... FITZWALTER No need to look So startled; but it is no secret here; For many of you are sharers of his wild Adventures. Now I hoped an end had come To these, until another rumour reached me, This very day, of yet another prank. You know, you know, how perilous a road My Marian must ride if Huntingdon Tramples the forest-laws beneath his heel And, in the thin disguise of Robin Hood, Succours the Saxon outlaws, makes his house A refuge for them, lavishes his wealth To feed their sick and needy. [_The SHERIFF and two of his men appear in the great doorway out of sight of the guests._] SHERIFF [_Whispering._] Not yet! keep back! One of you go--see that the guards are set! He must not slip us. FITZWALTER Oh, I know his heart Is gold, but this is not an age of gold; And those who have must keep, or lose the power Even to help themselves. No--he must doff His green disguise of Robin Hood for ever, And wear his natural coat of Huntingdon. ROBIN