Ay, a god Grinning thro' a horse-collar at a pitiful page, Dazed with the first red gleam of what he thought Life, as the trouveres find it! I am ashamed, Remembering how your quick tears blinded me! ELINOR Ashamed! You--you--that in my bitter grief When Rosamund-- ROBIN I know! I thought your woes, Those tawdry relics of your treacheries, Wrongs quite unparalleled. I would have fought Roland himself to prove you spotless then. ELINOR Oh, you speak thus to me! Robin, beware! I have come to you, I have trampled on my pride, Set all on this one cast! If you should now Reject me, humble me to the dust before That girl, beware! I never forget, I warn you; I never forgive. ROBIN Are you so proud of that? ELINOR Ah, well, forgive me, Robin. I'll save you yet From all these troubles of your outlawry! Trust me--for I can wind my poor Prince John Around my little finger. Who knows--with me To help you--there are but my two sons' lives That greatly hinder it--why, yourself might reign Upon the throne of England. ROBIN Are you so wrapped In treacheries, helplessly false, even to yourself, That now you do not know falsehood from truth, Darkness from light? ELINOR O Robin, I was true At least to you. If I were false to others, At least I-- ROBIN No--not that--that sickening plea Of truth in treachery. Treachery cannot live With truth. The soul wherein they are wedded dies Of leprosy. ELINOR [_Coming closer to him._] Have you no pity, Robin, No kinder word than this for the poor creature That crept--Ah, feel my heart, feel how it beats! No pity? ROBIN Five years ago this might have moved me! ELINOR No pity? ROBIN None. There is no more to say. My men shall guide you safely through the wood. ELINOR I never forgive! [_Enter MARIAN from the cave; she stands silent and startled._] ROBIN My men shall guide you back. [_Calls._] Ho, there, my lads! [_Enter several of the OUTLAWS._] This lady needs a guide Back thro' the wood. ELINOR Good-bye, then, Robin, and good-bye to you, Sweet mistress! You have wronged me! What of that? For--when we meet--Come, lead on, foresters! [_Exeunt the QUEEN and her guides._] MARIAN O Robin, Robin, how the clouds begin To gather--how that woman seems to have brought A nightmare on these woods. ROBIN