Minstrel, art thou, too, free of fairyland? Where wouldst thou ride? What is thy name? MINSTREL My name Is Blondel. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Blondel! THE FAIRIES Blondel! MINSTREL And I ride Through all the world to seek and find my King! [_He passes through the fairy host and goes into the woods on the further side of the glade, continuing his song, which dies away in the distance._] [_Song._] "Death? What is death?" he cried. "I must ride on, On to my true love's side, Up to her throne!" [_Curtain._] ACT III SCENE I. _May-day. An open place (near NOTTINGHAM). A crowd of rustics and townsfolk assembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLET._ FIRST RUSTIC A sad may-day! Where yonder gallows glowers, We should have raised the may-pole. SECOND RUSTIC Ay, no songs, No kisses in the ring, no country dances To-day; no lads and lasses on the green, Crowning their queen of may. [_Enter ROBIN HOOD, disguised as an old beggar, with a green patch on one eye._] ROBIN Is this the place, Masters, where they're a-goin' to hang Will Scarlet? FIRST RUSTIC Ay, father, more's the pity. ROBIN Eh! Don't ye think There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many That seems to like him well, here, roundabouts. SECOND RUSTIC Too many halberts round him. There's no chance. ROBIN I've heard the forest might break out, the lads In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did? FIRST RUSTIC There's many here would swing a cudgel and help To trip the Sheriff up. If Robin Hood Were only here! But then he's outlawed now. SECOND RUSTIC Ay, and there's big rewards out. It would be Sure death for him to try a rescue now. The biggest patch of Lincoln Green we'll see This day, is that same patch on thy old eye, Eh, lads! THIRD RUSTIC What's more, they say Prince John is out This very day, scouring thro' Sherwood forest In quest of Lady Marian! ROBIN [_Sharply._] You heard that? THIRD RUSTIC Ay, for they say she's flown to Sherwood forest. SECOND RUSTIC Ah! Ah? That's why he went. I saw Prince John! With these same eyes I saw him riding out To Sherwood, not an hour ago. ROBIN You saw him? SECOND RUSTIC Ay, and he only took three men at arms. FIRST RUSTIC