"What shall we fight for?" cries Robin Hood, 25 "Come tell it unto me; Here is twenty pound in good red gold, Win it, and take it thee." The shepherd stood all in a maze, And knew not what to say; 30 "I have no money, thou proud fellow, But bag and bottle I'le lay." "I am content, thou shepherd swain, Fling them down on the ground; But it will breed thee mickle pain, 35 To win my twenty pound." "Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellow, Thou standest too long to prate; This hook of mine shall let thee know, A coward I do hate." 40 So they fell to it, full hard and sore; It was on a summers day; From ten till four in the afternoon The shepherd held him play. Robin's buckler proved his chiefest defence, 45 And saved him many a bang, For every blow the shepherd gave Made Robins sword cry twang. Many a sturdie blow the shepherd gave, And that bold Robin found, 50 Till the blood ran trickling from his head, Then he fell to the ground. "Arise, arise, thou proud fellow, And thou shalt have fair play, If thou wilt yield, before thou go, 55 That I have won the day." "A boon, a boon," cry'd bold Robin, "If that a man thou be, Then let me take my beugle horn, And blow out blasts three." 60 Then said the shepherd to bold Robin, "To that will I agree; For if thou shouldst blow till to-morrow morn, I scorn one foot to flee." Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth, 65 And he blew with mickle main, Until he espied Little John Come tripping over the plain. "O who is yonder, thou proud fellow, That comes down yonder hill?" 70 "Yonder is John, bold Robin Hoods man, Shall fight with thee thy fill." "What is the matter?" saies Little John, "Master, come tell unto me:" "My case is bad," cries Robin Hood, 75 "For the shepherd hath conquered me." "I am glad of that," cries Little John, "Shepherd turn thou to me; For a bout with thee I mean to have, Either come fight or flee." 80 "With all my heart, thou proud fellòw, For it never shall be said That a shepherds hook at thy sturdy look Will one jot be dismaied." So they fell to it, full hardy and sore, 85 Striving for victorie; "I will know," says John, "ere we give o'er, Whether thou wilt fight or flee." The shepherd gave John a sturdie blow, With his hook under the chin; 90 "Beshrew thy heart," said Little John, "Thou basely dost begin."