The news struck Robin to the heart, He fell down on the grass; His actions and his troubled mind Shew'd he perplexed was. "Where lies your grief?" quoth Will Scadlòck, 85 "O master, tell to me: If the damsel's eyes have pierc'd your heart, I'll fetch her back to thee." "Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood, "She doth not cause my smart; 90 But 'tis the poor distress'd princèss, That wounds me to the heart. "I'll go fight the giants all To set the lady free:" "The devil take my soul," quoth Little John, 95 "If I part with thy company." "Must I stay behind?" quoth Will Scadlòck, "No, no, that must not be; I'le make the third man in the fight, So we shall be three to three." 100 These words cheer'd Robin to the heart, Joy shone within his face; Within his arms he hugged them both, And kindly did imbrace. Quoth he, "We'll put on motley gray, 105 And long staves in our hands, A scrip and bottle by our sides, As come from the holy land. "So may we pass along the high-way, None will ask from whence we came, 110 But take us pilgrims for to be, Or else some holy men." Now they are on their journey gone, As fast as they may speed, Yet for all their haste, ere they arriv'd, 115 The princess forth was led, To be deliver'd to the prince, Who in the list did stand, Prepar'd to fight, or else receive His lady by the hand. 120 With that he walk'd about the lists, With giants by his side: "Bring forth," said he, "your champions, Or bring me forth my bride. "This is the four and twentieth day, 125 The day prefixt upon: Bring forth my bride, or London burns, I swear by Alcaron."[L128] Then cries the king, and queen likewise, Both weeping as they spake, 130 "Lo! we have brought our daughter dear, Whom we are forc'd to forsake." With that stept out bold Robin Hood, Crys, "My liege, it must not be so; Such beauty as the fair princèss 135 Is not for a tyrant's mow." The prince he then began to storm, Cries, "Fool, fanatick, baboon! How dare you stop my valour's prize? I'll kill thee with a frown." 140 "Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel," Thus Robin began to reply, "Thy frowns I scorn; lo! here's my gage, And thus I thee defie. "And for those two Goliahs there, 145 That stand on either side, Here are two little Davids by, That soon can tame their pride."