"And syne go to the tavern house, And buy both wine and ale; 110 Hereat thy friends will crack full crouse, Thou hast been at a dale." Good Robin answer'd never a word, But lay still as a stane; His cheeks were white as any clay, 115 And closed were his eyen. The beggar thought him dead but fail, And boldly bown'd away;-- I would you had been at the dale, And gotten part of the play. 120 [THE SECOND PART.] Now three of Robin's men, by chance, Came walking by the way, And found their master in a trance, On ground where he did lay. Up have they taken good Robin, 5 Making a piteous beir, Yet saw they no man there at whom They might the matter speir. They lookèd him all round about, But wounds on him saw none, 10 Yet at his mouth came bocking out The blood of a good vein. Cold water they have taken syne, And cast into his face; Then he began to lift his eyne, 15 And spake within short space. "Tell us, dear master," said his men, "How with you stands the case?" Good Robin sigh'd e'er he began To tell of his disgrace. 20 "I have been watchman in this wood Near hand this forty year, Yet I was never so hard bestead As you have found me here. "A beggar with a clouted cloak, 25 In whom I fear'd no ill, Hath with his pike-staff claw'd my back, I fear 'twill never be well. See, where he goes o'er yonder hill, With hat upon his head; 30 If e'er you lov'd your master well, Go now revenge this deed. "And bring him back again to me, If it lie in your might, That I may see, before I die, 35 Him punisht in my sight. "And if you may not bring him back, Let him not go loose on; For to us all it were great shame If he escap't again." 40 "One of us shall with you remain, Because you're ill at ease, The other two shall bring him back, To use him as you please." "Now, by my troth," says good Robin, 45 "I trow there's enough said; If he get scouth to wield his tree, I fear you'll both be paid." "Be ye not fear'd, our good master, That we two can be dung 50 With any blutter base beggar, That has nought but a rung. "His staff shall stand him in no stead; That you shall shortly see; But back again he shall be led, 55 And fast bound shall he be, To see if ye will have him slain, Or hangèd on a tree."