"But cast you slily in his way, Before he be aware, 60 And on his pike-staff first hands lay, You'll speed the better far." Now leave we Robin with his man, Again to play the child, And learn himself to stand and gang 65 By haulds, for all his eild. Now pass we to the bold beggàr That rakèd o'er the hill, Who never mended his pace no more Nor he had done no ill. 70 The young men knew the country well, So soon where he would be,[L72] And they have taken another way,[L73] Was nearer by miles three. They rudely ran with all their might, 75 Spared neither dub nor mire, They started neither at laigh nor hight, No travel made them tire. Till they before the beggar wan, And coost them in his way; 80 A little wood lay in a glen, And there they both did stay. They stood up closely by a tree, In ilk side of the gate, Until the beggar came them to, 85 That thought not of such fate. And as he was betwixt them past, They leapt upon him baith; The one his pike-staff grippèd fast, They fearèd for its scaith. 90 The other he held in his sight A drawen dirk to his breast, And said, "False carl, quit thy staff, Or I shall be thy priest." His pike-staff they have taken him frae, 95 And stuck it in the green, He was full loath to let gae, If better might have been. The beggar was the feardest man Of one that ever might be; 100 To win away no way he can, Nor help him with his tree. He wist not wherefore he was tane, Nor how many was there; He thought his life-days had been gane, 105 He grew into despair. "Grant me my life," the beggar said, "For him that died on tree, And take away that ugly knife, Or then for fear I'll die. 110 "I griev'd you never in all my life, Nor late nor yet by ayre, Ye have great sin, if ye would slay A silly poor beggàr." "Thou lies, false lown," they said again, 115 "By all that may be sworn; Thou hast near slain the gentlest man That ever yet was born. "And back again thou shalt be led, And fast bound shalt thou be, 120 To see if he will have thee slain, Or hangèd on a tree." The beggar then thought all was wrong; They were set for his wrack; He saw nothing appearing then, 125 But ill upon worse back.