'Now turn again, turn again,' said the pinder, 'For a wrong way have you gone; For you have forsaken the king his highway, And made a path over the corn.' 'Oh, that were great shame,' said jolly Robin, `We being three, and thou but one': The pinder leapt back then thirty good foot, 'Twas thirty good foot and one. He leaned his back fast unto a thorn, And his foot unto a stone, And there he fought a long summer's day, A summer's day so long, Till that their swords, on their broad bucklers, Were broken fast unto their hands. ................................... 'Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,' said Robin Hood, 'And my merry men every one; For this is one of the best pinders That ever I try'd with sword. 'And wilt thou forsake thy pinder his craft, And live in the green wood with me?' ................................... 'At Michaelmas next my covenant comes out, When every man gathers his fee; I'le take my blew blade all in my hand, And plod to the green wood with thee.' 'Hast thou either meat or drink,' said Robin Hood, 'For my merry men and me?' ................................... 'I have both bread and beef,' said the pinder, 'And good ale of the best'; 'And that is meat good enough,' said Robin Hood, For such unbidden guest. O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft And go to the green wood with me? 'Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year, The one green, the other brown shall be.' 'If Michaelmas day were once come and gone, And my master had paid me my fee, Then would I set as little by him As my master doth set by me.' THE NUT-BROWN MAID _He_. BE it right or wrong, these men among On women do complain; Affirming this, how that it is A labour spent in vain, To love them well; for never a deal They love a man again: For let a man do what he can, Their favour to attain, Yet, if a new do them pursue, Their first true lover then Laboureth for nought; for from their thought He is a banished man. _She_. I say not nay, but that all day It is both written and said, That woman's faith is, as who saith, All utterly decayed; But, nevertheless, right good witness In this case might be laid, That they love true, and continue: Record the Nut-brown Maid: Which, when her love came, her to prove, To her to make his moan, Would not depart; for in her heart She loved but him alone. _He_. Then between us let us discuss What was all the manner Between them two: we will also Tell all the pain, and fear, That she was in. Now I begin, So that ye me answer; Wherefore, all ye, that present be, I pray you give an ear. 'I am the knight; I come by night, As secret as I can; Saying, alas! thus standeth the case, I am a banished man.'