"And about and about and about they went, Like two wild bores in a chase, Striving to aim each other to maim, Leg, arm, or any other place. "And knock for knock they lustily dealt, Which held for two hours and more, Till all the wood rang at every bang, They ply'd their work so sore. "Hold thy hand, hold thy hand,' said Robin Hood, 'And let thy quarrel fall; For here we may thrash our bones all to mesh, And get no coyn at all. "And in the forrest of merry Sherwood, Hereafter thou shalt be free.' 'God a mercy for nought, my freedom I bought, I may thank my staff, and not thee.'"[163]... "Who are you, then?" says Robin: "'I am a tanner,' bold Arthur reply'd, 'In Nottingham long I have wrought; And if thou'lt come there, I vow and swear, I will tan thy hide for nought.' "'God a mercy, good fellow,' said jolly Robin, 'Since thou art so kind and free; And if thou wilt tan my hide for nought, I will do as much for thee.'"[164] With these generous offers, they embrace; a free exchange of honest blows always prepares the way for friendship. It was so Robin Hood tried Little John, whom he loved all his life after. Little John was seven feet high, and being on a bridge, would not give way. Honest Robin would not use his bow against him, but went and cut a stick seven feet long; and they agreed amicably to fight on the bridge until one should fall into the water. They fall to so merrily that "their bones ring." In the end Robin falls, and he feels only the more respect for Little John. Another time, having a sword with him, he was thrashed by a tinker who had only a stick. Full of admiration, he gives him a hundred pounds. Again he was thrashed by a potter, who refused him toll; then by a shepherd. They fight to amuse themselves. Even nowadays boxers give each other a friendly grip before setting to; they knock one another about in this country honorably, without malice, fury, or shame. Broken teeth, black eyes, smashed ribs, do not call for murderous vengeance: it would seem that the bones are more solid and the nerves less sensitive in England than elsewhere. Blows once exchanged, they take each other by the hand, and dance together on the green grass: "Then Robin took them both by the hands, And danc'd round about the oke tree. 'For three merry men, and three merry men, And three merry men we be.'"