With that from his quiver an arrow he drew, A broad arrow with a goose-wing. The stranger replied, "I'll liquor thy hide, If thou offer to touch the string." Quoth bold Robin Hood, "Thou dost prate like an ass, For were I to bend my bow, I could send a dart quite thro' thy proud heart, Before thou couldst strike me one blow." "Thou talk'st like a coward," the stranger reply'd; "Well arm'd with a long bow you stand, To shoot at my breast, while I, I protest, Have nought but a staff in my hand," "The name of a coward," quoth Robin, "I scorn, Therefore my long bow I'll lay by; And now for thy sake, a staff will I take, The truth of thy manhood to try." Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of trees, And chose him a staff of brown oak; Now this being done, away he did run To the stranger, and merrily spoke: "Lo! see my staff is lusty and tough, Now here on this bridge we will play; Whoever falls in, the other shall win The battle, and so we'll away." "With all my whole heart," the stranger reply'd, "I scorn in the least to give out." This said, they fell to't without more dispute, And their staffs they did flourish about. At first Robin he gave the stranger a bang, So hard that he made his bones ring; The stranger he said, "This must be repaid, I'll give you as good as you bring. "So long as I am able to handle a staff, To die in your debt, friend, I scorn." Then to it each goes, and followed their blows, As if they'd been threshing of corn. [Illustration: TUMBLED HIM INTO THE BROOK] The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown, Which caused the blood to appear; Then Robin, enrag'd, more fiercely engag'd, And follow'd his blows more severe. So thick and so fast did he lay it on him, With a passionate fury and ire; At every stroke he made him to smoke, As if he had been all on fire. O then into fury the stranger he grew, And gave him a damnable look, And with it a blow that laid him full low, And tumbled him into the brook. "I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou now?" The stranger, in laughter, he cry'd. Quoth bold Robin Hood, "Good faith, in the flood And floating along with the tide. "I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul, With thee I'll no longer contend; For needs must I say, thou hast got the day, Our battle shall be at an end." Then unto the bank he did presently wade, And pull'd himself out by a thorn; Which done, at the last, he blew a loud blast Straightway on his fine bugle-horn. The echo of which through the valleys did fly, At which his stout bowmen appear'd, All clothed in green, most gay to be seen, So up to their master they steer'd. "O, what's the matter?" quoth William Stutely: "Good master, you are wet to the skin." "No matter," quoth he, "the lad which you see In fighting hath tumbled me in."