And he said, Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon ; With all my heart, so let it be. Then come hither, Little John, said Robin Hood, Come hither my page unto me : {155} Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow, And broad arrows, one, two, or three. For when ’tis fair weather we’ll into Sherwood, Some merry pastime to see. When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood, He winded his bugle so clear ; And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold, Before Robin Hood did appear. Where are your companions all ? said Robin Hood, For still I want forty and three. Then said a bold yeoman, Lo, yonder they stand, All under the[284] green wood tree. As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by, The queen of the shepherds was she ; And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass, And her buskin did reach to her knee. Her gate it was graceful, her body was straight, And her countenance free from pride ; A bow in her hand, and a quiver of arrows Hung dangling by her sweet side. Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair, And her skin was as smooth as glass ; Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too : Sets with Robin Hood such a lass ! {156} Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whither away ? O whither, fair lady, away ? And she made him answer, To kill a fat buck ; For to-morrow is Titbury day. Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, wander with me A little to yonder green bower ; There set down to rest you, and you shall be sure Of a brace or a ‘leash’[285] in an hour. And as we were going towàrds the green bower, Two hundred good bucks we espy’d ; She chose[286] out the fattest that was in the herd, And she shot him through side and side. By the faith of my body, said bold Robin Hood, I never saw woman like thee ; And com’st thou from east, or com’st thou from west, Thou needst not beg venison of me. However, along to my bower you shall go, And taste of a forrester’s meat : And when we came thither we found as good cheer As any man needs for to eat. For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold, Cream clouted, and honey-combs plenty ; And the servitors they were, besides Little John, Good yeomen, at least four and twenty. {157} Clorinda said, Tell me your name, gentle sir : And he said, ’Tis bold Robin Hood : Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delight Is to dwell in the merry Sherwood ; For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife. So ’tis, sir, Clorinda reply’d. But oh ! said bold Robin, how sweet would it be, If Clorinda would be my bride ! She blusht at the motion ; yet, after a pause, Said, Yes, sir, and with all my heart. Then let us send for a priest, said Robin Hood, And be married before we do part. But she said, It may not be so, gentle sir, For I must be at Titbury feast ; And if Robin Hood will go thither with me, I’ll make him the most welcome guest.