(Cymbeline, act iii. scene 3). The chief subjects of our hero’s conversation are supposed, by a poetical genius of the 16th {xxxvi} century, to have been the commendation of a forest-life and the ingratitude of mankind. “I have no tales of Robin Hood, though mal-content was he In better daies, first Richard’s daies, and liv’d in woods as we A Tymon of the world; but not devoutly was he soe, And therefore praise I not the man: but for from him did groe Words worth the note, a word or twaine of him ere hence we goe. Those daies begot some mal-contents, the principall of whome A county was, that with a troope of yomandry did rome, Brave archers and deliver men, since nor before so good, Those took from rich to give the poore, and manned Robin Hood. He fed them well, and lodg’d them safe in pleasant caves and bowers, Oft saying to his merry men, What juster life than ours? Here use we tallents that abroad the churles abuse or hide, Their coffers’ excrements, and yeat for common wants denide. We might have sterved for their store, & they have dyc’st our bones, Whose tongues, driftes, harts, intice, meane, melt, as syrens, foxes, stones, Yea even the best that betterd them heard but aloofe our mones. And redily the churles could prie and prate of our amis, Forgetfull of their owne. . . . I did amis, not missing friends that wisht me to amend: I did amend, but missed friends when mine amis had end: My friends therefore shall finde me true, but I will trust no frend. Not one I knewe that wisht me ill, nor any workt me well, To lose, lacke, live, time, frends, in yncke, an hell, an hell, an hell! Then happie we (quoth Robin Hood) in merry Sherwood that dwell.”[27] It has been conjectured, however, that, in the winter season, our hero and his companions severally quartered themselves in villages or country-houses more or less remote, with persons of whose fidelity they were assured. It is not improbable, at the same time, that they might have tolerably comfortable habitations erected in the woods.