26 These words cheerd Robin at the heart, Joy shone within his face; Within his arms he huggd them both, And kindly did imbrace. 27 Quoth he, We’ll put on mothly gray, With long staves in our hands, A scrip and bottle by our sides, As come from the Holy Land. 28 So may we pass along the high-way; None will ask from whence we came, But take us pilgrims for to be, Or else some holy men. 29 Now they are on their journey gone, As fast as they may speed, Yet for all haste, ere they arriv’d, The princess forth was led: 30 To be deliverd to the prince, Who in the list did stand, Prepar’d to fight, or else receive His lady by the hand. 31 With that he walkt about the lists, With giants by his side: ‘Bring forth,’ said he, ‘your champions, Or bring me forth my bride. 32 ‘This is the four and twentieth day, The day prefixt upon; Bring forth my bride, or London burns, I swear by Acaron.’ 33 Then cries the king, and queen likewise, Both weeping as they speak, Lo! we have brought our daughter dear, Whom we are forcd to forsake. 34 With that stept out bold Robin Hood, Crys, My liege, it must not be so; Such beauty as the fair princess Is not for a tyrants mow. 35 The prince he then began to storm; Crys, Fool, fanatick, baboon! How dares thou stop my valours prize? I’ll kill thee with a frown. 36 ‘Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel,’ Thus Robin began to reply, ‘Thy frowns I scorn; lo! here’s my gage, And thus I thee defie. 37 ‘And for these two Goliahs there, That stand on either side, Here are two little Davids by, That soon can tame their pride.’ 38 Then did the king for armour send, For lances, swords, and shields: And thus all three in armour bright Came marching to the field. 39 The trumpets began to sound a charge, Each singled out his man; Their arms in pieces soon were hewd, Blood sprang from every vain. 40 The prince he reacht Robin a blow— He struck with might and main— Which forcd him to reel about the field, As though he had been slain. 41 ‘God-a-mercy,’ quoth Robin, ‘for that blow! The quarrel shall soon be try’d; This stroke shall shew a full divorce Betwixt thee and thy bride.’ 42 So from his shoulders he’s cut his head, Which on the ground did fall, And grumbling sore at Robin Hood, To be so dealt withal. 43 The giants then began to rage, To see their prince lie dead: ‘Thou’s be the next,’ quoth Little John, ‘Unless thou well guard thy head.’ 44 With that his faulchion he whirld about— It was both keen and sharp— He clove the giant to the belt, And cut in twain his heart. 45 Will Scadlock well had playd his part, The giant he had brought to his knee; Quoth he, The devil cannot break his fast, Unless he have you all three.