Forth then went this gentle Knight, With a careful cheer[733]; The tears out of his eyen ran, And fell down by his leer[734]. XXIX They brought him to the lodgè door; When Robin gan him see, Full courteously did off his hood, And set him on his knee. XXX ‘Welcome, Sir Knight,’ then said Robin, ‘Welcome art thou to me; I have abiden you fasting, sir, All these hourès three.’ XXXI Then answerèd the gentle Knight, With wordès fair and free; ‘God thee savè, good Robin, And all thy fair meinèe.’ XXXII They washèd together and wipèd both, And set to their dinnere; Bread and wine they had enough, And numbles[735] of the deer. XXXIII Swans and pheasants they had full good, And fowls of the rivere; There failèd none so little a bird That ever was bred on brere[736]. XXXIV ‘Do gladly, Sir Knight,’ said Robin. ‘Gramerci, sir,’ said he; ‘Such a dinner had I not Of all these weekès three. XXXV ‘If I come again, Robin, Here by this country, As good a dinner I shall thee make As thou hast made to me.’ XXXVI ‘Gramerci, Knight,’ said Robin Hood; ‘My dinner when I have, I was never so greedy, by dear-worth[737] God, My dinner for to crave. XXXVII ‘But pray ere ye wend,’ said Robin Hood; ‘Me thinketh it is good right; It was never the manner, by dear-worth God, A yeoman to pay for a knight.’ XXXVIII ‘I have nought in my coffers,’ said the Knight, ‘That I may proffer for shame:’ ‘Little John, go look,’ said Robin Hood, ‘Nor let[738] not for no blame.’ XXXIX ‘Tell me truth,’ said Robin Hood, ‘So God have part of thee[739].’-- ‘I have no more than ten shillings, So God have part of me.’ XL ‘If thou hast no more,’ said Robin, ‘I will not one pennỳ; And if thou need of any more, More shall I lendè thee. XLI ‘Go now forth, Little John, The truthè tell thou me; If there be no more but ten shillings, No penny that I see.’ XLII Little John his mantle spread Full fair upon the ground, And there he found in the Knight’s coffer But even half a pound. XLIII Little John let it lie full still, And went to his master low; ‘What tidings, John?’ said Robin Hood.-- ‘Sir, the Knight is true enow.’ XLIV ‘Fill of the best wine,’ said Robin, ‘The Knight shall begin; Muchè wonder thinketh me Thy clothing is so thin. XLV ‘Tell me one word,’ said Robin, ‘And counsel[740] shall it be; I trow thou wert made a knight of force[741], Or else of yeomanry[742]. XLVI ‘Or else thou hast been a sorry husband[743], And lived in stroke and strife; An okerer[744], or a lecher[745], With wrong hast led thy life.’