As Robin Hood next morning stood, Amongst the leaves so gay, There did he espy the same young man Come drooping along the way. V The scarlet he wore the day before, It was clean cast away; And every step he fetcht a sigh, ‘Alack and a well a day!’ VI Then steppèd forth brave Little John, And Much the miller’s son, Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he saw them come. VII ‘Stand off, stand off!’ the young man said, ‘What is your will with me?’-- ‘You must come before our master straight, Under yon green-wood tree.’ VIII And when he came bold Robin before, Robin askt him courteously, ‘O hast thou any money to spare, For my merry men and me?’ IX ‘I have no money,’ the young man said, ‘But five shillings and a ring; And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my weddìng. X ‘Yesterday I should have married a maid, But she is now from me tane, And chosen to be an old knight’s delight, Whereby my poor heart is slain.’ XI ‘What is thy name?’ then said Robin Hood, ‘Come tell me, without any fail.’-- ‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man, ‘My name it is Alan a Dale.’ XII ‘What wilt thou give me,’ said Robin Hood, ‘In ready gold or fee, To help thee to thy true-love again, And deliver her unto thee?’ XIII ‘I have no money,’ then quoth the young man, ‘No ready gold nor fee, But I will swear upon a book Thy true servant for to be.’-- XIV ‘But how many miles to thy true-love? Come tell me without any guile.’-- ‘By the faith of my body,’ then said the young man, ‘It is but five little mile.’ XV Then Robin he hasted over the plain, He did neither stint nor lin[1013], Until he came unto the church Where Alan should keep his weddìng. XVI ‘What dost thou do here?’ the Bishop he said, ‘I prithee now tell to me:’ ‘I am a bold harper,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘And the best in the north countrey.’ XVII ‘O welcome, O welcome!’ the Bishop he said, ‘That musick best pleaseth me.’-- ‘You shall have no musick,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.’ XVIII With that came in a wealthy knight, Which was both grave and old, And after him a finikin lass, Did shine like glistering gold. XIX ‘This is no fit match,’ quoth bold Robin Hood, ‘That you do seem to make here; For since we are come unto the church, The bride she shall chuse her own dear.’ XX Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth, And blew blasts two or three; When four and twenty bowmen bold Come leaping over the lee. XXI