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How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw
whenapplebudsblossomandsweetbirdssing,thelarkatdawnofday,thethrostlecockandcuckoo;whenladsandlasseslookuponeachotherwithsweetthoughts;whenbusyhousewivesspreadtheirlinentobleachuponthebrightgreengrass.Sweetwasthegreenwoodashewalkedalongitspaths,andbrightthegreenandrustlingleaves,amidwhichthelittlebirdssangwithmightandmain:andblithelyRobinwhistledashetrudgedalong,thinkingofMaidMarianandherbrighteyes,foratsuchtimesayouth’sthoughtsarewonttoturnpleasantlyuponthelassthathelovesthebest.
Asthushewalkedalongwithabriskstepandamerrywhistle,hecamesuddenlyuponsomeforestersseatedbeneathagreatoaktree.Fifteentherewereinall,makingthemselvesmerrywithfeastinganddrinkingastheysataroundahugepasty,towhicheachmanhelpedhimself,thrustinghishandsintothepie,andwashingdownthatwhichtheyatewithgreathornsofalewhichtheydrewallfoamingfromabarrelthatstoodnigh.EachmanwascladinLincolngreen,andafineshowtheymade,seatedupontheswardbeneaththatfair,spreadingtree.Thenoneofthem,withhismouthfull,calledouttoRobin,"Hulloa,wheregoestthou,littlelad,withthyone-pennybowandthyfarthingshafts?"
ThenRobingrewangry,fornostriplinglikestobetauntedwithhisgreenyears.
"Now,"quothhe,"mybowandekeminearrowsareasgoodasshine;andmoreover,IgototheshootingmatchatNottinghamTown,whichsamehasbeenproclaimedbyourgoodSheriffofNottinghamshire;thereIwillshootwithotherstoutyeomen,foraprizehasbeenofferedofafinebuttofale."
Thenonewhoheldahornofaleinhishandsaid,"Ho!listentothelad!Why,boy,thymother’smilkisyetscarcedryuponthylips,andyetthoupratestofstandingupwithgoodstoutmenatNottinghambutts,thouwhoartscarceabletodrawonestringofatwo-stonebow."
