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thicket； brandishing a ponderous cudgel。
〃Who art thou？〃 said the knight。
〃I am the church militant of Sherwood；〃 answered the friar。 〃Why art
thou in arms against our lady queen？〃
〃What meanest thou？〃 said the knight。
〃Truly； this；〃 said the friar； 〃is our liege lady of the forest； against
whom I do apprehend thee in overt act of treason。 What sayest thou for
thyself？〃
〃I say；〃 answered the knight； 〃that if this be indeed a lady； man never
yet held me so long。〃
〃Spoken；〃 said the friar； 〃like one who hath done execution。 Hast thou
thy stomach full of steel？ Wilt thou diversify thy repast with a taste of
my oak…graff？ Or wilt thou incline thine heart to our venison which truly
is cooling？ Wilt thou fight？ or wilt thou dine？ or wilt thou fight and dine？
or wilt thou dine and fight？ I am for thee； choose as thou mayest。〃
〃I will dine；〃 said the knight； 〃for with lady I never fought before； and
with friar I never fought yet； and with neither will I ever fight knowingly：
and if this be the queen of the forest； I will not； being in her own
dominions； be backward to do her homage。〃
So saying； he kissed the hand of Marian； who was pleased most
graciously to express her approbation。
〃Gramercy； sir knight；〃 said the friar； 〃I laud thee for thy courtesy；
which I deem to be no less than thy valour。 Now do thou follow me； while
I follow my nose； which scents the pleasant odour of roast from the depth
of the forest recesses。 I will lead thy horse； and do thou lead my lady。〃
The knight took Marian's hand； and followed the friar； who walked
before them； singing：
When the wind blows； when the wind blows From where under
buck the dry log glows； What guide can you follow； O'er
brake and o'er hollow； So true as a ghostly； ghostly nose？
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CHAPTER XVIII
Robin and Richard were two pretty men。 Mother Goose's Melody。
They proceeded； following their infallible guide； first along a light
elastic greensward under the shade of lofty and wide…spreading trees that
skirted a sunny opening of the forest； then along labyrinthine paths； which
the deer； the outlaw； or the woodman had made； through the close shoots
of the young coppices； through the thick undergrowth of the ancient
woods； through beds of gigantic fern that filled the narrow glades and
waved their green feathery heads above the plume of the knight。 Along
these sylvan alleys they walked in single file； the friar singing and
pioneering in the van； the horse plunging and floundering behind the friar；
the lady following 〃in maiden meditation fancy free；〃 and the knight
bringing up the rear； much marvelling at the strange company into which
his stars had thrown him。 Their path had expanded sufficiently to allow the
knight to take Marian's hand again； when they arrived in the august
presence of Robin Hood and his court。
Robin's table was spread under a high overarching canopy of living
boughs； on the edge of a natural lawn of verdure starred with flowers；
through which a swift transparent rivulet ran sparkling in the sun。 The
board was covered with abundance of choice food and excellent liquor；
not without the comeliness of snow…white linen and the splendour of
costly plate； which the sheriff of Nottingham had unwillingly contributed
to supply； at the same time with an excellent cook； whom Little John's art
had spirited away to the forest with the contents of his master's silver
scullery。
An hundred foresters were here assembled over…ready for their dinner；
some seated at the table and some lying in groups under the trees。
Robin bade courteous welcome to the knight； who took his seat
between Robin and Marian at the festal board； at which was already
placed one strange guest in the person of a portly monk； sitting between
Little John and Scarlet； with； his rotund physiognomy elongated into an
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unnatural oval by the conjoint influence of sorrow and fear： sorrow for the
departed contents of his travelling treasury； a good…looking valise which
was hanging empty on a bough； and fear for his personal safety； of which
all the flasks and pasties before him could not give him assurance。 The
appearance of the knight； however； cheered him up with a semblance of
protection； and gave him just sufficient courage to demolish a cygnet and
a rumble…pie； which he diluted with the contents of two flasks of canary
sack。
But wine； which sometimes creates and often increases joy； doth also；
upon occasion； heighten sorrow： and so it fared now with our portly
monk； who had no sooner explained away his portion of provender； than
he began to weep and bewail himself bitterly。
〃Why dost thou weep； man？〃 said Robin Hood。 〃Thou hast done
thine embassy justly； and shalt have thy Lady's grace。〃
〃Alack！ alack！〃 said the monk： 〃no embassy had I； luckless sinner； as
well thou wottest； but to take to my abbey in safety the treasure whereof
thou hast despoiled me。〃
〃Propound me his case；〃 said Friar Tuck； 〃and I will give him ghostly
counsel。〃
〃You well remember；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃the sorrowful knight who
dined with us here twelve months and a day gone by。〃
〃Well do I；〃 said Friar Tuck。 〃His lands were in jeopardy with a
certain abbot； who would allow him no longer day for their redemption。
Whereupon you lent to him the four hundred pounds which he needed； and
which he was to repay this day； though he had no better security to give
than our Lady the Virgin。〃
〃I never desired better；〃 said Robin； 〃for she never yet failed to send
me my pay； and here is one of her own flock； this faithful and well…
favoured monk of St。 Mary's； hath brought it me duly； principal and
interest to a penny； as Little John can testify； who told it forth。 To be sure；
he denied having it； but that was to prove our faith。 We sought and found
it。〃
〃I know nothing of your knight；〃 said the monk： 〃and the money was
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our own； as the Virgin shall bless me。〃
〃She shall bless thee；〃 said Friar Tuck； 〃for a faithful messenger。〃
The monk resumed his wailing。 Little John brought him his horse。
Robin gave him leave to depart。 He sprang with singular nimbleness into
the saddle； and vanished without saying； God give you good day。
The stranger knight laughed heartily as the monk rode off。
〃They say； sir knight；〃 said Friar Tuck； 〃they should laugh who win：
but thou laughest who art likely to lose。〃
〃I have won；〃 said the knight； 〃a good dinner； some mirth； and some
knowledge： and I cannot lose by paying for them。〃
〃Bravely said；〃 answered Robin。 〃Still it becomes thee to pay： for it
is not meet that a poor forester should treat a rich knight。 How much
money hast thou with thee？〃
〃Troth； I know not；〃 said the knight。 〃Sometimes much； sometimes
little； sometimes none。 But search； and what thou findest； keep： and for
the sake of thy kind heart and open hand； be it what it may； I shall wish it
were more。〃
〃Then； since thou sayest so；〃 said Robin； 〃not a penny will I touch。
Many a false churl comes hither； and disburses against his will： and till
there is lack of these； I prey not on true men。〃
〃Thou art thyself a true man； right well I judge； Robin；〃 said the
stranger knight； 〃and seemest more like one bred in court than to thy
present outlaw life。〃
〃Our life；〃 said the friar； 〃is a c