{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch129.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch129.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch129.htm","text":"129A.1 NOW Robin Hood, Will Scadlock and Little John\nAre walking over the plain,\nWith a good fat buck which Will Scadlock\nWith his strong bow had slain.\n129A.2 \u2018Jog on, jog on,\u2019 cries Robin Hood,\n\u2018The day it runs full fast;\nFor though my nephew me a breakfast gave,\nI have not yet broke my fast.\n129A.3 \u2018Then to yonder lodge let us take our way,\nI think it wondrous good,\nWhere my nephew by my bold yeomen\nShall be welcomd unto the green wood.\u2019\n129A.4 With that he took the bugle-horn,\nFull well he could it blow;\nStreight from the woods came marching down\nOne hundred tall fellows and mo.\n129A.5 \u2018Stand, stand to your arms!\u2019 crys Will Scadlock,\n\u2018Lo! the enemies are within ken:\u2019\nWith that Robin Hood he laughd aloud,\nCrys, They are my bold yeomen.\n129A.6 Who, when they arriv\u2019d and Robin espy\u2019d,\nCry\u2019d, Master, what is your will?\nWe thought you had in danger been,\nYour horn did sound so shrill.\n129A.7 \u2018Now nay, now nay,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018The danger is past and gone;\nI would have you to welcome my nephew here,\nThat hath paid me two for one.\u2019\n129A.8 In feasting and sporting they passed the day,\nTill Phoebus sunk into the deep;\nThen each one to his quarters hy\u2019d,\nHis guard there for to keep.\n129A.9 Long had they not walked within the green wood,\nBut Robin he was espy\u2019d\nOf a beautiful damsel all alone,\nThat on a black palfrey did ride.\n129A.10 Her riding-suit was of sable hew black,\nSypress over her face,\nThrough which her rose-like cheeks did blush,\nAll with a comely grace.\n129A.11 \u2018Come, tell me the cause, thou pritty one,\u2019\nQuoth Robin, a+end tell me aright,\nFrom whence thou comest, and whither thou goest,\nAll in this mournful plight?\u2019\n129A.12 \u2018From London I came,\u2019 the damsel reply\u2019d,\n\u2018From London upon the thames,\nWhich circled is, O grief to tell!\nBesieg\u2019d with forraign arms.\n129A.13 \u2018By the proud Prince of Aragon,\nWho swears by his martial hand\nTo have the princess for his spouse,\nOr else to waste this land:\n129A.14 \u2018Except that champions can be found\nThat dare fight three to three,\nAgainst the prince and giants twain,\nMost horrid for to see:\n129A.15 \u2018Whose grisly looks, and eyes like brands,\nStrike terrour where they come,\nWith serpents hissing on their helms,\nInstead of feathered plume.\n129A.16 \u2018The princess shall be the victors prize,\nThe king hath vowd and said,\nAnd he that shall the conquest win\nShall have her to his bride.\n129A.17 \u2018Now we are four damsels sent abroad,\nTo the east, west, north, and south,\nTo try whose fortune is so good\nTo find these champions forth.\n129A.18 \u2018But all in vaine we have sought about;\nYet none so bold there are\nThat dare adventure life and blood,\nTo free a lady fair.\u2019\n129A.19 \u2018When is the day?\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018Tell me this and no more:\u2019\n\u2018On Midsummer next,\u2019 the damsel said,\n\u2018Which is June the twenty-four.\u2019\n129A.20 With that the teares trickled down her cheeks,\nAnd silent was her tongue;\nWith sighs and sobs she took her leave,\nAway her palfrey sprung.\n129A.21 This news struck Robin to the heart,\nHe fell down on the grass;\nHis actions and his troubled mind\nShewd he perplexed was.\n129A.22 \u2018Where lies your grief?\u2019 quoth Will Scadlock,\n\u2018O master, tell to me;\nIf the damsels eyes have piercd your heart,\nI\u2019ll fetch her back to thee.\u2019\n129A.23 \u2018Now nay, now nay,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018She doth not cause my smart;\nBut it is the poor distressed princess\nThat wounds me to the heart.\n129A.24 \u2018I will go fight the giants all\nTo set the lady free:\u2019\n\u2018The devil take my soul,\u2019 quoth Little John,\n\u2018If I part with thy company.\u2019\n129A.25 \u2018Must I stay behind?\u2019 quoth Will Scadlock;\n\u2018No, no, that must not be;\nI\u2019le make the third man in the fight,\nSo we shall be three to three.\u2019\n129A.26 These words cheerd Robin at the heart,\nJoy shone within his face;\nWithin his arms he huggd them both,\nAnd kindly did imbrace.\n129A.27 Quoth he, We\u2019ll put on mothly gray,\nWith long staves in our hands,\nA scrip and bottle by our sides,\nAs come from the Holy Land.\n129A.28 So may we pass along the high-way;\nNone will ask from whence we came,\nBut take us pilgrims for to be,\nOr else some holy men.\n129A.29 Now they are on their journey gone,\nAs fast as they may speed,\nYet for all haste, ere they arriv\u2019d,\nThe princess forth was led:\n129A.30 To be deliverd to the prince,\nWho in the list did stand,\nPrepar\u2019d to fight, or else receive\nHis lady by the hand.\n129A.31 With that he walkt about the lists,\nWith giants by his side:\n\u2018Bring forth,\u2019 said he, \u2019your champions,\nOr bring me forth my bride.\n129A.32 \u2018This is the four and twentieth day,\nThe day prefixt upon;\nBring forth my bride, or London burns,\nI swear by Acaron.\u2019\n129A.33 Then cries the king, and queen likewise,\nBoth weeping as they speak,\nLo! we have brought our daughter dear,\nWhom we are forcd to forsake.\n129A.34 With that stept out bold Robin Hood,\nCrys, My liege, it must not be so;\nSuch beauty as the fair princess\nIs not for a tyrants mow.\n129A.35 The prince he then began to storm;\nCrys, Fool, fanatick, baboon!\nHow dares thou stop my valours prize?\nI\u2019ll kill thee with a frown.\n129A.36 \u2018Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel,\u2019\nThus Robin began to reply,\n\u2018Thy frowns I scorn; lo! here\u2019s my gage,\nAnd thus I thee defie.\n129A.37 \u2018And for these two Goliahs there,\nThat stand on either side,\nHere are two little Davids by,\nThat soon can tame their pride.\u2019\n129A.38 Then did the king for armour send,\nFor lances, swords, and shields:\nAnd thus all three in armour bright\nCame marching to the field.\n129A.39 The trumpets began to sound a charge,\nEach singled out his man;\nTheir arms in pieces soon were hewd,\nBlood sprang from every vain.\n129A.40 The prince he reacht Robin a blow-+--+-\nHe struck with might and main-+--+-\nWhich forcd him to reel about the field,\nAs though he had been slain.\n129A.41 \u2018God-a-mercy,\u2019 quoth Robin, \u2019For that blow!\nThe quarrel shall soon be try\u2019d;\nThis stroke shall shew a full divorce\nBetwixt thee and thy bride.\u2019\n129A.42 So from his shoulders he\u2019s cut his head,\nWhich on the ground did fall,\nAnd grumbling sore at Robin Hood,\nTo be so dealt withal.\n129A.43 The giants then began to rage,\nTo see their prince lie dead:\n\u2018Thou\u2019s be the next,\u2019 quoth Little John,\n\u2018Unless thou well guard thy head.\u2019\n129A.44 With that his faulchion he whirld about-+--+-\nIt was both keen and sharp-+--+-\nHe clove the giant to the belt,\nAnd cut in twain his heart.\n129A.45 Will Scadlock well had playd his part,\nThe giant he had brought to his knee;\nQuoth he, The devil cannot break his fast,\nUnless he have you all three.\n129A.46 So with his faulchion he run him through,\nA deep and gashly wound;\nWho damd and foamd, cursd and blasphemd,\nAnd then fell to the ground.\n129A.47 Now all the lists with cheers were filld,\nThe skies they did resound,\nWhich brought the princess to herself,\nWho was faln in a swound.\n129A.48 The king and queen and princess fair\nCame walking to the place,\nAnd gave the champions many thanks,\nAnd did them further grace.\n129A.49 \u2018Tell me,\u2019 quoth the king, \u2019whence you are,\nThat thus disguised came,\nWhose valour speaks that noble blood\nDoth run through every vain.\u2019\n129A.50 \u2018A boon, a boon,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018On my knees I beg and crave:\u2019\n\u2018By my crown,\u2019 quoth the king, \u2018I grant;\nAsk what, and thou shalt have.\u2019\n129A.51 \u2018Then pardon I beg for my merry men,\nWhich are within the green wood,\nFor Little John, and Will Scadlock,\nAnd for me, bold Robin Hood.\u2019\n129A.52 \u2018Art thou Robin Hood?\u2019 then quoth the king;\n\u2018For the valour you have shewn,\nYour pardons I doe freely grant,\nAnd welcome every one.\n129A.53 \u2018The princess I promised the victors prize;\nShe cannot have you all three:;\n\u2018She shall chuse,\u2019 quoth Robin; saith Little John,\nThen little share falls to me.\n129A.54 Then did the princess view all three,\nWith a comely lovely grace,\nWho took Will Scadlock by the hand,\nQuoth, Here I make my choice.\n129A.55 With that a noble lord stept forth,\nOf Maxfield earl was he,\nWho lookt Will Scadlock in the face,\nThen wept most bitterly.\n129A.56 Quoth he, I had a son like thee,\nWhom I lovd wondrous well;\nBut he is gone, or rather dead;\nHis name is Young Gamwell.\n129A.57 Then did Will Scadlock fall on his knees,\nCries, Father! father! here,\nHere kneels your son, your Young Gamwell\nYou said you lovd so dear.\n129A.58 But, lord! what imbracing and kissing was there,\nWhen all these friends were met!\nThey are gone to the wedding, and so to bedding,\nAnd so I bid you good night.","title":"The Child Ballads: 129. Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon","type":"page"}