{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch150.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch150.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch150.htm","text":"150A.1 A BONNY fine maid of a noble degree,\nWith a hey down down a down down\nMaid Marian calld by name,\nDid live in the North, of excellent worth,\nFor she was a gallant dame.\n150A.2 For favour and face, and beauty most rare,\nQueen Hellen shee did excell;\nFor Marian then was praisd of all men\nThat did in the country dwell.\n150A.3 \u2019Twas neither Rosamond nor Jane Shore,\nWhose beauty was clear and bright,\nThat could surpass this country lass,\nBeloved of lord and knight.\n150A.4 The Earl of Huntington, nobly born,\nThat came of noble blood,\nTo Marian went, with a good intent,\nBy the name of Robin Hood.\n150A.5 With kisses sweet their red lips meet,\nFor shee and the earl did agree;\nIn every place, they kindly imbrace,\nWith love and sweet unity.\n150A.6 But fortune bearing these lovers a spight,\nThat soon they were forced to part,\nTo the merry green wood then went Robin Hood,\nWith a sad and sorrowfull heart.\n150A.7 And Marian, poor soul, was troubled in mind,\nFor the absence of her friend;\nWith finger in eye, shee often did cry,\nAnd his person did much commend.\n150A.8 Perplexed and vexed, and troubled in mind,\nShee drest her self like a page,\nAnd ranged the wood to find Robin Hood,\nThe bravest of men in that age.\n150A.9 With quiver and bow, sword, buckler, and all,\nThus armed was Marian most bold,\nStill wandering about to find Robin out,\nWhose person was better then gold.\n150A.10 But Robin Hood, hee himself had disguisd,\nAnd Marian was strangly attir\u2019d,\nThat they provd foes, and so fell to blowes,\nWhose vallour bold Robin admir\u2019d.\n150A.11 They drew out their swords, and to cutting they went,\nAt least an hour or more,\nThat the blood ran apace from bold Robins face,\nAnd Marian was wounded sore.\n150A.12 \u2018O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018And thou shalt be one of my string,\nTo range in the wood with bold Robin Hood,\nTo hear the sweet nightingall sing.\u2019\n150A.13 When Marian did hear the voice of her love,\nHer self shee did quickly discover,\nAnd with kisses sweet she did him greet,\nLike to a most loyall lover.\n150A.14 When bold Robin Hood his Marian did see,\nGood lord, what clipping was there!\nWith kind imbraces, and jobbing of faces,\nProviding of gallant cheer.\n150A.15 For Little John took his bow in his hand,\nAnd wandring in the wood,\nTo kill the deer, and make good chear,\nFor Marian and Robin Hood.\n150A.16 A stately banquet the[y] had full soon,\nAll in a shaded bower,\nWhere venison sweet they had to eat,\nAnd were merry that present hour.\n150A.17 Great flaggons of wine were set on the board,\nAnd merrily they drunk round\nTheir boules of sack, to strengthen the back,\nWhilst their knees did touch the ground.\n150A.18 First Robin Hood began a health\nTo Marian his onely dear,\nAnd his yeomen all, both comly and tall,\nDid quickly bring up the rear.\n150A.19 For in a brave veine they tost off the[ir] bouls,\nWhilst thus they did remain,\nAnd every cup, as they drunk up,\nThey filled with speed again.\n150A.20 At last they ended their merryment,\nAnd went to walk in the wood,\nWhere Little John and Maid Marian\nAttended on bold Robin Hood.\n150A.21 In sollid content together they livd,\nWith all their yeomen gay;\nThey livd by their hands, without any lands,\nAnd so they did many a day.\n150A.22 But now to conclude, an end I will make\nIn time, as I think it good,\nFor the people that dwell in the North can tell\nOf Marian and bold Robin Hood.","title":"The Child Ballads: 150. Robin Hood and Maid Marian","type":"page"}