Volume II Part 46 (1/2)

MINSTREL

And I ride Through all the world to seek and find my King!

[_He pa.s.ses through the fairy host and goes into the woods on the further side of the glade, continuing his song, which dies away in the distance._]

[_Song._]

”Death? What is death?” he cried.

”I must ride on, On to my true love's side, Up to her throne!”

[_Curtain._]

ACT III

SCENE I. _May-day. An open place (near NOTTINGHAM). A crowd of rustics and townsfolk a.s.sembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLET._

FIRST RUSTIC

A sad may-day! Where yonder gallows glowers, We should have raised the may-pole.

SECOND RUSTIC

Ay, no songs, No kisses in the ring, no country dances To-day; no lads and la.s.ses on the green, Crowning their queen of may.

[_Enter ROBIN HOOD, disguised as an old beggar, with a green patch on one eye._]

ROBIN

Is this the place, Masters, where they're a-goin' to hang Will Scarlet?

FIRST RUSTIC

Ay, father, more's the pity.

ROBIN

Eh! Don't ye think There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many That seems to like him well, here, roundabouts.

SECOND RUSTIC

Too many halberts round him. There's no chance.

ROBIN

I've heard the forest might break out, the lads In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did?

FIRST RUSTIC

There's many here would swing a cudgel and help To trip the Sheriff up. If Robin Hood Were only here! But then he's outlawed now.