Volume II Part 59 (2/2)

Dead?

OBERON

Dead! In a few brief hours the news will reach The wicked Prince. He will be King of England, With Marian in his power!

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

No way to save them!

OBERON

We cannot break our fairy vows of silence.

A mortal, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, can break those vows, But only on pain of death.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Oberon, I, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, the fool, must break my vows!

I must save Robin Hood that he may save Marian from worse than death.

OBERON

Shadow-of-a-Leaf, Think what death means to you, never to join Our happy sports again, never to see The moonlight streaming through these ancient oaks Again, never to pa.s.s the fairy gates Again. We cannot help it. They will close Like iron in your face, and you will hear Our happy songs within; but you will lie Alone, without, dying, and never a word To comfort you, no hand to touch your brow.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

So be it. I shall see them entering in!

The time is brief. Quick, tell me, where is Robin?

Quick, or the news that makes Prince John a king Will ruin all.

OBERON

Robin is even now Thrust in the great dark tower beyond the wood, The topmost cell where foot can never climb.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Cannot an arrow reach it? Ay, be swift; Come, lead me thither.

OBERON

I cannot disobey The word that kills the seed to raise the wheat, The word that--Shadow-of-a-Leaf, I think I know Now, why great kings ride out to the Crusade.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Quickly, come, quickly!

[_Exeunt OBERON and SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF. PUCK remains staring after them, then vanishes with a sob, between the trees. LITTLE JOHN and SCARLET appear once more at the mouth of the cave._]

SCARLET

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