Volume II Part 69 (1/2)

ROBIN

Take all he has, all you can get. To-night, When all is dark (we must have darkness, mind, For deeds like this) blind creatures will creep out With groping hands and gaping mouths, lean arms, And shrivelled bodies, branded, fettered, lame, Distorted, horrible; and they will weep Great tears like gouts of blood upon our feet, And we shall succour them and make them think (That's if you have not mangled their poor souls As well, or burned their children with their homes), We'll try to make them think that some few roods Of earth are not so bitter as h.e.l.l might be.

Are you not glad to think of this? Nay--go-- Or else your face will haunt me when I die!

Take him quickly away. The next! The next!

O G.o.d!

[_Flings up his arms and falls fainting._]

MARIAN

[_Bending over him._]

O Robin! Robin! Help him quickly.

The wound! The wound!

[_They gather round ROBIN. The OUTLAWS come back with the captive FORESTER, his pack upon his back._]

FRIAR TUCK

[_To the FORESTER._]

Now, get you gone and quickly!

What, what hath happened?

[_FRIAR TUCK and the OUTLAWS join the throng round ROBIN. The FORESTER shakes his fist at them and goes across the glade muttering. The MESSENGER from Kirklee Priory comes out of the forest at the same moment and speaks to him, not knowing of his dismissal._]

MESSENGER

All's well! Robin can come To Kirklee. Our old friend the Prioress Is there, and faithful! They've all balms and simples To heal a wound.

FORESTER

[_Staring at him._]

To Kirklee?

MESSENGER

Yes, at sunset, We'll take him to the borders of the wood All will be safe.

Where he can steal in easily, alone.

FORESTER

The King's men are at hand!

MESSENGER

Oh, but if we can leave him there, all's safe; We'll dodge the King's men.

FORESTER