  Scene I. May-day. An open place (near Nottingham). A crowd of rustics and townsfolk assembling to see the execution of Will Scarlet. Scene II. Sherwood Forest. Outside the cave. Jenny, Marian and Widow Scarlet. MARIAN This dreadful waiting! How I wish that Robin Had listened to the rest and stayed with me. How still the woods are! Jenny, do you think You need not be afraid. Robin will bring Will Scarlet safely back to Sherwood. Why, Perhaps they are all returning even now! Cheer up! How long d'you think they've been away, Jenny, six hours or more? The sun is high, And all the dew is gone. JENNY Nay, scarce three hours. Now don't you keep a-fretting. They'll be back, Quite soon enough. I've scarcely spoke with you, This last three days and more; and even now It seems I cannot get you to myself, Two's quite enough. [To Widow Scarlet.] Come, widow, come with me. I'll give you my own corner in the hut And make you cosy. If you take a nap Will Scarlet will be here betimes you wake. [Takes her to the hut and shuts her in.] There, drat her, for a mumping mumble-crust! MARIAN Come, Jenny, that's too bad; the poor old dame Is lonely. JENNY She's not lonely when she sleeps, And if I never get you to myself Where was the good of trapesing after you And living here in Sherwood like wild rabbits? You ha'nt so much as let me comb your hair This last three days and more. MARIAN Well, comb it, Jenny, Now, if you like, and comb it all day long; But don't get crabbed, and don't speak so crossly! [Jenny begins loosening Marian's hair and combing it.] JENNY Why, Mistress, it grows longer every day. It's far below your knees, and how it shines! And wavy, just like Much the Miller's brook, Where it comes tumbling out into the sun, Like gold, red gold. MARIAN Ah, that's provoking, Jenny, For you forgot to bring me my steel glass, And, if you chatter so, I shall soon want it. JENNY I've found a very good one at a pinch. There's a smooth silver pool, down in the stream, Where you can see your face most beautiful. MARIAN So that's how Jenny spends her lonely hours, A sad female Narcissus, while poor Much Dwines to an Echo! JENNY I don't like those gods. I never cared for them. But, as for Much, Much is the best of all the merry men. And, mistress, O, he speaks so beautifully, It might be just an Echo from blue hills Far, far away! You see he's quite a scholar: Much, more an' most (That's what he calls the three Greasy caparisons—much, more an' most)! You see they thought that being so very small They could not make him grow to be a man, They'd make a scholar of him instead. The Friar Taught him his letters. He can write his name, And mine, and yours, just like a missal book, In lovely colours; and he always draws The first big letter of Jenny like a tree With naked Cupids hiding in the branches. I ever speak to you! Your eyes are always That far and far away. MARIAN I'm listening, Jenny! JENNY Well, when he draws the first big M of yours, He makes it like a bridge from earth to heaven, With white-winged angels passing up and down; And, underneath the bridge, in a black stream, He puts the drowning face of the bad Prince Holding his wicked hands out, while a devil Stands on the bank and with a pointed stake Keeps him from landing— Ah, what's that? What's that? MARIAN O Jenny, how you startled me! JENNY I thought I saw that same face peering thro' the ferns Yonder—there—see, they are shaking still. [She screams.] Ah! Ah! [Prince John and another man appear advancing across the glade.] JOHN So here's my dainty tigress in her den, And—Warman—there's a pretty scrap for you Beside her. Now, sweet mistress, will you deign To come with me, to change these cheerless woods For something queenlier? If I be not mistaken, You have had time to tire of that dark cave. Was I not right, now? Surely you can see Upon this desert. Nay, but Marian, hear me. I do not jest. [At a sign from Marian, Jenny goes quickly inside the cave.] That's well! Dismiss your maid! Warman, remove a little. [His man retires.] I see you think A little better of me! Out in the wood There waits a palfrey for you, and the stirrup Longs, as I long, to clasp your dainty foot. I am very sure by this you must be tired Of outlawry, a lovely maid like you. [He draws nearer.] MARIAN Wait—I must think, must think. JOHN Give me your hand! Why do you shrink from me? If you could know The fire that burns me night and day, you would not Refuse to let me snatch one cooling kiss From that white hand of yours. MARIAN If you be prince, You will respect my loneliness and go. JOHN How can I leave you, when by day and night I see that face of yours. I'll not pretend I do not love you, do not long for you, Desire and hunger for your kiss, your touch! I'll not pretend to be a saint, you see! I hunger and thirst for you. Marian, Marian. MARIAN You are mad! JOHN Ay, mad for you. Body and soul I am broken up with love for you. Your eyes Flash like the eyes of a tigress, and I love them The better for it. Ah, do not shrink from me! [Jenny comes out of the cave and hands Marian a bow. She leaps back and aims it at John.] MARIAN Back, you wild beast, or by the heaven above us, I'll kill you! Now, don't doubt me. I can shoot Truly as any forester. I swear, Prince or no prince, king or no king, I'll kill you If you should stir one step from where you stand. JOHN Come, come, sweet Marian, put that weapon down. I was beside myself, was carried away. I cannot help my love for— MARIAN I'll not hear Another sickening word: throw down your arms, That dagger at your side. JOHN Oh, that's too foolish, Marian, I swear— MARIAN You see that rusty stain Upon the silver birch down yonder? Watch. [She shoots. Then swiftly aims at him again.] Now, throw your weapon down. [He pulls out the dagger and throws it down, with a shrug of his shoulders. One of his men steals up behind Marian.] JENNY Ah, Mistress Marian, There's one behind you! Look! [The man springs forward and seizes Marian's arms.] JOHN [Coming forward and taking hold of her also.] So, my sweet tigress, You're trapped then, are you? Well, we'll waste no time! We'll talk this over when we reach the castle. Keep off the maid, there, Warman; I can manage This turbulent beauty. Ah, by God, you shall Come! Ah? God's blood, what's this? [Marian has succeeded in drawing her dagger and slightly wounding him. She wrests herself free.] MARIAN Keep back, I warn you! JOHN [Advancing slowly.] Strike, now strike if you will. You will not like To see the red blood spurting up your hand. That's not maid's work. Come, strike! [Robin Hood appears at the edge of the glade behind him] You see, you cannot! Your heart is tenderer than you think. ROBIN [Quietly.] Prince John! JOHN [Turns round and confronts Robin.] Out with your blade, Warman; call up the rest! We can strike freely now, without a fear Of marring the sweet beauty of the spoil. We four can surely make an end of him. Will all be down on us. [Robin draws his sword and sets his back to an oak. The other two followers of Prince John come out of the wood.] ROBIN Come on, all four! This oak will shift its roots before I budge One inch from four such howling wolves. Come on; You must be tired of fighting women-folk. Come on! By God, sir, you must guard your head Better than that, [He disarms Warman.] Or you're just food for worms Already; come, you dogs! PRINCE JOHN Work round, you three, Behind him! Drive him out from that damned oak! ROBIN Oh, that's a princely speech! Have at you, sir! [He strikes Prince John's sword out of his hand and turns suddenly to confront the others. John picks up a dagger and makes as if to stab Robin in the back. At the same instant, bugles are heard in the distance. The red-cross knight flashes between the trees and seizing John's arm in his gauntleted hand, disarms him, then turns to help Robin.] KNIGHT What, four on one! Down with your blades, you curs, Or, by Mahound!— [The three men take to flight. John stands staring at the newcomer. The Foresters appear, surrounding the glade.] JOHN [Muttering.] What? Thou? Thou? Or his ghost? No—no—it cannot be. ROBIN Let them yelp home, The pitiful jackals. They have left behind The prime offender. Ha, there, my merry lads, All's well; but take this villain into the cave And guard him there. [The Foresters lead Prince John into the cave.] JOHN [To the Foresters.] Answer me one thing: who Is yonder red-cross knight? A FORESTER No friend of thine, Whoe'er he be! KNIGHT [To Robin.] I need not ask his name. I grieve to know it! ROBIN Sir, I am much beholden To your good chivalry. What thanks is mine To give, is all your own. KNIGHT Then I ask this! Give me that prisoner! I think his life is mine. ROBIN You saved my own, and more, you saved much more Than my poor life is worth. But, sir, think well! This man is dangerous, not to me alone, But to the King of England; for he'll yet Usurp the throne! Think well! KNIGHT I ask no more. I have more reasons than you know. ROBIN So be it. Ho! Bring the prisoner back! [The Foresters bring Prince John back. He stares at the Knight as if in fear.] Sir, you shall judge him. This prisoner is your own. KNIGHT Then—let him go! FORESTERS What! Set him free? ROBIN Obey! [They release Prince John.] KNIGHT Out of my sight; Go! PRINCE JOHN What man is this? KNIGHT Quickly, get thee gone! [Prince John goes out, shaken and white.] ROBIN We'll think no more of him! It is our rule That whomsoe'er we meet in merry greenwood Should dine with us. Will you not be our guest? KNIGHT That's a most happy thought! I have not heard A merrier word than dinner all this day. I am well-nigh starved. ROBIN Will you not raise your visor And let us know to whose good knightly hand We are so beholden? KNIGHT Sir, you will pardon me, If, for a little, I remain unknown. But, tell me, are you not that Robin Hood Who breaks the forest laws? ROBIN That is my name. We hold this earth as naturally our own As the glad common air we breathe. We think No man, no king, can so usurp the world As not to give us room to live free lives, But, if you shrink from eating the King's deer— KNIGHT Shrink? Ha! ha! ha! I count it as my own! [The Foresters appear, preparing the dinner on a table of green turfs, beneath a spreading oak. Marian and Jenny appear at the door of the hut. Jenny goes across to help at the preparations for dinner.] ROBIN Ah, there's my Lady Marian! Will you not come And speak with her? [He and the Knight go and talk to Marian in the background.] LITTLE JOHN [At the table.] The trenchers all are set; Manchets of wheat, cream, curds and honey-cakes, Venison pasties, roasted pigeons! Much, Run to the cave; we'll broach our rarest wine To-day. Old Much is waiting for thee there To help him. He is growling roundly, too, At thy delay. MUCH [Going towards the cave.] Ah me, my poor old father! JENNY I've dressed the salt and strawed the dining hall With flowers. [Enter Friar Tuck with several more Foresters and Will Scarlet.] ROBIN Ah, good Will Scarlet, here at last! FRIAR TUCK We should ha' been here sooner; but these others Borrowed a farmer's market cart and galloped Ahead of us! ROBIN Thy mother is in the hut, Sheer broken down with hope and fearfulness, Waiting and trembling for thee, Will. Go in, Put thy big arm around her. [Will Scarlet goes into the hut with a cry.] SCARLET Mother! FRIAR TUCK You see, My sons, you couldn't expect the lad to run! There is a certain looseness in the limbs, A quaking of the flesh that overcomes The bravest who has felt a hangman's rope Cuddling his neck. ROBIN You judge him by the rope That cuddles your slim waist! Oh, you sweet armful, Sit down and pant! I warrant you were glad To bear him company. FRIAR TUCK I'll not deny it! I am a man of solids. Like the Church, I am founded on a rock. [He sits down.] ROBIN Solids, i' faith! Sir, it is true he is partly based on beef; He grapples with it squarely; but fluids, too, Have played their part in that cathedral choir He calls his throat. One godless virtue, sir, They seem to have given him. Never a nightingale Gurgles jug! jug! in mellower tones than he When jugs are flowing. Never a thrush can pipe Sweet, sweet, so rarely as, when a pipe of wine Summers his throttle, we'll make him sing to us One of his heathen ditties—The Malmsey Butt, Or Down the Merry Red Lane! FRIAR TUCK Oh, ay, you laugh, But, though I cannot run, when I am rested I'll challenge you, Robin, to a game of buffets, One fair, square, stand-up, stand-still, knock-down blow Apiece; you'll need no more. If you not kiss The turf, at my first clout, I will forego Malmsey for ever! ROBIN Friar, I recant; You're champion there. Fists of a common size I will encounter; but not whirling hams Like thine! FRIAR TUCK I knew it! JENNY [Approaching.] Please you, sirs, all is ready! FRIAR TUCK Ah, Jenny, Jenny, Jenny, that's good news! [Will Scarlet comes out of the hut with his arm round his mother. They all sit down at the table of turfs. Enter Shadow-of-a-Leaf timidly.] SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Is there a place for me? A FORESTER Ay, come along! FRIAR TUCK Now, Robin, don't forget the grace, my
son. ROBIN [Standing up.] It is our custom, sir, since our repast Is borrowed from the King, to drain one cup To him, and his return from the Crusade, Before we dine. That same wine-bibbing friar Calls it our 'grace'; and constitutes himself Remembrancer—without a cause, for never Have we forgotten, never while bugles ring Thro' Sherwood, shall forget—Outlaws, the King! [All stand up except the Knight.] CRIES The King and his return from the Crusade! [They drink and resume their seats.] ROBIN You did not drink the health, sir Knight. I hope You hold with Lion-Heart. KNIGHT Yes; I hold with him. You were too quick for me. I had not drawn These gauntlets off. But tell me, Lady Marian, When is your bridal day with Robin Hood? MARIAN We shall be wedded when the King comes home From the Crusade. KNIGHT Ah, when the King comes home! That's music—all the birds of April sing In those four words for me—the King comes home. MARIAN I am glad you love him, sir. ROBIN But you're not eating! Your helmet's locked and barred! Will you not raise Your visor? KNIGHT [Laughs.] Ha! ha! ha! You see I am trapped! I did not wish to raise it! Hunger and thirst Break down all masks and all disguises, Robin. [He rises and removes his helmet, revealing the face of Richard Coeur de Lion.] ROBIN The King! [They all leap to their feet.] OUTLAWS The King! The King! ROBIN But oh, my liege, I should have known, when we were hard beset Around Will Scarlet by their swarming bands, And when you rode out of the Eastern sky And hurled our foemen down, I should have known It was the King come home from the Crusade! By treacherous hounds again, I should have known Whose armour suddenly burned between the leaves! I should have known, either it was St. George Or else the King come home from the Crusade! RICHARD Indeed there is one thing that might have told you, Robin—a lover's instinct, since it seems So much for you and Marian depends On my return. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Sire, you will pardon me, For I am only a fool, and yet methinks You know not half the meaning of those words— The King, the King comes home from the Crusade! Thrust up your swords, heft uppermost, my lads, And shout—the King comes home from the Crusade. [He leaps on a seat, and thrusts up the King's sword, heft uppermost, as if it were a cross.] ROBIN Pardon him, sire, poor Shadow-of-a-Leaf has lost His wits! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF That's what Titania said you'd say, Poor sweet bells out of tune! But oh, don't leave, Don't leave the forest! There's darker things to come! Don't leave the forest! I have wits enough at least To wrap my legs around my neck for warmth On winter nights. RICHARD Well, you've no need to pass The winter in these woods— SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Oh, not that winter! ROBIN Shadow-of-a-Leaf, be silent! [Shadow-of-a-Leaf goes aside and throws himself down sobbing among the ferns.] RICHARD When even your cave Methinks can scarce be cheery. Huntingdon, Your earldom we restore to you this day! You and my Lady Marian shall return To Court with us, where your true bridal troth Shall be fulfilled with golden marriage bells. Now, friends, the venison pasty! We must hear The Malmsey Butt and Down the Merry Red Lane, Ere we set out, at dawn, for London Town. ROBIN Allan-a-dale shall touch a golden string To speed our feast, sire, for he soars above The gross needs of the Churchman! RICHARD Allan-a-Dale? WILL SCARLET Our greenwood minstrel, sire! His harp is ours Because we won his bride for him. RICHARD His bride? REYNOLD GREENLEAF Was to be wedded, sire, against her will Last May, to a rich old baron. RICHARD Pigeon-pie— |
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