  Scene I. Garden of the King's Palace. Enter John and Elinor. Scene II. Sherwood Forest: dusk. Outside the cave, as in the second act. Shadow-of-a-Leaf runs quickly across the glade, followed by Puck. PUCK Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Don't dance away like that; don't hop; don't skip Like that, I tell you! I'll never do it again, I promise. Don't be silly now! Come here; I want to tell you something. Ah, that's right. Come, sit down here upon this bank of thyme "While I thine amiable ears"—Oh, no, Forgive me, ha! ha! ha! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Now, Master Puck, You'll kindly keep your word! A foxglove spray In the right hand is deadlier than the sword That mortals use, and one resounding thwack Applied to your slim fairyhood's green limbs Will make it painful, painful, very painful, Next time your worship wishes to sit down Cross-legged upon a mushroom. PUCK Ha! ha! ha! Poor Shadow-of-a-Leaf! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF You keep your word, that's all! PUCK Haven't I kept my word? Wasn't it I That made you what these poor, dull mortals call Crazy? Who crowned you with the cap and bells? Who made you such a hopeless, glorious fool That wise men are afraid of every word You utter? Wasn't it I that made you free Of fairyland—that showed you how to pluck Fern-seed by moonlight, and to walk and talk Between the lights, with urchins and with elves? Is there another fool twixt earth and heaven Like you—ungrateful rogue—answer me that! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF All true, dear gossip, and for saving me From the poor game of blind man's buff men call Wisdom, I thank you; but to hang and buzz Like a mad dragon-fly, now on my nose, Now on my neck, now singing in my ears, Is that to make me free of fairyland? No—that's enough to make the poor fool mad And take to human wisdom. PUCK Yet you love me, Ha! ha!—you love me more than all the rest. You can't deny it! You can't deny it! Ha! ha! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF I won't deny it, gossip. E'en as I think There must be something loves us creatures, Puck, More than the Churchmen say. We are so teased With thorns, bullied with briars, baffled with stars. To see the round moon rising o'er these trees With that same foolish face of heavenly mirth Winking at lovers in the blue-bell glade. PUCK Lovers! Ha! ha! I caught a pair of 'em Last night, behind the ruined chapel! Lovers! O Lord, these mortals, they'll be the death of me! Hist, who comes here? SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Scarlet and Little John, And all the merry men—not half so merry Since Robin went away. He was to come And judge between the rich and poor to-day, I think he has forgotten. PUCK Hist, let me hide Behind this hawthorn bush till they are gone. [Enter the Foresters—they all go into the cave except Scarlet and Little John, who stand at the entrance, looking anxiously back.] LITTLE JOHN I have never known the time when Robin Hood Said "I will surely come," and hath not been Punctual as yonder evening star. SCARLET Pray God No harm hath fallen him. Indeed he said, "Count on my coming." LITTLE JOHN I'll sound yet one more call. They say these Courts will spoil a forester. It may be he has missed the way. I'd give My sword-hand just to hear his jolly bugle Answer me. [He blows a forest call. They listen. All is silent.] SCARLET Silence—only the sough of leaves! LITTLE JOHN Well, I'm for sleep: the moon is not so bright Since Robin left us. SCARLET Ha! Shadow-of-a-Leaf, alone? I thought I heard thy voice. LITTLE JOHN Oh, he will talk With ferns and flowers and whisper to the mice! Perfectly happy, art thou not, dear fool? SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Perfectly happy since I lost my wits! SCARLET Pray that thou never dost regain them, then, Shadow-of-a-Leaf. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF I thank you kindly, sir, And pray that you may quickly lose your own, And so be happy, too. Robin's away, But, if you'd lost your wits, you would not grieve. SCARLET Good-night, good fool. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF I will not say "Good-night," Wise man, for I am crazed, and so I know 'Tis good, and yet you'll grieve. I wish you both A bad night that will tease your wits away And make you happy. [The Outlaws enter the cave. Shadow-of-a-Leaf beckons to Puck, who steals out again.] PUCK Shadow-of-a-Leaf, some change Is creeping o'er the forest. I myself Scarce laugh so much since Robin went away! Oh, my head hangs as heavily as a violet Brimmed with the rain. Shadow-of-a-Leaf, a cloud, A whisper steals across this listening wood! I am growing afraid. Dear fool, I am thy Puck, But I am growing afraid there comes an end To all our Sherwood revels, and I shall never Tease thee again. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Here comes the King! [Enter Oberon.] Hail, Oberon. King of the fairies, I strew ferns before you. There are no palms here: ferns do just as well! OBERON Shadow-of-a-Leaf, our battles all are wasted; Our fairy dreams whereby we strove to warn Robin and Marian, wasted. Shadow-of-a-Leaf, Dear Robin Hood, the lover of the poor, And kind Maid Marian, our forest queen, Are in the toils at last! [He pauses.] SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Speak, speak! OBERON Prince John Hath trapped and taken Robin. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Is not Richard King of this England? Did not Richard tempt Robin, for Marian's sake, to leave the forest? Did he not swear upon the Holy Cross That Robin should be Earl of Huntingdon And hold his lands in safety? OBERON Only fear Of Richard held the wicked Prince in leash. But Richard roamed abroad again. Prince John Would murder Robin secretly. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Wise men Fight too much for these holy sepulchres! Are not the living images of God Better than empty graves? OBERON One grave is filled Now; for our fairy couriers have brought Tidings that Richard Lion-Heart is dead. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF 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 pass 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 I thought I heard a voice. LITTLE JOHN 'Twas only Shadow-of-a-Leaf again. He talks For hours among the ferns, plays with the flowers, And whispers to the mice, perfectly happy! SCARLET I cannot rest for thinking that some harm Hath chanced to Robin. Call him yet once more. [Little John blows his bugle. All is silent. They stand listening.] Scene III. A gloomy cell. Robin bound. Prince John and two mercenaries. A low narrow door in the background, small barred window on the left. PRINCE JOHN [To the Mercenaries.] Leave us a moment. I have private matters To lay before this friend of all the poor. You may begin to build the door up now, So that you do not wall me in with him. [The two men begin filling up the doorway with rude blocks of masonry.] So now, my good green foot-pad, you are trapped At last, trapped in the practice of your trade! Trapped, as you took your stolen Norman gold To what was it—a widow, or Saxon serf With eye put out for breaking forest laws? You hold with them, it seems. Your dainty soul Sickens at our gross penalties; and so We'll not inflict them on your noble self, Although we have the power. There's not a soul Can ever tell where Robin Hood is gone. These walls will never echo it. [He taps the wall with his sword.] And yet There surely must be finer ways to torture So fine a soul as yours. Was it not you Who gave me like a fairing to my brother With lofty condescension in your eyes; And shall I call my mercenaries in And bid them burn your eyes out with hot irons? Richard is gone—he'll never hear of it! An Earl that plays the robber disappears, That's all. Most like he died in some low scuffle Out in the greenwood. I am half inclined To call for red-hot irons after all, So that your sympathy with Saxon churls May be more deep, you understand; and then It would be sweet for you, alone and blind, To know that you could never in this life See Marian's face again. But no—that's bad. Bad art to put hope's eyes out. It destroys Half a man's fear to rob him of his hope. No; you shall drink the dregs of it. Hope shall die More exquisite a death. Robin, my friend, You understand that, when I quit your presence, This bare blank cell becomes your living tomb. Do you not comprehend? It's none so hard. The doorway will be built up. There will be No door, you understand, but just a wall, Some six feet thick, of solid masonry. Nobody will disturb you, even to bring Water or food. You'll starve—see—like a rat, Of how I tread a measure at the masque To-night, with Marian, while her wide eyes wonder Where Robin is—and old Fitzwalter smiles And bids his girl be gracious to the Prince For his land's sake. Ah, ha! you wince at that! Will you not speak a word before I go? Speak, damn you! [He strikes Robin across the face with his glove. Robin remains silent.] Six days hence, if you keep watch At yonder window (you'll be hungry then) You may catch sight of Marian and Prince John Wandering into the gardens down below. You will be hungry then; perhaps you'll strive To call to us, or stretch a meagre arm Through those strong bars; but then you know the height Is very great—no voice can reach to the earth: This is the topmost cell in my Dark Tower. Men look like ants below there. I shall say To Marian, See that creature waving there High up above us, level with the clouds, Is it not like a winter-shrivelled fly? And she will laugh; and I will pluck her roses. And then—and then—there are a hundred ways, You know, to touch a woman's blood with thoughts Beyond its lawful limits. Ha! ha! ha! By God, you almost spoke to me, I think. Touches at twilight, whispers in the dark, Sweet sympathetic murmurs o'er the loss Of her so thoughtless Robin, do you think Maid Marian will be quite so hard to win When princes come to woo? There will be none To interrupt us then. Time will be mine To practise all the amorous arts of Ovid, And, at the last— ROBIN Will you not free my hands? You have your sword. But I would like to fight you Here, with my naked hands. I want no more. PRINCE JOHN Ha! ha! At last the sullen speaks. That's all I wanted. I have struck you in the face. Is't not enough? You can't repay that blow. ROBIN Bury, me down in hell and I'll repay it The day you die, across your lying mouth That spoke of my true lady, I will repay it, Before the face of God! PRINCE JOHN [Laughing.] Meanwhile, for me Till you repay that blow, there is the mouth Of Marian, the sweet honey-making mouth That shall forestall your phantom blow with balm. Oh, you'll go mad too soon if I delay. I am glad you spoke. Farewell, the masons wait. And I must not be late for Marian. [Exit thro' the small aperture now left in the doorway. It is rapidly closed and sounds of heavy masonry being piled against it are heard. Robin tries to free his hands and after an effort, succeeds. He hurls himself against the doorway, and finds it hopeless. He turns to the window, peers through it for a moment, then suddenly unwinds a scarf from his neck, ties it to one of the bars and stands to one side.] ROBIN Too high a shot for most of my good bowmen! What's that? A miss? [He looks thro' the window.] Good lad, he'll try again! [He stands at the side once more and an arrow comes thro' the window.] Why, that's like magic! [He pulls up the thread attached to it.] Softly, or 'twill break!— Ah, now 'tis sturdy cord. —I'll make it fast. But, how to break these bars! St. Nicholas, There's someone climbing. He must have a head Of iron, and the lightness of a cat! Downward is bad enough, but up is more Than mortal! Who the devil can it be? Thank God, it's growing dark. But what a risk! None of my merry men could e'en attempt it. I'm very sure it can't be Little John. What, Shadow-of-a-Leaf! [Shadow-of-a-Leaf appears at the window.] 'Fore God, dear faithful fool, I am glad to see you. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Softly, gossip, softly, Pull up the rope a little until we break This bar away—or some kind friend may see The dangling end below. Now here's a toothpick, Six inches of grey steel, for you to work with, And here's another for me. Pick out the mortar! [They work to loosen the bars.] Wait! Here's a rose I brought you in my cap And here's a spray of fern! Old Nature's keys Open all prisons, I'll throw them in for luck, [He throws them into the cell and begins working feverishly again.] So that the princes of the world may know The forest let you out. Down there on earth, If any sees me, they will only think The creepers are in leaf. Pick out the mortar! That's how the greenwood works. You know, 'twill thrust Its tendrils through these big grey stones one day And pull them down. I noticed in the courtyard The grass is creeping though the crevices Already, and yellow dandelions crouch In all the crumbling corners. Pick it out! This is a very righteous work indeed But tendrils of old Nature, herald sprays! We scarce anticipate. Pick the mortar out. Quick, there's no time to lose, although to-night We're in advance of sun and moon and stars And all the tackling sands in Time's turned glass. [With a sudden cry.] Richard is dead! ROBIN Richard is dead! The King Is dead! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Ah, dead! Come, pick the mortar out, Out of the walls of towers and shrines and tombs! For now Prince John is King, and Lady Marian In peril, gossip! Yet we are in advance Of sun and moon to-night, for sweet Prince John Is not aware yet of his kinglihood, Or of his brother's death. ROBIN [Pausing a moment.] Why, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, What does this mean? SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Come, pick the mortar out; You have no time to lose. This very night My Lady Marian must away to Sherwood. At any moment the dread word may come That makes John King of England. Quick, be quick! ROBIN She is at the masque to-night! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF Then you must mask And fetch her thence! Ah, ha, the bar works loose. Pull it! [They pull at the bar, get it free, and throw it into the cell.] Now, master, follow me down the rope. [Exit Robin thro' the window.] Scene IV. Night. The garden of the King's palace (as before), but lighted with torches for the masque. Music swells up and dies away continually. Maskers pass to and fro between the palace and the garden. On the broad terrace in front some of them are dancing a galliard. [Prince John enters and is met by Queen Elinor, neither of them masked.] ELINOR All safe? PRINCE JOHN Ay, buried and bricked up now, to think Alone, in the black night, of all I told him. Thank God, we have heard the last of Robin Hood. ELINOR [She puts on her mask.] You are sure? PRINCE JOHN I saw him entombed with my own eyes! Six feet of solid masonry. Look there, There's the young knight you've lately made your own. Where is my Lady Marian? Ah, I see her! With that old hypocrite, Fitzwalter. [They part. Prince John puts on his mask as he goes.] A LADY But tell me Where is Prince John? A MASKER That burly-shouldered man By yonder pillar, talking with old Fitzwalter, And the masked girl, in green, with red-gold hair, Is Lady Marian! THE LADY Where is Robin Hood? I have never seen him, but from all one hears He is a wood-god and a young Apollo, And a more chaste ActÆon all in one. MASKER Oh, ay, he never watched Diana bathing, Or, if he did, all Sherwood winked at it. Who knows? Do you believe a man and maid Can sleep out in the woods all night, as these Have slept a hundred times, and put to shame Our first poor parents; throw the apple aside And float out of their leafy Paradise Like angels? LADY No; I fear the forest boughs Could tell sad tales. Oh, I imagine it— Married to Robin, by a fat hedge-priest Under an altar of hawthorn, with a choir Of sparrows, and a spray of cuckoo-spit For holy water! Oh, the modest chime Of blue-bells from a fairy belfry, a veil Of evening mist, a robe of golden hair; A blade of grass for a ring; a band of thieves In Lincoln green to witness the sweet bans; A glow-worm for a nuptial taper, a bed Of rose-leaves, and wild thyme and wood-doves' down. Across the cave mouth, lest a star should peep And make the wild rose leap into her face! Pish! A sweet maid! But where is Robin Hood? MASKER I know not; but he'd better have a care Of Mistress Marian. If I know Prince John He has marked her for his own. LADY I cannot see What fascinates him. MASKER No, you are right, nor I. PRINCE JOHN Come, Lady Marian, let me lead you out To tread a measure. MARIAN Pray, sir, pardon me! I am tired. FITZWALTER [Whispering angrily to her.] Now, Marian, be not so ungracious. You both abuse him and disparage us. His courtiers led the ladies they did choose. Do not displease him, girl. I pray you, go! Dance out your galliard. God's dear holy-bread, Y'are too forgetful. Dance, or by my troth, You'll move my patience. I say you do us wrong. MARIAN I will do what you will. Lead, lead your dance. [Exeunt John and Marian.] FIRST MASKER [To a lady, as they come up from the garden.] Will you not let me see your face now, sweet? LADY You hurt my lip with that last kiss of yours. Hush, do not lean your face so close, I pray you; Loosen my fingers. There's my lord. FIRST MASKER Where? Where? Now, if I know him, I shall know your name! LADY That tall man with the damozel in red. FIRST MASKER Oh, never fear him. He, too, wore a mask! I saw them— [They pass out talking.] SECOND MASKER [Looking after them.] Saw you those two turtle-doves! SECOND LADY Yes. SECOND MASKER Come with me, I'll show you where I caught them Among the roses, half an hour ago. [They laugh and exeunt into the gardens. The music swells up and more dancers appear.] [Enter Robin Hood, still in his forester's garb, but wearing a mask. He walks as if wounded and in pain. He sits down in the shadow of a pillar watching, and partly concealed from the throng.] THIRD LADY Remember now to say you did not see me Here at the masque. THIRD MASKER Or shall I say that I Was out in Palestine? [They pass. Enter little Arthur Plantagenet. He comes up to Robin Hood.] ARTHUR Are you not Robin Hood? ROBIN Hush, Arthur. Don't you see I wear a mask Like all the rest to-night? ARTHUR Why do they wear Masks? ROBIN They must always wear some sort of mask At court. Sometimes they wear them all their lives. ARTHUR You are jesting, Robin. Now I wanted you To tell me tales of Sherwood. Tell me how You saved Will Scarlet. ROBIN Why, I've told you that A score of times. ARTHUR I know, I want to hear it Again. Well, tell me of that afternoon When Lion-Heart came home from the Crusade. I have often thought of that. It must have been Splendid! You weren't expecting it at all? ROBIN No, not at all; but, Arthur, tell me first Have you seen Lady Marian? ARTHUR Yes, I saw her Treading a measure with my Uncle John! ROBIN Stand where you are and watch; and, if you see her, Beckon her. Then I'll tell you how the King Came home from the Crusade. ARTHUR First, let me tell you Just how I think it was. It must have been Like a great picture. All your outlaws there Sitting around your throne of turf, and you Judging the rich and poor. That's how it was Last night, I dreamed of it; and you were taking The baron's gold and giving it to the halt And blind; and then there was a great big light Between the trees, as if a star had come Down to the earth and caught among the boughs, With beams like big soft swords amongst the ferns And leaves, and through the light a mighty steed Stepped, and the King came home from the Crusade. Was it like that? Was there a shining light? ROBIN I think there must have been, a blinding light, ARTHUR Filling an arch of leaves? ROBIN Yes! ARTHUR That was it! That's how the King came home from the Crusade. ROBIN But there—you've told the story! ARTHUR Ah, not all! ROBIN No, not quite all. What's that? [The music suddenly stops. The maskers crowd together whispering excitedly.] ARTHUR Why have they stopped The music? Ah, there's Hubert. Shall I ask him? ROBIN Yes, quickly, and come back! [Arthur runs up to a masker. Several go by hurriedly.] FIRST MASKER The King is dead! SECOND MASKER Where did it happen? France? FIRST MASKER I know not, sir! [Arthur returns.] ARTHUR Robin, they say the King is dead! So John Is king now, is he not? ROBIN Ay, John is king! Now, tell me quickly, use your eyes, my boy, Where's Lady Marian? ARTHUR Ah, there she is at last, Alone! ROBIN Go to her quickly, and bring her hither. [Arthur runs off and returns with Marian.] MARIAN Robin, thank God, you have returned. I feared— ROBIN No more, dear heart, you must away to Sherwood! Shadow-of-a-Leaf is waiting by the orchard With your white palfrey. Away, or the new king Will hunt us down. I'll try to gain you time. Go—quickly! MARIAN Robin, your face is white, you are wounded! What's this—there's blood upon your doublet! Robin! ROBIN Nothing! Go, quickly! MARIAN Robin, I cannot leave you. ROBIN Go, Marian. If you ever loved me, go. MARIAN You'll follow? ROBIN Oh, with my last breath I will, God helping me; but I must gain you time! Quickly! Here comes the King! MARIAN Oh, follow soon! [Exit.] [Robin sits down again, steadying himself against the pillar. John appears at the doors of the palace, above the terrace, a scroll in his hand.] JOHN My friends, the King is dead! MASKERS [Taking off their masks, with a cry.] Long live King John! JOHN [Coming down amongst them.] Our masque is ended by this grievous news; But where's my Lady Marian? I had some word To speak with her! Not here! Why— ROBIN [Still masked, rises and confronts the King, who stares at him and shrinks back a little.] All the masks Are off, sire! No, perhaps they wear them still. JOHN Who is this? ROBIN One that was dead and lives. You say Your brother, the great King, is dead. Oh, sire, If that be so, you'll hear a dead man speak, Is dead; but you are king. So the King lives! You are King of England now from sea to sea, Is it not so? Shout, maskers, once again, Long live the King! MASKERS Long live the King! ROBIN You see What power is yours! Your smile is life, your frown Death. At a word from you the solid earth Would shake with tramp of armies. You can call Thousands to throw away their lives like straws Upon your side, if any foreign king Dare to affront you. [He draws nearer to John, who still shrinks a little, as if in fear.] Richard, you say, is dead, And yet, O King, I say that the great King Lives! [He strikes John across the face. John cowers and staggers back. The Maskers draw their swords, the women scream and rush together. Robin turns, sword in hand, to confront the Maskers.] Back, fools; for I say that the great King Lives. Do not doubt it. Ye have dreamed him dead How often. Hark, God in heaven, ye know that voice. [A voice is heard drawing nearer thro' the distant darkness of the garden, singing. All listen. John's face whitens.] [Song.] Knight, on the narrow way, Where wouldst thou ride? "Onward," I heard him say, "Love, to thy side." ROBIN 'Tis Blondel! Still vaunt-courier to the King, As when he burst the bonds of Austria! Listen! [Song nearer.] "Nay," sang a bird above, "Stay, for I see Death, in the mask of love, Waiting for thee." MASKERS [Resuming their masks and muttering to one another.] Can the King live? Is this John's treachery? Look, He is crushed with fear! ROBIN Listen! I'll go to meet him. [Exit into the garden.] MASKERS It was the song of Blondel! The same song He made with Richard, long since!— Blondel's voice! Just as we heard it on that summer's night When Lion-Heart came home from the Crusade. [The Song still drawing nearer.] "Death! What is Death?" he cried. "I must ride on, On to my true love's side, Up to her throne!" [Enter Blondel, from the garden. He stands, startled by the scene before him.] MASKERS Blondel! Where is the King? Where is the King? BLONDEL Did ye not know?—Richard, the King, is dead! MASKERS Dead! JOHN Dead! And ye let the living dog escape That dared snarl at our sovereignty. I know him, Risen from the dead or not. I know 'twas he, 'Twas Robin Hood! After him; hunt him down! Let him not live to greet another sun. After him! MASKERS [Drawing their swords and plunging into the darkness.] After him; hunt the villain down! [Curtain.] |
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