  Scene I. Morning. Sherwood Forest (as before). Little John and some of the Outlaws are gathered together talking. Occasionally they look anxiously toward the cave and at the approaches through the wood. Enter two Foresters, running and breathless. FIRST FORESTER The King's men! They are scouring thro' the wood, Two troops of them, five hundred men in each And more are following. SECOND FORESTER We must away from here And quickly. LITTLE JOHN Where did you sight them? SECOND FORESTER From the old elm, Our watch-tower. They were not five miles away! FIRST FORESTER Five, about five. We saw the sunlight flash Along, at least five hundred men at arms; And, to the north, along another line, Bigger, I think; but not so near. SECOND FORESTER Where's Robin? We must away at once! FIRST FORESTER No time to lose! LITTLE JOHN His wound is bitter—I know not if we dare Move him! FIRST FORESTER His wound? LITTLE JOHN Ay, some damned arrow pierced him When he escaped last night from the Dark Tower. He never spoke of it when first he reached us; And, suddenly, he swooned. He is asleep Now. He must not be wakened. They will take Some time yet ere they thread our forest-maze. FIRST FORESTER Not long, by God, not long. They are moving fast. [Marian appears at the mouth of the cave. All turn to look at her, expectantly. She seems in distress.] MARIAN He is tossing to and fro. I think his wound Has taken fever! What can we do? FRIAR TUCK I've sent A messenger to Kirklee Priory, Where my old friend the Prioress hath store Of balms and simples, and hath often helped A wounded forester. Could we take him there, Her skill would quickly heal him. LITTLE JOHN The time is pressing! FRIAR TUCK The lad will not be long! [Robin appears tottering and white at the mouth of the cave.] MARIAN [Running to him.] O Robin, Robin, You must not rise! Your wound! ROBIN [He speaks feverishly.] Where can I rest Better than on my greenwood throne of turf? Friar, I heard them say they had some prisoners. Bring them before me. FRIAR TUCK Master, you are fevered, And they can wait. ROBIN Yes, yes; but there are some That cannot wait, that die for want of food, And then—the Norman gold will come too late, Too late. LITTLE JOHN O master, you must rest. [Going up to him.] MARIAN Oh, help me, Help me with him. Help me to lead him back. ROBIN No! No! You must not touch me! I will rest When I have seen the prisoners, not before. LITTLE JOHN He means it, mistress, better humour him Or he will break his wound afresh. MARIAN O Robin, Give me your word that you'll go back and rest, When you have seen them. ROBIN Yes, I will try, I will try! But oh, the sunlight! Where better, sweet, than this? [She leads him to the throne of turf and he sits down upon it, with Marian at his side.] The Friar is right. This life is wine, red wine, Under the greenwood boughs! Oh, still to keep it, One little glen of justice in the midst Of multitudinous wrong. Who knows? We yet May leaven the whole world. [Enter the Outlaws, with several prisoners, among them, a Knight, an Abbot, and a Forester.] Those are the prisoners? You had some victims of the forest laws That came to you for help. Bring them in, too, And set them over against these lords of the earth! [Some ragged women and children appear. Several serfs with iron collars round their necks and their eyes put out, are led gently in.] Is that our Lincoln green among the prisoners? There? One of my own band? LITTLE JOHN Ay, more's the pity! We took him out of pity, and he has wronged Our honour, sir; he has wronged a helpless woman Entrusted to his guidance thro' the forest. ROBIN Ever the same, the danger comes from those We fight for, those below, not those above! Which of you will betray me to the King? THE FORESTER Do you ask me, sir? ROBIN Judas answered first, With "Master, is it I?" Hang not thy head! What say'st thou to this charge? THE FORESTER Why, Friar Tuck Can answer for me. Do you think he cares Less for a woman's lips than I? FRIAR TUCK Cares less, Thou rotten radish? Nay, but a vast deal more! God's three best gifts to man,—woman and song And wine, what dost thou know of all their joy? Thou lean pick-purse of kisses? ROBIN Take him out, Friar, and let him pack his goods and go, Whither he will. I trust the knave to thee And thy good quarter-staff, for some five minutes Before he says "Farewell." FRIAR Bring him along, Give him a quarter-staff, I'll thrash him roundly. [He goes out. Two of the Foresters follow with the prisoner. Others bring the Abbot before Robin.] ROBIN Ah! Ha! I know him, the godly usurer Of York! LITTLE JOHN We saw a woman beg for alms, One of the sufferers by the rule which gave This portly Norman his fat priory And his abundant lands. We heard him say That he was helpless, had not one poor coin To give her, not a scrap of bread! He wears Purple beneath his cloak: his fine sleek palfrey Flaunted an Emperor's trappings! ABBOT Man, the Church Must keep her dignity! ROBIN [Pointing to the poor woman, etc.] Ay, look at it! There is your dignity! And you must wear Silk next your skin to show it. But there was one You call your Master, and He had not where To lay His head, save one of these same trees! ABBOT Do you blaspheme! I pray you, let me go! There are grave matters waiting. I am poor! ROBIN Look in his purse and see. ABBOT [Hurriedly.] I have five marks In all the world, no more. I'll give them to you! ROBIN Look in his purse and see. [They pour a heap of gold out of his purse.] ROBIN Five marks, Indeed! Here's, at the least, a hundred marks in gold! ABBOT That is my fees, my fees; you must not take them! ROBIN The ancient miracle!—five loaves, two small fishes; And then—of what remained—they gathered up Twelve basketsful! ABBOT Oh, you blaspheming villains! ROBIN Abbot, I chance to know how this was wrought, This miracle; wrought with the blood, anguish and sweat Of toiling peasants, while the cobwebs clustered Around your lordly cellars of red wine. Give him his five and let him go. ABBOT [Going out.] The King Shall hear of this! The King will hunt you down! ROBIN And now—the next! SCARLET Beseech you, sir, to rest, Your wound will— ROBIN No! The next, show me the next! SCARLET This Norman baron— ROBIN What, another friend! Another master of broad territories. How many homes were burned to make you lord Of half a shire? What hath he in his purse? SCARLET Gold and to spare! BARON To keep up mine estate I need much more. ROBIN [Pointing to the poor.] Ay, you need these! these! these! BARON [Protesting.] I am not rich. ROBIN Look in his purse and see. BARON You dogs, the King shall hear of it! ROBIN [Murmuring as if to himself.] Five loaves! And yet, of what remained, they gathered up Twelve basketsful. The bread of human kindness Goes far! Oh, I begin to see new meanings In that old miracle! How much? How much? SCARLET Five hundred marks in gold! ROBIN [Half rising and speaking with a sudden passion.] His churls are starving, Starving! Their little children cry for bread! One of those jewels on his baldric there Would feed them all in plenty all their lives! Five loaves—and yet—and yet—of what remained, The fragments, mark you, twelve great basketsful! BARON I am in a madman's power! The man is mad! 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 hell 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 God! [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 When is he to go? MESSENGER Almost at once; but he must not steal in Till sundown, when the nuns are all in chapel. How now? What's this? What's this? [He goes across to the throng round Robin.] FORESTER [Looking after him.] Alone, to Kirklee! [Exit.] Scene II. A room in Kirklee Priory. A window on the right overlooks a cloister leading up to the chapel door. The forest is seen in the distance, the sun beginning to set behind it. The Prioress and a Novice are sitting in a window-seat engaged in broidery work. NOVICE He must be a good man—this Robin Hood! I long to see him. Father used to say England had known none like him since the days Of Hereward the Wake. PRIORESS He will be here By vespers. You shall let him in. Who's that? Can that be he? It is not sundown yet. See who is there. [Exit Novice. She returns excitedly.] NOVICE A lady asks to see you! She is robed like any nun and yet she spoke Like a great lady—one that is used to rule A ruby smouldering like a secret fire Beneath her cloak. She bade me say she came On Robin Hood's behest. PRIORESS What? Bring her in Quickly. [Exit Novice and returns with Queen Elinor in a nun's garb. At the sign from the Prioress the Novice retires.] ELINOR Madam, I come to beg a favour. I am a friend of Robin Hood. I have heard— One of his Foresters, this very noon Brought me the news—that he is sorely wounded; And purposes to seek your kindly help At Kirklee Priory. PRIORESS Oh, then indeed, You must be a great friend, for this was kept Most secret from all others. ELINOR A great friend! He was my page some fifteen years ago, And all his life I have watched over him As if he were my son! I have come to beg A favour—let me see him when he comes. My husband was a soldier, and I am skilled In wounds. In Palestine I saved his life When every leech despaired of it, a wound Caused by a poisoned arrow. PRIORESS You shall see him. I have some skill myself in balms and simples, But, in these deadlier matters I would fain Trust to your wider knowledge. ELINOR Let me see him alone; Alone, you understand. His mind is fevered. I have an influence over him. Do not say That I am here, or aught that will excite him. Better say nothing—lead him gently in, And leave him. In my hands he is like a child. PRIORESS It shall be done. I see you are subtly versed In the poor workings of our mortal minds. ELINOR I learnt much from a wise old Eastern leech When I was out in Palestine. PRIORESS I have heard They have great powers and magic remedies; They can restore youth to the withered frame. ELINOR There is only one thing that they cannot do. PRIORESS And what? ELINOR They cannot raise the dead. PRIORESS Ah, no; I am most glad to hear you say it, most glad To know we think alike. That is most true— Yes—yes—most true; for God alone, dear friend, Can raise the dead! [A bell begins tolling slowly.] The bell for even-song! You have not long to wait. [Shadowy figures of nuns pass the windows and enter the chapel. The sunset deepens.] Will you not pray With me? [The Prioress and Queen Elinor kneel down together before a little shrine. Enter the Novice.] NOVICE There is a forester at the door. Mother, I think 'tis he! PRIORESS [Rising.] Admit him, then. ELINOR Leave me: I will keep praying till he comes. PRIORESS You are trembling! You are not afraid? ELINOR [With eyes closed as in strenuous devotion.] No; no; Leave me, I am but praying! [A chant swells up in the chapel. Exit Prioress. Elinor continues muttering as in prayer. Enter Robin Hood, steadying himself on his bow, weak and white. She rises and passes between him and the door to confront him.] ELINOR Ah, Robin, you have come to me at last For healing. Pretty Marian cannot help you With all her kisses. ROBIN HOOD [Staring at her wildly.] You! I did not know That you were here. I did not ask your help. I must go—Marian! [He tries to reach the door, but reels in a half faint on the way. Elinor supports him as he pauses, panting for breath.] ELINOR Robin, your heart is hard, Both to yourself and me. You cannot go, Rejecting the small help which I can give As if I were a leper. Ah, come back. Are you so unforgiving? God forgives! Did you not see me praying for your sake? Think, if you think not of yourself, oh, think Of Marian—can you leave her clinging arms Yet, for the cold grave, Robin? I have risked Much, life itself, to bring you help this day! I have some skill in wounds. [She holds him closer and brings her face near to his own, looking into his eyes.] Ah, do you know How slowly, how insidiously this death Creeps, coil by tightening coil, around a man, When he is weak as you are? Do you know How the last subtle coil slips round your throat And the flat snake-like head lifts up and peers With cruel eyes of cold, keen inquisition, Rivetting your own, until the blunt mouth sucks Your breath out with one long, slow, poisonous kiss? ROBIN HOOD O God, that nightmare! Leave me! Let me go! ELINOR You stare at me as if you saw that snake. Ha! Ha! Your nerves are shaken; you are so weak! Upon this couch. [She half supports, half thrusts him back to a couch, in an alcove out of sight and draws a curtain. There is a knock at the door.] ELINOR Who's there? PRIORESS Madam, I came To know if I could help in anything. ELINOR Nothing! His blood runs languidly. It needs The pricking of a vein to make the heart Beat, and the sluggish rivers flow. I have brought A lance for it. I'll let a little blood. Not over-much; enough, enough to set The pulses throbbing. PRIORESS Maid Marian came with him. She waits without and asks— ELINOR Let her not come Near him till all is done. Let her not know Anything, or the old fever will awake. I'll lance his arm now! [The Prioress closes the door. Elinor goes into the alcove. The chant from the chapel swells up again. Queen Elinor comes out of the alcove, white and trembling. She speaks in a low whisper as she looks back.] Now, trickle down, sweet blood. Grow white, fond lips That have kissed Marian—yet, she shall not boast You kissed her last; for I will have you wake To the fierce memory of this kiss in heaven Or burn with it in hell; [She kneels down as if to kiss the face of Robin, within. The chant from the chapel swells up more loudly. The door slowly opens. Marian steals in. Elinor rises and confronts her.] ELINOR [Laying a hand upon Robin's bow beside her.] Hush! Do not wake him! MARIAN [In a low voice.] What have you done with him? ELINOR [As Marian advances towards the couch.] He is asleep. Hush! Not a step further! Stay where you are! His life Hangs on a thread. MARIAN Why do you stare upon me? What have you done? What's this that trickles down— [Stoops to the floor and leaps back with a scream.] It is blood. You have killed him! ELINOR [Seizes the bow and shoots. Marian falls.] Follow him—down to hell. King John will find you there. [Exit. The scene grows dark.] MARIAN [Lifts her head with a groan.] I am dying, Robin! O God, I cannot wake him! Robin! Robin! Give me one word to take into the dark! He will not wake! He will not wake! O God, Help him! [She falls back unconscious. Shadow-of-a-Leaf, a green spray in his hand, opens the casement and stands for a moment in the window against the last glow of sunset, then enters and runs to the side of Robin.] SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF [Hurriedly.] Awake, awake, Robin, awake! The forest waits to help you! All the leaves Are listening for your bugle. Ah, where is it? Let but one echo sound and the wild flowers Will break thro' these grey walls and the green sprays Drag down these deadly towers. Wake, Robin, wake, And let the forest drown the priest's grey song With happy murmurs. Robin, the gates are open For you and Marian! All I had to give I have given to thrust them open, the dear gates Of fairyland which I shall never pass Again. I can no more, I am but a shadow, Dying as mortals die! It is not I That calls, not I, but Marian. Hear her voice! Robin, awake! O, master mine, farewell! [Exit lingeringly through the casement.] ROBIN [Robin is dimly seen in the mouth of the alcove. He stretches out his hands blindly in the dark.] Marian! Why do you call to me in dreams? Why do you call me? I must go. What's this? Help me, kind God, for I must say one word, Only one word—good-bye—to Marian, To Marian—Ah, too weak, too weak! [He sees the dark body of Marian and utters a cry, falling on his knees beside her.] O God, Marian! Marian! My bugle! Ah, my bugle! [He rises to his feet and, drowning the distant organ-music, he blows a resounding forest-call. It is answered by several in the forest. He falls on his knees by Marian and takes her in his arms.] O Marian, Marian, who hath used thee so? MARIAN Robin, it is my death-wound. Ah, come close. ROBIN Marian, Marian, what have they done to thee? [The Outlaws are heard thundering at the gates with cries.] OUTLAWS Robin! Robin! Robin! Break down the doors. [The terrified nuns stream past the window, out of the chapel. The Outlaws rush into the room. The scene still darkens.] SCARLET Robin and Marian! LITTLE JOHN Christ, what devil's hand Hath played the butcher here? Quick, hunt them down, They passed out yonder. Let them not outlive Our murdered king and queen. REYNOLD GREENLEAF O Robin, Robin, Who shot this bitter shaft into her breast? [Several stoop and kneel by the two lovers.] ROBIN HOOD Speak to me, Marian, speak to me, only speak! Just one small word, one little loving word Like those—do you remember?—you have breathed So many a time and often, against my cheek, At night, with nothing but the boughs and stars Between us and the dear God up in heaven! O God, why does a man's heart take so long To break? It would break sooner if you spoke A word to me, a word, one small kind word. MARIAN Sweetheart! ROBIN Sweetheart! You have broken it, broken it! Oh, kind, Kind heart of Marian! MARIAN Robin, come soon! [Dies.] ROBIN Soon, sweetheart! Oh, her sweet brave soul is gone! Marian, I follow quickly! SCARLET God, Kirklee Shall burn for this! LITTLE JOHN Kirklee shall burn for this! O master, master, you shall be avenged! ROBIN No; let me stand upright! Your hand, good Scarlet! We have lived our lives and God be thanked we go Together thro' this darkness. We shall wake, Please God, together. It is growing darker! I cannot see your faces. Give me my bow Quickly into my hands, for my strength fails And I must shoot one last shaft on the trail Of yonder setting sun, never to reach it! My hope, my love, shall fall, there bury us both, Together, and tread the green turf over us! The bow! [Scarlet hands him his bow. He stands against the faint glow of the window, draws the bow to full length, shoots and falls back into the arms of Little John.] LITTLE JOHN [Laying him down.] Weep, England, for thine outlawed lover, Dear Robin Hood, the poor man's friend, is dead. [The scene becomes quite dark. Then out of the darkness, and as if at a distance, the voice of Shadow-of-a-Leaf is heard singing the fairy song of the first scene. The fairy glade in Sherwood begins to be visible in the gloom by the soft light of the ivory gates which are swinging open once more among the ferns. As the scene grows clearer the song of Shadow-of-a-Leaf grows more and more triumphant and is gradually caught up by the >chorus of the fairy host within the woods.] [Song of Shadow-of-a-Leaf.] I The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The world begins again! And O, the red of the roses, And the rush of the healing rain! II The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Princess wakes from sleep; For the soft green keys of the wood-land Have opened her donjon-keep! III The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! Their grey walls hemmed us round; But, under my greenwood oceans, Their castles are trampled and drowned. IV The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! My green sprays climbed on high, And the ivy laid hold on their turrets And haled them down from the sky! V The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! They were strong! They are overthrown! For the little soft hands of the wild-flowers Have broken them, stone by stone. VI The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! Though Robin lie dead, lie dead, And the green turf by Kirklee Lie light over Marian's head, VII Green ferns on the crimson sky-line, What bugle have you heard? Was it only the peal of the blue-bells, Was it only the call of a bird? VIII The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The rose o'er the fortalice floats! My nightingales chant in their chapels, My lilies have bridged their moats! IX The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! King Death, in the light of the sun, Shrinks like an elfin shadow! His reign is over and done! X The hawthorn whitens the wood-land; My lovers, awake, awake, Shake off the grass-green coverlet, Glide, bare-foot, thro' the brake! XI The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! And, under the great green boughs, I have found out a place for my lovers, I have built them a beautiful house. XII Green ferns in the dawn-red dew-fall, This gift by my death I give,— They shall wander immortal thro' Sherwood! In my great green house they shall live! XIII The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! When the first wind blows from the South, They shall meet by the Gates of FaËrie! She shall set her mouth to his mouth! XIV He shall gather her, fold her and keep her; They shall pass thro' the Gates, they shall live! For the Forest, the Forest has conquered! This gift by my death I give! XV The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The Forest has conquered! The world awakes anew; And O, the scent of the hawthorn, And the drip of the healing dew! [The song ceases. Titania and Oberon come out into the moon-lit glade.] OBERON Yet one night more the gates of fairyland Are opened by a mortal's kindly deed. But Robin Hood and Marian now are driven As we shall soon be driven, from the world Of cruel mortals. TITANIA Mortals call them dead; Oberon, what is death? OBERON Only a sleep. But these may dream their happy dreams in death Before they wake to that new lovely life Beyond the shadows; for poor Shadow-of-a-Leaf Has given them this by love's eternal law Of sacrifice, and they shall enter in To dream their lover's dream in fairyland. TITANIA And Shadow-of-a-Leaf? OBERON He cannot enter now. The gates are closed against him. TITANIA But is this For ever? OBERON We fairies have not known or heard What waits for those who, like this wandering Fool, Throw all away for love. But I have heard There is a great King, out beyond the world, Not Richard, who is dead, nor yet King John; But a great King who one day will come home Clothed with the clouds of heaven from His Crusade. TITANIA The great King! OBERON Hush, the poor dark mortals come! [The crowd of serfs, old men, poor women, and children, begin to enter as the fairy song swells up within the gates again. Robin and Marian are led along by a crowd of fairies at the end of the procession.] TITANIA And there, see, there come Robin and his bride. And the fairies lead them on, strewing their path With ferns and moon-flowers. See, they have entered in! [The last fairy vanishes thro' the gates.] OBERON And we must follow, for the gates may close For ever now. Hundreds of years may pass Before another mortal gives his life To help the poor and needy. [Oberon and Titania follow hand in hand thro' the gates. They begin to close. Shadow-of-a-Leaf steals wistfully and hesitatingly across, as if to enter. They close in his face. He goes up to them and leans against them sobbing, a small green figure, looking like a greenwood spray against their soft ivory glow. The fairy music dies. He sinks to his knees and holds up his hands. Immediately a voice is heard singing and drawing nearer thro' the forest.] [Song—drawing nearer.] Knight on the narrow way, Where wouldst thou ride? "Onward," I heard him say, "Love, to thy side!" "Nay," sang a bird above, "Stay, for I see Death in the mask of love Waiting for thee." [Enter Blondel, leading a great white steed. He stops and looks at the kneeling figure.] BLONDEL Shadow-of-a-Leaf! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF [Rising to his feet.] Blondel! BLONDEL I go to seek My King! SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF [In passionate grief.] The King is dead! BLONDEL [In yet more passionate joy and triumph.] The great King lives! [Then more tenderly.] Will you not come and look for Him with me? [They go slowly together through the forest and are lost to sight. Blondel's voice is heard singing the third stanza of the song in the distance, further and further away.] "Death? What is Death?" he cried. "I must ride on!" [Curtain.] |
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