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I
N the rude days of King
They had done something that was against the laws of the
land, and had been forced to hide themselves in the woods
to save their lives. There they spent their time in roaming
about among the trees, in hunting the king's deer, and in
robbing rich
There were nearly a hundred of these outlaws, and their
leader was a bold fellow called Robin Hood. They were
dressed in suits of green, and armed with bows and arrows;
and sometimes they carried long wooden lances and
broad-swords, which they knew how to handle well.
Robin never allowed his men to harm
Long after he was dead, men liked to talk about his deeds. Some praised him, and some blamed him. He was, indeed, a rude, lawless fellow; but at that time, people did not think of right and wrong as they do now.
A great many songs were made up about Robin Hood, and
these songs were sung in the
Here is a little story that is told in one of those
Robin Hood was standing one day under a green tree by the
"I will not
The next day Robin stood in the same place. He had not been there long when he saw the same young man coming down the road. But he did not seem to be so happy this time. He had left his scarlet coat at home, and at every step he sighed and groaned.
"Ah the sad day! the sad day!" he kept saying to himself.
Then Robin Hood stepped out from under the tree, and
"I say, young man! Have you any money to spare for my merry men and me?"
"I have nothing at all," said the young man, "but five
"A gold ring?" asked Robin.
"Yes," said the young man, "it is a gold ring. Here it is."
"Ah, I see!" said Robin; "it is a wedding ring."
"I have kept it these seven years," said the young man; "I
have kept it to give to my bride on our wedding day. We were
going to be
"What is your name?" asked Robin.
"My name is Allin-a-Dale," said the young man.
"What will you give me, in gold or fee," said Robin, "if I will help you win your bride again in spite of the rich old man to whom she has been promised?"
"I have no money," said Allin, "but I will promise to be your servant."
"How many miles is it to the place where the maiden lives?" asked Robin.
"It is not far," said Allin. "But she is to be married this very day, and the church is five miles away."
Then Robin made haste to dress himself as a harper; and in
the
"Who are you?" said the bishop, "and what are you doing here?"
"I am a bold harper," said Robin, "the best in the north country."
"I am glad you have come," said the bishop kindly. "There is no music that I like so well as that of the harp. Come in, and play for us."
"I will go in," said Robin Hood; "but I will not give you
any music until I see the bride and
Just then an old man came in. He was dressed in rich clothing, but was bent with age, and was feeble and gray. By his side walked a fair young girl. Her cheeks were very pale, and her eyes were full of tears.
"This is no match," said Robin. "Let the bride choose for herself."
Then he put his horn to his lips, and blew three
times. The very next minute, four and twenty men, all
dressed in green, and
"Now whom do you choose?" said Robin to the maiden.
"I choose Allin-a-Dale," she said blushing.
"And Allin-a-Dale you shall have," said Robin;
"and he that takes you from
And so the fair maiden and Allin-a-Dale were married then and there, and the rich old man went home in a great rage.
"And thus having ended this merry wedding, The bride looked like a queen: And so they returned to the merry green wood, Amongst the leaves so green." |