but brought nothing thence。
〃Ha！〃 quoth Little John； 〃have your prayers so little virtue？
Then let us at it again。〃 Then straightway he began calling
on Saint Dunstan again； somewhat in this wise： 〃O gracious
Saint Dunstan！ Send some money straightway to these poor folk；
lest the fat one waste away and grow as lean as the lean one；
and the lean one waste away to nothing at all； ere they get to
Lincoln Town； but send them only ten shillings apiece； lest they
grow puffed up with pride； Any more than that that thou sendest；
send to me。
〃Now；〃 quoth he； rising； 〃let us see what each man hath。〃
Then he thrust his hand into his pouch and drew thence four golden angels。
〃What have ye； brothers？〃 said he。
Then once again each friar slowly thrust his hand into his pouch；
and once again brought it out with nothing in it。
〃Have ye nothing？〃 quoth Little John。 〃Nay； I warrant there is somewhat
that hath crept into the seams of your pouches； and so ye ha' missed it。
Let me look。〃
So he went first to the lean Friar； and； thrusting his hand into the pouch；
he drew forth a leathern bag and counted therefrom one hundred and ten pounds
of golden money。 〃I thought；〃 quoth Little John； 〃that thou hadst missed；
in some odd corner of thy pouch； the money that the blessed Saint had
sent thee。 And now let me see whether thou hast not some； also； brother。〃
Thereupon he thrust his hand into the pouch of the fat Friar and drew thence
a bag like the other and counted out from it threescore and ten pounds。
〃Look ye now；〃 quoth he； 〃I knew the good Saint had sent thee some pittance
that thou； also； hadst missed。〃
Then； giving them one pound between them； he slipped the rest
of the money into his own pouch； saying； 〃Ye pledged me
your holy word that ye had no money。 Being holy men； I trust
that ye would not belie your word so pledged； therefore I know
the good Saint Dunstan hath sent this in answer to my prayers。
But as I only prayed for ten shillings to be sent to each of you；
all over and above that belongeth by rights to me； and so I take it。
I give you good den； brothers； and may ye have a pleasant
journey henceforth。〃 So saying； he turned and left them；
striding away。 The friars looked at one another with a woeful look；
and slowly and sadly they mounted their horses again and rode
away with never a word。
But Little John turned his footsteps back again to Sherwood Forest；
and merrily he whistled as he strode along。
And now we will see what befell Robin Hood in his venture as beggar。
Robin Hood Turns Beggar
AFTER JOLLY ROBIN had left Little John at the forking of the roads；
he walked merrily onward in the mellow sunshine that shone about him。
Ever and anon he would skip and leap or sing a snatch of song；
for pure joyousness of the day； for； because of the sweetness
of the springtide； his heart was as lusty within him as that
of a colt newly turned out to grass。 Sometimes he would walk
a long distance； gazing aloft at the great white swelling clouds
that moved slowly across the deep blue sky； anon he would stop
and drink in the fullness of life of all things； for the hedgerows
were budding tenderly and the grass of the meadows was waxing long
and green； again he would stand still and listen to the pretty
song of the little birds in the thickets or hearken to the clear
crow of the cock daring the sky to rain； whereat he would laugh；
for it took but little to tickle Robin's heart into merriment。
So he trudged manfully along； ever willing to stop for this
reason or for that； and ever ready to chat with such merry
lasses as he met now and then。 So the morning slipped along；
but yet he met no beggar with whom he could change clothes。
Quoth he； 〃If I do not change my luck in haste； I am like to
have an empty day of it； for it is well nigh half gone already；
and； although I have had a merry walk through the countryside；
I know nought of a beggar's life。〃
Then； after a while； he began to grow hungry； whereupon his mind turned
from thoughts of springtime and flowers and birds and dwelled upon
boiled capons； Malmsey； white bread； and the like； with great tenderness。
Quoth he to himself； 〃I would I had Willie Wynkin's wishing coat；
I know right well what I should wish for； and this it should be。〃
Here he marked upon the fingers of his left hand with the
forefinger of his right hand those things which he wished for。
〃Firstly； I would have a sweet brown pie of tender larks； mark ye；
not dry cooked； but with a good sop of gravy to moisten it withal。
Next； I would have a pretty pullet； fairly boiled； with tender pigeons'
eggs； cunningly sliced； garnishing the platter around。
With these I would have a long； slim loaf of wheaten bread that hath
been baked upon the hearth； it should be warm from the fire；
with glossy brown crust； the color of the hair of mine own Maid Marian；
and this same crust should be as crisp and brittle as the thin white
ice that lies across the furrows in the early winter's morning。
These will do for the more solid things； but with these I
must have three potties； fat and round； one full of Malmsey；
one of Canary； and one brimming full of mine own dear lusty sack。〃
Thus spoke Robin to himself； his mouth growing moist at the corners
with the thoughts of the good things he had raised in his own mind。
So； talking to himself； he came to where the dusty road turned sharply
around the hedge； all tender with the green of the coming leaf；
and there he saw before him a stout fellow sitting upon a stile；
swinging his legs in idleness。 All about this lusty rogue dangled
divers pouches and bags of different sizes and kinds； a dozen or more；
with great； wide； gaping mouths； like a brood of hungry daws。
His coat was gathered in at his waist； and was patched with as many
colors as there are stripes upon a Maypole in the springtide。
On his head he wore a great tall leathern cap； and across his knees
rested a stout quarterstaff of blackthorn； full as long and heavy
as Robin's。 As jolly a beggar was he as ever trod the lanes
and byways of Nottinghamshire； for his eyes were as gray as slate；
and snapped and twinkled and danced with merriment； and his black
hair curled close all over his head in little rings of kinkiness。
〃Halloa； good fellow；〃 quoth Robin； when he had come nigh to the other；
〃what art thou doing here this merry day； when the flowers are peeping
and the buds are swelling？〃
Then the other winked one eye and straightway trolled forth
in a merry voice：
〃_I sit upon the stile；
And I sing a little while
As I wait for my own true dear； O；
For the sun is shining bright；
And the leaves are dancing light；
And the little fowl sings she is near； O_。
〃And so it is with me； bully boy； saving that my doxy cometh not。〃
〃Now that is a right sweet song；〃 quoth Robin； 〃and； were I in
the right mind to listen to thee； I could bear well to hear more；
but I have two things of seriousness to ask of thee；
so listen； I prythee。〃
At this the jolly Beggar cocked his head on one side； like a rogue
of a magpie。 Quoth he； 〃I am an ill jug to pour heavy things into；
good friend； and； if I mistake not； thou hast few serious words
to spare at any time。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth jolly Robin； 〃what I would say first is the most serious
of all thoughts to me； to wit； ‘Where shall I get somewhat to eat
and drink？' 〃
〃Sayst thou so？〃 quoth the Beggar。 〃Marry； I make no such serious
thoughts upon the matter。 I eat when I can get it； and munch
my crust when I can get no crumb； likewise； when there is no ale
to be had I wash the dust from out my throat with a trickle
of cold water。 I was sitting here； as thou camest upon me；
bethinking myself whether I should break my fast or no。
I do love to let my hunger grow mightily keen ere I eat；
for then a dry crust is as good to me as a venison pasty
with suet and raisins is to stout King Harry。 I have a sharp
hunger upon me now； but methinks in a short while it will ripen
to a right mellow appetite。〃
〃Now； in good sooth；〃 quoth merry Robin； laughing； 〃thou hast a quaint tongue
betwixt thy teeth。 But hast thou truly nought but a dry crust about thee？
Methinks thy bags and pouches are fat and lusty for such thin fare。〃
〃Why； mayhap there is some other cold fare therein；〃 said the Beggar slyly。
〃And hast thou nought to drink but cold water？〃 said Robin。
〃Never so much as a drop；〃 quoth the Beggar。 〃Over beyond yon clump
of trees is as sweet a little inn as ever thou hast lifted eyelid upon；
but I go not thither； for they have a nasty way with me。
Once； when the good Prior of Emmet was dining there； the landlady set
a dear little tart of stewed crabs and barley sugar upon the window
sill to cool； and； seeing it there； and fearing it might be lost；
I took it with me till that I could find the owner thereof。
Ever since then they have acted very ill toward me； yet truth
bids me say that they have the best ale there that ever rolled
over my tongue。〃
At this Robin laughed aloud。 〃Marry；〃 quoth he； 〃they did ill toward thee
for thy kindness。 But tell me truly； what hast thou in thy pouches？〃
〃Why；〃 quoth the Beggar； peeping into the mouths of his bags； 〃I find here
a goodly piece of pigeon pie； wrapped in a cabbage leaf to hold the gravy。
Here I behold a dainty streaked piece of brawn； and here a fair lump
of white bread。 Here I find four oaten cakes and a cold knuckle
of ham。 Ha！ In sooth； 'tis strange； but here I behold six eggs
that must have come by accident from some poultry yard hereabouts。
They are raw； but roasted upon the coals and spread with a piece
of butter that I see〃
〃Peace； good friend！〃 cried Robin； holding up his hand。 〃Thou makest
my poor stomach quake with joy for what thou tellest me so sweetly。
If thou wilt give me to eat； I will straightway hie me to that little
inn thou didst tell of but now； and will bring a skin of ale for thy
drinking and mine。〃
〃Friend； thou hast said enough；〃 said the Beggar； getting down from
the stile。 〃I will feast thee with the best that I have and bless
Saint Cedric for thy company。 But； sweet chuck； I prythee bring
three quarts of ale at least； one for thy drinki