to seek Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest。
The road was hot and dusty and his journey had been long；
for that day he had come all the way from Leicester Town； a good
twenty miles and more； wherefore young Partington was right glad
when he saw before him a sweet little inn； all shady and cool beneath
the trees； in front of the door of which a sign hung pendant；
bearing the picture of a blue boar。 Here he drew rein and called
loudly for a pottle of Rhenish wine to be brought him； for stout
country ale was too coarse a drink for this young gentleman。
Five lusty fellows sat upon the bench beneath the pleasant shade
of the wide…spreading oak in front of the inn door； drinking ale
and beer； and all stared amain at this fair and gallant lad。
Two of the stoutest of them were clothed in Lincoln green；
and a great heavy oaken staff leaned against the gnarled oak tree
trunk beside each fellow。
The landlord came and brought a pottle of wine and a long narrow glass
upon a salver； which he held up to the Page as he sat upon his horse。
Young Partington poured forth the bright yellow wine and holding
the glass aloft； cried； 〃Here is to the health and long happiness
of my royal mistress； the noble Queen Eleanor； and may my journey
and her desirings soon have end； and I find a certain stout yeoman
men call Robin Hood。〃
At these words all stared； but presently the two stout yeomen
in Lincoln green began whispering together。 Then one of the two；
whom Partington thought to be the tallest and stoutest fellow
he had ever beheld； spoke up and said； 〃What seekest thou of
Robin Hood； Sir Page？ And what does our good Queen Eleanor wish of him？
I ask this of thee； not foolishly； but with reason； for I know
somewhat of this stout yeoman。〃
〃An thou knowest aught of him； good fellow；〃 said young Partington；
〃thou wilt do great service to him and great pleasure to our royal
Queen by aiding me to find him。〃
Then up spake the other yeoman； who was a handsome fellow with
sunburned face and nut…brown； curling hair； 〃Thou hast an honest look；
Sir Page； and our Queen is kind and true to all stout yeomen。
Methinks I and my friend here might safely guide thee to Robin Hood；
for we know where he may be found。 Yet I tell thee plainly；
we would not for all merry England have aught of harm befall him。〃
〃Set thy mind at ease； I bring nought of ill with me；〃
quoth Richard Partington。 〃I bring a kind message to him
from our Queen； therefore an ye know where he is to be found；
I pray you to guide me thither。〃
Then the two yeomen looked at one another again； and the tall man said；
〃Surely it were safe to do this thing； Will〃； whereat the other nodded。
Thereupon both arose； and the tall yeoman said； 〃We think thou art true；
Sir Page； and meanest no harm； therefore we will guide thee to Robin Hood
as thou dost wish。〃
Then Partington paid his score； and the yeomen coming forward；
they all straightway departed upon their way。
Under the greenwood tree； in the cool shade that spread all
around upon the sward； with flickering lights here and there；
Robin Hood and many of his band lay upon the soft green grass；
while Allan a Dale sang and played upon his sweetly sounding harp。
All listened in silence； for young Allan's singing was one of the greatest
joys in all the world to them； but as they so listened there came
of a sudden the sound of a horse's feet； and presently Little John
and Will Stutely came forth from the forest path into the open glade；
young Richard Partington riding between them upon his milk…white horse。
The three came toward where Robin Hood sat； all the band staring with might
and main； for never had they seen so gay a sight as this young Page；
nor one so richly clad in silks and velvets and gold and jewels。
Then Robin arose and stepped forth to meet him； and Partington leaped from
his horse and doffing his cap of crimson velvet； met Robin as he came。
〃Now； welcome！〃 cried Robin。 〃Now； welcome； fair youth； and tell me；
I prythee； what bringeth one of so fair a presence and clad in such
noble garb to our poor forest of Sherwood？〃
Then young Partington said； 〃If I err not； thou art the famous
Robin Hood； and these thy stout band of outlawed yeomen。
To thee I bring greetings from our noble Queen Eleanor。 Oft hath
she heard thee spoken of and thy merry doings hereabouts；
and fain would she behold thy face； therefore she bids me
tell thee that if thou wilt presently come to London Town；
she will do all in her power to guard thee against harm；
and will send thee back safe to Sherwood Forest again。
Four days hence； in Finsbury Fields； our good King Henry；
of great renown； holdeth a grand shooting match； and all
the most famous archers of merry England will be thereat。
Our Queen would fain see thee strive with these； knowing that if thou
wilt come thou wilt； with little doubt； carry off the prize。
Therefore she hath sent me with this greeting； and furthermore
sends thee； as a sign of great good will； this golden ring from
off her own fair thumb； which I give herewith into thy hands。〃
Then Robin Hood bowed his head and taking the ring； kissed it
right loyally； and then slipped it upon his little finger。
Quoth he； 〃Sooner would I lose my life than this ring； and ere
it departs from me； my hand shall be cold in death or stricken
off at the wrist。 Fair Sir Page； I will do our Queen's bidding；
and will presently hie with thee to London； but； ere we go；
I will feast thee here in the woodlands with the very best we have。〃
〃It may not be；〃 said the Page； 〃we have no time to tarry；
therefore get thyself ready straightway； and if there be any
of thy band that thou wouldst take with thee； our Queen bids
me say that she will make them right welcome likewise。〃
〃Truly； thou art right；〃 quoth Robin； 〃and we have but short
time to stay； therefore I will get me ready presently。
I will choose three of my men； only； to go with me； and these
three shall be Little John； mine own true right…hand man；
Will Scarlet； my cousin； and Allan a Dale； my minstrel。
Go； lads； and get ye ready straightway； and we will presently
off with all speed that we may。 Thou； Will Stutely； shall be
the chief of the band while I am gone。〃
Then Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale ran leaping； full of joy；
to make themselves ready； while Robin also prepared himself for the journey。
After a while they all four came forth； and a right fair sight they made；
for Robin was clad in blue from head to foot； and Little John and
Will Scarlet in good Lincoln green； and as for Allan a Dale； he was dressed
in scarlet from the crown of his head to the toes of his pointed shoes。
Each man wore beneath his cap a little head covering of burnished steel
set with rivets of gold； and underneath his jerkin a coat of linked mail；
as fine as carded wool； yet so tough that no arrow could pierce it。
Then； seeing all were ready； young Partington mounted his horse again；
and the yeomen having shaken hands all around； the five departed
upon their way。
That night they took up their inn in Melton Mowbray； in Leicestershire；
and the next night they lodged at Kettering； in Northamptonshire；
and the next at Bedford Town； and the next at St。 Albans；
in Hertfordshire。 This place they left not long after the middle
of the night； and traveling fast through the tender dawning of
the summer day； when the dews lay shining on the meadows and faint
mists hung in the dales； when the birds sang their sweetest and
the cobwebs beneath the hedges glimmered like fairy cloth of silver；
they came at last to the towers and walls of famous London Town；
while the morn was still young and all golden toward the east。
Queen Eleanor sat in her royal bower； through the open casements of
which poured the sweet yellow sunshine in great floods of golden light。
All about her stood her ladies…in…waiting chatting in low voices；
while she herself sat dreamily where the mild air came softly
drifting into the room laden with the fresh perfumes of the sweet
red roses that bloomed in the great garden beneath the wall。
To her came one who said that her page； Richard Partington；
and four stout yeomen waited her pleasure in the court below。
Then Queen Eleanor arose joyously and bade them be straightway
shown into her presence。
Thus Robin Hood and Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale came
before the Queen into her own royal bower。 Then Robin kneeled before
the Queen with his hands folded upon his breast； saying in simple phrase；
〃Here am I； Robin Hood。 Thou didst bid me come； and lo； I do thy bidding。
I give myself to thee as thy true servant； and will do thy commanding；
even if it be to the shedding of the last drop of my life's blood。〃
But good Queen Eleanor smiled pleasantly upon him； bidding him to arise。
Then she made them all be seated to rest themselves after their long journey。
Rich food was brought them and noble wines； and she had her own pages
to wait upon the wants of the yeomen。 At last； after they had eaten
all they could； she began questioning them of their merry adventures。
Then they told her all of the lusty doings herein spoken of； and among
others that concerning the Bishop of Hereford and Sir Richard of the Lea；
and how the Bishop had abided three days in Sherwood Forest。 At this；
the Queen and the ladies about her laughed again and again； for they
pictured to themselves the stout Bishop abiding in the forest and ranging
the woods in lusty sport with Robin and his band。 Then； when they had
told all that they could bring to mind； the Queen asked Allan to sing
to her； for his fame as a minstrel had reached even to the court at
London Town。 So straightway Allan took up his harp in his hand； and；
without more asking； touched the strings lightly till they all rang sweetly；
then he sang thus：
〃_Gentle river； gentle river；
Bright thy crystal waters flow；
Sliding where the aspens shiver；
Gliding where the lilies blow；
〃Singing over pebbled shallows；
Kissing blossoms bending low；
Breaking 'neath the dipping swallows；
Purpling where the breezes blow。
〃Floating on thy breast forever
Down thy current I could glide；
Grief and pain shou