Chapter 10

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. Quick! Draw the bridal curtains--three tall ferns-- 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, For your dead brother's sake. You say the King 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._]