Chapter 8
act. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF runs quickly across the glade, followed by PUCK._
PUCK
Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Shadow-of-a-Leaf! Don't dance away like that; don't hop; don't skip Like that, I tell you! I'll never do it again, I promise. Don't be silly now! Come here; I want to tell you something. Ah, that's right. Come, sit down here upon this bank of thyme "While I thine amiable ears"--Oh, no, Forgive me, ha! ha! ha!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Now, Master Puck, You'll kindly keep your word! A foxglove spray In the right hand is deadlier than the sword That mortals use, and one resounding thwack Applied to your slim fairyhood's green limbs Will make it painful, painful, very painful, Next time your worship wishes to sit down Cross-legged upon a mushroom.
PUCK
Ha! ha! ha! Poor Shadow-of-a-Leaf!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
You keep your word, that's all!
PUCK
Haven't I kept my word? Wasn't it I That made you what these poor, dull mortals call Crazy? Who crowned you with the cap and bells? Who made you such a hopeless, glorious fool That wise men are afraid of every word You utter? Wasn't it I that made you free Of fairyland--that showed you how to pluck Fern-seed by moonlight, and to walk and talk Between the lights, with urchins and with elves? Is there another fool twixt earth and heaven Like you--ungrateful rogue--answer me that!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
All true, dear gossip, and for saving me From the poor game of blind man's buff men call Wisdom, I thank you; but to hang and buzz Like a mad dragon-fly, now on my nose, Now on my neck, now singing in my ears, Is that to make me free of fairyland? No--that's enough to make the poor fool mad And take to human wisdom.
PUCK
Yet you love me, Ha! ha!--you love me more than all the rest. You can't deny it! You can't deny it! Ha! ha!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
I won't deny it, gossip. E'en as I think There must be something loves us creatures, Puck, More than the Churchmen say. We are so teased With thorns, bullied with briars, baffled with stars. I've lain sometimes and laughed until I cried To see the round moon rising o'er these trees With that same foolish face of heavenly mirth Winking at lovers in the blue-bell glade.
PUCK
Lovers! Ha! ha! I caught a pair of 'em Last night, behind the ruined chapel! Lovers! O Lord, these mortals, they'll be the death of me! Hist, who comes here?
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Scarlet and Little John, And all the merry men--not half so merry Since Robin went away. He was to come And judge between the rich and poor to-day, I think he has forgotten.
PUCK
Hist, let me hide Behind this hawthorn bush till they are gone.
[_Enter the FORESTERS--they all go into the cave except SCARLET and LITTLE JOHN, who stand at the entrance, looking anxiously back._]
LITTLE JOHN
I have never known the time when Robin Hood Said "I will surely come," and hath not been Punctual as yonder evening star.
SCARLET
Pray God No harm hath fallen him. Indeed he said, "Count on my coming."
LITTLE JOHN
I'll sound yet one more call. They say these Courts will spoil a forester. It may be he has missed the way. I'd give My sword-hand just to hear his jolly bugle Answer me.
[_He blows a forest call. They listen. All is silent._]
SCARLET
Silence--only the sough of leaves!
LITTLE JOHN
Well, I'm for sleep: the moon is not so bright Since Robin left us.
SCARLET
Ha! Shadow-of-a-Leaf, alone? I thought I heard thy voice.
LITTLE JOHN
Oh, he will talk With ferns and flowers and whisper to the mice! Perfectly happy, art thou not, dear fool?
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Perfectly happy since I lost my wits!
SCARLET
Pray that thou never dost regain them, then, Shadow-of-a-Leaf.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
I thank you kindly, sir, And pray that you may quickly lose your own, And so be happy, too. Robin's away, But, if you'd lost your wits, you would not grieve.
SCARLET
Good-night, good fool.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
I will not say "Good-night," Wise man, for I am crazed, and so I know 'Tis good, and yet you'll grieve. I wish you both A bad night that will tease your wits away And make you happy.
[_The OUTLAWS enter the cave. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF beckons to PUCK, who steals out again._]
PUCK
Shadow-of-a-Leaf, some change Is creeping o'er the forest. I myself Scarce laugh so much since Robin went away! Oh, my head hangs as heavily as a violet Brimmed with the rain. Shadow-of-a-Leaf, a cloud, A whisper steals across this listening wood! I am growing afraid. Dear fool, I am thy Puck, But I am growing afraid there comes an end To all our Sherwood revels, and I shall never Tease thee again.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Here comes the King!
[_Enter OBERON._]
Hail, Oberon. King of the fairies, I strew ferns before you. There are no palms here: ferns do just as well!
OBERON
Shadow-of-a-Leaf, our battles all are wasted; Our fairy dreams whereby we strove to warn Robin and Marian, wasted. Shadow-of-a-Leaf, Dear Robin Hood, the lover of the poor, And kind Maid Marian, our forest queen, Are in the toils at last!
[_He pauses._]
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Speak, speak!
OBERON
Prince John Hath trapped and taken Robin.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Is not Richard King of this England? Did not Richard tempt Robin, for Marian's sake, to leave the forest? Did he not swear upon the Holy Cross That Robin should be Earl of Huntingdon And hold his lands in safety?
OBERON
Only fear Of Richard held the wicked Prince in leash. But Richard roamed abroad again. Prince John Would murder Robin secretly.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Wise men Fight too much for these holy sepulchres! Are not the living images of God Better than empty graves?
OBERON
One grave is filled Now; for our fairy couriers have brought Tidings that Richard Lion-Heart is dead.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Dead?
OBERON
Dead! In a few brief hours the news will reach The wicked Prince. He will be King of England, With Marian in his power!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
No way to save them!
OBERON
We cannot break our fairy vows of silence. A mortal, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, can break those vows, But only on pain of death.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Oberon, I, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, the fool, must break my vows! I must save Robin Hood that he may save Marian from worse than death.
OBERON
Shadow-of-a-Leaf, Think what death means to you, never to join Our happy sports again, never to see The moonlight streaming through these ancient oaks Again, never to pass the fairy gates Again. We cannot help it. They will close Like iron in your face, and you will hear Our happy songs within; but you will lie Alone, without, dying, and never a word To comfort you, no hand to touch your brow.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
So be it. I shall see them entering in! The time is brief. Quick, tell me, where is Robin? Quick, or the news that makes Prince John a king Will ruin all.
OBERON
Robin is even now Thrust in the great dark tower beyond the wood, The topmost cell where foot can never climb.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Cannot an arrow reach it? Ay, be swift; Come, lead me thither.
OBERON
I cannot disobey The word that kills the seed to raise the wheat, The word that--Shadow-of-a-Leaf, I think I know Now, why great kings ride out to the Crusade.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Quickly, come, quickly!
[_Exeunt OBERON and SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF. PUCK remains staring after them, then vanishes with a sob, between the trees. LITTLE JOHN and SCARLET appear once more at the mouth of the cave._]
SCARLET
I thought I heard a voice.
LITTLE JOHN
'Twas only Shadow-of-a-Leaf again. He talks For hours among the ferns, plays with the flowers, And whispers to the mice, perfectly happy!
SCARLET
I cannot rest for thinking that some harm Hath chanced to Robin. Call him yet once more.
[_LITTLE JOHN blows his bugle. All is silent. They stand listening._]