SCENE II.--ROBIN HOOD'S _Retreat.

_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, MAID MARIAN, SCARLET, _and_ MUCH.

_Rob._ Why is not lovely Marian blithe of cheer? What ails my leman,[311] that she gins to lour? Say, good Marian, why art thou so sad?

_Mar._ Nothing, my Robin, grieves me to the heart But, whensoever I do walk abroad, I hear no songs but all of George-a-Greene; Bettris, his fair leman, passeth me: And this, my Robin, galls my very soul.

_Rob._ Content: what recks it us though George-a-Greene be stout, So long as he doth proffer us no scath? Envy doth seldom hurt but to itself; And therefore, Marian, smile upon thy Robin.

_Mar._ Never will Marian smile upon her Robin, Nor lie with him under the greenwood shade, Till that thou go to Wakefield on a green, And beat the Pinner for the love of me.

_Rob._ Content thee, Marian, I will ease thy grief, My merry men and I will thither stray; And here I vow that, for the love of thee, I will beat George-a-Greene, or he shall beat me.

_Scar._ As I am Scarlet, next to Little John, One of the boldest yeomen of the crew, So will I wend with Robin all along, And try this Pinner what he dares do.

_Much._ As I am Much, the miller's son, That left my mill to go with thee, And nill repent that I have done, This pleasant life contenteth me; In aught I may, to do thee good, I'll live and die with Robin Hood.

_Mar._ And, Robin, Marian she will go with thee, To see fair Bettris how bright she is of blee.[312]

_Rob._ Marian, thou shalt go with thy Robin.-- Bend up your bows, and see your strings be tight, The arrows keen, and everything be ready, And each of you a good bat on his neck, Able to lay a good man on the ground.

_Scar._ I will have Friar Tuck's.

_Much._ I will have Little John's.

_Rob._ I will have one made of an ashen plank, Able to bear a bout or two.-- Then come on, Marian, let us go; For before the sun doth show the morning day, I will be at Wakefield to see this Pinner, George-a-Greene. [_Exeunt._