The Adventures of Robin Hood

by Howard Pyle

No archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning as his,

Not only Robin himself but all the band were outlaws and dwelled apart from other men, yet they were beloved by the country people round about, for no one ever came to jolly Robin for help in time of need and went away again with an empty fist.

It was at the dawn of day in the merry Maytime, when hedgerows are green and flowers bedeck the meadows; daisies pied and yellow cuckoo buds and fair primroses all along the briery hedges; when apple buds blossom and sweet birds sing, the lark at dawn of day, the throstle cock and cuckoo; when lads and lasses look upon each other with sweet thoughts; when busy housewives spread their linen to bleach upon the bright green grass.

"What is done is done; and the egg cracked cannot be cured."

Then they vowed that even as they themselves had been despoiled they would despoil their oppressors, whether baron, abbot, knight, or squire, and that from each they would take that which had been wrung from the poor by unjust taxes, or land rents, or in wrongful fines. But to the poor folk they would give a helping hand in need and trouble, and would return to them that which had been unjustly taken from them. Besides this, they swore never to harm a child nor to wrong a woman, be she maid, wife, or widow; so that, after a while, when the people began to find that no harm was meant to them, but that money or food came in time of want to many a poor family, they came to praise Robin and his merry men, and to tell many tales of him and of his doings in Sherwood Forest, for they felt him to be one of themselves.

first he was of a mind to be angry but found he could not, because the others were so merry;

Once I slew a man, and never do I wish to slay a man again, for it is bitter for the soul to think thereon.

Strike no man without need, for I would fain avoid bloodshed, but if ye do strike, strike hard, and see that there be no need to strike again.

let no man leave his fellows."

"These men fear neither God nor man, nor king nor king's officers. I would sooner lose mine office than my life,

Pleasantly to their nostrils came the tender fragrance of the purple violets and wild thyme that grew within the dewy moisture of the edge of the little fountain, and pleasantly came the soft gurgle of the water. All was so pleasant and so full of the gentle joy of the bright Maytime, that for a long time no one of the three cared to speak, but each lay on his back, gazing up through the trembling leaves of the trees to the bright sky overhead.

'He who is fat from overliving must needs lose blood.'"

"I see the white clouds floating and I feel the wind a-blowing and three black crows are flying over the wold;

"I see the windmills swinging and three tall poplar trees swaying against the sky, and a flock of fieldfares are flying over the hill;

"I hear the cuckoo singing, and I see how the wind makes waves in the barley field;

So passed the seasons then, so they pass now, and so they will pass in time to come, while we come and go like leaves of the tree that fall and are soon forgotten.

For thus fickle is a mass of men.

'to like' and 'to do' are two matters of different sorts.

for it was noontide, the most peaceful time of all the day, next to twilight. All the earth was silent

Another gust of wind went rushing by, and with it fell a few heavy drops of rain, which presently came rattling down in showers, beating against the casements like a hundred little hands. Bright flashes of lightning lit up every raindrop, and with them came cracks of thunder that went away rumbling and bumping

"I am right glad to hear thee speak, for I began to fear the sight of me had stricken thee dumb. As for my name, it may be this or it may be that; but methinks it is more meet for thee to tell me thine, seeing that thou art the greater stranger in these parts.

for that which cometh hereafter speaks of the breaking up of things, and shows how joys and pleasures that are dead and gone can never be set upon their feet to walk again.

with bow in hand, his heart in the greenwood,

there is nought in the world so easily forgot as gratitude;