Collected Poems Volume II Part 54

But tell me, Lady Marian, When is your bridal day with Robin Hood?

MARIAN

We shall be wedded when the King comes home From the Crusade.

KNIGHT

Ah, when the King comes home!

That's music--all the birds of April sing In those four words for me--the King comes home.

MARIAN

I am glad you love him, sir.

ROBIN

But you're not eating!

Your helmet's locked and barred! Will you not raise Your visor?

KNIGHT

[_Laughs._]

Ha! ha! ha! You see I am trapped!

I did not wish to raise it! Hunger and thirst Break down all masks and all disguises, Robin.

[_He rises and removes his helmet, revealing the face of RICHARD COEUR DE LION._]

ROBIN

The King!

[_They all leap to their feet._]

OUTLAWS

The King! The King!

ROBIN

But oh, my liege, I should have known, when we were hard beset Around Will Scarlet by their swarming bands, And when you rode out of the Eastern sky And hurled our foemen down, I should have known It was the King come home from the Crusade!

And when I was beset here in the wood By treacherous hounds again, I should have known Whose armour suddenly burned between the leaves!

I should have known, either it was St. George Or else the King come home from the Crusade!

RICHARD

Indeed there is one thing that might have told you, Robin--a lover's instinct, since it seems So much for you and Marian depends On my return.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Sire, you will pardon me, For I am only a fool, and yet methinks You know not half the meaning of those words-- The King, the King comes home from the Crusade!

Thrust up your swords, heft uppermost, my lads, And shout--the King comes home from the Crusade.

[_He leaps on a seat, and thrusts up the King's sword, heft uppermost, as if it were a cross._]

ROBIN

Pardon him, sire, poor Shadow-of-a-Leaf has lost His wits!

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

That's what t.i.tania said you'd say, Poor sweet bells out of tune! But oh, don't leave, Don't leave the forest! There's darker things to come!

Don't leave the forest! I have wits enough at least To wrap my legs around my neck for warmth On winter nights.

RICHARD

Well, you've no need to pa.s.s The winter in these woods--

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Oh, not _that_ winter!

ROBIN

Shadow-of-a-Leaf, be silent!

[_SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF goes aside and throws himself down sobbing among the ferns._]

RICHARD

When even your cave Methinks can scarce be cheery. Huntingdon, Your earldom we restore to you this day!

You and my Lady Marian shall return To Court with us, where your true bridal troth Shall be fulfilled with golden marriage bells.

Now, friends, the venison pasty! We must hear _The Malmsey b.u.t.t_ and _Down the Merry Red Lane_, Ere we set out, at dawn, for London Town.

ROBIN

Allan-a-dale shall touch a golden string To speed our feast, sire, for he soars above The gross needs of the Churchman!

RICHARD

Allan-a-Dale?

WILL SCARLET

Our greenwood minstrel, sire! His harp is ours Because we won his bride for him.

RICHARD

His bride?