Collected Poems Volume II Part 43

[_REYNOLD GREENLEAF blows a resounding call._]

Now let the guards be set; and then, to sleep!

To-morrow there'll be work enough for all.

The hut for Jenny and Maid Marian!

Come, you shall see how what we lack in halls We find in bowers. Look how from every branch Such tapestries as kings could never buy Wave in the starlight. You'll be waked at dawn By feathered choirs whose notes were taught in heaven.

MUCH

Come, Jenny, come, we must prepare the hut For Mistress Marian. Here's a bundle of ferns!

[_They go into the hut. The light is growing dimmer and richer._]

LITTLE JOHN

And here's a red cramoisy cloak, a baron

[_Handing them in at the door._]

Dropt, as he fled one night from Robin Hood; And here's a green, and here's a midnight blue, All soft as down. But wait, I'll get you more.

[_Two of the Outlaws appear at the door with deerskins. SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF stands behind them with a great bunch of flowers and ferns._]

FIRST OUTLAW

Here's fawn-skins, milder than a maiden's cheek.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

Oh, you should talk in rhyme! The world should sing Just for this once in tune, if Love were king!

SECOND OUTLAW

Here's deer-skins, for a carpet, smooth and meek.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

I knew you would! Ha! ha! Now look at what I bring!

[_He throws flowers into the hut, spray by spray, speaking in a kind of ecstasy._]

Here's lavender and love and sweet wild thyme, And dreams and blue-bells that the fairies chime, Here's meadow-sweet and moonlight, bound in posies, With ragged robin, traveller's joy and roses, And here--just three leaves from a weeping willow; And here--that's best--deep poppies for your pillow.

MUCH

And here's a pillow that I made myself, Stuffed with dry rose-leaves and grey pigeon's down, The softest thing on earth except my heart!

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

[_Going aside and throwing himself down among the ferns to watch._]

Just three sweet breaths and then the song is flown!

[_MUCH looks at him for a moment with a puzzled face, then turns to the hut again._]

MUCH

Jenny, here, take it--though I'm fond of comforts, Take it and give it to Maid Marian.

JENNY

Why, Much, 'tis bigger than thyself.

MUCH

Hush, child.

I meant to use it lengthways. 'Twould have made A feather-bed complete for your poor Much, Take it!

[_The OUTLAWS all go into the cave._]

MARIAN

O Robin, what a fairy palace!

How cold and grey the walls of castles seem Beside your forest's fragrant halls and bowers.

I do not think that I shall be afraid To sleep this night, as I have often been Beneath our square bleak battlements.

ROBIN

And look, Between the boughs, there is your guard, all night, That great white star, white as an angel's wings, White as the star that shone on Bethlehem!

Good-night, sweetheart, good-night!

MARIAN

Good-night!

ROBIN

One kiss!

Oh, clear bright eyes, dear heavens of sweeter stars, Where angels play, and your own sweeter soul Smiles like a child into the face of G.o.d, Good-night! Good-night!

[_MARIAN goes into the hut. The door is shut. ROBIN goes to the mouth of the cave and throws himself down on a couch of deerskins. The light grows dimly rich and fairy-like._]

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

[_Rising to his knees._]

Here comes the little cloud!

[_A little moonlit cloud comes floating down between the tree-tops into the glade. t.i.tANIA is seen reposing upon it. She steps to earth. The cloud melts away._]