Act III - Scene I.
May-day. An open place (near NOTTINGHAM). A crowd of rustics
and townsfolk assembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLET.
FIRST RUSTIC
A sad may-day! Where yonder gallows glowers,
We should have raised the may-pole.
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, no songs,
No kisses in the ring, no country dances
To-day; no lads and lasses on the green,
Crowning their queen of may.
[Enter ROBIN HOOD, disguised as an old beggar, with a green
patch on one eye.]
ROBIN
Is this the place,
Masters, where they're a-goin' to hang Will Scarlet?
FIRST RUSTIC
Ay, father, more's the pity.
ROBIN
Eh! Don't ye think
There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many
That seems to like him well, here, roundabouts.
SECOND RUSTIC
Too many halberts round him. There's no chance.
ROBIN
I've heard the forest might break out, the lads
In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did?
FIRST RUSTIC
There's many here would swing a cudgel and help
To trip the Sheriff up. If Robin Hood
Were only here! But then he's outlawed now.
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, and there's big rewards out. It would be
Sure death for him to try a rescue now.
The biggest patch of Lincoln Green we'll see
This day, is that same patch on thy old eye,
Eh, lads!
THIRD RUSTIC
What's more, they say Prince John is out
This very day, scouring thro' Sherwood forest
In quest of Lady Marian!
ROBIN
[Sharply.]
You heard that?
THIRD RUSTIC
Ay, for they say she's flown to Sherwood forest.
SECOND RUSTIC
Ah! Ah? That's why he went. I saw Prince John!
With these same eyes I saw him riding out
To Sherwood, not an hour ago.
ROBIN
You saw him?
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, and he only took three men at arms.
FIRST RUSTIC
Three men at arms! Why then, he must ha' known
That Robin's men would all be busy here!
He's none so bold, he would not risk his skin!
I think there'll be some scuffling after all.
ROBIN
Ay, tell 'em so--go, spread it thro' the crowd!
[He mutters to himself.]
He'd take some time, to find her, but 'fore God
We must be quick; 'fore God we must be quick!
SECOND RUSTIC
Why, father, one would never think to see thee
Thou had'st so sound a heart!
FIRST RUSTIC
Ah, here they come!
The Sheriff and his men; and, in the midst,
There's poor Will Scarlet bound.
THE CROWD MURMURS
Ah, here they come!
Look at the halberts shining! Can you see him?
FIRST RUSTIC
There, there he is. His face is white: but, Lord,
He takes it bravely.
SECOND RUSTIC
He's a brave man, Will.
SHERIFF
Back with the crowd there, guards; delay no time!
SOME WOMEN IN THE CROWD
Ah, ah, poor lad!
ROBIN
[Eagerly.]
What are they doing now?
I cannot see!
FIRST RUSTIC
The Sheriff's angered now!
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, for they say a messenger has come
From that same godless hangman whose lean neck
I'd like to twist, saying he is delayed.
'Tis the first godly deed he has ever done.
THIRD RUSTIC
The Sheriff says he will not be delayed.
But who will take the hangman's office?
ROBIN
Masters,
I have a thought; make way; let me bespeak
The Sheriff!
RUSTICS
How now, father, what's to do?
ROBIN
Make way, I tell you. Here's the man they want!
SHERIFF
What's this?
ROBIN
Good master Sheriff, I've a grudge
Against Will Scarlet. Let me have the task
Of sending him to heaven!
CROWD
Ah-h-h, the old devil!
SHERIFF
Come on, then, and be brief!
ROBIN
I'm not a hangman;
But I can cleave your thinnest hazel wand
At sixty yards.
SHERIFF
Shoot, then, and make an end.
Make way there, clear the way!
[An opening is made in the crowd. ROBIN stands in the gap,
WILL SCARLET is not seen by the audience.]
CROWD
Ah-h-h, the old devil!
ROBIN
I'll shoot him one on either side, just graze him,
To show you how I love him; then the third
Slick in his heart.
[He shoots. A murmur goes up from the crowd. The crowd
hides WILL SCARLET during the shooting. But ROBIN
remains in full view, in the opening.]
SHERIFF
[Angrily.]
Take care! You've cut the cord
That bound him on that side!
ROBIN
Then here's the second!
I will be careful!
[He takes a steady aim.]
A RUSTIC TO HIS NEIGHBOURS
I' faith, lads, he can shoot!
What do you think--that green patch on his eye
Smacks of the merry men! He's tricking them!
[ROBIN shoots. A louder murmur goes up from the crowd.]
SHERIFF
You have cut the rope again!
A CRY
He has cut him free!
ROBIN
All right! All right! It's just to tease the dog!
Here's for the third now!
[He aims and shoots quickly. There is a loud cry of a wounded
man; then a shout from the crowd.]
THE CROWD
Ah-h-h, he has missed; he has killed
One of the guards!
FIRST RUSTIC
What has he done?
SECOND RUSTIC
He has killed
One of the Sheriff's men!
SHERIFF
There's treachery here!
I'll cleave the first man's heart that moves!
ROBIN
Will Scarlet,
Pick up that dead man's halbert!
SHERIFF
Treachery! Help!
Down with the villain!
ROBIN
[Throws off his beggar's crouch and hurls the SHERIFF and several
of his men back amongst the crowd. His cloak drops off.]
Sherwood! A merry Sherwood!
CROWD
Ah! ha! The Lincoln Green! A Robin Hood!
[A bugle rings out and immediately some of the yokels throw off
their disguise and the Lincoln green appears as by
magic amongst the crowd. The guards are rushed and
hustled by them. Robin and several of his men make
a ring round WILL SCARLET.]
SHERIFF
It is the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon:
There is a great reward upon his head.
Down with him!
[The SHERIFF'S men make a rush at the little band. A KNIGHT
in jet black armour, with a red-cross shield, suddenly appears
and forces his way through the mob, sword in
hand.]
KNIGHT
What, so many against so few!
Back, you wild wolves. Now, foresters, follow me,
For our St. George and merry England, charge,
Charge them, my lads!
[The FORESTERS make a rush with him and the SHERIFF and his
men take to flight.]
ROBIN
Now back to Sherwood, swiftly!
A horse, or I shall come too late; a horse!
[He sees the KNIGHT in armour standing by his horse.]
Your pardon, sir; our debt to you is great,
Too great almost for thanks; but if you be
Bound by the vows of chivalry, I pray you
Lend me your charger; and my men will bring you
To my poor home in Sherwood. There you'll find
A most abundant gratitude.
KNIGHT
Your name?
ROBIN
Was Huntingdon; but now is Robin Hood.
KNIGHT
If I refuse?
ROBIN
Then, sir, I must perforce
Take it. I am an outlaw, but the law
Of manhood still constrains me--'tis a matter
Of life and death--
KNIGHT
Take it and God be with you!
I'll follow you to Sherwood with your men.
[ROBIN seizes the horse, leaps to the saddle, and gallops away.]
[Curtain.]
and townsfolk assembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLET.
FIRST RUSTIC
A sad may-day! Where yonder gallows glowers,
We should have raised the may-pole.
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, no songs,
No kisses in the ring, no country dances
To-day; no lads and lasses on the green,
Crowning their queen of may.
[Enter ROBIN HOOD, disguised as an old beggar, with a green
patch on one eye.]
ROBIN
Is this the place,
Masters, where they're a-goin' to hang Will Scarlet?
FIRST RUSTIC
Ay, father, more's the pity.
ROBIN
Eh! Don't ye think
There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many
That seems to like him well, here, roundabouts.
SECOND RUSTIC
Too many halberts round him. There's no chance.
ROBIN
I've heard the forest might break out, the lads
In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did?
FIRST RUSTIC
There's many here would swing a cudgel and help
To trip the Sheriff up. If Robin Hood
Were only here! But then he's outlawed now.
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, and there's big rewards out. It would be
Sure death for him to try a rescue now.
The biggest patch of Lincoln Green we'll see
This day, is that same patch on thy old eye,
Eh, lads!
THIRD RUSTIC
What's more, they say Prince John is out
This very day, scouring thro' Sherwood forest
In quest of Lady Marian!
ROBIN
[Sharply.]
You heard that?
THIRD RUSTIC
Ay, for they say she's flown to Sherwood forest.
SECOND RUSTIC
Ah! Ah? That's why he went. I saw Prince John!
With these same eyes I saw him riding out
To Sherwood, not an hour ago.
ROBIN
You saw him?
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, and he only took three men at arms.
FIRST RUSTIC
Three men at arms! Why then, he must ha' known
That Robin's men would all be busy here!
He's none so bold, he would not risk his skin!
I think there'll be some scuffling after all.
ROBIN
Ay, tell 'em so--go, spread it thro' the crowd!
[He mutters to himself.]
He'd take some time, to find her, but 'fore God
We must be quick; 'fore God we must be quick!
SECOND RUSTIC
Why, father, one would never think to see thee
Thou had'st so sound a heart!
FIRST RUSTIC
Ah, here they come!
The Sheriff and his men; and, in the midst,
There's poor Will Scarlet bound.
THE CROWD MURMURS
Ah, here they come!
Look at the halberts shining! Can you see him?
FIRST RUSTIC
There, there he is. His face is white: but, Lord,
He takes it bravely.
SECOND RUSTIC
He's a brave man, Will.
SHERIFF
Back with the crowd there, guards; delay no time!
SOME WOMEN IN THE CROWD
Ah, ah, poor lad!
ROBIN
[Eagerly.]
What are they doing now?
I cannot see!
FIRST RUSTIC
The Sheriff's angered now!
SECOND RUSTIC
Ay, for they say a messenger has come
From that same godless hangman whose lean neck
I'd like to twist, saying he is delayed.
'Tis the first godly deed he has ever done.
THIRD RUSTIC
The Sheriff says he will not be delayed.
But who will take the hangman's office?
ROBIN
Masters,
I have a thought; make way; let me bespeak
The Sheriff!
RUSTICS
How now, father, what's to do?
ROBIN
Make way, I tell you. Here's the man they want!
SHERIFF
What's this?
ROBIN
Good master Sheriff, I've a grudge
Against Will Scarlet. Let me have the task
Of sending him to heaven!
CROWD
Ah-h-h, the old devil!
SHERIFF
Come on, then, and be brief!
ROBIN
I'm not a hangman;
But I can cleave your thinnest hazel wand
At sixty yards.
SHERIFF
Shoot, then, and make an end.
Make way there, clear the way!
[An opening is made in the crowd. ROBIN stands in the gap,
WILL SCARLET is not seen by the audience.]
CROWD
Ah-h-h, the old devil!
ROBIN
I'll shoot him one on either side, just graze him,
To show you how I love him; then the third
Slick in his heart.
[He shoots. A murmur goes up from the crowd. The crowd
hides WILL SCARLET during the shooting. But ROBIN
remains in full view, in the opening.]
SHERIFF
[Angrily.]
Take care! You've cut the cord
That bound him on that side!
ROBIN
Then here's the second!
I will be careful!
[He takes a steady aim.]
A RUSTIC TO HIS NEIGHBOURS
I' faith, lads, he can shoot!
What do you think--that green patch on his eye
Smacks of the merry men! He's tricking them!
[ROBIN shoots. A louder murmur goes up from the crowd.]
SHERIFF
You have cut the rope again!
A CRY
He has cut him free!
ROBIN
All right! All right! It's just to tease the dog!
Here's for the third now!
[He aims and shoots quickly. There is a loud cry of a wounded
man; then a shout from the crowd.]
THE CROWD
Ah-h-h, he has missed; he has killed
One of the guards!
FIRST RUSTIC
What has he done?
SECOND RUSTIC
He has killed
One of the Sheriff's men!
SHERIFF
There's treachery here!
I'll cleave the first man's heart that moves!
ROBIN
Will Scarlet,
Pick up that dead man's halbert!
SHERIFF
Treachery! Help!
Down with the villain!
ROBIN
[Throws off his beggar's crouch and hurls the SHERIFF and several
of his men back amongst the crowd. His cloak drops off.]
Sherwood! A merry Sherwood!
CROWD
Ah! ha! The Lincoln Green! A Robin Hood!
[A bugle rings out and immediately some of the yokels throw off
their disguise and the Lincoln green appears as by
magic amongst the crowd. The guards are rushed and
hustled by them. Robin and several of his men make
a ring round WILL SCARLET.]
SHERIFF
It is the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon:
There is a great reward upon his head.
Down with him!
[The SHERIFF'S men make a rush at the little band. A KNIGHT
in jet black armour, with a red-cross shield, suddenly appears
and forces his way through the mob, sword in
hand.]
KNIGHT
What, so many against so few!
Back, you wild wolves. Now, foresters, follow me,
For our St. George and merry England, charge,
Charge them, my lads!
[The FORESTERS make a rush with him and the SHERIFF and his
men take to flight.]
ROBIN
Now back to Sherwood, swiftly!
A horse, or I shall come too late; a horse!
[He sees the KNIGHT in armour standing by his horse.]
Your pardon, sir; our debt to you is great,
Too great almost for thanks; but if you be
Bound by the vows of chivalry, I pray you
Lend me your charger; and my men will bring you
To my poor home in Sherwood. There you'll find
A most abundant gratitude.
KNIGHT
Your name?
ROBIN
Was Huntingdon; but now is Robin Hood.
KNIGHT
If I refuse?
ROBIN
Then, sir, I must perforce
Take it. I am an outlaw, but the law
Of manhood still constrains me--'tis a matter
Of life and death--
KNIGHT
Take it and God be with you!
I'll follow you to Sherwood with your men.
[ROBIN seizes the horse, leaps to the saddle, and gallops away.]
[Curtain.]
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