[_The wailing sound is heard again in the distance._]
To be shut out for ever, only to hear Those cries! I am only Shadow-of-a-Leaf, the fool, I cannot face it! Is there no hope but this? No hope for Robin and Maid Marian?
If the great King comes home from the Crusade In time! If not,--there is another King Beyond the world, they say.
Death, that dark death! To leave the sunlight and the flowers for ever! I cannot bear it! Oh, I cannot tell them. I'll wait--perhaps the great King will come home, If not--Oh, hark, a wandering minstrel's voice?
Who is drawing hither? Listen, fairies, listen!
[_Song heard approaching thro' the wood._]
Knight on the narrow way, Where wouldst thou ride? "Onward," I heard him say, "Love, to thy side!"
"Nay," sang a bird above; "Stay, for I see Death in the mask of love, Waiting for thee."
[_The song breaks off. Enter a MINSTREL, leading a great white steed. He pauses, confronted by the fairy host. The moonlight dazzles him._]
Minstrel, art thou, too, free of fairyland? Where wouldst thou ride? What is thy name?
And I ride Through all the world to seek and find my King!
[_He passes through the fairy host and goes into the woods on the further side of the glade, continuing his song, which dies away in the distance._]
[_Song._] "Death? What is death?" he cried. "I must ride on, On to my true love's side, Up to her throne!"
SCENE I. _May-day. An open place (near NOTTINGHAM). A crowd of rustics and townsfolk assembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLET._
A sad may-day! Where yonder gallows glowers, We should have raised the may-pole.
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._]
Is this the place, Masters, where they're a-goin' to hang Will Scarlet?
Eh! Don't ye think There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many That seems to like him well, here, roundabouts.
Too many halberts round him. There's no chance.
I've heard the forest might break out, the lads In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did?
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.