24 'Stand backe, stand backe, my pretty maide, Stand backe and let me fight; By sweete St. James be no[t] afraide But I will it requite.'
25 Then Robin did his sword uplift, And let it fall againe; The oldest brothers head it cleft, Right through unto his braine.
26 'O hold thy hand, bolde forrester, Or ill may thee betide; Slay not my youngest brother here, He is my father's pride.'
27 'Away, for I would scorne to owe, My life to the[e], false maide!' The youngest cried, and aimd a blow That lit on Robin's head.
28 Then Robin leand against the tree, His life nie gone did seeme; His eyes did swim, he could not see The maiden start betweene.
29 It was not long ere Robin Hood Could welde his sword so bright; Upon his feete he firmly stood, And did renew the fight.
30 Untill the tanner scarce could heave His weapon in the aire; But Robin would not him bereave Of life, and left him there.
31 Then to the greenewood did he fly, And with him went the maide; For him she vowd that she would dye, He'd live for her, he said.
1^2. _If #A# 1^2 be right, gross injustice is done the father by changing ~I wat he weird her~ into ~he wad wed her~. One of the two is a singular corruption._
_There is another copy of #B# among Mr White's papers, with the title 'Sir Thamas,' which I have no doubt has been "revised," whether by Telfer, or by Mr White himself, it is impossible to say. The principal variations are here given, that others may be satisfied._
2^3. Till up cam Thamas her only true love.
5^{ 1,2}. I'll hae a glove on my right hand, love, And on my left I shall hae nane.
6^{ 2-4}. Beyond an hour, or scarcely twa, When up rode Thamas, her only true love, And he has tane her frae mang them a'.
7^1. He kissed her sisters, a' the six, love.
8^{ 2-4}. Beyond two hours, or barely three, Till up cam seven[118] stalwart outlaws, The bauldest fellows that ane could see.
9^8. We'll take your life, for this lady fair, sir.
10^1. My lady's fair, I like her weel, sir.
11^{ 2,3}. And he spak still mair furiously; 'Flee, or we'll kill ye, because your lady.
12. 'My lady fair, I shall part na frae thee, And for my life, I did never fear; Sae before I lose my winsome lady, My life I'll venture for ane sae dear.
13. 'But if ye're a' true to your manhood, As I shall try to be true to mine, I'll fight ye a', come man by man then, Till the last drop o my bloud I tine.'