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with hanging head； as though he shared his master's grief。
Quoth Robin Hood； 〃Yon is verily a sorry…looking gallant； and doth seem to have donned ill…content with his jerkin this morning； nevertheless； I will out and talk with him； for there may be some pickings here for a hungry daw。 Methinks his dress is rich； though he himself is so downcast。 Bide ye here till I look into this matter。〃 So saying； he arose and left them； crossed the road to the shrine； and there stood； waiting for the sorrowful knight to come near him。 So； presently； when the knight came riding slowly along； jolly Robin stepped forward and laid his hand upon the bridle rein。 〃Hold； Sir Knight；〃 quoth he。 〃I prythee tarry for a short time； for I have a few words to say to thee。〃
〃What art thou； friend； who dost stop a traveler in this manner upon his most gracious Majesty's highway？〃 said the Knight。
〃Marry；〃 quoth Robin； 〃that is a question hard to answer。 One man calleth me kind； another calleth me cruel； this one calleth me good honest fellow； and that one； vile thief。 Truly； the world hath as many eyes to look upon a man withal as there are spots on a toad； so； with what pair of eyes thou regardest me lieth entirely with thine own self。 My name is Robin Hood。〃
〃Truly； good Robin；〃 said the Knight； a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth； 〃thou hast a quaint conceit。 As for the pair of eyes with which I regard thee； I would say that they are as favorable as may be； for I hear much good of thee and little ill。 What is thy will of me？〃
〃Now； I make my vow； Sir Knight；〃 quoth Robin； 〃thou hast surely learned thy wisdom of good Gaffer Swanthold； for he sayeth； ‘Fair words are as easy spoke as foul； and bring good will in the stead of blows。' Now I will show thee the truth of this saying； for； if thou wilt go with me this day to Sherwood Forest； I will give thee as merry a feast as ever thou hadst in all thy life。〃
〃Thou art indeed kind；〃 said the Knight； 〃but methinks thou wilt find me but an ill…seeming and sorrowful guest。 Thou hadst best let me pass on my way in peace。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin； 〃thou mightst go thine own way but for one thing； and that I will tell thee。 We keep an inn； as it were； in the very depths of Sherwood； but so far from highroads and beaten paths that guests do not often come nigh us； so I and my friends set off merrily and seek them when we grow dull of ourselves。 Thus the matter stands； Sir Knight； yet I will furthermore tell thee that we count upon our guests paying a reckoning。〃
〃I take thy meaning； friend；〃 said the Knight gravely； 〃but I am not thy man； for I have no money by me。〃
〃Is it sooth？〃 said Robin； looking at the Knight keenly。 〃I can scarce choose but believe thee； yet； Sir Knight； there be those of thy order whose word is not to be trusted as much as they would have others believe。 Thou wilt think no ill if I look for myself in this matter。〃 Then； still holding the horse by the bridle rein； he put his fingers to his lips and blew a shrill whistle； whereupon fourscore yeomen came leaping over the stile and ran to where the Knight and Robin stood。 〃These；〃 said Robin； looking upon them proudly； 〃are some of my merry men。 They share and share alike with me all joys and troubles； gains and losses。 Sir Knight； I prythee tell me what money thou hast about thee。〃
For a time the Knight said not a word； but a slow red arose into his cheeks； at last he looked Robin in the face and said； 〃I know not why I should be ashamed； for it should be no shame to me； but； friend； I tell thee the truth； when I say that in my purse are ten shillings； and that that is every groat that Sir Richard of the Lea hath in all the wide world。〃
When Sir Richard ended a silence fell； until at last Robin said； 〃And dost thou pledge me thy knightly word that this is all thou hast with thee？〃
〃Yea；〃 answered Sir Richard； 〃I do pledge thee my most solemn word； as a true knight； that it is all the money I have in the world。 Nay； here is my purse； ye may find for yourselves the truth of what I say。〃 And he held his purse out to Robin。
〃Put up thy purse； Sir Richard；〃 quoth Robin。 〃Far be it from me to doubt the word of so gentle a knight。 The proud I strive to bring low； but those that walk in sorrow I would aid if I could。 Come； Sir Richard； cheer up thy heart and go with us into the greenwood。 Even I may perchance aid thee； for thou surely knowest how the good Athelstane was saved by the little blind mole that digged a trench over which he that sought the king's life stumbled。〃
〃Truly； friend；〃 said Sir Richard； 〃methinks thou meanest kindness in thine own way； nevertheless my troubles are such that it is not likely that thou canst cure them。 But I will go with thee this day into Sherwood。〃 Hereupon he turned his horse's head； and they all wended their way to the woodlands； Robin walking on one side of the Knight and Will Scarlet on the other； while the rest of the band trudged behind。
After they had traveled thus for a time Robin Hood spake。 〃Sir Knight；〃 said he； 〃I would not trouble thee with idle questions； but dost thou find it in thy heart to tell me thy sorrows？〃
〃Truly； Robin；〃 quoth the Knight； 〃I see no reason why I should not do so。 Thus it is： My castle and my lands are in pawn for a debt that I owe。 Three days hence the money must be paid or else all mine estate is lost forever； for then it falls into the hands of the Priory of Emmet； and what they swallow they never give forth again。〃
Quoth Robin； 〃I understand not why those of thy kind live in such a manner that all their wealth passeth from them like snow beneath the springtide sun。〃
〃Thou wrongest me； Robin；〃 said the Knight； 〃for listen： I have a son but twenty winters old； nevertheless he has won his spurs as knight。 Last year； on a certain evil day； the jousts were held at Chester； and thither my son went； as did I and my lady wife。 I wot it was a proud time for us； for he unhorsed each knight that he tilted against。 At last he ran a course with a certain great knight； Sir Walter of Lancaster； yet； though my son was so youthful； he kept his seat； albeit both spears were shivered to the heft； but it happened that a splinter of my boy's lance ran through the visor of Sir Walter's helmet and pierced through his eye into his brain； so that he died ere his esquire could unlace his helm。 Now； Robin； Sir Walter had great friends at court； therefore his kinsmen stirred up things against my son so that； to save him from prison； I had to pay a ransom of six hundred pounds in gold。 All might have gone well even yet； only that； by ins and outs and crookedness of laws； I was shorn like a sheep that is clipped to the quick。 So it came that I had to pawn my lands to the Priory of Emmet for more money； and a hard bargain they drove with me in my hour of need。 Yet I would have thee understand I grieve so for my lands only because of my dear lady wife。〃
〃But where is thy son now？〃 asked Robin； who had listened closely to all the Knight had said。
〃In Palestine；〃 said Sir Richard； 〃battling like a brave Christian soldier for the cross and the holy sepulcher。 Truly； England was an ill place for him because of Sir Walter's death and th