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Whistlerap presto； and Scrapesqueak prestissimo。 There was a kind of
mathematical proportion in their discrepancy： while Muggledrone played
the tune four times； Trumtwang played it five； Whistlerap six； and
Scrapesqueak eight； for the latter completely distanced all his competitors；
and indeed worked his elbow so nimbly that its outline was scarcely
distinguishable through the mistiness of its rapid vibration。
While the knight was delighting his eyes and ears with these pleasant
sights and sounds； all eyes were turned in one direction； and Sir Ralph；
looking round； saw a fair lady in green and gold come riding through the
trees； accompanied by a portly friar in grey； and several fair damsels and
gallant grooms。 On their nearer approach； he recognised the lady Matilda
and her ghostly adviser； brother Michael。 A party of foresters arrived
from another direction； and then ensued cordial interchanges of greeting；
and collisions of hands and lips； among the Gamwells and the new…
comers；〃How does my fair coz； Mawd？〃 and 〃How does my sweet coz；
Mawd？〃 and 〃How does my wild coz； Mawd？〃 And 〃Eh！ jolly friar；
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your hand； old boy：〃 and 〃Here； honest friar：〃 and 〃To me； merry friar：〃
and 〃By your favour； mistress Alice：〃 and 〃Hey！ cousin Robin：〃 and
〃Hey！ cousin Will：〃 and 〃Od's life！ merry Sir Guy； you grow younger
every year；〃 as the old knight shook them all in turn with one hand； and
slapped them on the back with the other； in token of his affection。 A
number of young men and women advanced； some drawing； and others
dancing round； a floral car； and having placed a crown of flowers on
Matilda's head； they saluted her Queen of the May； and drew her to the
place appointed for the rural sports。
A hogshead of ale was abroach under an oak； and a fire was blazing in
an open space before the trees to roast the fat deer which the foresters
brought。 The sports commenced； and； after an agreeable series of
bowling； coiling； pitching； hurling； racing； leaping； grinning； wrestling or
friendly dislocation of joints； and cudgel…playing or amicable cracking of
skulls； the trial of archery ensued。 The conqueror was to be rewarded with
a golden arrow from the hand of the Queen of the May； who was to be his
partner in the dance till the close of the feast。 This stimulated the
knight's emulation： young Gamwell supplied him with a bow and arrow；
and he took his station among the foresters； but had the mortification to be
out…shot by them all； and to see one of them lodge the point of his arrow in
the golden ring of the centre； and receive the prize from the hand of the
beautiful Matilda； who smiled on him with particular grace。 The jealous
knight scrutinised the successful champion with great attention； and surely
thought he had seen that face before。 In the mean time the forester led the
lady to the station。 The luckless Sir Ralph drank deep draughts of love
from the matchless grace of her attitudes； as； taking the bow in her left
hand； and adjusting the arrow with her right； advancing her left foot； and
gently curving her beautiful figure with a slight motion of her head that
waved her black feathers and her ringleted hair； she drew the arrow to its
head； and loosed it from her open fingers。 The arrow struck within the
ring of gold； so close to that of the victorious forester that the points were
in contact； and the feathers were intermingled。 Great acclamations
succeeded； and the forester led Matilda to the dance。 Sir Ralph gazed on
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her fascinating motions till the torments of baffled love and jealous rage
became unendurable； and approaching young Gamwell； he asked him if he
knew the name of that forester who was leading the dance with the Queen
of the May？ 〃Robin； I believe；〃 said young Gamwell carelessly； 〃I think
they call him Robin。〃
〃Is that all you know of him？〃 said Sir Ralph。
〃What more should I know of him？〃 said young Gamwell。
〃Then I can tell you；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃he is the outlawed Earl of
Huntingdon； on whose head is set so large a price。〃
〃Ay； is he？〃 said young Gamwell； in the same careless manner。
〃He were a prize worth the taking；〃 said Sir Ralph。
〃No doubt；〃 said young Gamwell。
〃How think you？〃 said Sir Ralph： 〃are the foresters his adherents？〃
〃I cannot say；〃 said young Gamwell。
〃Is your peasantry loyal and well…disposed？〃 said Sir Ralph。
〃Passing loyal；〃 said young Gamwell。
〃If I should call on them in the king's name；〃 said Sir Ralph； 〃think
you they would aid and assist？〃
〃Most likely they would；〃 said young Gamwell； 〃one side or the
other。〃
〃Ay； but which side？〃 said the knight。
〃That remains to be tried；〃 said young Gamwell。
〃I have King Henry's commission；〃 said the knight； 〃to apprehend this
earl that was。 How would you advise me to act； being； as you see；
without attendant force？〃
〃I would advise you；〃 said young Gamwell； 〃to take yourself off
without delay； unless you would relish the taste of a volley of arrows； a
shower of stones； and a hailstorm of cudgel…blows； which would not be
turned aside by a God save King Henry。〃
Sir Ralph's squire no sooner heard this； and saw by the looks of the
speaker that he was not likely to prove a false prophet； than he clapped
spurs to his horse and galloped off with might and main。 This gave the
knight a good excuse to pursue him； which he did with great celerity；
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calling； 〃Stop； you rascal。〃 When the squire fancied himself safe out of the
reach of pursuit； he checked his speed； and allowed the knight to come up
with him。 They rode on several miles in silence； till they discovered the
towers and spires of Nottingham； where the knight introduced himself to
the sheriff； and demanded an armed force to assist in the apprehension of
the outlawed Earl of