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sword and replaced it in Robin's hand； who instantly springing up；
disarmed and wounded one of his antagonists； while the other was laid
prostrate under the dint of a brass cauldron launched by the Amazonian
dame。 Robin now turned to the aid of Marian； who was parrying most
dexterously the cuts and slashes of her two assailants； of whom Robin
delivered her from one； while a well…applied blow of her sword struck off
the helmet of the other； who fell on his knees to beg a boon； and she
recognised Sir Ralph Montfaucon。 The men who were engaged with the
baron and the peasant； seeing their leader subdued； immediately laid down
their arms and cried for quarter。 The wife brought some strong rope； and
the baron tied their arms behind them。
〃Now； Sir Ralph；〃 said Marian； 〃once more you are at my mercy。〃
〃That I always am； cruel beauty；〃 said the discomfited lover。
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〃Odso！ courteous knight；〃 said the baron； 〃is this the return you make
for my beef and canary； when you kissed my daughter's hand in token of
contrition for your intermeddling at her wedding？ Heart； I am glad to see
she has given you a bloody coxcomb。 Slice him down； Mawd！ slice him
down； and fling him into the river。〃
〃Confess；〃 said Marian； 〃what brought you here； and how did you
trace our steps？〃
〃I will confess nothing；〃 said the knight。
〃Then confess you； rascal；〃 said the baron； holding his sword to the
throat of the captive squire。
〃Take away the sword；〃 said the squire； 〃it is too near my mouth； and
my voice will not come out for fear： take away the sword； and I will
confess all。〃 The baron dropped his sword； and the squire proceeded； 〃Sir
Ralph met you； as you quitted Lady Falkland's castle； and by representing
to her who you were； borrowed from her such a number of her retainers as
he deemed must ensure your capture； seeing that your familiar the friar
was not at your elbow。 We set forth without delay； and traced you first by
means of a peasant who saw you turn into this valley； and afterwards by
the light from the casement of this solitary dwelling。 Our design was to
have laid an ambush for you in the morning； but the storm and your
observation of my unlucky face through the casement made us change our
purpose； and what followed you can tell better than I can； being indeed
masters of the subject。〃
〃You are a merry knave；〃 said the baron； 〃and here is a cup of wine for
you。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the squire； 〃and better late than never： but I lacked a
cup of this before。 Had I been pot…valiant； I had held you play。〃
〃Sir knight；〃 said Marian； 〃this is the third time you have sought the
life of my lord and of me； for mine is interwoven with his。 And do you
think me so spiritless as to believe that I can be yours by compulsion？
Tempt me not again； for the next time shall be the last； and the fish of the
nearest river shall commute the flesh of a recreant knight into the fast…day
dinner of an uncarnivorous friar。 I spare you now； not in pity but in scorn。
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Yet shall you swear to a convention never more to pursue or molest my
lord or me； and on this condition you shall live。〃
The knight had no alternative but to comply； and swore； on the honour
of knighthood； to keep the convention inviolate。 How well he kept his oath
we shall have no opportunity of narrating： Di lui la nostra istoria piu non
parla。
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CHAPTER XVI
Carry me over the water； thou fine fellowe。 Old Ballad。
The pilgrims； without experiencing further molestation； arrived at the
retreat of Sir Guy of Gamwell。 They found the old knight a cup too low；
partly from being cut off from the scenes of his old hospitality and the
shouts of his Nottinghamshire vassals； who were wont to make the rafters
of his ancient hall re…echo to their revelry； but principally from being
parted from his son； who had long been the better half of his flask and
pasty。 The arrival of our visitors cheered him up； and finding that the
baron was to remain with him； he testified his delight and the cordiality of
his welcome by pegging him in the ribs till he made him roar。
Robin and Marian took an affectionate leave of the baron and the old
knight； and before they quitted the vicinity of Barnsdale； deeming it
prudent to return in a different disguise； they laid aside their pilgrim's
attire； and assumed the habits and appurtenances of wandering minstrels。
They travelled in this character safely and pleasantly； till one evening
at a late hour they arrived by the side of a river； where Robin looking out
for a mode of passage perceived a ferry…boat safely moored in a nook on
the opposite bank； near which a chimney sending up a wreath of smoke
through the thick…set willows； was the only symptom of human habitation；
and Robin naturally conceiving the said chimney and wreath of smoke to
be the outward signs of the inward ferryman； shouted 〃Over！〃 with much
strength and clearness； but no voice replied； and no ferryman appeared。
Robin raised his voice； and shouted with redoubled energy； 〃Over； Over；
O…o…o…over！〃 A faint echo alone responded 〃Over！〃 and again died away
into deep silence： but after a brief interval a voice from among the willows；
in a strange kind of mingled intonation that was half a shout and half a
song； answered：
Over； over； over； jolly； jolly rover； Would you then come over？
Over； over； over？ Jolly； jolly rover； here's one lives in clover： Who
finds the clover？ The jolly； jolly rover。 He finds the clover； let him then
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come over； The jolly； jolly rover； over； over； over；
〃I much doubt；〃 said Marian； 〃if this ferryman do not mean by clover
something more than the toll of his ferry…boat。〃
〃I doubt not；〃 answered Robin； 〃he is a levier of toll and tithe； which I
shall put him