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in the forest behind： For its woods out of sight were his vow out of mind；
With the friar of Rubygill。
In lonely hut himself he shut； The friar of Rubygill； Where the
ghostly elf absolved himself； To follow his own good will： And he had
no lack of canary sack； To keep his conscience still。 And a damsel well
knew； when at lonely midnight It gleamed on the waters； his signal…
lamp…light： 〃Over！ over！〃 she warbled with nightingale throat； And the
friar sprung forth at the magical note； And she crossed the dark stream in
his trim ferryboat； With the friar of Rubygill。
〃Look you now；〃 said Robin； 〃if the friar does not blush。 Many
strange sights have I seen in my day； but never till this moment did I see a
blushing friar。〃
〃I think；〃 said the friar； 〃you never saw one that blushed not； or you
saw good canary thrown away。 But you are welcome to laugh if it so
please you。 None shall laugh in my company； though it be at my expense；
but I will have my share of the merriment。 The world is a stage； and life is
a farce； and he that laughs most has most profit of the performance。 The
worst thing is good enough to be laughed at； though it be good for nothing
else； and the best thing； though it be good for something else； is good for
nothing better。〃
And he struck up a song in praise of laughing and quaffing； without
further adverting to Marian's insinuated accusation； being； perhaps； of
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opinion； that it was a subject on which the least said would be the soonest
mended。
So passed the night。 In the morning a forester came to the friar； with
intelligence that Prince John had been compelled； by the urgency of his
affairs in other quarters； to disembarrass Nottingham Castle of his royal
presence。 Our wanderers returned joyfully to their forest…dominion；
being thus relieved from the vicinity of any more formidable belligerent
than their old bruised and beaten enemy the sheriff of Nottingham。
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CHAPTER XVII
Oh！ this life Is nobler than attending for a check；
Richer than doing nothing for a bribe Prouder than rustling in unpaid…for
silk。Cymbeline。
So Robin and Marian dwelt and reigned in the forest； ranging the
glades and the greenwoods from the matins of the lark to the vespers of
the nightingale； and administering natural justice according to Robin's
ideas of rectifying the inequalities of human condition： raising genial dews
from the bags of the rich and idle； and returning them in fertilising
showers on the poor and industrious： an operation which more enlightened
statesmen have happily reversed； to the unspeakable benefit of the
community at large。 The light footsteps of Marian were impressed on the
morning dew beside the firmer step of her lover； and they shook its large
drops about them as they cleared themselves a passage through the thick
tall fern； without any fear of catching cold； which was not much in fashion
in the twelfth century。 Robin was as hospitable as Cathmor； for seven
men stood on seven paths to call the stranger to his feast。 It is true； he
superadded the small improvement of making the stranger pay for it：
than which what could be more generous？ For Cathmor was himself the
prime giver of his feast； whereas Robin was only the agent to a series of
strangers； who provided in turn for the entertainment of their successors；
which is carrying the disinterestedness of hospitality to its acme。 Marian
often killed the deer；
Which Scarlet dressed； and Friar Tuck blessed While Little John
wandered in search of a guest。
Robin was very devout； though there was great unity in his religion： it
was exclusively given to our Lady the Virgin； and he never set forth in a
morning till he had said three prayers； and had heard the sweet voice of his
Marian singing a hymn to their mutual patroness。 Each of his men had；
as usual； a patron saint according to his name or taste。 The friar chose a
saint for himself； and fixed on Saint Botolph； whom he euphonised into
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Saint Bottle； and maintained that he was that very Panomphic
Pantagruelian saint； well known in ancient France as a female divinity； by
the name of La Dive Bouteille； whose oracular monosyllable 〃Trincq；'； is
celebrated and under…stood by all nations； and is expounded by the learned
doctor Alcofribas；＇6＇ who has treated at large on the subject； to signify
〃drink。〃 Saint Bottle； then； was the saint of Friar Tuck； who did not yield
even to Robin and Marian in the assiduity of his devotions to his chosen
patron。 Such was their summer life； and in their winter caves they had
sufficient furniture； ample provender； store of old wine； and assuredly no
lack of fuel； with joyous music and pleasant discourse to charm away the
season of darkness and storms。
＇6＇ Alcofribas Nasier： an anagram of Francois Rabelais； and his
assumed appellation。
The reader who desires to know more about this oracular divinity； may
consult the said doctor Alcofribas Nasier； who will usher him into the
adytum through the medium of the high priestess Bacbuc。
Many moons had waxed and waned； when on the afternoon of a lovely
summer day a lusty broad…boned knight was riding through the forest of
Sherwood。 The sun shone brilliantly on the full green foliage； and
afforded the knight a fine opportunity of observing picturesque effects； of
which it is to be feared he did not avail himself。 But he had not proceeded
far； before he had an opportunity of observing something much more
interesting； namely； a fine young outlaw leaning； in the true Sherwood
fashion； with his back against a tree。 The knight was preparing to ask the
stranger a question； the answer to which； if correctly given； would have
relieved him from a doubt that pressed heavily on his mind； as to whether
he was in the right