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so well in all manly sports； till there came over his heart a great
and bitter longing for them all； so that his eyes filled with tears。
Then he said aloud； 〃Here I grow fat like a stall…fed ox and all my
manliness departeth from me while I become a sluggard and dolt。
But I will arouse me and go back to mine own dear friends once more；
and never will I leave them again till life doth leave my lips。〃
So saying； he leaped from bed； for he hated his sluggishness now。
When he came downstairs he saw the Steward standing near the pantry door
a great； fat man； with a huge bundle of keys hanging to his girdle。
Then Little John said； 〃Ho； Master Steward； a hungry man am I； for nought
have I had for all this blessed morn。 Therefore； give me to eat。〃
Then the Steward looked grimly at him and rattled the keys
in his girdle； for he hated Little John because he had found
favor with the Sheriff。 〃So； Master Reynold Greenleaf；
thou art anhungered； art thou？〃 quoth he。 〃But； fair youth；
if thou livest long enough； thou wilt find that he who getteth
overmuch sleep for an idle head goeth with an empty stomach。
For what sayeth the old saw； Master Greenleaf？ Is it not ‘The
late fowl findeth but ill faring'？〃
〃Now； thou great purse of fat！〃 cried Little John； 〃I ask
thee not for fool's wisdom； but for bread and meat。
Who art thou； that thou shouldst deny me to eat？
By Saint Dunstan； thou hadst best tell me where my breakfast is；
if thou wouldst save broken bones！〃
〃Thy breakfast； Master Fireblaze； is in the pantry；〃 answered the Steward。
〃Then fetch it hither！〃 cried Little John； who waxed angry by this time。
〃Go thou and fetch it thine own self；〃 quoth the Steward。 〃Am I thy slave；
to fetch and carry for thee？〃
〃I say； go thou； bring it me！〃
〃I say； go thou； fetch it for thyself！〃
〃Ay； marry； that will I； right quickly！〃 quoth Little John in a rage。
And； so saying； he strode to the pantry and tried to open the door
but found it locked； whereat the Steward laughed and rattled his keys。
Then the wrath of Little John boiled over； and； lifting his clenched fist；
he smote the pantry door； bursting out three panels and making so large
an opening that he could easily stoop and walk through it。
When the Steward saw what was done； he waxed mad with rage；
and； as Little John stooped to look within the pantry；
he seized him from behind by the nape of the neck； pinching him
sorely and smiting him over the head with his keys till
the yeoman's ears rang again。 At this Little John turned upon
the Steward and smote him such a buffet that the fat man fell
to the floor and lay there as though he would never move again。
〃There；〃 quoth Little John； 〃think well of that stroke and never
keep a good breakfast from a hungry man again。〃
So saying； he crept into the pantry and looked about him
to see if he could find something to appease his hunger。
He saw a great venison pasty and two roasted capons； beside which
was a platter of plover's eggs； moreover； there was a flask
of sack and one of canarya sweet sight to a hungry man。
These he took down from the shelves and placed upon a sideboard；
and prepared to make himself merry。
Now the Cook； in the kitchen across the courtyard； heard the loud
talking between Little John and the Steward； and also the blow
that Little John struck the other； so he came running across
the court and up the stairway to where the Steward's pantry was；
bearing in his hands the spit with the roast still upon it。
Meanwhile the Steward had gathered his wits about him and risen
to his feet； so that when the Cook came to the Steward's pantry
he saw him glowering through the broken door at Little John；
who was making ready for a good repast； as one dog glowers
at another that has a bone。 When the Steward saw the Cook；
he came to him； and； putting one arm over his shoulder；
〃Alas； sweet friend！〃 quoth hefor the Cook was a tall；
stout man〃seest thou what that vile knave Reynold Greenleaf
hath done？ He hath broken in upon our master's goods； and hath
smitten me a buffet upon the ear； so that I thought I was dead。
Good Cook； I love thee well； and thou shalt have a good pottle
of our master's best wine every day； for thou art an old
and faithful servant。 Also； good Cook； I have ten shillings
that I mean to give as a gift to thee。 But hatest thou not
to see a vile upstart like this Reynold Greenleaf taking it
upon him so bravely？〃
〃Ay； marry； that do I；〃 quoth the Cook boldly； for he liked the Steward
because of his talk of the wine and of the ten shillings。 〃Get thee gone
straightway to thy room； and I will bring out this knave by his ears。〃
So saying； he laid aside his spit and drew the sword that hung by his side；
whereupon the Steward left as quickly as he could； for he hated the sight
of naked steel。
Then the Cook walked straightway to the broken pantry door；
through which he saw Little John tucking a napkin beneath his
chin and preparing to make himself merry。
〃Why； how now； Reynold Greenleaf？〃 said the Cook； 〃thou art no better
than a thief； I wot。 Come thou straight forth； man； or I will carve
thee as I would carve a sucking pig。〃
〃Nay； good Cook； bear thou thyself more seemingly； or else I will
come forth to thy dole。 At most times I am as a yearling lamb；
but when one cometh between me and my meat； I am a raging lion；
as it were。〃
〃Lion or no lion；〃 quoth the valorous Cook； 〃come thou straight forth；
else thou art a coward heart as well as a knavish thief。〃
〃Ha！〃 cried Little John； 〃coward's name have I never had；
so； look to thyself； good Cook； for I come forth straight；
the roaring lion I did speak of but now。〃
Then he； too； drew his sword and came out of the pantry；
then； putting themselves into position； they came slowly together；
with grim and angry looks； but suddenly Little John lowered his point。
〃Hold； good Cook！〃 said he。 〃Now； I bethink me it were ill of us
to fight with good victuals standing so nigh； and such a feast
as would befit two stout fellows such as we are。 Marry； good friend；
I think we should enjoy this fair feast ere we fight。
What sayest thou； jolly Cook？〃
At this speech the Cook looked up and down； scratching his head
in doubt； for he loved good feasting。 At last he drew a long
breath and said to Little John； 〃Well； good friend； I like thy plan
right well； so； pretty boy； say I； let us feast； with all my heart；
for one of us may sup in Paradise before nightfall。〃
So each thrust his sword back into the scabbard and entered the pantry。
Then； after they had seated themselves； Little John drew his
dagger and thrust it into the pie。 〃A hungry man must be fed；〃
quoth he； 〃so； sweet chuck； I help myself without leave。〃
But the Cook did not lag far behind； for straightway his hands
also were deeply thrust within the goodly pasty。 After this；
neither of them spoke further； but used their teeth to better purpose。
But though neither spoke； they looked at one another； each thinking
within himself that he had never seen a more lusty fellow than
the one across the board。
At last； after a long time had passed； the Cook drew
a full； deep breath； as though of much regr