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To grace the blossoms fair；
But in the hushed and midnight hour
They hear her talking there；
Or； when the moon is shining white；
They hear her singing through the night。
〃 ‘Oh； don thy silks and jewels fine；'
May Ellen's mother said；
‘For hither comes the Lord of Lyne
And thou this lord must wed。'
May Ellen said； ‘It may not be。
He ne'er shall find his wife in me。'
〃Up spoke her brother； dark and grim：
‘Now by the bright blue sky；
E'er yet a day hath gone for him
Thy wicked bird shall die！
For he hath wrought thee bitter harm；
By some strange art or cunning charm。'
〃Then； with a sad and mournful song；
Away the bird did fly；
And o'er the castle eaves； and through
The gray and windy sky。
‘Come forth！' then cried the brother grim；
‘Why dost thou gaze so after him？'
〃It is May Ellen's wedding day；
The sky is blue and fair；
And many a lord and lady gay
In church are gathered there。
The bridegroom was Sir Hugh the Bold；
All clad in silk and cloth of gold。
〃In came the bride in samite white
With a white wreath on her head；
Her eyes were fixed with a glassy look；
Her face was as the dead；
And when she stood among the throng；
She sang a wild and wondrous song。
〃Then came a strange and rushing sound
Like the coming wind doth bring；
And in the open windows shot
Nine swans on whistling wing；
And high above the heads they flew；
In gleaming fight the darkness through。
〃Around May Ellen's head they flew
In wide and windy fight；
And three times round the circle drew。
The guests shrank in affright；
And the priest beside the altar there；
Did cross himself with muttered prayer。
〃But the third time they flew around；
Fair Ellen straight was gone；
And in her place； upon the ground；
There stood a snow…white swan。
Then； with a wild and lovely song；
It joined the swift and winged throng。
〃There's ancient men at weddings been；
For sixty years and more；
But such a wondrous wedding day；
They never saw before。
But none could check and none could stay；
The swans that bore the bride away_。〃
Not a sound broke the stillness when Allan a Dale had done；
but all sat gazing at the handsome singer； for so sweet was
his voice and the music that each man sat with bated breath；
lest one drop more should come and he should lose it。
〃By my faith and my troth；〃 quoth Robin at last； drawing a deep breath；
〃lad； thou artThou must not leave our company； Allan！ Wilt thou not
stay with us here in the sweet green forest？ Truly； I do feel my heart
go out toward thee with great love。〃
Then Allan took Robin's hand and kissed it。 〃I will stay with thee always；
dear master；〃 said he； 〃for never have I known such kindness as thou hast
shown me this day。〃
Then Will Scarlet stretched forth his hand and shook Allan's
in token of fellowship； as did Little John likewise。
And thus the famous Allan a Dale became one of Robin Hood's band。
Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar
THE STOUT YEOMEN of Sherwood Forest were ever early risers of a morn；
more especially when the summertime had come； for then in the freshness
of the dawn the dew was always the brightest； and the song of the small
birds the sweetest。
Quoth Robin； 〃Now will I go to seek this same Friar of Fountain Abbey
of whom we spake yesternight； and I will take with me four of my
good men； and these four shall be Little John； Will Scarlet； David
of Doncaster； and Arthur a Bland。 Bide the rest of you here；
and Will Stutely shall be your chief while I am gone。〃
Then straightway Robin Hood donned a fine steel coat of chain mail；
over which he put on a light jacket of Lincoln green。
Upon his head he clapped a steel cap； and this he covered by one
of soft white leather； in which stood a nodding cock's plume。
By his side he hung a good broadsword of tempered steel；
the bluish blade marked all over with strange figures of dragons；
winged women； and what not。 A gallant sight was Robin so arrayed；
I wot； the glint of steel showing here and there as the sunlight
caught brightly the links of polished mail that showed beneath
his green coat。
So； having arrayed himself； he and the four yeomen set forth upon
their way； Will Scarlet taking the lead； for he knew better than
the others whither to go。 Thus； mile after mile； they strode along；
now across a brawling stream； now along a sunlit road； now adown some
sweet forest path； over which the trees met in green and rustling canopy；
and at the end of which a herd of startled deer dashed away；
with rattle of leaves and crackle of branches。 Onward they walked
with song and jest and laughter till noontide was passed； when at last
they came to the banks of a wide； glassy； and lily…padded stream。
Here a broad； beaten path stretched along beside the banks； on which path
labored the horses that tugged at the slow…moving barges； laden with
barley meal or what not； from the countryside to the many…towered town。
But now； in the hot silence of the midday； no horse was seen nor
any man besides themselves。 Behind them and before them stretched
the river； its placid bosom ruffled here and there by the purple dusk
of a small breeze。
〃Now； good uncle；〃 quoth Will Scarlet at last； when they
had walked for a long time beside this sweet； bright river；
〃just beyond yon bend ahead of us is a shallow ford which in no
place is deeper than thy mid…thigh； and upon the other side
of the stream is a certain little hermitage hidden amidst
the bosky tangle of the thickets wherein dwelleth the Friar
of Fountain Dale。 Thither will I lead thee； for I know the way；
albeit it is not overhard to find。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth jolly Robin； stopping suddenly； 〃had I thought
that I should have had to wade water； even were it so crystal
a stream as this； I had donned other clothes than I have upon me。
But no matter now； for after all a wetting will not wash the skin away；
and what must be； must。 But bide ye here； lads； for I would
enjoy this merry adventure alone。 Nevertheless； listen well；
and if ye hear me sound upon my bugle horn； come quickly。〃
So saying； he turned and left them； striding onward alone。
Robin had walked no farther than where the bend of the road
hid his good men from his view； when he stopped suddenly；
for he thought that he heard voices。 He stood still and listened；
and presently heard words passed back and forth betwixt what seemed
to be two men； and yet the two voices were wondrously alike。
The sound came from over behind the bank； that here was steep
and high； dropping from the edge of the road a half a score
of feet to the sedgy verge of the river。
〃'Tis strange；〃 muttered Robin to himself after a space； when the voices
had ceased their talking； 〃surely there be two people that spoke
the one to the other； and yet methinks their voices are mightily alike。
I make my vow that never have I heard the like in all my life before。
Truly； if this twain are to be judged by their voices； no two peas
were ever more alike。 I will look into this matter。〃 So saying；
he came softly to the river bank and laying hi