hard, and here is a deep draught to his health: but I
would show you, that we foresters are miscalled by opprobrious names,
and that our virtues, though they follow at humble distance, are yet
truly akin to those of Coeur-de-Lion. I say not that Richard is a
thief, but I say that Robin is a hero: and for honour, did ever yet man,
miscalled thief, win greater honour than Robin? Do not all men grace him
with some honourable epithet? The most gentle thief, the most courteous
thief, the most bountiful thief, yea, and the most honest thief? Richard
is courteous, bountiful, honest, and valiant: but so also is Robin:
it is the false word that makes the unjust distinction. They are
twin-spirits, and should be friends, but that fortune hath differently
cast their lot: but their names shall descend together to the latest
days, as the flower of their age and of England: for in the pure
principles of freebootery have they excelled all men; and to the
principles of freebootery, diversely developed, belong all the qualities
to which song and story concede renown."

"And you may add, friar," said Marian, "that Robin, no less than
Richard, is king in his own dominion; and that if his subjects be fewer,
yet are they more uniformly loyal."

"I would, fair lady," said the stranger, "that thy latter observation
were not so true. But I nothing doubt, Robin, that if Richard could hear
your friar, and see you and your lady, as I now do, there is not a man
in England whom he would take by the hand more cordially than yourself."

"Gramercy, sir knight," said Robin---- But his speech was cut short by
Little John calling, "Hark!"

All listened. A distant trampling of horses was heard. The sounds
approached rapidly, and at length a group of horsemen glittering in
holyday dresses was visible among the trees.

"God's my life!" said Robin, "what means this? To arms, my merrymen
all."

"No arms, Robin," said the foremost horseman, riding up and springing
from his saddle: "have you forgotten Sir William of the Lee?"

"No, by my fay," said Robin; "and right welcome again to Sherwood."

Little John bustled to re-array the disorganised economy of the table,
and replace the dilapidations of the provender.

"I come late, Robin," said Sir William, "but I came by a wrestling,
where I found a good yeoman wrongfully beset by a crowd of sturdy
varlets, and I staid to do him right."

"I thank thee for that, in God's name," said Robin, "as if thy good