wits. I am but a leaf
Dancing upon the wild winds of the world,
A prophet blown before them. Well, this evening,
It is that lovely grey wind from the West
That silvers all the fields and all the seas,
And I'm the herald of May!

ROBIN

Come, Shadow-of-a-Leaf,
I pray thee, do not jest.

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

I do not jest.
I am vaunt-courier to a gentleman,
A sweet slim page in Lincoln green who comes,
Wood-knife on hip, and wild rose in his face,
With golden news of Marian. Oh, his news
Is one crammed honeycomb, swelling with sweetness
In twenty thousand cells; but delicate!
So send thy man aside.

ROBIN

Go, Little John.

[_LITTLE JOHN goes into the cave._]

Well, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, where is he?

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF

At this moment
His hair is tangled in a rose bush: hark,
He swears, like a young leopard! Nay, he is free.
Come, master page, here is that thief of love,
Give him your message. I'll to Little John.

[_Exit into the cave. Enter MARIAN, as a page in Lincoln green,
her face muffled in a hood._]

ROBIN

Good even, master page, what is thy news
Of Lady Marian?

[_She stands silent._]

Answer me quickly, come,
Hide not thy face!

[_She still stands muffled and silent._]

Come, boy, the fool is chartered,
Not thou; and I'll break off this hazel switch
And make thee dance if thou not answer me.
What? Silent still? Sirrah, this hazel wand
Shall lace thee till thou tingle, top to toe.
I'll ...

MARIAN

[_Unmuffling._]

Robin!

ROBIN

[_Catches her in his arms with a cry._]

Marian! Marian!

MARIAN

Fie upon you,
Robin, you did not know me.

ROBIN

[_Embracing her._]

Oh, you seemed
Ten thousand miles away. This is not moonlight,
And I am not Endymion. Could I dream
My Dian would come wandering through the fern
Before the sunset? Even that rose your face
You muffled in its own green leaves.

MARIAN

But you,
Were hidden in the hear