e of Little John himself. Beneath his bushy black brows danced a
pair of little gray eyes that could not stand still for very drollery of
humor. No man could look into his face and not feel his heartstrings
tickled by the merriment of their look. By his side lay a steel cap,
which he had laid off for the sake of the coolness to his crown. His
legs were stretched wide apart, and betwixt his knees he held a great
pasty compounded of juicy meats of divers kinds made savory with tender
young onions, both meat and onions being mingled with a good rich gravy.
In his right fist he held a great piece of brown crust at which he
munched sturdily, and every now and then he thrust his left hand into
the pie and drew it forth full of meat; anon he would take a mighty pull
at a great bottle of Malmsey that lay beside him.

"By my faith," quoth Robin to himself, "I do verily believe that this is
the merriest feast, the merriest wight, the merriest place, and the
merriest sight in all merry England. Methought there was another here,
but it must have been this holy man talking to himself."

So Robin lay watching the Friar, and the Friar, all unknowing that he
was so overlooked, ate his meal placidly. At last he was done, and,
having first wiped his greasy hands upon the ferns and wild thyme (and
sweeter napkin ne'er had king in all the world), he took up his flask
and began talking to himself as though he were another man, and
answering himself as though he were somebody else.

"Dear lad, thou art the sweetest fellow in all the world, I do love thee
as a lover loveth his lass. La, thou dost make me shamed to speak so to
me in this solitary place, no one being by, and yet if thou wilt have me
say so, I do love thee as thou lovest me. Nay then, wilt thou not take
a drink of good Malmsey? After thee, lad, after thee. Nay, I beseech
thee, sweeten the draught with thy lips (here he passed the flask from
his right hand to his left). An thou wilt force it on me so, I must
needs do thy bidding, yet with the more pleasure do I so as I drink thy
very great health (here he took a long, deep draught). And now, sweet
lad, 'tis thy turn next (here he passed the bottle from his left hand
back again to his right). I take it, sweet chuck, and here's wishing
thee as much good as thou wishest me." Saying this, he took another
draught, and truly he drank enough for two.

All this time merry Robin lay upon the bank and listened, while his
stomach s