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Robin Hood and the Beggar Knight
Ken Theriot
Popularity ยท Low
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๐ฌ๐ง English ยท Original
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Lythe and listen, gentlemen that be of freeborn blood
And I shall tell a merry tale of our good Robin Hood
He guards the weak and weary from the evils of the strong
And doles out justice high and low, and rights each wicked wrong
Deep in Sherwood Forest green, bold Robin built a hall
That he might feast, and he might sing with his good yeomen all
And never did the king dine half as well, nor any lord
For all the forest bounty found its way to Robin's board
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
One day upon the forest path, a beggar knight was spied
All dreary was his countenance and little was his pride
His hood was worn and weathered, and his mantle old and thin
And Robin hailed him gently and addressed him with a grin
"Welcome be you, gentle knight, to Sherwood Forest fair
Robin Hood shall be your host with plenty and to spare
By your looks, it has been long since you had meat and wine
Come hither to my hall, and I shall show you how we dine"
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
When they had finished eating, Robin said, "It seems no right
For yeomen to pay provender for any goodly knight"
"Alas, for shame," the knight replied, "I have no golden store
I have within my coffers but ten shillings and no more"
"If that be true," said Robin Hood, "No penny shall I touch
And if you have a need for more, I'll lend you twice as much"
The knight took down his coffers, and he laid them on the ground
And Robin counted out ten silver shillings, half a pound
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
"How comes it then," said Robin Hood, "That poverty is thine?
For though your hood is tattered, I can see it once was fine"
"My son was held to ransom," said the knight, and gave a sigh
"My wealth is in my land, and I have little coin put by
The abbot of Saint Mary's church agreed to lend the gold
But then demanded payment ere my harvest could be sold
My goods and gear are not enough to pay the full demand
Tomorrow, I must pay 400 pounds or lose my land"
Robin said, "Fear not, my friend," and sent for his own store
The chest was brought, and such a sum few men have seen before
He counted out 400 pounds and gave it to the knight
"Pay off your debt and save your land and put all things to right"
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
The abbot of Saint Mary's church was riding through the wood
And who should he encounter but the outlaw Robin Hood
As with the knight, the abbot was invited to a feast
And at its end, bold Robin asked for payment from the priest
"I cannot pay," the abbot slyly said, "You must agree
What little money I may have is spent in charity
I swear it by Our Lady, I have no great store of gold
My coffers hold but 20 marks to feed the poor and cold"
"If that be true," said Robin Hood, "No penny shall I touch
And if you have a need for more, I'll lend you twice as much"
The abbot hugged his coffers, but the outlaw broke them wide
And Robin found within 800 pounds and more beside
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
On a day, the knight, no longer beggar, came to call
He rode a splendid palfrey to the gates of Robin's hall
"Good Robin," said the knight, "You are a gentleman well met
And I have here 400 pounds to pay my rightful debt"
"Your riches, you may keep," unto the knight, said Robin Hood
"Use it with my gramercy to do your people good
Our Lady has repaid your debt and twice as much again
For she believes, as I do, in the worth of honest men"
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
Sing hey, for the hind and the hound and the hare
Sing high, for the summer and spring
Sing ho, for the life of the merry greenwood
Where Robin Hood is king
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