o toils for wife
and child you must not harm. Only those who oppress the poor and weak,
those who are selfish and unkind, who play while others weep, these
shall you bring to me.

_Will Scarlet._ But look, my master, what sorrowing knight rides there?
His garments are rich and his horse gayly decked, but his countenance is
sad and he rides slowly, careless of the way.

_Little John._ Hail, gentle knight; my master awaits you and fain would
have your company at dinner.

_The Knight._ At dinner,--in the wood! Who is your master?

_Little John._ Robin Hood is he: and here he is to bid you welcome.

_Robin Hood._ Welcome, Sir Knight, thrice welcome art thou, for I have
fasted beyond the dinner hour. Pray you, dismount.

_The Knight._ God save you and all your company!

_Midge._ The dinner is served, my master.

_Robin Hood._ Will you join us, Sir Knight? Here are pheasants and swans
and meat of the deer.

_The Knight._ Such a good dinner, with so many brave men, I have not
eaten for many a day. If I come again to this country, I will make thee
as good a dinner. But Heaven knows when that will be!

[Illustration]

_Robin Hood._ Thanks for your kind offer. But in the greenwood our
guests must pay for their food. A yeoman does not pay for a rich knight!

_The Knight._ Sorry am I that you must call me poor. I would that I
could pay you, but in my saddlebags are no more than ten shillings.

_Robin Hood._ Is that indeed the truth, Sir Knight? Look carefully,
Little John; if the knight speaks truly, he shall keep the ten
shillings, but if not--

_Little John._ Indeed, my master, the knight speaks truly, for this is
all the money I can find.

_Robin Hood._ How comes it, noble knight, that thou art so poor? Come,
tell me the story. Mayhap I can help thee.

_The Knight._ I am Sir Richard of Lea, and my ancestors have been
knights for a hundred years. A year ago I had plenty of money to spend
as I would. But now I have nothing for my wife and my children, who weep
for my absence from them.

_Robin Hood._ But how did you lose all your money?

_The Knight._ Perhaps you will think I lost it in a foolish way. My son,
whom I dearly love, is a manly youth. Well can he shoot and joust fairly
in the field. But once, in a quarrel, he slew a youth, and to save him,
I pledged all my lands. Unless I redeem them by All Saints Day I shall
lose them all.

_Robin Hood._ What is the sum you are bound to pay?

_The Knight._ Fo