bot. I am come to keep my day.

_The Abbot._ What dost thou say? Hast brought the money?

_The Knight_ (_to try the Abbot_). Not a penny, but--

_The Abbot._ What dost thou here without the money?

_The Knight._ To ask your kindness and patience, Sir Abbot, for a longer
time.

_Lord Justice._ The day has come. Thou losest thy land, Sir Knight,
since thou canst not pay.

_The Knight._ Good Lord Justice, help me against my foes! I will surely
pay, but must have more time.

_Lord Justice._ I am sorry for thee, Sir Richard, but the law is plain.
Either pay your debt or lose your land.

_The Knight._ Sir Abbot, I pray thee, have pity.

_The Abbot._ Get the land when thou canst, thou gettest no pity from me.

_The Knight._ By my faith, then, if I get not my land again, thou shalt
pay dearly for it.

_The Abbot._ Get thee gone, false knight! Darest thou threaten me?

_The Knight._ False knight I am not, for I have fought well for my king.

_Lord Justice._ Sir Abbot, the day is not yet gone. What wilt thou give
the knight to hold his peace?

_The Abbot._ A hundred pounds.

_Lord Justice._ Make it two hundred.

_The Knight._ No, nor nine hundred. Ye shall not have my land! Here, Sir
Abbot, are the four hundred pounds. Had you been less covetous, I would
have given interest. Now, get you gone, all of you; and learn to deal
more justly and kindly with those in need. [_They go out._]

_Lady Lea_ (_entering_). Oh, my dear husband! how glad I am to hear your
voice again.

_The Knight._ Happy am I to see you and to be at home again. I must tell
you how kind Robin Hood has been to me.

_Lady Lea._ Robin Hood your friend? Is he not the outlaw of the forest?

_The Knight._ Yes; but he is kind to all who are unhappy or oppressed.
He saved me from leaving England and gave me money to redeem my land.

_Lady Lea._ How I long to thank him for his goodness to you.

_The Knight._ In a year we will go to him and repay the four hundred
pounds.

_Lady Lea._ I shall be glad to see him and his merry men, and try to
thank them all.

WILLIAM TELL

A STORY OF SWITZERLAND. A.D. 1307

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--WILLIAM TELL; LEWIS, HIS SON; ALBERT, HIS SON;
ANNETTE, HIS WIFE; LALOTTE, HIS NIECE, GESSLER, SOLDIERS

SCENE I.--_At Tell's Home_

_Albert._ Lewis, doesn't the quail smell good?

_Lewis._ Yes, I wish I could have some of it!

_Lalotte._ Hush! the quail is for your father.

_Albert._ I know that, Lalotte;