r work, for he was excellent in everything. One night he came to a
farmer's house, where there was a good handsome maid: this maid having much
work to do, Robin one night did help her, and in six hours did bolt more
than she could have done in twelve hours. The maid wondered the next day
how her work came, and to know the doer, she watched the next night that
did follow. About twelve of the clock in came Robin, and fell to breaking
of hemp, and for to delight himself he sung this mad song.

And can the physician make sick men well?
And can the magician a fortune divine?
Without lily, germander and sops-in-wine?
With sweet-brier
And bon-fire,
And strawberry wire,
And columbine.

Within and out, in and out, round as a ball,
With hither and thither, as straight as a line,
With lily, germander and sops-in-wine.
With sweet-brier,
And bon-fire,
And strawberry wire,
And columbine.

When Saturn did live, there lived no poor,
The king and the beggar with roots did dine,
With lily, germander and sops-in-wine.
With sweet-brier,
And bon-fire,
And strawberry wire,
And columbine.

The maid, seeing him bare in clothes, pitied him, and against the next
night provided him a waistcoat. Robin, coming the next night to work, as he
did before, espied the waistcoat, whereat he started and said--

Because thou lay'st me, himpen, hampen,[6]
I will neither bolt nor stampen;
'Tis not your garments new or old
That Robin loves: I feel no cold.
Had you left me milk or cream,
You should have had a pleasing dream:
Because you left no drop or crumb,
Robin never more will come.

So went he away laughing, _ho, ho, hoh!_ The maid was much grieved and
discontented at his anger: for ever after she was fain to do her work
herself without the help of Robin Good-fellow.

HOW ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW LED A COMPANY OF FELLOWS OUT OF THEIR WAY

A company of young men having been making merry with their sweethearts,
were at their coming home to come over a heath. Robin Good-fellow, knowing
of it, met them, and to make some pastime, he led them up and down the
heath a whole night, so that they could not get out of it; for he went
before them in the shape of a walking fire, which they all saw and followed
till the day did appear: then Robin left them, and