you do us wrong.

MARIAN

I will do what you will. Lead, lead your dance.

[_Exeunt JOHN and MARIAN._]

FIRST MASKER

[_To a lady, as they come up from the garden._]

Will you not let me see your face now, sweet?

LADY

You hurt my lip with that last kiss of yours.
Hush, do not lean your face so close, I pray you;
Loosen my fingers. There's my lord.

FIRST MASKER

Where? Where?
Now, if I know him, I shall know your name!

LADY

That tall man with the damozel in red.

FIRST MASKER

Oh, never fear him. He, too, wore a mask!
I saw them--

[_They pass out talking._]

SECOND MASKER

[_Looking after them._]

Saw you those two turtle-doves!

SECOND LADY

Yes.

SECOND MASKER

Come with me, I'll show you where I caught them
Among the roses, half an hour ago.

[_They laugh and exeunt into the gardens. The music swells up
and more dancers appear._]

[_Enter ROBIN HOOD, still in his forester's garb, but wearing a
mask. He walks as if wounded and in pain. He
sits down in the shadow of a pillar watching, and
partly concealed from the throng._]

THIRD LADY

Remember now to say you did not see me
Here at the masque.

THIRD MASKER

Or shall I say that I
Was out in Palestine?

[_They pass. Enter little ARTHUR PLANTAGENET. He comes
up to ROBIN HOOD._]

ARTHUR

Are you not Robin Hood?

ROBIN

Hush, Arthur. Don't you see I wear a mask
Like all the rest to-night?

ARTHUR

Why do they wear
Masks?

ROBIN

They must always wear some sort of mask
At court. Sometimes they wear them all their lives.

ARTHUR

You are jesting, Robin. Now I wanted you
To tell me tales of Sherwood. Tell me how
You saved Will Scarlet.

ROBIN

Why, I've told you that
A score of times.

ARTHUR

I know, I want to hear it
Again. Well, tell me of that afternoon
When Lion-Heart came home from the Crusade.
I have often thought of that. It must have been
Splendid! You weren't expecting it at all?

ROBIN

No, not at all; but, Arthur, tell me first
Have you seen L