s, branded, fettered, lame,
Distorted, horrible; and they will weep
Great tears like gouts of blood upon our feet,
And we shall succour them and make them think
(That's if you have not mangled their poor souls
As well, or burned their children with their homes),
We'll try to make them think that some few roods
Of earth are not so bitter as hell might be.
Are you not glad to think of this? Nay--go--
Or else your face will haunt me when I die!
Take him quickly away. The next! The next!
O God!

[_Flings up his arms and falls fainting._]

MARIAN

[_Bending over him._]

O Robin! Robin! Help him quickly.
The wound! The wound!

[_They gather round ROBIN. The OUTLAWS come back with the
captive FORESTER, his pack upon his back._]

FRIAR TUCK

[_To the FORESTER._]

Now, get you gone and quickly!
What, what hath happened?

[_FRIAR TUCK and the OUTLAWS join the throng round ROBIN. The
FORESTER shakes his fist at them and goes across the glade
muttering. The MESSENGER from Kirklee Priory comes out of the
forest at the same moment and speaks to him, not knowing of his
dismissal._]

MESSENGER

All's well! Robin can come
To Kirklee. Our old friend the Prioress
Is there, and faithful! They've all balms and simples
To heal a wound.

FORESTER

[_Staring at him._]

To Kirklee?

MESSENGER

Yes, at sunset,
We'll take him to the borders of the wood
All will be safe.
Where he can steal in easily, alone.

FORESTER

The King's men are at hand!

MESSENGER

Oh, but if we can leave him there, all's safe;
We'll dodge the King's men.

FORESTER

When is he to go?

MESSENGER

Almost at once; but he must not steal in
Till sundown, when the nuns are all in chapel.
How now? What's this? What's this?

[_He goes across to the throng round ROBIN._]

FORESTER

[_Looking after him._]

Alone, to Kirklee!

[_Exit._]

SCENE II. _A room in Kirklee Priory. A window on the right overlooks a
cloister leading up to the chapel door. The forest is seen in the
distance, the sun beginning to set behind it. The PRIORESS and a NOVICE
are sit