Prince John Hath trapped and taken Robin.
Is not Richard King of this England? Did not Richard tempt Robin, for Marian's sake, to leave the forest? Did he not swear upon the Holy Cross That Robin should be Earl of Huntingdon And hold his lands in safety?
Only fear Of Richard held the wicked Prince in leash. But Richard roamed abroad again. Prince John Would murder Robin secretly.
Wise men Fight too much for these holy sepulchres! Are not the living images of God Better than empty graves?
One grave is filled Now; for our fairy couriers have brought Tidings that Richard Lion-Heart is dead.
Dead! In a few brief hours the news will reach The wicked Prince. He will be King of England, With Marian in his power!
We cannot break our fairy vows of silence. A mortal, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, can break those vows, But only on pain of death.
Oberon, I, Shadow-of-a-Leaf, the fool, must break my vows! I must save Robin Hood that he may save Marian from worse than death.
Shadow-of-a-Leaf, Think what death means to you, never to join Our happy sports again, never to see The moonlight streaming through these ancient oaks Again, never to pass the fairy gates Again. We cannot help it. They will close Like iron in your face, and you will hear Our happy songs within; but you will lie Alone, without, dying, and never a word To comfort you, no hand to touch your brow.
So be it. I shall see them entering in! The time is brief. Quick, tell me, where is Robin? Quick, or the news that makes Prince John a king Will ruin all.
Robin is even now Thrust in the great dark tower beyond the wood, The topmost cell where foot can never climb.
Cannot an arrow reach it? Ay, be swift; Come, lead me thither.
I cannot disobey The word that kills the seed to raise the wheat, The word that--Shadow-of-a-Leaf, I think I know Now, why great kings ride out to the Crusade.
[_Exeunt OBERON and SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF. PUCK remains staring after them, then vanishes with a sob, between the trees. LITTLE JOHN and SCARLET appear once more at the mouth of the cave._]
'Twas only Shadow-of-a-Leaf again. He talks For hours among the ferns, plays with the flowers, And whispers to the mice, perfectly happy!
I cannot rest for thinking that some harm Hath chanced to Robin. Call him yet once more.