In the fourth edition of the publication above referred to, which appeared in July 1795, it is acknowleged that “some liberties were, by the editor, taken with this ballad, which in this edition hath been brought nearer to the folio MS.” The new readings have therefore been introduced into the present text.
Whan shaws beene sheene, and shraddes[271] full fayre, And leaves both large and longe, Itt’s merrye walkyng in the fayre forrèst To heare the small birdes songe.
The woodweele sang, and wold not cease, Sitting upon the spraye, Soe lowde, he wakened Robin Hood, In the greenwood where he lay.
Now, by my faye, sayd jollye Robìn, A sweaven I had this night ; I dreamt me of tow wighty yemèn, That fast with me can fight. { 116}
Methought they did me beate and binde, And tooke my bowe me froe ; Iff I be Robin alive in this lande, Ile be wroken on them towe.
Sweavens are swift, master, quoth John, As the wind that blowes ore a hill ; For iff itt be never so loude this night, To-morrow it may be still.
“Buske yee, bowne yee, my merry men all, And John shall goe with mee, For Ile goe seeke yond wighty yeomèn, In greenwood where they bee.”
Then they cast on theyr gownes of grene, And tooke theyr bowes each one ; And they away to the greene forrèst A shooting forth are gone ;
Untill they came to the merry greenwood, Where they had gladdest to bee, There they were ware of a wight yeomàn, His body leaned to a tree.
A sword and a dagger he wore by his side, Of manye a man the bane ; And he was clad in his capull hyde, Topp and tayll and mayne. { 117}
Stand you still, master, quoth Little John, Under this tree so grene, And I will go to yond wight yeomàn, To know what he doth meane.
“Ah ! John, by me thou settest noe store, And that I farley finde : How offt send I my men before, And tarry my selfe behinde ?
It is no cunning a knave to ken, And a man but heare him speake ; And it were not for bursting of my bowe, John, I thy head wold breake.”
As often wordes they breeden bale, So they parted Robin and John : And John is gone to Barnesdale ; The gates he knoweth eche one.
But when he came to Barnesdale, Great heavinesse there he hadd, For he found tow of his own fellòwes, Were slaine both in a slade.