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might discuss to them poetical justice： and therefore have I cracked thy
sconce： for which； let this be thy medicine。〃
〃But wherefore；〃 said Marian； 〃do we find you here； when we left you
joint lord warden of Sherwood？〃
〃I do but retire to my devotions；〃 replied the friar。 〃This is my
hermitage； in which I first took refuge when I escaped from my beloved
brethren of Rubygill； and to which I still retreat at times from the vanities
of the world； which else might cling to me too closely； since I have been
promoted to be peer…spiritual of your forest…court。 For； indeed； I do find in
myself certain indications and admonitions that my day has past its noon；
and none more cogent than this： that daily of bad wine I grow more
intolerant； and of good wine have a keener and more fastidious relish。
There is no surer symptom of receding years。 The ferryman is my
faithful varlet。 I send him on some pious errand； that I may meditate in
ghostly privacy； when my presence in the forest can best be spared： and
when can it be better spared than now； seeing that the neighbourhood of
Prince John； and his incessant perquisitions for Marian； have made the
forest too hot to hold more of us than are needful to keep up a quorum；
and preserve unbroken the continuity of our forest…dominion？ For； in truth；
without your greenwood majesties； we have hardly the wit to live in a
body； and at the same time to keep our necks out of jeopardy； while that
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arch…rebel and traitor John infests the precincts of our territory。〃
The friar now conducted them to his peaceful cell； where he spread his
frugal board with fish； venison； wild…fowl； fruit； and canary。 Under the
compound operation of this materia medica Robin's wounds healed apace；
and the friar； who hated minstrelsy； began as usual chirping in his cups。
Robin and Marian chimed in with his tuneful humour till the midnight
moon peeped in upon their revelry。
It was now the very witching time of night； when they heard a voice
shouting； 〃Over！〃 They paused to listen； and the voice repeated 〃Over！〃
in accents clear and loud； but which at the same time either were in
themselves； or seemed to be； from the place and the hour； singularly
plaintive and dreary。 The friar fidgetted about in his seat： fell into a deep
musing： shook himself； and looked about him： first at Marian； then at
Robin； then at Marian again； filled and tossed off a cup of canary； and
relapsed into his reverie。
〃Will you not bring your passenger over？〃 said Robin。 The friar
shook his head and looked mysterious。
〃That passenger；〃 said the friar； 〃will never come over。 Every full
moon； at midnight； that voice calls； 'Over！' I and my varlet have more than
once obeyed the summons； and we have sometimes had a glimpse of a
white figure under the opposite trees： but when the boat has touched the
bank； nothing has been to be seen； and the voice has been heard no more
till the midnight of the next full moon。〃
〃It is very strange；〃 said Robin。
〃Wondrous strange；〃 said the friar； looking solemn。
The voice again called 〃Over！〃 in a long plaintive musical cry。
〃I must go to it；〃 said the friar； 〃or it will give us no peace。 I would all
my customers were of this world。 I begin to think that I am Charon； and
that this river is Styx。〃
〃I will go with you； friar；〃 said Robin。
〃By my flask；〃 said the friar； 〃but you shall not。〃
〃Then I will；〃 said Marian。
〃Still less；〃 said the friar； hurrying out of the cell。 Robin and Marian
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followed： but the friar outstepped them； and pushed off his boat。 A
white figure was visible under the shade of the opposite trees。 The boat
approached the shore； and the figure glided away。 The friar returned。
They re…entered the cottage； and sat some time conversing on the
phenomenon they had seen。 The friar sipped his wine； and after a time；
said：
〃There is a tradition of a damsel who was drowned here some years
ago。 The tradition is〃
But the friar could not narrate a plain tale： he therefore cleared his
throat； and sang with due solemnity； in a ghostly voice：
A damsel came in midnight rain； And called across the ferry：
The weary wight she called in vain； Whose senses sleep did bury。
At evening； from her father's door She turned to meet her lover：
At midnight； on the lonely shore； She shouted 〃Over； over！〃
She had not met him by the tree Of their accustomed meeting；
And sad and sick at heart was she； Her heart all wildly beating。 In
chill suspense the hours went by； The wild storm burst above her：
She turned her to the river nigh； And shouted； 〃Over； over！〃
A dim； discoloured； doubtful light The moon's dark veil
permitted； And thick before her troubled sight Fantastic shadows
flitted。 Her lover's form appeared to glide； And beckon o'er the
water： Alas！ his blood that morn had dyed Her brother's sword
with slaughter。
Upon a little rock she stood； To make her invocation： She
marked not that the rain…swoll'n flood Was islanding her station。
The tempest mocked her feeble cry： No saint his aid would give her：
The flood swelled high and yet more high； And swept her down the
river。
Yet oft beneath the pale moonlight； When hollow winds are
blowing； The shadow of that maiden bright Glides by the dark
stream's flowing。 And when the storms of midnight rave； While
clouds the broad moon cover； The wild gusts waft across the wave
The cry of； 〃Over； over！〃
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While the friar was singing； Marian was meditating： and when he had
ended she said； 〃Honest friar； you have misplaced your tradition； which
belongs to the aestuary of a nobler river； where the damsel was swept
away by the rising of the tide； for which your land…flood is an indifferent
substitute。 But the true tradition of this stream I think I myself possess；
and I will narrate it in your own way：
It was a friar of orders free； A friar of Rubygill： At the
greenwood…tree a vow made he； But he kept it very ill： A vow made he
of chastity； But he kept it very ill。 He kept it； perchance； in the
conscious shade Of the bounds of the forest wherein it was made： But
he roamed where he listed； as free as the wind； And he left his good vow
in the forest behind： For its woods out of sight were his vow out of mind；
With the friar of Rubygill。
In lonely hut himself he shut； The friar of Rubygill； Where the
ghostly elf absolved himself； To follow his own good will： And he had
no lack of canary sack； To keep his conscience still。 And a damsel well
knew； when at lonely midnight It gleamed on the waters； his signal…
lamp…light： 〃Over！ over！〃 she warbled with nightingale throat； And the
friar sprung forth at the magical note； And she crossed the dark stream in
his trim ferryboat； With the friar of Rubygill。
〃Look you now；〃 said Robin； 〃if the friar does not blush。 Many
strange sights have I seen in my day； but never till this moment did I see a
blushing friar。〃
〃I think；〃 said the friar； 〃you never saw one that blushed not； or you
saw good canary thrown away。 But you are welcome to laugh if it so