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m 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 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 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！〃
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 please you。 None shall laugh in my company； though it be at my expense； but I will have my share of the merriment。 The world is a stage； and life is a farce； and he that laughs most has most profit of the performance。 The worst thing is good enough to be laughed at； though it be good for nothing else； and the best thing； though it be good for something else； is good for nothing better。〃
And he struck up a song in praise of laughing and quaffing； without further adverting to Marian's insinuated accusation； being； perhaps； of opinion； that it was a subject on which the least said would be the soonest mended。
So passed the night。 In the morning a forester came to the friar； with intelligence that Prince John had been compelled； by the urgency of his affairs in other quarters； to disembarrass Nottingham Castle of his royal presence。 Our wanderers returned joyfully to their forest…dominion； being thus relieved from the vicinity of any more formidable belligerent than their old bruised and beaten enemy the sheriff of Nottingham。
CHAPTER XVII
Oh！ this life Is nobler than attending for a check； Richer than doing nothing for a bribe Prouder than rustling in unpaid…for silk。Cymbeline。
So Robin and Marian dwelt and reigned in the forest； ranging the glades and the greenwoods from the matins of the lark to the vespers of the nightingale； and administering natural justice according to Robin's ideas of rectifying the inequalities of human condition： raising genial dews from the bags of the rich and idle； and returning them in fertilising showers on the poor and industrious： an operation which more enlightened statesmen have happily reversed； to the unspeakable benefit of the community at large。 The light footsteps of Marian were impressed on the morning dew beside the firmer step of her lover； and they shook its large drops about them as they cleared themselves a passage through the thick tall fern； without any fear of catching cold； which was not much in fashion in the twelfth century。 Robin was as hospitable as Cathmor； for seven men stood on seven paths to call the stranger to his feast。 It is true； he superadded the small improvement of making the stranger pay for it： than which what could be more generous？ For Cathmor was himself the prime giver of his feast； whereas Robin was only the agent to a series of strangers； who provided in turn for the entertainment of their successors； which is carrying the disinterestedness of hospitality to its acme。 Marian often killed the deer；
Which Scarlet dressed； and Friar Tuck blessed While Little John wandered in search of a guest。
Robin was very devout； though there was great unity in his religion： it was exclusively given to our Lady the Virgin； and he never set forth in a morning till he had said three prayers； and had heard the sweet voice of his Marian singing a hymn to their mutual patroness。 Each of his men had； as usual； a patron saint according to his name or taste。 The friar chose a saint for