LITMIR.BIZ

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the blow that Little John struck the other, so he came running across the court and up the stairway to where the Steward's pantry was, bearing in his hands the spit with the roast still upon it. Meanwhile the Steward had gathered his wits about him and risen to his feet, so that when the Cook came to the Steward's pantry he saw him glowering through the broken door at Little John, who was making ready for a good repast, as one dog glowers at another that has a bone. When the Steward saw the Cook, he came to him, and, putting one arm over his shoulder, "Alas, sweet friend!" quoth he — for the Cook was a tall, stout man — "seest thou what that vile knave Reynold Greenleaf hath done? He hath broken in upon our master's goods, and hath smitten me a buffet upon the ear, so that I thought I was dead. Good Cook, I love thee well, and thou shalt have a good pottle of our master's best wine every day, for thou art an old and faithful servant. Also, good Cook, I have ten shillings that I mean to give as a gift to thee. But hatest thou not to see a vile upstart like this Reynold Greenleaf taking it upon him so bravely?"

      "Ay, marry, that do I," quoth the Cook boldly, for he liked the Steward because of his talk of the wine and of the ten shillings. "Get thee gone straightway to thy room, and I will bring out this knave by his ears." So saying, he laid aside his spit and drew the sword that hung by his side; whereupon the Steward left as quickly as he could, for he hated the sight of naked steel.

      Then the Cook walked straightway to the broken pantry door, through which he saw Little John tucking a napkin beneath his chin and preparing to make himself merry.

      "Why, how now, Reynold Greenleaf?" said the Cook, "thou art no better than a thief, I wot. Come thou straight forth, man, or I will carve thee as I would carve a sucking pig."

      "Nay, good Cook, bear thou thyself more seemingly, or else I will come forth to thy dole. At most times I am as a yearling lamb, but when one cometh between me and my meat, I am a raging lion, as it were."

      "Lion or no lion," quoth the valorous Cook, "come thou straight forth, else thou art a coward heart as well as a knavish thief."

      "Ha!" cried Little John, "coward's name have I never had; so, look to thyself, good Cook, for I come forth straight, the roaring lion I did speak of but now."

      Then he, too, drew his sword and came out of the pantry; then, putting themselves into position, they came slowly together, with grim and angry looks; but suddenly Little John lowered his point. "Hold, good Cook!" said he. "Now, I bethink me it were ill of us to fight with good victuals standing so nigh, and such a feast as would befit two stout fellows such as we are. Marry, good friend, I think we should enjoy this fair feast ere we fight. What sayest thou, jolly Cook?"

      At this speech the Cook looked up and down, scratching his head in doubt, for he loved good feasting. At last he drew a long breath and said to Little John, "Well, good friend, I like thy plan right well; so, pretty boy, say I, let us feast, with all my heart, for one of us may sup in Paradise before nightfall."

      So each thrust his sword back into the scabbard and entered the pantry. Then, after they had seated themselves, Little John drew his dagger and thrust it into the pie. "A hungry man must be fed," quoth he, "so, sweet chuck, I help myself without leave." But the Cook did not lag far behind, for straightway his hands also were deeply thrust within the goodly pasty. After this, neither of them spoke further, but used their teeth to better purpose. But though neither spoke, they looked at one another, each thinking within himself that he had never seen a more lusty fellow than the one across the board.

      At last, after a long time had passed, the Cook drew a full, deep breath, as though of much regret, and wiped his hands upon the napkin, for he could eat no more. Little John, also, had enough, for he pushed the pasty aside, as though he would say, "I want thee by me no more, good friend." Then he took the pottle of sack, and said he, "Now, good fellow, I swear by all that is bright, that thou art the stoutest companion at eating that ever I had. Lo! I drink thy health." So saying, he clapped the flask to his lips and cast his eyes aloft, while the good wine flooded his throat. Then he passed the pottle to the Cook, who also said, "Lo, I drink thy health, sweet fellow!" Nor was he behind Little John in drinking any more than in eating.

      "Now," quoth Little John, "thy voice is right round and sweet, jolly lad. I doubt not thou canst sing a ballad most blithely; canst thou not?"

      "Truly, I have trolled one now and then," quoth the Cook, "yet I would not sing alone."

      "Nay, truly," said Little John, "that were but ill courtesy. Strike up thy ditty, and I will afterward sing one to match it, if I can.

      "So be it, pretty boy," quoth the Cook. "And hast thou e'er heard the song of the Deserted Shepherdess?"

      "Truly, I know not," answered Little John, "but sing thou and let me hear."

      Then the Cook took another draught from the pottle, and, clearing his throat, sang right sweetly:

      THE SONG OF THE DESERTED SHEPHERDESS

       "In Lententime, when leaves wax green,

       And pretty birds begin to mate,

       When lark cloth sing, and thrush, I ween,

       And stockdove cooeth soon and late,

       Fair Phillis sat beside a stone,

       And thus I heard her make her moan:

       'O willow, willow, willow, willow!

       I'll take me of thy branches fair

       And twine a wreath to deck my hair.

       "'The thrush hath taken him a she,

       The robin, too, and eke the dove;

       My Robin hath deserted me,

       And left me for another love.

       So here, by brookside, all alone,

       I sit me down and make my moan.

       O willow, willow, willow, willow!

       I'll take me of thy branches fair

       And twine a wreath to deck my hair.'

       "But ne'er came herring from the sea,

       But good as he were in the tide;

       Young Corydon came o'er the lea,

       And sat him Phillis down beside.

       So, presently, she changed her tone,

       And 'gan to cease her from her moan,

       'O willow, willow, willow, willow!

       Thou mayst e'en keep thy garlands fair,

       I want them not to deck my hair.'"

      "Now, by my faith," cried Little John, "that same is a right good song, and hath truth in it, also."

      "Glad am I thou likest it, sweet lad," said the Cook. "Now sing thou one also, for ne'er should a man be merry alone, or sing and list not."

      "Then I will sing thee a song of a right good knight of Arthur's court, and how he cured his heart's wound without running upon the dart again, as did thy Phillis; for I wot she did but cure one smart by giving herself another. So, list thou while I sing:"

      THE GOOD KNIGHT AND HIS LOVE

       "When Arthur, King, did rule this land,

       A goodly king was he,

       And had he of stout knights a band

       Of merry company.

       "Among them all, both great and small,

       A good stout knight was there,

       A lusty childe, and eke a tall,

       That loved a lady fair.

       "But nought would she to do with he,

       But turned her face away;

       So gat he gone to far countrye,

       And left that lady gay.

       "There all alone he made his moan,

       And eke did sob and sigh,

       And

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