The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood"No archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning as his, nor were there ever such yeomen as the sevenscore merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades. Right merrily they dwelt within the depths of Sherwood Forest, suffering neither care nor want, but passing the time in merry games of archery or bouts of cudgel play, living upon the King's venison, washed down with draughts of ale of October brewing. "Not only Robin himself but all the band were outlaws and dwelt apart from other men, yet they were beloved by the country people round about, for no one ever came to Jolly Robin for help in time of need and went away again with an empty fist." Pyle takes the reader along with Robin Hood and his band on their merry adventures. They tell of Little John, Will Scarlet, and Allan a Dale, and how they came to join the band; how Robin Hood escaped the arrows of the grim Sheriff of Nottingham, and later revenged himself; what happened at the court of the gentle Queen Eleanor. The tales go on to tell of Little John as a barefoot friar, and Robin Hood as a beggar; the chase by the quick-tempered Henry II; a visit from the good King Richard of the Lion's Heart; and all the other exploits of Robin Hood and his band. This is the best version of the classic stories and the only edition that reproduces both the original (1883) Pyle text and the famous Pyle illustrations in their entirety, including the page decorations. A favorite for generations, it will be welcomed again by parents and children alike in this sturdy paperback edition. Unabridged and unaltered republication of the 1st (1883) edition. |
Contents
PART FIRST | 13 |
The ShootingMatch at Nottingham Town | 25 |
Will Stutely rescued by his Good Companions | 34 |
PART SECOND | 47 |
Little John goes to the Fair at Nottingham Town | 57 |
How Little John lived at the Sheriffs House | 65 |
PART THIRD | 79 |
Robin Hood and Will Scarlet | 88 |
Robin Hood compasseth the Marriage of Two True Lovers | 143 |
PART FIFTH | 157 |
How Sir Richard of the Lea paid his Debts to Emmet | 171 |
PART SIXTH | 187 |
Robin Hood turns Beggar | 200 |
PART SEVENTH | 219 |
The Chase of Robin Hood | 235 |
PART EIGHTH | 255 |
The Merry Adventure with Midge the Miller | 98 |
PART FOURTH | 115 |
Robin seeketh the Curtal Friar of the Fountain | 128 |
King Richard cometh to Sherwood Forest | 270 |
EPILOGUE | 289 |
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Common terms and phrases
Allan a Dale archers arrow art thou Arthur a Bland band Beggar beneath Bishop of Hereford blow Blue Boar brother clothes cometh cried Robin David of Doncaster didst dost thou doth eyes fair feast Fountain Abbey Friar Tuck Guy of Gisbourne hand hath head heart holy horse King Richard King's knave Knight lass laughed leaped looked Marry master merry Robin methinks never nigh Nottingham Town Nottinghamshire prythee quarterstaff Queen quoth Little John quoth Robin Richard Partington road Robin Hood Saint Saint Dunstan Scarlet shaft Sheriff of Nottingham Sherwood Forest shoot shot shouted sing Sir Richard song spake stood straightway stranger Stutely sweet sword tell thee thine thou art thou dost thou hast thou wilt Tinker tree Truly turned voice whilst wilt thou woodlands words yeomen young
Popular passages
Page 4 - Ye said I was no archer," cried he aloud, "but say so now again!" The shaft flew straight; the archer fell forward with a cry, and lay on his face upon the ground, his arrows rattling about him from out of his quiver, the gray goose shaft wet with his heart's blood. Then, before the others could gather their wits about them, Robin Hood was gone into the depths of the greenwood. Some started after him, but not with much heart, for each feared to suffer the death of his fellow; so presently they all...
Page 3 - Then Robin took his good yew bow in his hand, and placing the tip at his instep, he strung it right deftly; then he nocked a broad clothyard arrow, and, raising the bow, drew the gray goose-feather to his ear: the next moment the bowstring rang and the arrow sped down the glade as a sparrowhawk skims in a northern wind. High leaped the noblest hart of all the herd, only to fall dead, reddening the green path with his heart's blood. "Ha!
Page vii - You who plod so amid serious things that you feel it shame to give yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness in the land of Fancy ; you who think that life hath nought to do with innocent laughter that can harm no one; these pages are not for you. Clap to the leaves and go no farther than this, for I tell you plainly that if you go farther you will be scandalized by seeing good, sober folks of real history so frisk and caper in gay colors and motley, that you would not know...
Page 1 - Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham Town, a famous outlaw whose name was Robin Hood. No archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning as his nor were there ever such yeomen as the seven-score merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades. Right merrily they dwelt within the depths of Sherwood Forest, suffering neither care nor want.
Page 1 - No archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning as his, nor were there ever such yeomen as the sevenscore merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades. Right merrily they dwelt within the depths of Sherwood Forest, suffering neither care nor want, but passing the time in merry games of archery or bouts of cudgel play, living upon the King's venison, washed down with draughts of ale of October brewing. Not only Robin himself but all the band were...
Page 3 - I'll baste thy sides until thou wilt ne'er be able to walk again." "Knowest thou not," said another, "that thou hast killed the King's deer, and, by the laws of our gracious lord and sovereign, King Harry, thine ears should be shaven close to thy head?" "Catch him!" cried a third. "Nay," said a fourth, "let him e'en go because of his tender years." Never a word said Robin Hood, but he looked at the foresters with a grim face; then, turning on his heel, strode away from them down the forest glade....
Page 7 - Give me thy hand," cried he, when he had reached the bank. "I must needs own thou art a brave and a sturdy soul, and, withal, a good stout stroke with the cudgels. By this and by that, my head hummeth like to a hive of bees on a hot June day." Then he clapped his horn to his lips, and winded a blast that went echoing sweetly down the forest paths. "Ay, marry...
Page 2 - Then one who held a horn of ale in his hand, said, "Ho! listen to the lad! Why, boy, thy mother's milk is yet scarce dry upon thy lips, and yet thou pratest of standing up with good stout men at Nottingham butts, thou who art scarce able to draw one string of a two stone bow." "I'll hold the best of you twenty marks," quoth bold Robin, "that I hit the clout at threescore yards, by the good help of Our Lady fair.