Oh, Maid Marian was a comely lass
Her cheeks as red as a rose
Her hair as gold as the noonday sun
And eyes that fairly glowed.
And Robin was a sprightly lad
as handsome as the day
he could draw a bow with the best of them
and was always merry and gay.
Their hearts were young in the springing time
When Robin wooed the lass
But though the happiness was fair and grand
It wasn't due to last.
For Robin was caught by the forester's men
And took the name of Hood.
And Marian, being gently born,
Could not live in the wood.
But oft did she cry alone
For the fair Robin and the spring
And ever after was sorrowing much
With no interest in anything.
But after much a year had past
Her purpose she resolved
And dressed as her father's lowly page
And journeyed to the greensward.
Dressed as a nobleman's lowly page
Through the wood walked Marian bold
For she loved fair robin oftly much
Far better then all her gold.
Robin also walked in the greenwood fair
And thought of Marian long;
for he loved her awefully much
but heard of her only in songs.
And so they met in the greenwood fair
And neither knew the other;
For Robin was wearing his famous hood
And Marian was dressed like another.
They each of them drew their swords;
For they took the other as foe;
And without speaking a word to the other
They swiftly came to blows.
But when neither had yet received a wound
Robin cried "stay your hand!
for you fight fair; and the men of Robin Hood
have need for you to join their band."
Then Marian with joy flung away her disguise
And to Robin she made herself known;
And the happiest meeting that ever there was;
Took place in that forested home.
And now to Barnsdale they come for a while;
And happily feast without care;
But
I, a poor ministrel, without a stray bite!
can only sing of their
fare.