A low narrow door in the background, small barred window on the left._
PRINCE JOHN
[_To the Mercenaries._]
Leave us a moment. I have private matters
To lay before this friend of all the poor.
You may begin to build the door up now,
So that you do not wall me in with him.
[_The two men begin filling up the doorway with rude blocks of
masonry._]
So now, my good green foot-pad, you are trapped
At last, trapped in the practice of your trade!
Trapped, as you took your stolen Norman gold
To what was it--a widow, or Saxon serf
With eye put out for breaking forest laws?
You hold with them, it seems. Your dainty soul
Sickens at our gross penalties; and so
We'll not inflict them on your noble self,
Although we have the power. There's not a soul
Can ever tell where Robin Hood is gone.
These walls will never echo it.
[_He taps the wall with his sword._]
And yet
There surely must be finer ways to torture
So fine a soul as yours. Was it not you
Who gave me like a fairing to my brother
With lofty condescension in your eyes;
And shall I call my mercenaries in
And bid them burn your eyes out with hot irons?
Richard is gone--he'll never hear of it!
An Earl that plays the robber disappears,
That's all. Most like he died in some low scuffle
Out in the greenwood. I am half inclined
To call for red-hot irons after all,
So that your sympathy with Saxon churls
May be more deep, you understand; and then
It would be sweet for you, alone and blind,
To know that you could never in this life
See Marian's face again. But no--that's bad.
Bad art to put hope's eyes out. It destroys
Half a man's fear to rob him of his hope.
No; you shall drink the dregs of it. Hope shall die
More exquisite a death. Robin, my friend,
You understand that, when I quit your presence,
This bare blank cell becomes your living tomb.
Do you not comprehend? It's none so hard.
The doorway will be built up. There will be
No door, you understand, but just a wall,
Some six feet thick, of solid masonry.
Nobody will disturb you, even to bring
Water or food. You'll starve--see--like a rat,
Bricked up and buried. But you'll have time to think
Of how I tread a measure at the masque
To-night, with Marian, while her wide eyes wonder
Where Robin is--and old Fitzwalter smiles
And bids his girl be gracious to the Prince
For his land's sake. Ah, ha! you wince at that!
Will you not speak a word before I go?
Speak, damn you!
[_He strikes ROBIN across the face with his glove. ROBIN remains
silent._]
Six days hence, if you keep watch
At yonder window (you'll be hungry then)
You may catch sight of Marian and Prince John
Wandering into the gardens down below.
You will be hungry then; perhaps you'll strive
To call to us, or stretch a meagre arm
Through those strong bars; but then you know the height
Is very great--no voice can reach to the earth:
This is the topmost cell in my Dark Tower.
Men look like ants below there. I shall say
To Marian, See that creature waving there
High up above us, level with the clouds,
Is it not like a winter-shrivelled fly?
And she will laugh; and I will pluck her roses.
And then--and then--there are a hundred ways,
You know, to touch a woman's blood with thoughts
Beyond its lawful limits. Ha! ha! ha!
By God, you almost spoke to me, I think.
Touches at twilight, whispers in the dark,
Sweet sympathetic murmurs o'er the loss
Of her so thoughtless Robin, do you think
Maid Marian will be quite so hard to win
When princes come to woo? There will be none
To interrupt us then. Time will be mine
To practise all the amorous arts of Ovid,
And, at the last--
ROBIN
Will you not free my hands?
You have your sword. But I would like to fight you
Here, with my naked hands. I want no more.
PRINCE JOHN
Ha! ha! At last the sullen speaks.
That's all
I wanted. I have struck you in the face.
Is't not enough? You can't repay that blow.
ROBIN
Bury, me down in hell and I'll repay it
The day you die, across your lying mouth
That spoke of my true lady, I will repay it,
Before the face of God!
PRINCE JOHN
[_Laughing._]
Meanwhile, for me
Till you repay that blow, there is the mouth
Of Marian, the sweet honey-making mouth
That shall forestall your phantom blow with balm.
Oh, you'll go mad too soon if I delay.
I am glad you spoke. Farewell, the masons wait.
And I must not be late for Marian.
[_Exit thro' the small aperture now left in the doorway. It
is rapidly closed and sounds of heavy masonry being
piled against it are heard. ROBIN tries to free his
hands and after an effort, succeeds. He hurls himself
against the doorway, and finds it hopeless. He
turns to the window, peers through it for a moment, then
suddenly unwinds a scarf from his neck, ties it to one
of the bars and stands to one side._]
ROBIN
Too high a shot for most of my good bowmen!
What's that? A miss?
[_He looks thro' the window._]
Good lad, he'll try again!
[_He stands at the side once more and an arrow comes thro' the
window._]
Why, that's like magic!
[_He pulls up the thread attached to it._]
Softly, or 'twill break!--
Ah, now 'tis sturdy cord.
--I'll make it fast.
But, how to break these bars!
St. Nicholas,
There's someone climbing. He must have a head
Of iron, and the lightness of a cat!
Downward is bad enough, but up is more
Than mortal! Who the devil can it be?
Thank God, it's growing dark. But what a risk!
None of my merry men could e'en attempt it.
I'm very sure it can't be Little John.
What, Shadow-of-a-Leaf!
[_SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF appears at the window._]
'Fore God, dear faithful fool,
I am glad to see you.
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Softly, gossip, softly,
Pull up the rope a little until we break
This bar away--or some kind friend may see
The dangling end below. Now here's a toothpick,
Six inches of grey steel, for you to work with,
And here's another for me. Pick out the mortar!
[_They work to loosen the bars._]
Wait! Here's a rose I brought you in my cap
And here's a spray of fern! Old Nature's keys
Open all prisons, I'll throw them in for luck,
[_He throws them into the cell and begins working feverishly again._]
So that the princes of the world may know
The forest let you out. Down there on earth,
If any sees me, they will only think
The creepers are in leaf. Pick out the mortar!
That's how the greenwood works. You know, 'twill thrust
Its tendrils through these big grey stones one day
And pull them down. I noticed in the courtyard
The grass is creeping though the crevices
Already, and yellow dandelions crouch
In all the crumbling corners. Pick it out!
This is a very righteous work indeed
For men in Lincoln green; for what are we
But tendrils of old Nature, herald sprays!
We scarce anticipate. Pick the mortar out.
Quick, there's no time to lose, although to-night
We're in advance of sun and moon and stars
And all the tackling sands in Time's turned glass.
[_With a sudden cry._]
Richard is dead!
ROBIN
Richard is dead! The King
Is dead!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Ah, dead! Come, pick the mortar out,
Out of the walls of towers and shrines and tombs!
For now Prince John is King, and Lady Marian
In peril, gossip! Yet we are in advance
Of sun and moon to-night, for sweet Prince John
Is not aware yet of his kinglihood,
Or of his brother's death.
ROBIN
[_Pausing a moment._]
Why, Shadow-of-a-Leaf,
What does this mean?
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Come, pick the mortar out;
You have no time to lose. This very night
My Lady Marian must away to Sherwood.
At any moment the dread word may come
That makes John King of England. Quick, be quick!
ROBIN
She is at the masque to-night!
SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF
Then you must mask
And fetch her thence! Ah, ha, the bar works loose.
Pull it!
[_They pull at the bar, get it free, and throw it into the cell._]
Now, master, follow me down the rope.
[_Exit ROBIN thro' the window._]
SCENE IV. _Night. The garden of the King's palace (as before), but
lighted with torches for the masque. Music swells up and dies away
continually. Maskers pass to and fro between the palace and the garden.
On the broad terrace in front some of them are dancing a galliard._
[_PRINCE JOHN enters and is met by_ QUEEN ELINOR, _neither of them
masked._]
ELINOR
All safe?
PRINCE JOHN
Ay, buried and bricked up now, to think
Alone, in the black night, of all I told him.
Thank God, we have heard the last of Robin Hood.
ELINOR
[_She puts on her mask._]
You are sure?
PRINCE JOHN
I saw him entombed with my own eyes!
Six feet of solid masonry. Look there,
There's the young knight you've lately made your own.
Where is my Lady Marian? Ah, I see her!
With that old hypocrite, Fitzwalter.
[_They part. PRINCE JOHN puts on his mask as he goes._]
A LADY
But tell me
Where is Prince John?
A MASKER
That burly-shouldered man
By yonder pillar, talking with old Fitzwalter,
And the masked girl, in green, with red-gold hair,
Is Lady Marian!
THE LADY
Where is Robin Hood?
I have never seen him, but from all one hears
He is a wood-god and a young Apollo,
And a more chaste Actaeon all in one.
MASKER
Oh, ay, he never watched Diana bathing,
Or, if he did, all Sherwood winked at it.
Who knows? Do you believe a man and maid
Can sleep out in the woods all night, as these
Have slept a hundred times, and put to shame
Our first poor parents; throw the apple aside
And float out of their leafy Paradise
Like angels?
LADY
No; I fear the forest boughs
Could tell sad tales. Oh, I imagine it--
Married to Robin, by a fat hedge-priest
Under an altar of hawthorn, with a choir
Of sparrows, and a spray of cuckoo-spit
For holy water! Oh, the modest chime
Of blue-bells from a fairy belfry, a veil
Of evening mist, a robe of golden hair;
A blade of grass for a ring; a band of thieves
In Lincoln green to witness the sweet bans;
A glow-worm for a nuptial taper, a bed
Of rose-leaves, and wild thyme and wood-doves' down.
Quick! Draw the bridal curtains--three tall ferns--
Across the cave mouth, lest a star should peep
And make the wild rose leap into her face!
Pish! A sweet maid! But where is Robin Hood?
MASKER
I know not; but he'd better have a care
Of Mistress Marian. If I know Prince John
He has marked her for his own.
LADY
I cannot see
What fascinates him.
MASKER
No, you are right, nor I.
PRINCE JOHN
Come, Lady Marian, let me lead you out
To tread a measure.
MARIAN
Pray, sir, pardon me!
I am tired.
FITZWALTER
[_Whispering angrily to her._]
Now, Marian, be not so ungracious.
You both abuse him and disparage us.
His courtiers led the ladies they did choose.
Do not displease him, girl. I pray you, go!
Dance out your galliard. God's dear holy-bread,
Y'are too forgetful. Dance, or by my troth,
You'll move my patience. I say you do us wrong.
MARIAN
I will do what you will. Lead, lead your dance.
[_Exeunt JOHN and MARIAN._]
FIRST MASKER
[_To a lady, as they come up from the garden._]
Will you not let me see your face now, sweet?
LADY
You hurt my lip with that last kiss of yours.
Hush, do not lean your face so close, I pray you;
Loosen my fingers. There's my lord.
FIRST MASKER
Where? Where?
Now, if I know him, I shall know your name!
LADY
That tall man with the damozel in red.
FIRST MASKER
Oh, never fear him. He, too, wore a mask!
I saw them--
[_They pass out talking._]
SECOND MASKER
[_Looking after them._]
Saw you those two turtle-doves!
SECOND LADY
Yes.
SECOND MASKER
Come with me, I'll show you where I caught them
Among the roses, half an hour ago.
[_They laugh and exeunt into the gardens. The music swells up
and more dancers appear._]
[_Enter ROBIN HOOD, still in his forester's garb, but wearing a
mask. He walks as if wounded and in pain. He
sits down in the shadow of a pillar watching, and
partly concealed from the throng._]
THIRD LADY
Remember now to say you did not see me
Here at the masque.
THIRD MASKER
Or shall I say that I
Was out in Palestine?
[_They pass. Enter little ARTHUR PLANTAGENET. He comes
up to ROBIN HOOD._]
ARTHUR
Are you not Robin Hood?
ROBIN
Hush, Arthur. Don't you see I wear a mask
Like all the rest to-night?
ARTHUR
Why do they wear
Masks?
ROBIN
They must always wear some sort of mask
At court. Sometimes they wear them all their lives.
ARTHUR
You are jesting, Robin. Now I wanted you
To tell me tales of Sherwood. Tell me how
You saved Will Scarlet.
ROBIN
Why, I've told you that
A score of times.
ARTHUR
I know, I want to hear it
Again. Well, tell me of that afternoon
When Lion-Heart came home from the Crusade.
I have often thought of that. It must have been
Splendid! You weren't expecting it at all?
ROBIN
No, not at all; but, Arthur, tell me first
Have you seen Lady Marian?
ARTHUR
Yes, I saw her
Treading a measure with my Uncle John!
ROBIN
Stand where you are and watch; and, if you see her,
Beckon her. Then I'll tell you how the King
Came home from the Crusade.
ARTHUR
First, let me tell you
Just how I think it was. It must have been
Like a great picture. All your outlaws there
Sitting around your throne of turf, and you
Judging the rich and poor. That's how it was
Last night, I dreamed of it; and you were taking
The baron's gold and giving it to the halt
And blind; and then there was a great big light
Between the trees, as if a star had come
Down to the earth and caught among the boughs,
With beams like big soft swords amongst the ferns
And leaves, and through the light a mighty steed
Stepped, and the King came home from the Crusade.
Was it like that? Was there a shining light?
ROBIN
I think there must have been, a blinding light,
ARTHUR
Filling an arch of leaves?
ROBIN
Yes!
ARTHUR
That was it!
That's how the King came home from the Crusade.
ROBIN
But there--you've told the story!
ARTHUR
Ah, not all!
ROBIN
No, not quite all. What's that?
[_The music suddenly stops. The maskers crowd together whispering
excitedly._]
ARTHUR
Why have they stopped
The music? Ah, there's Hubert. Shall I ask him?
ROBIN
Yes, quickly, and come back!
[_ARTHUR runs up to a masker. Several go by hurriedly._]
FIRST MASKER
The King is dead!
SECOND MASKER
Where did it happen? France?
FIRST MASKER
I know not, sir!
[_ARTHUR returns._]
ARTHUR
Robin, they say the King is dead! So John
Is king now, is he not?
ROBIN
Ay, John is king!
Now, tell me quickly, use your eyes, my boy,
Where's Lady Marian?
ARTHUR
Ah, there she is at last,
Alone!
ROBIN
Go to her quickly, and bring her hither.
[_ARTHUR runs off and returns with_ MARIAN.]
MARIAN
Robin, thank God, you have returned. I feared--
ROBIN
No more, dear heart, you must away to Sherwood!
Shadow-of-a-Leaf is waiting by the orchard
With your white palfrey. Away, or the new king
Will hunt us down. I'll try to gain you time.
Go--quickly!
MARIAN
Robin, your face is white, you are wounded!
What's this--there's blood upon your doublet!
Robin!
ROBIN
Nothing! Go, quickly!
MARIAN
Robin, I cannot leave you.
ROBIN
Go, Marian. If you ever loved me, go.
MARIAN
You'll follow?
ROBIN
Oh, with my last breath I will,
God helping me; but I must gain you time!
Quickly! Here comes the King!
MARIAN
Oh, follow soon!
[_Exit._]
[_ROBIN sits down again, steadying himself against the pillar.
JOHN appears at the doors of the palace, above the terrace, a
scroll in his hand._]
JOHN
My friends, the King is dead!
MASKERS
[_Taking off their masks, with a cry._]
Long live King John!
JOHN
[_Coming down amongst them._]
Our masque is ended by this grievous news;
But where's my Lady Marian? I had some word
To speak with her! Not here! Why--
ROBIN
[_Still masked, rises and confronts the King, who stares at him and
shrinks back a little._]
All the masks
Are off, sire! No, perhaps they wear them still.
JOHN
Who is this?
ROBIN
One that was dead and lives. You say
Your brother, the great King, is dead. Oh, sire,
If that be so, you'll hear a dead man speak,
For your dead brother's sake. You say the King
Is dead; but you are king. So the King lives!
You are King of England now from sea to sea,
Is it not so? Shout, maskers, once again,
Long live the King!
MASKERS
Long live the King!
ROBIN
You see
What power is yours! Your smile is life, your frown
Death. At a word from you the solid earth
Would shake with tramp of armies. You can call
Thousands to throw away their lives like straws
Upon your side, if any foreign king
Dare to affront you.
[_He draws nearer to JOHN, who still shrinks a little, as if in fear._]
Richard, you say, is dead,
And yet, O King, I say that the great King
Lives!
[_He strikes JOHN across the face. JOHN cowers and staggers back.
The MASKERS draw their swords, the women
scream and rush together. ROBIN turns, sword in hand,
to confront the MASKERS._]
Back, fools; for I say that the great King
Lives. Do not doubt it. Ye have dreamed him dead
How often. Hark, God in heaven, ye know that voice.
[_A voice is heard drawing nearer thro' the distant darkness of the
garden, singing. All listen. JOHN'S face whitens._]
[_Song._]
Knight, on the narrow way,
Where wouldst thou ride?
"Onward," I heard him say,
"Love, to thy side."
ROBIN
'Tis Blondel! Still vaunt-courier to the King,
As when he burst the bonds of Austria! Listen!
[_Song nearer._]
"Nay," sang a bird above,
"Stay, for I see
Death, in the mask of love,
Waiting for thee."
MASKERS
[_Resuming their masks and muttering to one another._]
Can the King live? Is this John's treachery? Look,
He is crushed with fear!
ROBIN
Listen! I'll go to meet him.
[_Exit into the garden._]
MASKERS
It was the song of Blondel! The same song
He made with Richard, long since!--
Blondel's voice!
Just as we heard it on that summer's night
When Lion-Heart came home from the Crusade.
[_The Song still drawing nearer._]
"Death! What is Death?" he cried.
"I must ride on,
On to my true love's side,
Up to her throne!"
[_Enter BLONDEL, from the garden. He stands, startled by the
scene before him._]
MASKERS
Blondel! Where is the King? Where is the King?
BLONDEL
Did ye not know?--Richard, the King, is dead!
MASKERS
Dead!
JOHN
Dead! And ye let the living dog escape
That dared snarl at our sovereignty. I know him,
Risen from the dead or not. I know 'twas he,
'Twas Robin Hood! After him; hunt him down!
Let him not live to greet another sun.
After him!
MASKERS
[_Drawing their swords and plunging into the darkness._]
After him; hunt the villain down!
[_Curtain._]