ROBYN AND GANDELYN

Robin lies in the greenwood wrapped in a shroud.

I heard the singing of a clerk, 
All at the yonder wood's end, 
Of good Robin and Gandelyn;
There was no other company. 

Strong theives those children were not, 
But bowmen good and honorable; 
They went to the woods to get some meat, 
If God would send it to them.

All day went those children two, 
And flesh they did not find, 
Until it was again evening; 
The children desired to go home.

Half a hundred of fat fallow deer 
They came upon, 
And all were fair and fat enough, 
And blemishes there were none;
"By dear God," said good Robin,
"Of these we shall have one." 

Robin bent his jolly bow,
Therein he set an arrow; 
The fattest deer of all,
Its heart he cleft in two. 

He had not flayed the deer, 
Not half out of the hide,
When there came a shrewd arrow out of the west, 
That felled Robin's pride. 

Gandelyn looked east and west,
Be every side:
"Who has slain my master? 
Who has done this deed?
I shall never go out of the greenwood
Till I see his sides bleed."

Gandelyn looked east and looked west,
And sought under the sun; 
He saw a little boy
They call Wrennok of Donne. 

A good bow in his hand,
A broad arrow therein,
And four and twenty good arrows, 
Tied in a bundle: 
"You beware, beware, Gandelyn,
You shall had some of the same.

"Beware, beware, Gandelyn,
Of this you will get plenty." 
"Ever one for another," said Gandelyn;
"Misfortune have he who should flee.

"Where shall our mark be?" 
Said Gandelyn.
"Each at the other's heart,"
Said Wrennok again.

"Who shall give the first shot?" 
Said Gandelyn:
"I shall give the one before."
Said Wrennok again.

Wrennok shot a full good shot,
And he shot not too high;
Through the clothes of his breeches,
It touched neither thigh. 

"Now you have given me one before," 
All thus to Wrennok he said,
"And through the might of our Lady
A better one I shall give you."

Gandelyn bent his good bow,
And set therein an arrow;
He shot through his green kirtle,
His heart he cleft in two.

"Now shall you never boast, Wrennok, 
At ale nor at wine,
That you have slain good Robin,
And his knave Gandelyn. 

"Now shall you never boast, Wrennok,
At wine nor at ale,
That you have slain good Robin,
And Gandelyn his servant."

Robin lies in the greenwood wrapped in a shroud.