Enter MARIAN.[163]

MAR.  Why is my lord so sad? wherefore so soon,
So suddenly, arose ye from the board? 
Alas, my Robin! what distempering grief
Drinks up the roseate colour of thy cheeks? 
Why art thou silent? answer me, my love.

ROB.  H. Let him, let him, let him make thee as sad. 
He hath a tongue can banish thee from joy,
And chase thy crimson colour from thy cheeks. 
Why speak’st thou not?  I pray thee, Little John,
Let the short story of my long distress
Be utter’d in a word.  What, mean’st thou to protract? 
Wilt thou not speak? then, Marian, list to me. 
This day thou wert a maid, and now a spouse,
Anon, poor soul, a widow thou must be! 
Thy Robin is an outlaw, Marian;
His goods and land must be extended on,
Himself exil’d from thee, thou kept from him
By the long distance of unnumbered miles.
                         [She sinks in his arms. 
Faint’st thou at this? speak to me, Marian: 
My old love, newly met, part not so soon;
We have a little time to tarry yet.

MAR.  If but a little time, let me not stay
Part we to-day, then will I die to-day!

LIT.  JOHN.  For shame, my lord! with courage of a man
Bridle this over-grieving passion,
Or else dissemble it to comfort her.

ROB.  H. I like thy counsel.  Marian, clear these clouds,
And with the sunny beams of thy bright eyes
Drink up these mists of sorrow that arise.

MAR.  How can I joy, when thou art banished?

ROB.  H. I tell thee, love, my grief is counterfeit;
And I abruptly from the table rose,
The banquet being almost at an end,
Only to drive confused and sad thoughts
[Out of][164] the minds of the invited guests. 
For, gentle love, at great or nuptial feasts,
With comic sports or tragic stately plays
We use to recreate the feasted guests,
Which I am sure our kinsfolk do expect.

MAR.  Of this, what then? this seems of no effect.

ROB.  H. Why, thus of this:  as Little John can tell,
I had bespoken quaint comedians;
But great John, John the prince, my liege’s brother—­
My rival, Marian, he that cross’d our love—­
Hath cross’d me in this jest,[165] and at the court
Employs the players should have made us sport. 
This was the tidings brought by Little John,
That first disturbed me, and begot this thought
Of sudden rising, which by this, I know,
Hath with amazement troubled all our guests. 
Go in, good love:  thou as the chorus shalt
Express the meaning of my silent grief,
Which is no more but this:  I only mean
(The more to honour our right noble friends)
Myself in person to present some scenes
Of tragic matter, or perchance of mirth,
Even such as first shall jump with my conceit.

MAR.  May I be bold thou hast the worst expressed?

LIT.  JOHN.  Fair mistress, all is true my lord hath said.