Robin having read this was very joyful, yet longed he to know whether he had this power or not, and to try it he wished for some meat:  presently[3] it was before him.  Then wished he for beer and wine:  he straightway had it.  This liked him well, and because he was weary, he wished himself a horse:  no sooner was his wish ended, but he was transformed, and seemed a horse of twenty pound price, and leaped and curveted as nimble as if he had been in stable at rack and manger a good month.  Then wished he himself a dog, and was so:  then a tree, and was so:  so from one thing to another, till he was certain and well assured that he could change himself to any thing whatsoever.

HOW ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW SERVED A CLOWNISH FELLOW

Robin Good-fellow going over a field met with a clownish fellow, to whom he spake in this manner.  “Friend,” quoth he, “what is a clock?” “A thing,” answered the clown, “that shows the time of the day.”  “Why then,” said Robin Good-fellow, “be thou a clock, and tell me what time of the day it is.”  “I owe thee not so much service,” answered he again, “but because thou shalt think thyself beholden to me, know that it is the same time of the day as it was yesterday at this time.”

These cross-answers vexed Robin Good-fellow, so that in himself he vowed to be revenged of him, which he did in this manner.

Robin Good-fellow turned himself into a bird, and followed this fellow, who was going into a field a little from that place to catch a horse that was at grass.  The horse being wild ran over dyke and hedge, and the fellow after; but to little purpose, for the horse was too swift for him.  Robin was glad of this occasion, for now or never was the time to put his revenge in action.

Presently Robin shaped himself like to the horse that the fellow followed, and so stood before the fellow:  presently the fellow took hold of him and got on his back, but long had he not rid, but with a stumble he hurled this churlish clown to the ground, that he almost broke his neck; yet took he not this for a sufficient revenge for the cross-answers he had received, but stood still and let the fellow mount him once more.

In the way the fellow was to ride was a great plash of water of a good depth:  through this must he of necessity ride.  No sooner was he in the midst of it, but Robin Good-fellow left him with nothing but a pack-saddle betwixt his legs, and in the shape of a fish swam to the shore, and ran away laughing, ho, ho, hoh![4] leaving the poor fellow almost drowned.

HOW ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW HELPED TWO LOVERS AND DECEIVED AN OLD MAN