d！〃　quoth　hefor　the　Cook　was　a　tall；　stout　man〃seest　thou　what　that　vile　knave　Reynold　Greenleaf　hath　done？　　He　hath　broken　in　upon　our　master's　goods；　and　hath　smitten　me　a　buffet　upon　the　ear；　so　that　I　thought　I　was　dead。　Good　Cook；　I　love　thee　well；　and　thou　shalt　have　a　good　pottle　of　our　master's　best　wine　every　day；　for　thou　art　an　old　and　faithful　servant。　　Also；　good　Cook；　I　have　ten　shillings　that　I　mean　to　give　as　a　gift　to　thee。　　But　hatest　thou　not　to　see　a　vile　upstart　like　this　Reynold　Greenleaf　taking　it　upon　him　so　bravely？〃
  〃Ay；　marry；　that　do　I；〃　quoth　the　Cook　boldly；　for　he　liked　the　Steward　because　of　his　talk　of　the　wine　and　of　the　ten　shillings。　　〃Get　thee　gone　straightway　to　thy　room；　and　I　will　bring　out　this　knave　by　his　ears。〃　So　saying；　he　laid　aside　his　spit　and　drew　the　sword　that　hung　by　his　side；　whereupon　the　Steward　left　as　quickly　as　he　could；　for　he　hated　the　sight　of　naked　steel。
  Then　the　Cook　walked　straightway　to　the　broken　pantry　door；　through　which　he　saw　Little　John　tucking　a　napkin　beneath　his　chin　and　preparing　to　make　himself　merry。
  〃Why；　how　now；　Reynold　Greenleaf？〃　said　the　Cook；　〃thou　art　no　better　than　a　thief；　I　wot。　　Come　thou　straight　forth；　man；　or　I　will　carve　thee　as　I　would　carve　a　sucking　pig。〃
  〃Nay；　good　Cook；　bear　thou　thyself　more　seemingly；　or　else　I　will　come　forth　to　thy　dole。　　At　most　times　I　am　as　a　yearling　lamb；　but　when　one　cometh　between　me　and　my　meat；　I　am　a　raging　lion；　as　it　were。〃
  〃Lion　or　no　lion；〃　quoth　the　valorous　Cook；　〃come　thou　straight　forth；　else　thou　art　a　coward　heart　as　well　as　a　knavish　thief。〃
  〃Ha！〃　cried　Little　John；　〃coward's　name　have　I　never　had；　so；　look　to　thyself；　good　Cook；　for　I　come　forth　straight；　the　roaring　lion　I　did　speak　of　but　now。〃
  Then　he；　too；　drew　his　sword　and　came　out　of　the　pantry；　then；　putting　themselves　into　position；　they　came　slowly　together；　with　grim　and　angry　looks；　but　suddenly　Little　John　lowered　his　point。　〃Hold；　good　Cook！〃　said　he。　　〃Now；　I　bethink　me　it　were　ill　of　us　to　fight　with　good　victuals　standing　so　nigh；　and　such　a　feast　as　would　befit　two　stout　fellows　such　as　we　are。　　Marry；　good　friend；　I　think　we　should　enjoy　this　fair　feast　ere　we　fight。　What　sayest　thou；　jolly　Cook？〃
  At　this　speech　the　Cook　looked　up　and　down；　scratching　his　head　in　doubt；　for　he　loved　good　feasting。　　At　last　he　drew　a　long　breath　and　said　to　Little　John；　〃Well；　good　friend；　I　like　thy　plan　right　well；　so；　pretty　boy；　say　I；　let　us　feast；　with　all　my　heart；　for　one　of　us　may　sup　in　Paradise　before　nightfall。〃
  So　each　thrust　his　sword　back　into　the　scabbard　and　entered　the　pantry。　Then；　after　they　had　seated　themselves；　Little　John　drew　his　dagger　and　thrust　it　into　the　pie。　　〃A　hungry　man　must　be　fed；〃　quoth　he；　〃so；　sweet　chuck；　I　help　myself　without　leave。〃　But　the　Cook　did　not　lag　far　behind；　for　straightway　his　hands　also　were　deeply　thrust　within　the　goodly　pasty。　　After　this；　neither　of　them　spoke　further；　but　used　their　teeth　to　better　purpose。　But　though　neither　spoke；　they　looked　at　one　another；　each　thinking　within　himself　that　he　had　never　seen　a　more　lusty　fellow　than　the　one　across　the　board。
  At　last；　after　a　long　time　had　passed；　the　Cook　drew　a　full；　deep　breath；　as　though　of　much　regret；　and　wiped　his　hands　upon　the　napkin；　for　he　could　eat　no　more。　Little　John；　also；　had　enough；　for　he　pushed　the　pasty　aside；　as　though　he　would　say；　〃I　want　thee　by　me　no　more；　good　friend。〃　Then　he　took　the　pottle　of　sack；　and　said　he；　〃Now；　good　fellow；　I　swear　by　all　that　is　bright；　that　thou　art　the　stoutest　companion　at　eating　that　ever　I　had。　　Lo！　　I　drink　thy　health。〃　So　saying；　he　clapped　the　flask　to　his　lips　and　cast　his　eyes　aloft；　while　the　good　wine　flooded　his　throat。　Then　he　passed　the　pottle　to　the　Cook；　who　also　said；　〃Lo；　I　drink　thy　health；　sweet　fellow！〃　　Nor　was　he　behind　Little　John　in　drinking　any　more　than　in　eating。
  〃Now；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃thy　voice　is　right　round　and　sweet；　jolly　lad。　I　doubt　not　thou　canst　sing　a　ballad　most　blithely；　canst　thou　not？〃
  〃Truly；　I　have　trolled　one　now　and　then；〃　quoth　the　Cook；　〃yet　I　would　not　sing　alone。〃
  〃Nay；　truly；〃　said　Little　John；　〃that　were　but　ill　courtesy。　Strike　up　thy　ditty；　and　I　will　afterward　sing　one　to　match　it；　if　I　can。
  〃So　be　it；　pretty　boy；〃　quoth　the　Cook。　　〃And　hast　thou　e'er　heard　the　song　of　the　Deserted　Shepherdess？〃
  〃Truly；　I　know　not；〃　answered　Little　John；　〃but　sing　thou　and　let　me　hear。〃
  Then　the　Cook　took　another　draught　from　the　pottle；　and；　clearing　his　throat；　sang　right　sweetly：
  THE　SONG　OF　THE　DESERTED　SHEPHERDESS
  〃_In　Lententime；　when　leaves　wax　green；　　　　　　And　pretty　birds　begin　to　mate；　　When　lark　cloth　sing；　and　thrush；　I　ween；　　　　　　And　stockdove　cooeth　soon　and　late；　　Fair　Phillis　sat　beside　a　stone；　　And　thus　I　heard　her　make　her　moan：　　　　　　'O　willow；　willow；　willow；　willow！　　I'll　take　me　of　thy　branches　fair　　And　twine　a　wreath　to　deck　my　hair。
  〃　‘The　thrush　hath　taken　him　a　she；　　　　　　The　robin；　too；　and　eke　the　dove；　　My　Robin　hath　deserted　me；　　　　　　And　left　me　for　another　love。　　So　here；　by　brookside；　all　alone；　　I　sit　me　down　and　make　my　moan。　　　　　　O　willow；　willow；　willow；　willow！　　I'll　take　me　of　thy　branches　fair　　And　twine　a　wreath　to　deck　my　hair。'
  〃But　ne'er　came　herring　from　the　sea；　　　　　　But　good　as　he　were　in　the　tide；　　Young　Corydon　came　o'er　the　lea；　　　　　　And　sat　him　Phillis　down　beside。　　So；　presently；　she　changed　her　tone；　　And　'gan　to　cease　her　from　her　moan；　　　　　　'O　willow；　willow；　willow；　willow！　　Thou　mayst　e'en　keep　thy　garlands　fair；　　I　want　them　not　to　deck　my　hair_。'　〃
  〃Now；　by　my　faith；〃　cried　Little　John；　〃that　same　is　a　right　good　song；　and　hath　truth　in　it；　also。〃
  〃Glad　am　I　thou　likest　it；　sweet　lad；〃　said　the　Cook。　　〃Now　sing　thou　one　also；　for　ne'er　should　a　man　be　merry　alone；　or　sing　and　list　not。〃
  〃Then　I　will　sing　thee　a　song　of　a　right　good　knight　of　Arthur's　court；　and　how　he　cured　his　heart's　wound　without　running　upon　the　dart　again；　as　did　thy　Phillis；　for　I　wot　she　did　but　cure　one　smart　by　giving　herself　another。　So；　list　thou　while　I　sing：
  THE　GOOD　KNIGHT　AND　HIS　LOVE
  〃_When　Arthur；　King；　did　rule　this　land；　　　　　　A　goodly　king　was　he；　　And　had　he　of　stout　knights　a　band　　　　　　Of　merry　company。
  〃Among　them　all；　both　great　and　small；　　　　　　A　good　stout　knight　was　there；　　A　lusty　childe；　and　eke　a　tall；　　　　　　That　loved　a　lady　fair。
  〃But　nought　would　she　to　do　with　he；　　　　　　But　turned　her　face　away；　　So　gat　he　gone　to　far　countrye；　　　　　　And　left　that　lady　gay。
  〃There　all　alone　he　made　his　moan；　　　　　　And　eke　did　sob　and　sigh；　　And　weep　till　it　would　move　a　stone；　　　　　　And　he　was　like　to　die。
  〃But　still　his　heart　did　feel　the　smart；　　　　　　And　eke　the　dire　distress；　　And　rather　grew　his　pain　more　sharp　　　　　　As　grew　his　body　less。
  〃Then　gat　he　back　where　was　good　sack　　　　　　And　merry　com　panye；　　And　soon　did　cease　to　cry　‘Alack！'　　　　　　When　blithe　and　gay　was　he。
  〃From　which　I　hold；　and　feel　full　bold　　　　　　To　say；　and　eke　believe；　　That　gin　the　belly　go　not　cold　　　　　　The　heart　will　cease　to　grieve_。〃
  〃Now；　by　my　faith；〃　cried　the　Cook；　as　he　rattled　the　pottle　against　the　sideboard；　〃I　like　that　same　song　hugely；　and　eke　the　motive　of　it；　which　lieth　like　a　sweet　kernel　in　a　hazelnut〃
  〃Now　thou　art　a　man　of　shrewd　opinions；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃and　I　love　thee　truly　as　thou　wert　my　brother。〃
  〃And　I　love　thee；　too。　　But　the　day　draweth　on；　and　I　have　my　cooking　to　do　ere　our　master　cometh　home；　so　let　us　e'en　go　and　settle　this　brave　fight　we　have　in　hand。〃
  〃Ay；　marry；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃and　that　right　speedily。　Never　have　I　been　more　laggard　in　fighting　than　in　eating　and　drinking。　So　come　thou　straight　forth　into　the　passageway；　where　there　is　good　room　to　swing　a　sword；　and　I　will　try　to　serve　thee。〃
  Then　they　both　stepped　forth　into　the　broad　passage　that　led　to　the　Steward's　pantry；　where　each　man　drew　his　sword　again　and　without　more　ado　fell　upon　the　other　as　though　he　would　hew　his　fellow　limb　from　limb。　　Then　their　swords　clashed　upon　one　another　with　great　din；　and　sparks　flew　from　each　blow　in　showers。　So　they　fought　up　and　down　the　hall　for　an　hour　and　more；　neither　striking　the　other　a　blow；　though　they　strove　their　best　to　do　so；　for　both　were　skillful　at　the　fence；　so　nothing　came　of　all　their　labor。　Ever　and　anon　they　rested；　panting；　then；　after　getting　their　wind；　at　it　they　would　go　again　more　fiercely　than　ever。　At　last　Little　John　cried　aloud；　〃Hold；　good　Cook！〃　whereupon　each　rested　upon　his　sword；　panting。
  〃Now　will　I　make　my　vow；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃thou　art　the　very　best　swordsman　that　ever　mine　eyes　beheld。　　Truly；　I　had　thought　to　carve　thee　ere　now。〃
  〃And　I　had　thought　to　do　the　same　by　thee；〃　quoth　the　Cook；　〃but　I　have　missed　the　mark　somehow。〃
  〃Now　I　have　been　thinking　within　myself；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃what　we　are　fighting　for；　but　albeit　I　do　not　rightly　know。〃
  〃Why；　no　more　do　I；〃　said　the　Cook。　　〃I　bear　no　love　for　that　pursy　Steward；　but　I　thought　that　we　had　engaged　to　fight　with　one　another　and　that　it　must　be　done。〃
  〃Now；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃it　doth　seem　to　me　that　instead　of　striving　to　cut　one　another's　throats；　it　wer