The baron raged like a tiger,
and the cottager laid about him like a thresher. One of the soldiers
struck Robin's sword from his hand and brought him on his knee,
when the boy, who had been roused by the tumult and had been
peeping through the inner door, leaped forward in his shirt,
picked up the sword and replaced it in Robin's hand, who instantly
springing up, disarmed and wounded one of his antagonists,
while the other was laid prostrate under the dint of a brass
cauldron launched by the Amazonian dame. Robin now turned
to the aid of Marian, who was parrying most dexterously the cuts
and slashes of her two assailants, of whom Robin delivered
her from one, while a well-applied blow of her sword struck off
the helmet of the other, who fell on his knees to beg a boon,
and she recognised Sir Ralph Montfaucon. The men who were engaged
with the baron and the peasant, seeing their leader subdued,
immediately laid down their arms and cried for quarter.
The wife brought some strong rope, and the baron tied their
arms behind them.
"Now, Sir Ralph," said Marian, "once more you are at my mercy."
"That I always am, cruel beauty," said the discomfited lover.
"Odso! courteous knight," said the baron, "is this the return you
make for my beef and canary, when you kissed my daughter's hand
in token of contrition for your intermeddling at her wedding?
Heart, I am glad to see she has given you a bloody coxcomb.
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