He finds the clover, let him then come over,
The jolly, jolly rover, over, over, over,
"I much doubt," said Marian, "if this ferryman do not mean by clover
something more than the toll of his ferry-boat."
"I doubt not," answered Robin, "he is a levier of toll and tithe,
which I shall put him upon proof of his right to receive,
by making trial of his might to enforce."
The ferryman emerged from the willows and stepped into his boat.
"As I live," exclaimed Robin, "the ferryman is a friar."
"With a sword," said Marian, "stuck in his rope girdle."
The friar pushed his boat off manfully, and was presently half
over the river.
"It is friar Tuck," said Marian.
"He will scarcely know us," said Robin; "and if he do not,
I will break a staff with him for sport."
The friar came singing across the water: the boat touched the land:
Robin and Marian stepped on board: the friar pushed off again.
"Silken doublets, silken doublets," said the friar:
"slenderly lined, I bow: your wandering minstrel is always
poor toll: your sweet angels of voices pass current for a bed
and a supper at the house of every lord that likes to hear
the fame of his valour without the trouble of fighting for it.
What need you of purse or pouch? You may sing before thieves.
Pedlars, pedlars: wandering from door to door with the small
ware of lies and cajolery: exploits for carpet-knights;
honesty for courtiers; truth for monks, and chastity for nuns:
a good saleable stock that costs the vender nothing, defies wear
and tear, and when it has served a hundred customers is as plentiful
and as marketable as ever.
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