Robin was as hospitable as Cathmor;
for seven men stood on seven paths to call the stranger to his feast.
It is true, he superadded the small improvement of making
the stranger pay for it: than which what could be more generous?
For Cathmor was himself the prime giver of his feast,
whereas Robin was only the agent to a series of strangers,
who provided in turn for the entertainment of their successors;
which is carrying the disinterestedness of hospitality to its acme.
Marian often killed the deer,
Which Scarlet dressed, and Friar Tuck blessed
While Little John wandered in search of a guest.
Robin was very devout, though there was great unity in his religion:
it was exclusively given to our Lady the Virgin, and he never set forth
in a morning till he had said three prayers, and had heard the sweet
voice of his Marian singing a hymn to their mutual patroness. Each of
his men had, as usual, a patron saint according to his name or taste.
The friar chose a saint for himself, and fixed on Saint Botolph,
whom he euphonised into Saint Bottle, and maintained that he was
that very Panomphic Pantagruelian saint, well known in ancient
France as a female divinity, by the name of La Dive Bouteille,
whose oracular monosyllable "Trincq,', is celebrated and under-stood
by all nations, and is expounded by the learned doctor Alcofribas,[6]
who has treated at large on the subject, to signify "drink.
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