Mary's, hath brought it me duly, principal and
interest to a penny, as Little John can testify, who told it forth.
To be sure, he denied having it, but that was to prove our faith.
We sought and found it."
"I know nothing of your knight," said the monk: "and the money was our own,
as the Virgin shall bless me."
"She shall bless thee," said Friar Tuck, "for a faithful messenger."
The monk resumed his wailing. Little John brought him his horse.
Robin gave him leave to depart. He sprang with singular nimbleness
into the saddle, and vanished without saying, God give you good day.
The stranger knight laughed heartily as the monk rode off.
"They say, sir knight," said Friar Tuck, "they should laugh who win:
but thou laughest who art likely to lose."
"I have won," said the knight, "a good dinner, some mirth,
and some knowledge: and I cannot lose by paying for them."
"Bravely said," answered Robin. "Still it becomes thee to pay:
for it is not meet that a poor forester should treat a rich knight.
How much money hast thou with thee?"
"Troth, I know not," said the knight. "Sometimes much, sometimes little,
sometimes none. But search, and what thou findest, keep:
and for the sake of thy kind heart and open hand, be it what it may,
I shall wish it were more."
"Then, since thou sayest so," said Robin, "not a penny will I touch.
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