"
"And here," said the knight, "is thy four hundred pound;
and my men have brought thee an hundred bows and as many
well-furnished quivers; which I beseech thee to receive
and to use as a poor token of my grateful kindness to thee:
for me and my wife and children didst thou redeem from beggary."
"Thy bows and arrows," said Robin, "will I joyfully receive:
but of thy money, not a penny. It is paid already.
My Lady, who was thy security, hath sent it me for thee."
Sir William pressed, but Robin was inflexible.
"It is paid," said Robin, "as this good knight can testify,
who saw my Lady's messenger depart but now."
Sir William looked round to the stranger knight, and instantly fell
on his knee, saying, "God save King Richard."
The foresters, friar and all, dropped on their knees together,
and repeated in chorus: "God save King Richard."
"Rise, rise," said Richard, smiling: "Robin is king here, as his lady
hath shown. I have heard much of thee, Robin, both of thy present and thy
former state. And this, thy fair forest-queen, is, if tales say true,
the lady Matilda Fitzwater."
Marian signed acknowledgment.
"Your father," said the king, "has approved his fidelity to me,
by the loss of his lands, which the newness of my return,
and many public cares, have not yet given me time to restore:
but this justice shall be done to him, and to thee also, Robin,
if thou wilt leave thy forest-life and resume thy earldom,
and be a peer of Coeur-de-Lion: for braver heart and juster
hand I never yet found.
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