human
And wilt thou forsake thy pinders craft, And go to the greenwood with me? Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,[L33] Th' one greene, 'tither brown shall be.
gpt
At Michaelmas next my cov'nant comes out, 35 When every man gathers his fee, Then I'le take my blew blade all in my hand, And plod to the green-wood with thee.
human
Hast thou either meat or drink, said Robin Hood,
gpt
For my merry men and me?
human
I have both bread and beef, said the pinder,
gpt
And good ale of the best:
human
And that is meat good enough,
gpt
O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft, 45 And go to the green-wood with me? Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year, The one green, the other brown [shall be].
human
If Michaelmas day was come and gone, And my master had paid me my fee, 50 Then would I set as little by him, As my master doth by me.
gpt
For this is one of the best pinders That ever I tried with sword.
human
No ancient copy of this ballad having been met with, it is given from an edition of _Robin Hood's Garland_, printed some years since at York. The tune is _Arthur a Bland_.