Wilt thou come with me ?" "Ay, marry, will I join with you all," quoth the Tinker, "for I love a merry life, and I love thee, good master, though thou didst thwack my ribs and cheat me into the bargain.

Fain am I to own thou art both a stouter and a slyer man than I; so I will obey thee and be thine own true servant." So all turned their steps to the forest depths, where the Tinker was to live henceforth.

For many a day he sang ballads to the band, until the famous Allan a Dale joined them, before whose sweet voice all others seemed as harsh as a raven's; but of him we will learn hereafter..