The knight was preparing to ask the stranger a question, the answer to which, if correctly given, would have relieved him from a doubt that pressed heavily on his mind, as to whether he was in the right road or the wrong, when the youth prevented the inquiry by saying: "In God's name, sir knight, you are late to your meals.

My master has tarried dinner for you these three hours." "I doubt," said the knight, "I am not he you wot of.

I am no where bidden to day and I know none in this vicinage." "We feared," said the youth, "your memory would be treacherous: therefore am I stationed here to refresh it." "Who is your master ?" said the knight; "and where does he abide ?" "My master," said the youth, "is called Robin Hood, and he abides hard by." "And what knows he of me ?" said the knight.
"He knows you," answered the youth "as he does every way-faring knight and friar, by instinct." "Gramercy," said the knight; "then I understand his bidding: but how if I say I will not come ?" "I am enjoined to bring you," said the youth.

"If persuasion avail not, I must use other argument." "Say'st thou so ?" said the knight; "I doubt if thy stripling rhetoric would convince me." "That," said the young forester, "we will see." "We are not equally matched, boy," said the knight.

"I should get less honour by thy conquest, than grief by thy injury." "Perhaps," said the youth, "my strength is more than my seeming, and my cunning more than my strength.