Page:Life and death of Robin Hood.pdf/19

 His epitaph, as records tell,
 * within these hundred years

By many was discerned well,
 * but time all thing out-wears.

His followers, when he was dead
 * were some received to grace;

The rest to foreign countries fled,
 * and left their native place.

And though his funeral was but mean,
 * this woman had in mind,

That his fame should be buried clean,
 * from those that came behind:

For certainly before, nor since,
 * no man e’er understood,

Under the reign of any prince,
 * of one like Robin Hood

Full thirteen years and something more,
 * these out-laws lived thus,

Fear’d of the rich, lov’d of the poor,
 * a thing most marvellous

A thing impossible to us
 * this story seems to be:

None dare be now so venturous,
 * but times are chang’d we see.

We that live in those latter days
 * of civil government,