FIRST OLD MAN

[_Stretching his arms up to Heaven._]

G.o.d, am I My brother's keeper? Witness, G.o.d in heaven, He said it and not we--Cain's word, he said it!

FIRST WOMAN

[_Kneeling by the body._]

O Father, Father, and the blood of Abel Cries to thee!

A BLIND MAN

Is there any light here still?

I feel a hot breath on my face. The dark Is better for us all. I am sometimes glad They blinded me those many years ago.

Princes are princes; and G.o.d made the world For one or two it seems. Well, I am glad I cannot see His world.

FIRST WOMAN

[_Still by the body and whispering to the others._]

Keep him away.

'Tis as we thought. The dead man is his son.

Keep him away, poor soul. He need not know.

[_Some of the men carry the body among the thickets._]

A CHILD

Mother, I'm hungry, I'm hungry!

FIRST OLD MAN

There's no food For any of us to-night. The snares are empty, And I can try no more.

THE BLIND MAN

Wait till my son Comes back. He's a rare hunter is my boy.

You need not fret, poor little one. My son Is much too quick and clever for the Sheriff.

He'll bring you something good. Why, ha! ha! ha!

Friends, I've a thought--the Sheriff's lit the fire Ready for us to roast our meat. Come, come, Let us be merry while we may! My boy Will soon come back with food for the old folks.

The fire burns brightly, eh?

SECOND OLD MAN

The fire that feeds On hope and eats our hearts away. They've burnt Everything, everything!

THE BLIND MAN

Ah, princes are princes!

But when the King comes home from the Crusade, We shall have better times.

FIRST OLD MAN

Ay, when the King Comes home from the Crusade.

CHILD

Mother, I'm hungry.

SECOND WOMAN

Oh, but if I could only find a crust Left by the dogs. Masters, the child will starve.

We must have food.

THE BLIND MAN

I tell you when my boy Comes back, we shall have plenty!

FIRST WOMAN

G.o.d pity thee!

THE BLIND MAN

What dost thou mean?

SECOND WOMAN

Masters, the child will starve.

FIRST OLD MAN

Hist, who comes here--a forester?

THE BLIND MAN

We'd best Slip back into the dark.

FIRST WOMAN

[_Excitedly._]

No, stay! All's well.

There's Shadow-of-a-Leaf, good Lady Marian's fool Beside him!

THE BLIND MAN

Ah, they say there's fairy blood In Shadow-of-a-Leaf. But I've no hopes of more From him, than wild bees' honey-bags.