"By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "My name it is Allin a Dale."

"What wilt thou give me?" said Robin Hood,

"In ready gold or fee,

To help thee to thy true-love again,

And deliver her unto thee?"

"I have no money," then quoth the young man,

"No ready gold nor fee,

But I will swear upon a book

Thy true servant for to be."

"How many miles is it to thy true love?

Come tell me without any guile."

"By the faith of my body," then said the young man,

"It is but five little mile."

Then Robin he hasted over the plain,

He did neither stint nor lin,

Until he came unto the church,

Where Allin should keep his wedding.

"What dost thou do here?" the bishop he said, "I prithee now tell unto me:"

"I am a bold harper," quoth Robin Hood, "And the best in the north country."

"Oh welcome, oh welcome," the bishop he said, "That music best pleaseth me;"

"You shall have no music," quoth Robin Hood, "Till the bride and the bridegroom I see."

With that came in a wealthy knight,

Which was both brave and old,

And after him a finikin lass,

Did shine like glistering gold.

"This is no fit match," quoth bold Robin Hood, "That you do seem to make here,

For since we are come unto the church,
The bride shall choose her own dear."

Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three;
When four and twenty bowmen bold

Came leaping over the lea.

And when they came into the churchyard,
Marching all on a row,

The very first man was Allin a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.

"This is thy true-love," Robin he said, "Young Allin as I hear say;

And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away."

"That shall not be," the bishop he said,
"For thy word shall not stand;

They shall be three times asked in the church,
As the law is of our land."

Robin Hood pulled off the Bishop's coat,
And put it upon Little John;

"By the faith of my body," then Robin said,
"This cloth doth make thee a man."

When Little John went into the quire,
The people began for to laugh;

He asked them seven times in the church,
Lest three times should not be enough.

"Who gives me this maid?" then said Little John; Quoth Robin Hood, "That do I,

And he that takes her from Allin a Dale,
Full dearly he shall her buy."

And thus having end of this merry wedding,
The bride looked as fresh as a queen;

And so they returned to the merry green wood,
Amongst the leaves so green.

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE OF THE

BUNKER HILL MONUMENT

DANIEL WEBSTER

This uncounted multitude before me, and around me, proves the feeling which the occasion has excited. These thousands of human faces, glowing with sympathy and joy, and, from the impulses of a common gratitude, turned reverently to heaven, in this spacious temple of the firmament, proclaim that the day, the place, and the purpose of our assembling have made a deep impression on our hearts.

If, indeed, there be anything in local association fit to affect the mind of man, we need not strive to repress the emotions which agitate us here. ulchres of our fathers. We are

We are among We are among the sepon ground distinguished

by their valor, their constancy, and the shedding of their blood. We are here, not to fix an uncertain date in our annals, nor to draw into notice an obscure and unknown spot. If our humble purpose had never been conceived, if we ourselves had never been born, the 17th of June, 1775, would have been a day on which all subsequent history would have poured its light, and the eminence where

9

we stand, a point of attraction to the eyes of successive generations.

The society, whose organ I am, was formed for the purpose of rearing some honorable and durable monument to the memory of the early friends of American Independence. They have thought that, for this object, no time could be more propitious than the present prosperous and peaceful period; that no place could claim preference over this memorable spot; and that no day could be more auspicious to the undertaking, than the anniversary of the battle which was here fought.

The foundation of that monument we have now laid. With solemnities suited to the occasion, with prayers to Almighty God for His blessing, and in the midst of this cloud of witnesses, we have begun the work. We trust it will be prosecuted; and that, springing from a broad foundation, rising high in massive solidity and unadorned grandeur, it may remain, as long as Heaven permits the works of man to last, a fit emblem, both of the events in memory of which it is raised, and of the gratitude of those who have reared it.

Let it not be supposed that our object is to perpetuate national hostility, or even to cherish a mere military spirit. It is higher, purer, nobler. We consecrate our work to the spirit of national independence, and we wish that the light of peace may rest upon it forever. We