"
I told him this was strange, if true, and that their country's honour bound
them more to believe in this than it did me.
"Truly, sir," said my hostess, "I think we are called Long-tails, by reason
our tales are long, that we used to pass the time withal, and make
ourselves merry." "Now, good hostess," said I, "let me entreat from you one
of those tales." "You shall," said she, "and that shall not be a common one
neither, for it is a long tale, a merry tale, and a sweet tale; and thus it
begins."
THE HOSTESS'S TALE OF THE BIRTH OF ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW
Once upon a time, a great while ago, when men did eat more and drink
less--then men were more honest, that knew no knavery, than some now are
that confess the knowledge and deny the practice--about that time
(whensoe'er it was) there was wont to walk many harmless spirits called
fairies, dancing in brave order in fairy rings on green hills with sweet
music (sometime invisible) in divers shapes: many mad pranks would they
play, as pinching of sluts black and blue, and misplacing things in
ill-ordered houses; but lovingly would they use wenches that cleanly were,
giving them silver and other pretty toys, which they would leave for them,
sometimes in their shoes, other times in their pockets, sometimes in bright
basins and other clean vessels.
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