Upon the very margin of the ditch , not thirty feet from where they crouched , an iron caldron bubbled and steamed above a glowing fire ; and close by , in an attitude of listening , as though he had caught some sound of their clambering among the ruins , a tall , red-faced , battered-looking man stood poised , an iron spoon in his right hand , a horn and a formidable dagger at his belt . Plainly this was the singer ; plainly he had been stirring the caldron , when some incautious step among the lumber had fallen upon his ear . A little further off , another man lay slumbering , rolled in a brown cloak , with a butterfly hovering above his face . All this was in a clearing white with daisies ; and at the extreme verge , a bow , a sheaf of arrows , and part of a deer 's carcase , hung upon a flowering hawthorn . Presently the fellow relaxed from his attitude of attention , raised the spoon to his mouth , tasted its contents , nodded , and then fell again to stirring and singing . '' ` O , they must need to walk in wood that may not walk in town , ' '' he croaked , taking up his song where he had left it . `` O , sir , we walk not here at all an evil thing to do . But if we meet with the good king 's deer to shoot a shaft into . '' Still as he sang , he took from time to time , another spoonful of the broth , blew upon it , and tasted it , with all the airs of an experienced cook . At length , apparently , he judged the mess was ready ; for taking the horn from his girdle , he blew three modulated calls . The other fellow awoke , rolled over , brushed away the butterfly , and looked about him . `` How now , brother ? '' he said . `` Dinner ? '' `` Ay , sot , '' replied the cook , `` dinner it is , and a dry dinner , too , with neither ale nor bread . But there is little pleasure in the greenwood now ; time was when a good fellow could live here like a mitred abbot , set aside the rain and the white frosts ; he had his heart 's desire both of ale and wine . But now are men 's spirits dead ; and this John Amend-All , save us and guard us ! but a stuffed booby to scare crows withal . '' `` Nay , '' returned the other , `` y ' are too set on meat and drinking , Lawless . Bide ye a bit ; the good time cometh . ''
`` Look ye , '' XXXXX the cook , `` I have even waited for this good time sith that I was so high .
Bide crouched fell guard looked meet modulated nodded returned sang