It doth seem to me that the name is not altogether strange to mine ears.

Yea, surely thou art the minstrel of whom we have been hearing lately, whose voice so charmeth all men.

Dost thou not come from the Dale of Rotherstream, over beyond Stavely ?" "Yea, truly," answered Allan, "I do come thence." "How old art thou, Allan ?" said Robin.
"I am but twenty years of age." "Methinks thou art overyoung to be perplexed with trouble," quoth Robin kindly; then, turning to the others, he cried, "Come, lads, busk ye and get our feast ready; only thou, Will Scarlet, and thou, Little John, stay here with me." Then, when the others had gone, each man about his business, Robin turned once more to the youth.

"Now, lad," said he, "tell us thy troubles, and speak freely.

A flow of words doth ever ease the heart of sorrows; it is like opening the waste weir when the mill dam is overfull.