The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #59852 Message #958829
Posted By: *daylia*
24-May-03 - 06:05 PM
Thread Name: Folklore: Oak Trees in Folklore
Subject: RE: Folklore: Oak Trees in Folklore
Well, for Robin Hood and his merry men, the 'bower' sounds like the right place to be, according to Child's Ballad No. 150 -- Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
"14 When bold Robin Hood his Marian did see,
Good lord, what clipping was there!
With kind imbraces, and jobbing of faces,
Providing of gallant cheer.
15 For Little John took his bow in his hand,
And wandring in the wood,
To kill the deer, and make good chear,
For Marian and Robin Hood.
16 A stately banquet the[y] had full soon,
All in a shaded bower,
Where venison sweet they had to eat,
And were merry that present hour.
17 Great flaggons of wine were set on the board,
And merrily they drunk round
Their boules of sack, to strengthen the back,
Whilst their knees did touch the ground."
Lusty drunken tree-huggin "bowerish" lot that they were! Seems like they've won just about all the "tricks" too (he he he), including the trick of remaining fertile ground for the birth of fresh new myths, legends and songs for almost a millenium.
Now, I wonder if that particular "bower" mentioned in the ballad was fashioned by twining together the boughs and vines of the Major Oak ...
;>) daylia