Now bold Robin Hood to the north would go, With valour and mickle might; With sword by his side, which oft had been try’d, To fight and recover his right. The first that he met was a jolly stout Scot, His servant he said he would be; No quoth Robin Hood, it cannot be good. For thou wilt prove false unto me. Thou hast not been true to sire or cuz: Nay marry, the Scot he said; As true as your heart, I never will part, Good master be not afraid. But e’er I employ you, said bold Robin hood, With you I must have a bout; The Scotchman reply’d, let the battle be try’d, For I know I will beat you out. Thus saying, the contest did quickly begin, Which lasted two hours and more; The blows Sawney gave bold Robin so brave, The battle soon made him give o’er. Have mercy, thou Scotchman, bold Robin Hood cry’d, Full dearly this boon have I bought; We will both agree, and my man you shall be, For a stouter I never have fought. Then Sawney consented with Robin to go, To be of his bowmen so gay; Thus ended the fight, and with mickle delight To Sherwood they hasted away.
Source: “Robin Hood and the Scotchman.” The Robin Hood Garlands and Ballads. Ed. John Mathew Gutch, William Hone, Francis Douce, and Edward Francis Rimbault. London: John Russell Smith and Joseph Lilly, 1750. 392-93. Google Books. Web. 24 June 2011.
How would you describe the rhyme scheme of this poem? ABBA AABB ABAA ABCB