Robin Good-fellow, "be thou a clock, and tell me what time of the day it
is." "I owe thee not so much service," answered he again, "but because thou
shalt think thyself beholden to me, know that it is the same time of the
day as it was yesterday at this time."

These cross-answers vexed Robin Good-fellow, so that in himself he vowed to
be revenged of him, which he did in this manner.

Robin Good-fellow turned himself into a bird, and followed this fellow, who
was going into a field a little from that place to catch a horse that was
at grass. The horse being wild ran over dyke and hedge, and the fellow
after; but to little purpose, for the horse was too swift for him. Robin
was glad of this occasion, for now or never was the time to put his revenge
in action.

Presently Robin shaped himself like to the horse that the fellow followed,
and so stood before the fellow: presently the fellow took hold of him and
got on his back, but long had he not rid, but with a stumble he hurled this
churlish clown to the ground, that he almost broke his neck; yet took he
not this for a sufficient revenge for the cross-answers he had received,
but stood still and let the fellow mount him once more.

In the way the fellow was to ride was a great plash of water of a good
depth: through this must he of necessity ride. No sooner was he in the
midst of it, but Robin Good-fellow left him with nothing but a pack-saddle
betwixt his legs, and in the shape of a fish swam to the shore, and ran
away laughing, _ho, ho, hoh!_[4] leaving the poor fellow almost drowned.

HOW ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW HELPED TWO LOVERS AND DECEIVED AN OLD MAN