“Who bids me stay?” said the Miller in a voice deep and gruff, like the growl of a great dog.
“Marry, that do I,” quoth Robin; “and let me tell thee, friend, thou hadst best mind my bidding.”
“And who art thou, good friend?” said the Miller, throwing the great sack of meal from his shoulder to the ground, “and who are those with thee?”
“We be four good Christian men,” quoth Robin, “and would fain help thee by carrying part of thy heavy load.”
“I give you all thanks,” said the Miller, “but my bag is none that heavy that I cannot carry it e’en by myself.”
“Nay, thou dost mistake,” quoth Robin, “I meant that thou mightest perhaps have some heavy farthings or pence about thee, not to speak of silver and gold. Our good Gaffer Swanthold sayeth that gold is an overheavy burden for a two-legged ass to carry; so we would e’en lift some of this load from thee.”