3-101-384 - "Royal Academy of Arts, London"/Heritage Images

Robin Goodfellow, 1842. Illustrated poem. 'From Oberon in fairye land, The king of ghosts and shadowes there, Mad Robin I, at his command, Am sent to viewe the night-sports here. What revell rout Is kept about, In every corner where I go, I will o'ersee, and merry bee, And make good sport, with ho, ho, ho! More swift than lightening can I flye About this aery welkin soone, And, in a minutes space, descrye Each thing thats done belowe the moone, Theres not a hag Or ghost shall wag, Or cry, ware Goblins ! where I go ; But Robin I their feates will spy, And send them home, with ho, ho, ho!' From "The Book of British Ballads, S. C. Hall (ed.) [London: Jeremiah How, 1842-1844] vol. I, p. 87.