What binds the hunter to the hunted?
A quote from the 1985-1987 series Robin of Sherwood, said by the mystical Herne the Hunter to Robin Hood.
The answer to the question is
- the arrow.
In most of the Robin Hood stories, Robin wins a large archery tournament - much to the annoyance of the Sheriff of Nottingham - and his prize is the silver arrow.
The arrow from the 1980’s tv series resembles a crossbow bolt rather than an archery arrow .
The arrow from the recent BBC series is a better shape.
When as the sheriff of Nottingham
Was come, with mickle grief,
He talkd no good of Robin Hood,
That strong and sturdy thief.
Fal lal dal de
So unto London-road he past,
His losses to unfold
To King Richard, who did regard
The tale that he had told.
Why,' quoth the king, 'what shall I do?
Art thou not sheriff for me?
The law is in force, go take thy course
Of them that injure thee.
'Go get thee gone, and by thyself
Devise some tricking game
For to enthral yon rebels all;
Go take thy course with them.'
So away the sheriff he returnd,
And by the way he thought
Of the words of the king, and how the thing
To pass might well be brought.
For within his mind he imagined
That when such matches were,
Those outlaws stout, without [all] doubt,
Would be the bowmen there.