midnight
For , in truth , without your greenwood majesties , we have hardly the wit to live in a body , and at the same time to keep our necks out of jeopardy , while that arch-rebel and traitor John infests the precincts of our territory . '' The friar now conducted them to his peaceful cell , where he spread his frugal board with fish , venison , wild-fowl , fruit , and canary . Under the compound operation of this materia medica Robin 's wounds healed apace , and the friar , who hated minstrelsy , began as usual chirping in his cups . Robin and Marian chimed in with his tuneful humour till the midnight moon peeped in upon their revelry . It was now the very witching time of night , when they heard a voice shouting , `` Over ! '' They paused to listen , and the voice repeated `` Over ! '' in accents clear and loud , but which at the same time either were in themselves , or seemed to be , from the place and the hour , singularly plaintive and dreary .