maid marian-第17章
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〃But;〃 said Little John; 〃this is a bad precedent; master friar。 It is turning discipline into profit; penalty into perquisite; public justice into private revenue。 It is rank corruption; master friar。〃
〃Why are laws made?〃 said the friar。 〃For the profit of somebody。 Of whom? Of him who makes them first; and of others as it may happen。 Was not I legislator in the last article; and shall I not thrive by my own law?〃
〃Well then; sweet Mawd;〃 said the baron; 〃I must leave you; Mawd: your life is very well for the young and the hearty; but it squares not with my age or my humour。 I must house; Mawd。 I must find refuge: but where? That is the question。〃
〃Where Sir Guy of Gamwell has found it;〃 said Robin Hood; 〃near the borders of Barnsdale。 There you may dwell in safety with him and fair Alice; till King Richard return; and Little John shall give you safe conduct。 You will have need to travel with caution; in disguise and without attendants; for Prince John commands all this vicinity; and will doubtless lay the country for you and Marian。 Now it is first expedient to dismiss your retainers。 If there be any among them who like our life; they may stay with us in the greenwood; the rest may return to their homes。〃
Some of the baron's men resolved to remain with Robin and Marian; and were furnished accordingly with suits of green; of which Robin always kept good store。
Marian now declared that as there was danger in the way to Barnsdale; she would accompany Little John and the baron; as she should not be happy unless she herself saw her father placed in security。 Robin was very unwilling to consent to this; and assured her that there was more danger for her than the baron: but Marian was absolute。
〃If so; then;〃 said Robin; 〃I shall be your guide instead of Little John; and I shall leave him and Scarlet joint…regents of Sherwood during my absence; and the voice of Friar Tuck shall be decisive between them if they differ in nice questions of state policy。〃 Marian objected to this; that there was more danger for Robin than either herself or the baron: but Robin was absolute in his turn。
〃Talk not of my voice;〃 said the friar; 〃for if Marian be a damsel errant; I will be her ghostly esquire。〃
Robin insisted that this should not be; for number would only expose them to greater risk of detection。 The friar; after some debate; reluctantly acquiesced。
While they were discussing these matters; they heard the distant sound of horses' feet。
〃Go;〃 said Robin to Little John; 〃and invite yonder horseman to dinner。〃
Little John bounded away; and soon came before a young man; who was riding in a melancholy manner; with the bridle hanging loose on the horse's neck; and his eyes drooping towards the ground。
〃Whither go you?〃 said Little John。
〃Whithersoever my horse pleases;〃 said the young man。
〃And that shall be;〃 said Little John; 〃whither I please to lead him。 I am commissioned to invite you to dine with my master。〃
〃Who is your master?〃 said the young man。
〃Robin Hood;〃 said Little John。
〃The bold outlaw?〃 said the stranger。 〃Neither he nor you should have made me turn an inch aside yesterday; but to…day I care not。〃
〃Then it is better for you;〃 said Little John; 〃that you came to…day than yesterday; if you love dining in a whole skin: for my master is the pink of courtesy: but if his guests prove stubborn; he bastes them and his venison together; while the friar says mass before meat。〃
The young man made no answer; and scarcely seemed to hear what Little John was saying; who therefore took the horse's bridle and led him to where Robin and his foresters were setting forth their dinner。 Robin seated the young man next to Marian。 Recovering a little from his stupor; he looked with much amazement at her; and the baron; and Robin; and the friar; listened to their conversation; and seemed much astonished to find himself in such holy and courtly company。 Robin helped him largely to rumble…pie and cygnet and pheasant; and the other dainties of his table; and the friar pledged him in ale and wine; and exhorted him to make good cheer。 But the young man drank little; ate less; spake nothing; and every now and then sighed heavily。
When the repast was ended; 〃Now;〃 said Robin; 〃you are at liberty to pursue your journey: but first be pleased to pay for your dinner。〃
〃That would I gladly do; Robin;〃 said the young man; 〃but all I have about me are five shillings and a ring。 To the five shillings you shall be welcome; but for the ring I will fight while there is a drop of blood in my veins。〃
〃Gallantly spoken;〃 said Robin Hood。 〃A love…token; without doubt: but you must submit to our forest laws。 Little John must search; and if he find no more than you say; not a penny will I touch; but if you have spoken false; the whole is forfeit to our fraternity。〃
〃And with reason;〃 said the friar; 〃for thereby is the truth maintained The abbot of Doubleflask swore there was no money in his valise; and Little John forthwith emptied it of four hundred pounds。 Thus was the abbot's perjury but of one minute's duration; for though his speech was false in the utterance; yet was it no sooner uttered than it became true; and we should have been participes criminis to have suffered the holy abbot to depart in falsehood: whereas he came to us a false priest; and we sent him away a true man。 Marry; we turned his cloak to further account; and thereby hangs a tale that may be either said or sung; for in truth I am minstrel here as well as chaplain; I pray for good success to our just and necessary warfare; and sing thanks…giving odes when our foresters bring in booty:
Bold Robin has robed him in ghostly attire; And forth he is gone like a holy friar; Singing; hey down; ho down; down; derry down: And of two grey friars he soon was aware; Regaling themselves with dainty fare; All on the fallen leaves so brown。
〃Good morrow; good brothers;〃 said bold Robin Hood; 〃And what make you in the good greenwood; Singing hey down; ho down; down; derry down! Now give me; I pray you; wine and food; For none can I find in the good greenwood; All on the fallen leaves so brown。〃
〃Good brother;〃 they said; 〃we would give you full fain; But we have no more than enough for twain; Singing; hey down; ho down; down; derry down。〃 〃Then give me some money;〃 said bold Robin Hood; 〃For none can I find in the good greenwood; All on the fallen leaves so brown。〃
〃No money have we; good brother;〃 said they: 〃Then;〃 said he; 〃we three for money will pray: Singing; hey down; ho down; down; derry down: And whatever shall come at the end of our prayer; We three holy friars will piously share; All on the fallen leaves so brown。〃
〃We will not pray with thee; good brother; God wot: For truly; good brother; thou pleasest us not; Singing hey down; ho down; down; derry down:〃 Then up they both started from Robin to run; But down on their knees Robin pulled them each one; All on the fallen leaves so brown。
The grey friars prayed with a doleful face; But bold Robin prayed with a right merry grace; Singing; hey down; ho down; down; derry down: And when they had prayed; their portmanteau he took; And from it a hundred good angels he shook; All on the fallen leaves so brown。
〃The saints;〃 said bold Robin; 〃have hearkened our prayer; And here's a good angel apiece for your share: If more you would have; you must win ere you wear: Singing hey down; ho down; down; derry down:〃 Then he blew his good horn with a musical cheer; And fifty green bowmen came trooping full near; And away the grey friars they bounded like deer; All on the fallen leaves so brown。
CHAPTER XIII
What can a young lassie; what shall a young lassie; What can a young lassie do wi'an auld man?BURNS。
〃Here is but five shillings and a ring;〃 said Little John; 〃and the young man has spoken true。〃
〃Then;〃 said Robin to the stranger; 〃if want of money be the cause of your melancholy; speak。 Little John is my treasurer; and he shall disburse to you。〃
〃It is; and it is not;〃 said the stranger; 〃it is; because; had I not wanted money I had never lost my