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第20章

maid marian-第20章

小说: maid marian 字数: 每页4000字

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ed in their flittings from place to place; supplying them with all necessaries and comforts from the reluctant disgorgings of fat abbots and usurers。 The benefit was in some measure mutual; for these cottages served him as resting…places in his removals; and enabled him to travel untraced and unmolested; and in the delight with which he was always received he found himself even more welcome than he would have been at an inn; and this is saying very much for gratitude and affection together。 The smiles which surrounded him were of his own creation; and he participated in the happiness he had bestowed。

The casements began to rattle in the wind; and the rain to beat upon the windows。  The wind swelled to a hurricane; and the rain dashed like a flood against the glass。  The boy retired to his little bed; the wife trimmed the lamp; the husband heaped logs upon the fire: Robin broached another flask; and Marian filled the baron's cup; and sweetened Robin's by touching its edge with her lips。

〃Well;〃 said the baron; 〃give me a roof over my head; be it never so humble。 Your greenwood canopy is pretty and pleasant in sunshine; but if I were doomed to live under it; I should wish it were water…tight。〃

〃But;〃 said Robin; 〃we have tents and caves for foul weather; good store of wine and venison; and fuel in abundance。〃

〃Ay; but;〃 said the baron; 〃I like to pull off my boots of a night; which you foresters seldom do; and to ensconce myself thereafter in a comfortable bed。 Your beech…root is over…hard for a couch; and your mossy stump is somewhat rough for a bolster。〃

〃Had you not dry leaves;〃 said Robin; 〃with a bishop's surplice over them? What would you have softer?  And had you not an abbot's travelling cloak for a coverlet?  What would you have warmer?〃

〃Very true;〃 said the baron; 〃but that was an indulgence to a guest; and I dreamed all night of the sheriff of Nottingham。  I like to feel myself safe;〃 he added; stretching out his legs to the fire; and throwing himself back in his chair with the air of a man determined to be comfortable。 〃I like to feel myself safe;〃 said the baron。

At that moment the woman caught her husband's arm; and all the party following the direction of her eyes; looked simultaneously to the window; where they had just time to catch a glimpse of an apparition of an armed head; with its plumage tossing in the storm; on which the light shone from within; and which disappeared immediately。




CHAPTER XV


O knight; thou lack'st a cup of canary。  When did I see thee so put down?Twelfth Night。


Several knocks; as from the knuckles of an iron glove; were given to the door of the cottage; and a voice was heard entreating shelter from the storm for a traveller who had lost his way。 Robin arose and went to the door。

〃What are you?〃 said Robin。

〃A soldier;〃 replied the voice:  〃an unfortunate adherent of Longchamp; flying the vengeance of Prince John。〃

〃Are you alone?〃 said Robin。

〃Yes;〃 said the voice:  〃it is a dreadful night。  Hospitable cottagers; pray give me admittance。  I would not have asked it but for the storm。 I would have kept my watch in the woods。〃

〃That I believe;〃 said Robin。  〃You did not reckon on the storm when you turned into this pass。  Do you know there are rogues this way?〃

〃I do;〃 said the voice。

〃So do I;〃 said Robin。

A pause ensued; during which Robin listening attentively caught a faint sound of whispering。

〃You are not alone;〃 said Robin。  〃Who are your companions?〃

〃None but the wind and the water;〃 said the voice; 〃and I would I had them not。〃

〃The wind and the water have many voices;〃 said Robin; 〃but I never before heard them say; What shall we do?〃

Another pause ensued:  after which;

〃Look ye; master cottager;〃 said the voice; in an altered tone; 〃if you do not let us in willingly; we will break down the door。〃

〃Ho! ho!〃 roared the baron; 〃you are become plural are you; rascals?  How many are there of you; thieves?  What; I warrant; you thought to rob and murder a poor harmless cottager and his wife; and did not dream of a garrison? You looked for no weapon of opposition but spit; poker; and basting ladle; wielded by unskilful hands:  but; rascals; here is short sword and long cudgel in hands well tried in war; wherewith you shall be drilled into cullenders and beaten into mummy。〃

No reply was made; but furious strokes from without resounded upon the door。  Robin; Marian; and the baron threw by their pilgrim's attire; and stood in arms on the defensive。 They were provided with swords; and the cottager gave them bucklers and helmets; for all Robin's haunts were furnished with secret armouries。  But they kept their swords sheathed; and the baron wielded a ponderous spear; which he pointed towards the door ready to run through the first that should enter; and Robin and Marian each held a bow with the arrow drawn to its head and pointed in the same direction。  The cottager flourished a strong cudgel (a weapon in the use of which he prided himself on being particularly expert); and the wife seized the spit from the fireplace; and held it as she saw the baron hold his spear。 The storm of wind and rain continued to beat on the roof and the casement; and the storm of blows to resound upon the door; which at length gave way with a violent crash; and a cluster of armed men appeared without; seemingly not less than twelve。 Behind them rolled the stream now changed from a gentle and shallow river to a mighty and impetuous torrent; roaring in waves of yellow foam; partially reddened by the light that streamed through the open door; and turning up its convulsed surface in flashes of shifting radiance from restless masses of half…visible shadow。 The stepping…stones; by which the intruders must have crossed; were buried under the waters。  On the opposite bank the light fell on the stems and boughs of the rock…rooted oak and ash tossing and swaying in the blast; and sweeping the flashing spray with their leaves。

The instant the door broke; Robin and Marian loosed their arrows。 Robin's arrow struck one of the assailants in the juncture of the shoulder; and disabled his right arm:  Marian's struck a second in the juncture of the knee; and rendered him unserviceable; for the night。 The baron's long spear struck on the mailed breastplate of a third; and being stretched to its full extent by the long…armed hero; drove him to the edge of the torrent; and plunged him into its eddies; along which he was whirled down the darkness of the descending stream; calling vainly on his comrades for aid; till his voice was lost in the mingled roar of the waters and the wind。  A fourth springing through the door was laid prostrate by the cottager's cudgel: but the wife being less dexterous than her company; though an Amazon in strength; missed her pass at a fifth; and drove the point of the spit several inches into the right hand door…post as she stood close to the left; and thus made a new barrier which the invaders could not pass without dipping under it and submitting their necks to the sword: but one of the assailants seizing it with gigantic rage; shook it at once from the grasp of its holder and from its lodgment in the post; and at the same time made good the irruption of the rest of his party into the cottage。

Now raged an unequal combat; for the assailants fell two to one on Robin; Marian; the baron; and the cottager; while the wife; being deprived of her spit; converted every thing that was at hand to a missile; and rained pots; pans; and pipkins on the armed heads of the enemy。  The baron raged like a tiger; and the cottager laid about him like a thresher。  One of the soldiers struck Robin's sword from his hand and brought him on his knee; when the boy; who had been roused by the tumult and had been peeping through the inner door; leaped forward in his shirt; picked up the sword and replaced it in Robin's hand; who instantly springing up; disarmed and wounded one of his antagonists; while the other was laid prostrate under the dint of a brass cauldron launched by the Amazonian dame。  Robin now turned to the aid of Marian; who was parrying most dexterously the cuts and slashes of her two assailants; of whom Robin delivered her from one; wh

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