maid marian(女孩马丽安)-第12章
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that she knew a true man from a false thief； and a free forester from a
greedy abbot。
〃Thus you see；〃 added the sheriff； 〃how this villain perverts the
deluded people by making them believe that those who tithe and toll upon
them for their spiritual and temporal benefit are not their best friends and
fatherly guardians； for he holds that in giving to boors and old women
what he takes from priests and peers； he does but restore to the former
what the latter had taken from them； and this the impudent varlet calls
distributive justice。 Judge now if any loyal subject can be safe in such
neighbourhood。〃
While the sheriff was thus enlightening his companion concerning the
offenders； and whetting his own indignation against them； the sun was fast
sinking to the west。 They rode on till they came in view of a bridge；
which they saw a party approaching from the opposite side； and the knight
presently discovered that the party consisted of the lady Matilda and friar
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Michael； young Gamwell； cousin Robin； and about half…a…dozen foresters。
The knight pointed out the earl to the sheriff； who exclaimed； 〃Here； then；
we have him an easy prey；〃 and they rode on manfully towards the bridge；
on which the other party made halt。
〃Who be these；〃 said the friar； 〃that come riding so fast this way？ Now；
as God shall judge me； it is that false knight Sir Ralph Montfaucon； and
the sheriff of Nottingham； with a posse of men。 We must make good our
post； and let them dislodge us if they may。〃
The two parties were now near enough to parley； and the sheriff and
the knight； advancing in the front of the cavalcade； called on the lady； the
friar； young Gamwell； and the foresters； to deliver up that false…traitor；
Robert； formerly Earl of Huntingdon。 Robert himself made answer by
letting fly an arrow that struck the ground between the fore feet of the
sheriff's horse。 The horse reared up from the whizzing； and lodged the
sheriff in the dust； and； at the same time； the fair Matilda favoured the
knight with an arrow in his right arm； that compelled him to withdraw
from the affray。 His men lifted the sheriff carefully up； and replaced him
on his horse； whom he immediately with great rage and zeal urged on to
the assault with his fifty men at his heels； some of whom were intercepted
in their advance by the arrows of the foresters and Matilda； while the friar；
with an eight…foot staff； dislodged the sheriff a second time； and laid on
him with all the vigour of the church militant on earth； in spite of his
ejaculations of 〃Hey； friar Michael！ What means this； honest friar？ Hold；
ghostly friar！ Hold； holy friar！〃till Matilda interposed； and delivered
the battered sheriff to the care of the foresters。 The friar continued
flourishing his staff among the sheriff's men； knocking down one；
breaking the ribs of another； dislocating the shoulder of a third； flattening
the nose of a fourth； cracking the skull of a fifth； and pitching a sixth into
the river； till the few； who were lucky enough to escape with whole bones；
clapped spurs to their horses and fled for their lives； under a farewell
volley of arrows。
Sir Ralph's squire； meanwhile； was glad of the excuse of attending his
master's wound to absent himself from the battle； and put the poor knight
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to a great deal of unnecessary pain by making as long a business as
possible of extracting the arrow； which he had not accomplished when
Matilda； approaching； extracted it with great facility； and bound up the
wound with her scarf； saying； 〃I reclaim my arrow； sir knight； which
struck where I aimed it； to admonish you to desist from your enterprise。 I
could as easily have lodged it in your heart。〃
〃It did not need；〃 said the knight； with rueful gallantry； 〃you have
lodged one there already。〃
〃If you mean to say that you love me；〃 said Matilda； 〃it is more than I
ever shall you： but if you will show your love by no further interfering
with mine； you will at least merit my gratitude。〃
The knight made a wry face under the double pain of heart and body
caused at the same moment by the material or martial； and the
metaphorical or erotic arrow； of which the latter was thus barbed by a
declaration more candid than flattering； but he did not choose to put in any
such claim to the lady's gratitude as would bar all hopes of her love： he
therefore remained silent； and the lady and her escort； leaving him and the
sheriff to the care of the squire； rode on till they came in sight of
Arlingford Castle； when they parted in several directions。 The friar rode
off alone； and after the foresters had lost sight of him they heard his voice
through the twilight； singing；
A staff； a staff； of a young oak graff； That is both stoure and
stiff； Is all a good friar can needs desire To shrive a proud sheriffe。
And thou； fine fellowe； who hast tasted so Of the forester's
greenwood game； Wilt be in no haste thy time to waste In seeking
more taste of the same： Or this can I read thee； and riddle thee well；
Thou hadst better by far be the devil in hell； Than the sheriff of
Nottinghame。
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CHAPTER VII
Now； master sheriff； what's your will with me？ Henry IV。
Matilda had carried her point with the baron of ranging at liberty
whithersoever she would； under her positive promise to return home； she
was a sort of prisoner on parole： she had obtained this indulgence by
means of an obsolete habit of always telling the truth and keeping her
word； which our enlightened age has discarded with other barbarisms； but
which had the effect of giving her father so much confidence in her； that
he could not help considering her word a better security than locks and
bars。
The baron had been one of the last to hear of the rumours of the new
outlaws of Sherwood； as Matilda had taken all possible precautions to
keep those rumours from his knowledge； fearing that they might cause the
interruption of her greenwood liberty； and it was only during her absence
at Gamwell feast； that the butler； being thrown off his guard by liquor；
forgot her injunctions； and regaled the baron with a long story of the right
merry adventure of Robin Hood and the abbot of Doubleflask。
The baron was one morning； as usual； cutting his way valorously
through a rampart of cold provision； when his ears were suddenly assailed
by a tremendous alarum； and sallying forth； and looking from his castle
wall； he perceived
