the merry adventures of robin hood-第44章

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or　you；　for　Robin　Hood　would　have　harried　your　town　as　the　kestrel　harries　the　dovecote。　　I　have　bought　the　pipe　of　wine　from　him；　and　now　I　give　it　freely　to　you　to　drink　as　ye　list。　But　never　hereafterward　fall　upon　a　man　for　being　a　stout　yeoman。〃

At　this　all　shouted　amain；　but　in　truth　they　thought　more　of　the　wine　than　of　the　Knight's　words。　　Then　Sir　Richard；　with　David　beside　him　and　his　men…at…arms　around；　turned　about　and　left　the　fair。

But　in　after　days；　when　the　men　that　saw　that　wrestling　bout　were　bent　with　age；　they　would　shake　their　heads　when　they　heard　of　any　stalwart　game；　and　say；　〃Ay；　ay；　but　thou　shouldst　have　seen　the　great　David　of　Doncaster　cast　stout　William　of　the　Scar　at　Denby　fair。〃

Robin　Hood　stood　in　the　merry　greenwood　with　Little　John　and　most　of　his　stout　yeomen　around　him；　awaiting　Sir　Richard's　coming。　At　last　a　glint　of　steel　was　seen　through　the　brown　forest　leaves；　and　forth　from　the　covert　into　the　open　rode　Sir　Richard　at　the　head　of　his　men。　He　came　straight　forward　to　Robin　Hood　and　leaping　from　off　his　horse；　clasped　the　yeoman　in　his　arms。

〃Why；　how　now；〃　said　Robin；　after　a　time；　holding　Sir　Richard　off　and　looking　at　him　from　top　to　toe；　〃methinks　thou　art　a　gayer　bird　than　when　I　saw　thee　last。〃

〃Yes；　thanks　to　thee；　Robin；〃　said　the　Knight；　laying　his　hand　upon　the　yeoman's　shoulder。　　〃But　for　thee　I　would　have　been　wandering　in　misery　in　a　far　country　by　this　time。　　But　I　have　kept　my　word；　Robin；　and　have　brought　back　the　money　that　thou　didst　lend　me；　and　which　I　have　doubled　four　times　over　again；　and　so　become　rich　once　more。　Along　with　this　money　I　have　brought　a　little　gift　to　thee　and　thy　brave　men　from　my　dear　lady　and　myself。〃　　Then；　turning　to　his　men；　he　called　aloud；　〃Bring　forth　the　pack　horses。〃

But　Robin　stopped　him。　　〃Nay；　Sir　Richard；〃　said　he；　〃think　it　not　bold　of　me　to　cross　thy　bidding；　but　we　of　Sherwood　do　no　business　till　after　we　have　eaten　and　drunk。〃　　Whereupon；　taking　Sir　Richard　by　the　hand；　he　led　him　to　the　seat　beneath　the　greenwood　tree；　while　others　of　the　chief　men　of　the　band　came　and　seated　themselves　around。　Then　quoth　Robin；　〃How　cometh　it　that　I　saw　young　David　of　Doncaster　with　thee　and　thy　men；　Sir　Knight？〃

Then　straightway　the　Knight　told　all　about　his　stay　at　Denby　and　of　the　happening　at　the　fair；　and　how　it　was　like　to　go　hard　with　young　David；　so　he　told　his　tale；　and　quoth　he；　〃It　was　this；　good　Robin；　that　kept　me　so　late　on　the　way；　otherwise　I　would　have　been　here　an　hour　agone。〃

Then；　when　he　had　done　speaking；　Robin　stretched　out　his　hand　and　grasped　the　Knight's　palm。　　Quoth　he　in　a　trembling　voice；　〃I　owe　thee　a　debt　I　can　never　hope　to　repay；　Sir　Richard；　for　let　me　tell　thee；　I　would　rather　lose　my　right　hand　than　have　such　ill　befall　young　David　of　Doncaster　as　seemed　like　to　come　upon　him　at　Denby。〃

So　they　talked　until　after　a　while　one　came　forward　to　say　that　the　feast　was　spread；　whereupon　all　arose　and　went　thereto。　When　at　last　it　was　done；　the　Knight　called　upon　his　men　to　bring　the　pack　horses　forward；　which　they　did　according　to　his　bidding。　Then　one　of　the　men　brought　the　Knight　a　strongbox；　which　he　opened　and　took　from　it　a　bag　and　counted　out　five　hundred　pounds；　the　sum　he　had　gotten　from　Robin。

〃Sir　Richard；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃thou　wilt　pleasure　us　all　if　thou　wilt　keep　that　money　as　a　gift　from　us　of　Sherwood。　　Is　it　not　so；　my　lads？〃

Then　all　shouted　〃Ay〃　with　a　mighty　voice。

〃I　thank　you　all　deeply；〃　said　the　Knight　earnestly；　〃but　think　it　not　ill　of　me　if　I　cannot　take　it。　　Gladly　have　I　borrowed　it　from　you；　but　it　may　not　be　that　I　can　take　it　as　a　gift。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　said　no　more　but　gave　the　money　to　Little　John　to　put　away　in　the　treasury；　for　he　had　shrewdness　enough　to　know　that　nought　breeds　ill　will　and　heart　bitterness　like　gifts　forced　upon　one　that　cannot　choose　but　take　them。

Then　Sir　Richard　had　the　packs　laid　upon　the　ground　and　opened；　whereupon　a　great　shout　went　up　that　made　the　forest　ring　again；　for　lo；　there　were　tenscore　bows　of　finest　Spanish　yew；　all　burnished　till　they　shone　again；　and　each　bow　inlaid　with　fanciful　figures　in　silver；　yet　not　inlaid　so　as　to　mar　their　strength。　　Beside　these　were　tenscore　quivers　of　leather　embroidered　with　golden　thread；　and　in　each　quiver　were　a　score　of　shafts　with　burnished　heads　that　shone　like　silver；　each　shaft　was　feathered　with　peacock's　plumes；　innocked　with　silver。

Sir　Richard　gave　to　each　yeoman　a　bow　and　a　quiver　of　arrows；　but　to　Robin　he　gave　a　stout　bow　inlaid　with　the　cunningest　workmanship　in　gold；　while　each　arrow　in　his　quiver　was　innocked　with　gold。

Then　all　shouted　again　for　joy　of　the　fair　gift；　and　all　swore　among　themselves　that　they　would　die　if　need　be　for　Sir　Richard　and　his　lady。

At　last　the　time　came　when　Sir　Richard　must　go；　whereupon　Robin　Hood　called　his　band　around　him；　and　each　man　of　the　yeomen　took　a　torch　in　his　hand　to　light　the　way　through　the　woodlands。　So　they　came　to　the　edge　of　Sherwood；　and　there　the　Knight　kissed　Robin　upon　the　cheeks　and　left　him　and　was　gone。

Thus　Robin　Hood　helped　a　noble　knight　out　of　his　dire　misfortunes；　that　else　would　have　smothered　the　happiness　from　his　life。



Little　John　Turns　Barefoot　Friar

COLD　WINTER　had　passed　and　spring　had　come。　　No　leafy　thickness　had　yet　clad　the　woodlands；　but　the　budding　leaves　hung　like　a　tender　mist　about　the　trees。　　In　the　open　country　the　meadow　lands　lay　a　sheeny　green；　the　cornfields　a　dark　velvety　color；　for　they　were　thick　and　soft　with　the　growing　blades。　The　plowboy　shouted　in　the　sun；　and　in　the　purple　new…turned　furrows　flocks　of　birds　hunted　for　fat　worms。　　All　the　broad　moist　earth　smiled　in　the　warm　light；　and　each　little　green　hill　clapped　its　hand　for　joy。

On　a　deer's　hide；　stretched　on　the　ground　in　the　open　in　front　of　the　greenwood　tree；　sat　Robin　Hood　basking　in　the　sun　like　an　old　dog　fox。　Leaning　back　with　his　hands　clasped　about　his　knees；　he　lazily　watched　Little　John　rolling　a　stout　bowstring　from　long　strands　of　hempen　thread；　wetting　the　palms　of　his　hands　ever　and　anon；　and　rolling　the　cord　upon　his　thigh。　　Near　by　sat　Allan　a　Dale　fitting　a　new　string　to　his　harp。

Quoth　Robin　at　last；　〃Methinks　I　would　rather　roam　this　forest　in　the　gentle　springtime　than　be　King　of　all　merry　England。　　What　palace　in　the　broad　world　is　as　fair　as　this　sweet　woodland　just　now；　and　what　king　in　all　the　world　hath　such　appetite　for　plover's　eggs　and　lampreys　as　I　for　juicy　venison　and　sparkling　ale？　Gaffer　Swanthold　speaks　truly　when　he　saith；　‘Better　a　crust　with　content　than　honey　with　a　sour　heart。'　　〃

〃Yea；〃　quoth　Little　John；　as　he　rubbed　his　new…made　bowstring　with　yellow　beeswax；　〃the　life　we　lead　is　the　life　for　me。　Thou　speakest　of　the　springtime；　but　methinks　even　the　winter　hath　its　own　joys。　　Thou　and　I；　good　master；　have　had　more　than　one　merry　day；　this　winter　past；　at　the　Blue　Boar。　　Dost　thou　not　remember　that　night　thou　and　Will　Stutely　and　Friar　Tuck　and　I　passed　at　that　same　hostelry　with　the　two　beggars　and　the　strolling　friar？〃

〃Yea；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　laughing；　〃that　was　the　night　that　Will　Stutely　must　needs　snatch　a　kiss　from　the　stout　hostess；　and　got　a　canakin　of　ale　emptied　over　his　head　for　his　pains。〃

〃Truly；　it　was　the　same；〃　said　Little　John；　laughing　also。　〃Methinks　that　was　a　goodly　song　that　the　strolling　friar　sang。　Friar　Tuck；　thou　hast　a　quick　ear　for　a　tune；　dost　thou　not　remember　it？〃

〃I　did　have　the　catch　of　it　one　time；〃　said　Tuck。　　〃Let　me　see；〃　and　he　touched　his　forefinger　to　his　forehead　in　thought；　humming　to　himself；　and　stopping　ever　and　anon　to　fit　what　he　had　got　to　what　he　searched　for　in　his　mind。　At　last　he　found　it　all　and　clearing　his　throat；　sang　merrily：

　〃_In　the　blossoming　hedge　the　robin　cock　sings；　　　　　　For　the　sun　it　is　merry　and　bright；　　And　he　joyfully　hops　and　he　flutters　his　wings；　　　　　　For　his　heart　is　all　full　of　delight。　　　　　　　　　　　For　the　May　bloometh　fair；　　　　　　　　　　　And　there's　little　of　care；　　And　plenty　to　eat　in　the　Maytime　rare。　　　　　　　　　　　When　the　flowers　all　die；　　　　　　　　　　　Then　off　he　will　fly；　　　　　　　　　　　To　keep　himself　warm　　　　　　　　　　　In　some　jolly　old　barn　　Where　the　snow　and　the　wind　n