the merry adventures of robin hood-第48章

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　pounds　of　golden　money。　　〃I　thought；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃that　thou　hadst　missed；　in　some　odd　corner　of　thy　pouch；　the　money　that　the　blessed　Saint　had　sent　thee。　　And　now　let　me　see　whether　thou　hast　not　some；　also；　brother。〃　Thereupon　he　thrust　his　hand　into　the　pouch　of　the　fat　Friar　and　drew　thence　a　bag　like　the　other　and　counted　out　from　it　threescore　and　ten　pounds。　〃Look　ye　now；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　knew　the　good　Saint　had　sent　thee　some　pittance　that　thou；　also；　hadst　missed。〃

Then；　giving　them　one　pound　between　them；　he　slipped　the　rest　of　the　money　into　his　own　pouch；　saying；　〃Ye　pledged　me　your　holy　word　that　ye　had　no　money。　　Being　holy　men；　I　trust　that　ye　would　not　belie　your　word　so　pledged；　therefore　I　know　the　good　Saint　Dunstan　hath　sent　this　in　answer　to　my　prayers。　But　as　I　only　prayed　for　ten　shillings　to　be　sent　to　each　of　you；　all　over　and　above　that　belongeth　by　rights　to　me；　and　so　I　take　it。　I　give　you　good　den；　brothers；　and　may　ye　have　a　pleasant　journey　henceforth。〃　　So　saying；　he　turned　and　left　them；　striding　away。　　The　friars　looked　at　one　another　with　a　woeful　look；　and　slowly　and　sadly　they　mounted　their　horses　again　and　rode　away　with　never　a　word。

But　Little　John　turned　his　footsteps　back　again　to　Sherwood　Forest；　and　merrily　he　whistled　as　he　strode　along。

And　now　we　will　see　what　befell　Robin　Hood　in　his　venture　as　beggar。



Robin　Hood　Turns　Beggar

AFTER　JOLLY　ROBIN　had　left　Little　John　at　the　forking　of　the　roads；　he　walked　merrily　onward　in　the　mellow　sunshine　that　shone　about　him。　Ever　and　anon　he　would　skip　and　leap　or　sing　a　snatch　of　song；　for　pure　joyousness　of　the　day；　for；　because　of　the　sweetness　of　the　springtide；　his　heart　was　as　lusty　within　him　as　that　of　a　colt　newly　turned　out　to　grass。　　Sometimes　he　would　walk　a　long　distance；　gazing　aloft　at　the　great　white　swelling　clouds　that　moved　slowly　across　the　deep　blue　sky；　anon　he　would　stop　and　drink　in　the　fullness　of　life　of　all　things；　for　the　hedgerows　were　budding　tenderly　and　the　grass　of　the　meadows　was　waxing　long　and　green；　again　he　would　stand　still　and　listen　to　the　pretty　song　of　the　little　birds　in　the　thickets　or　hearken　to　the　clear　crow　of　the　cock　daring　the　sky　to　rain；　whereat　he　would　laugh；　for　it　took　but　little　to　tickle　Robin's　heart　into　merriment。　So　he　trudged　manfully　along；　ever　willing　to　stop　for　this　reason　or　for　that；　and　ever　ready　to　chat　with　such　merry　lasses　as　he　met　now　and　then。　　So　the　morning　slipped　along；　but　yet　he　met　no　beggar　with　whom　he　could　change　clothes。　Quoth　he；　〃If　I　do　not　change　my　luck　in　haste；　I　am　like　to　have　an　empty　day　of　it；　for　it　is　well　nigh　half　gone　already；　and；　although　I　have　had　a　merry　walk　through　the　countryside；　I　know　nought　of　a　beggar's　life。〃

Then；　after　a　while；　he　began　to　grow　hungry；　whereupon　his　mind　turned　from　thoughts　of　springtime　and　flowers　and　birds　and　dwelled　upon　boiled　capons；　Malmsey；　white　bread；　and　the　like；　with　great　tenderness。　Quoth　he　to　himself；　〃I　would　I　had　Willie　Wynkin's　wishing　coat；　I　know　right　well　what　I　should　wish　for；　and　this　it　should　be。〃　Here　he　marked　upon　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand　with　the　forefinger　of　his　right　hand　those　things　which　he　wished　for。　〃Firstly；　I　would　have　a　sweet　brown　pie　of　tender　larks；　mark　ye；　not　dry　cooked；　but　with　a　good　sop　of　gravy　to　moisten　it　withal。　Next；　I　would　have　a　pretty　pullet；　fairly　boiled；　with　tender　pigeons'　eggs；　cunningly　sliced；　garnishing　the　platter　around。　With　these　I　would　have　a　long；　slim　loaf　of　wheaten　bread　that　hath　been　baked　upon　the　hearth；　it　should　be　warm　from　the　fire；　with　glossy　brown　crust；　the　color　of　the　hair　of　mine　own　Maid　Marian；　and　this　same　crust　should　be　as　crisp　and　brittle　as　the　thin　white　ice　that　lies　across　the　furrows　in　the　early　winter's　morning。　These　will　do　for　the　more　solid　things；　but　with　these　I　must　have　three　potties；　fat　and　round；　one　full　of　Malmsey；　one　of　Canary；　and　one　brimming　full　of　mine　own　dear　lusty　sack。〃　Thus　spoke　Robin　to　himself；　his　mouth　growing　moist　at　the　corners　with　the　thoughts　of　the　good　things　he　had　raised　in　his　own　mind。

So；　talking　to　himself；　he　came　to　where　the　dusty　road　turned　sharply　around　the　hedge；　all　tender　with　the　green　of　the　coming　leaf；　and　there　he　saw　before　him　a　stout　fellow　sitting　upon　a　stile；　swinging　his　legs　in　idleness。　　All　about　this　lusty　rogue　dangled　divers　pouches　and　bags　of　different　sizes　and　kinds；　a　dozen　or　more；　with　great；　wide；　gaping　mouths；　like　a　brood　of　hungry　daws。　His　coat　was　gathered　in　at　his　waist；　and　was　patched　with　as　many　colors　as　there　are　stripes　upon　a　Maypole　in　the　springtide。　On　his　head　he　wore　a　great　tall　leathern　cap；　and　across　his　knees　rested　a　stout　quarterstaff　of　blackthorn；　full　as　long　and　heavy　as　Robin's。　As　jolly　a　beggar　was　he　as　ever　trod　the　lanes　and　byways　of　Nottinghamshire；　for　his　eyes　were　as　gray　as　slate；　and　snapped　and　twinkled　and　danced　with　merriment；　and　his　black　hair　curled　close　all　over　his　head　in　little　rings　of　kinkiness。

〃Halloa；　good　fellow；〃　quoth　Robin；　when　he　had　come　nigh　to　the　other；　〃what　art　thou　doing　here　this　merry　day；　when　the　flowers　are　peeping　and　the　buds　are　swelling？〃

Then　the　other　winked　one　eye　and　straightway　trolled　forth　in　a　merry　voice：

　　　　　〃_I　sit　upon　the　stile；　　　　　　And　I　sing　a　little　while　　As　I　wait　for　my　own　true　dear；　O；　　　　　　For　the　sun　is　shining　bright；　　　　　　And　the　leaves　are　dancing　light；　　And　the　little　fowl　sings　she　is　near；　O_。


〃And　so　it　is　with　me；　bully　boy；　saving　that　my　doxy　cometh　not。〃

〃Now　that　is　a　right　sweet　song；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and；　were　I　in　the　right　mind　to　listen　to　thee；　I　could　bear　well　to　hear　more；　but　I　have　two　things　of　seriousness　to　ask　of　thee；　so　listen；　I　prythee。〃

At　this　the　jolly　Beggar　cocked　his　head　on　one　side；　like　a　rogue　of　a　magpie。　　Quoth　he；　〃I　am　an　ill　jug　to　pour　heavy　things　into；　good　friend；　and；　if　I　mistake　not；　thou　hast　few　serious　words　to　spare　at　any　time。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　jolly　Robin；　〃what　I　would　say　first　is　the　most　serious　of　all　thoughts　to　me；　to　wit；　‘Where　shall　I　get　somewhat　to　eat　and　drink？'　〃

〃Sayst　thou　so？〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃Marry；　I　make　no　such　serious　thoughts　upon　the　matter。　　I　eat　when　I　can　get　it；　and　munch　my　crust　when　I　can　get　no　crumb；　likewise；　when　there　is　no　ale　to　be　had　I　wash　the　dust　from　out　my　throat　with　a　trickle　of　cold　water。　　I　was　sitting　here；　as　thou　camest　upon　me；　bethinking　myself　whether　I　should　break　my　fast　or　no。　I　do　love　to　let　my　hunger　grow　mightily　keen　ere　I　eat；　for　then　a　dry　crust　is　as　good　to　me　as　a　venison　pasty　with　suet　and　raisins　is　to　stout　King　Harry。　　I　have　a　sharp　hunger　upon　me　now；　but　methinks　in　a　short　while　it　will　ripen　to　a　right　mellow　appetite。〃

〃Now；　in　good　sooth；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　laughing；　〃thou　hast　a　quaint　tongue　betwixt　thy　teeth。　　But　hast　thou　truly　nought　but　a　dry　crust　about　thee？　Methinks　thy　bags　and　pouches　are　fat　and　lusty　for　such　thin　fare。〃

〃Why；　mayhap　there　is　some　other　cold　fare　therein；〃　said　the　Beggar　slyly。

〃And　hast　thou　nought　to　drink　but　cold　water？〃　said　Robin。

〃Never　so　much　as　a　drop；〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃Over　beyond　yon　clump　of　trees　is　as　sweet　a　little　inn　as　ever　thou　hast　lifted　eyelid　upon；　but　I　go　not　thither；　for　they　have　a　nasty　way　with　me。　Once；　when　the　good　Prior　of　Emmet　was　dining　there；　the　landlady　set　a　dear　little　tart　of　stewed　crabs　and　barley　sugar　upon　the　window　sill　to　cool；　and；　seeing　it　there；　and　fearing　it　might　be　lost；　I　took　it　with　me　till　that　I　could　find　the　owner　thereof。　Ever　since　then　they　have　acted　very　ill　toward　me；　yet　truth　bids　me　say　that　they　have　the　best　ale　there　that　ever　rolled　over　my　tongue。〃

At　this　Robin　laughed　aloud。　　〃Marry；〃　quoth　he；　〃they　did　ill　toward　thee　for　thy　kindness。　　But　tell　me　truly；　what　hast　thou　in　thy　pouches？〃

〃Why；〃　quoth　the　Beggar；　peeping　into　the　mouths　of　his　bags；　〃I　find　here　a　goodly　piece　of　pigeon　pie；　wrapped　in　a　cabbage　leaf　to　hold　the　gravy。　Here　I　behold　a　dainty　streaked　piece　of　brawn；　and　here　a　fair　lump　of　white　bread。　　Here　I　find　four　oaten　cakes　and　a　cold　knuckle　of　ham。