the merry adventures of robin hood-第51章

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gel　from　his　hand　as　he　fell。　At　this　the　others　ducked　to　avoid　another　blow；　then；　taking　to　their　heels；　scampered；　the　one　one　way　and　the　other　the　other；　as　though　they　had　the　west　wind's　boots　upon　their　feet。　　Robin　looked　after　them；　laughing；　and　thought　that　never　had　he　seen　so　fleet　a　runner　as　the　Lame　man；　but　neither　of　the　beggars　stopped　nor　turned　around；　for　each　felt　in　his　mind　the　wind　of　Robin's　cudgel　about　his　ears。

Then　Robin　turned　to　the　two　stout　knaves　lying　upon　the　ground。　Quoth　he；　〃These　fellows　spake　somewhat　about　certain　moneys　they　were　taking　to　Lincoln；　methinks　I　may　find　it　upon　this　stout　blind　fellow；　who　hath　as　keen　sight　as　e'er　a　trained　woodsman　in　Nottingham　or　Yorkshire。　　It　were　a　pity　to　let　sound　money　stay　in　the　pockets　of　such　thieving　knaves。〃　So　saying；　he　stooped　over　the　burly　rascal　and　searched　among　his　rags　and　tatters；　till　presently　his　fingers　felt　a　leathern　pouch　slung　around　his　body　beneath　his　patched　and　tattered　coat。　　This　he　stripped　away　and；　weighing　it　in　his　hands；　bethought　himself　that　it　was　mighty　heavy。　〃It　were　a　sweet　thing；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃if　this　were　filled　with　gold　instead　of　copper　pence。〃　　Then；　sitting　down　upon　the　grass；　he　opened　the　pocket　and　looked　into　it。　There　he　found　four　round　rolls　wrapped　up　in　dressed　sheepskin；　one　of　these　rolls　he　opened；　then　his　mouth　gaped　and　his　eyes　stared；　I　wot；　as　though　they　would　never　close　again；　for　what　did　he　see　but　fifty　pounds　of　bright　golden　money？　He　opened　the　other　pockets　and　found　in　each　one　the　same；　fifty　bright　new…stamped　golden　pounds。　　Quoth　Robin；　〃I　have　oft　heard　that　the　Beggars'　Guild　was　over…rich；　but　never　did　I　think　that　they　sent　such　sums　as　this　to　their　treasury。　　I　shall　take　it　with　me；　for　it　will　be　better　used　for　charity　and　the　good　of　my　merry　band　than　in　the　enriching　of　such　knaves　as　these。〃　So　saying；　he　rolled　up　the　money　in　the　sheepskin　again；　and　putting　it　back　in　the　purse；　he　thrust　the　pouch　into　his　own　bosom。　Then　taking　up　the　flask　of　Malmsey；　he　held　it　toward　the　two　fellows　lying　on　the　grass；　and　quoth　he；　〃Sweet　friends；　I　drink　your　health　and　thank　you　dearly　for　what　ye　have　so　kindly　given　me　this　day；　and　so　I　wish　you　good　den。〃　Then；　taking　up　his　staff；　he　left　the　spot　and　went　merrily　on　his　way。

But　when　the　two　stout　beggars　that　had　been　rapped　upon　the　head　roused　themselves　and　sat　up；　and　when　the　others　had　gotten　over　their　fright　and　come　back；　they　were　as　sad　and　woebegone　as　four　frogs　in　dry　weather；　for　two　of　them　had　cracked　crowns；　their　Malmsey　was　all　gone；　and　they　had　not　so　much　as　a　farthing　to　cross　their　palms　withal。

But　after　Robin　left　the　little　dell　he　strode　along　merrily；　singing　as　he　went；　and　so　blithe　was　he　and　such　a　stout　beggar；　and；　withal；　so　fresh　and　clean；　that　every　merry　lass　he　met　had　a　sweet　word　for　him　and　felt　no　fear；　while　the　very　dogs；　that　most　times　hate　the　sight　of　a　beggar；　snuffed　at　his　legs　in　friendly　wise　and　wagged　their　tails　pleasantly；　for　dogs　know　an　honest　man　by　his　smell；　and　an　honest　man　Robin　was　in　his　own　way。

Thus　he　went　along　till　at　last　he　had　come　to　the　wayside　cross　nigh　Ollerton；　and；　being　somewhat　tired；　he　sat　him　down　to　rest　upon　the　grassy　bank　in　front　of　it。　　〃It　groweth　nigh　time；〃　quoth　he　to　himself；　〃that　I　were　getting　back　again　to　Sherwood；　yet　it　would　please　me　well　to　have　one　more　merry　adventure　ere　I　go　back　again　to　my　jolly　band。〃




So　he　looked　up　the　road　and　down　the　road　to　see　who　might　come；　until　at　last　he　saw　someone　drawing　near；　riding　upon　a　horse。　When　the　traveler　came　nigh　enough　for　him　to　see　him　well；　Robin　laughed；　for　a　strange　enough　figure　he　cut。　　He　was　a　thin；　wizened　man；　and；　to　look　upon　him；　you　could　not　tell　whether　he　was　thirty　years　old　or　sixty；　so　dried　up　was　he　even　to　skin　and　bone。　As　for　the　nag；　it　was　as　thin　as　the　rider；　and　both　looked　as　though　they　had　been　baked　in　Mother　Huddle's　Oven；　where　folk　are　dried　up　so　that　they　live　forever。

But　although　Robin　laughed　at　the　droll　sight；　he　knew　the　wayfarer　to　be　a　certain　rich　corn　engrosser　of　Worksop；　who　more　than　once　had　bought　all　the　grain　in　the　countryside　and　held　it　till　it　reached　even　famine　prices；　thus　making　much　money　from　the　needs　of　poor　people；　and　for　this　he　was　hated　far　and　near　by　everyone　that　knew　aught　of　him。

So；　after　a　while；　the　Corn　Engrosser　came　riding　up　to　where　Robin　sat；　whereupon　merry　Robin　stepped　straightway　forth；　in　all　his　rags　and　tatters；　his　bags　and　pouches　dangling　about　him；　and　laid　his　hand　upon　the　horse's　bridle　rein；　calling　upon　the　other　to　stop。

〃Who　art　thou；　fellow；　that　doth　dare　to　stop　me　thus　upon　the　King's　highway？〃　said　the　lean　man；　in　a　dry；　sour　voice。

〃Pity　a　poor　beggar；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃Give　me　but　a　farthing　to　buy　me　a　piece　of　bread。〃

〃Now；　out　upon　thee！〃　snarled　the　other。　　〃Such　sturdy　rogues　as　thou　art　are　better　safe　in　the　prisons　or　dancing　upon　nothing；　with　a　hempen　collar　about　the　neck；　than　strolling　the　highways　so　freely。〃

〃Tut；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃how　thou　talkest！　　Thou　and　I　are　brothers；　man。　Do　we　not　both　take　from　the　poor　people　that　which　they　can　ill　spare？　Do　we　not　make　our　livings　by　doing　nought　of　any　good？　Do　we　not　both　live　without　touching　palm　to　honest　work？　Have　we　either　of　us　ever　rubbed　thumbs　over　honestly　gained　farthings？　Go　to！　　We　are　brothers；　I　say；　only　thou　art　rich　and　I　am　poor；　wherefore；　I　prythee　once　more；　give　me　a　penny。〃

〃Doss　thou　prate　so　to　me；　sirrah？〃　cried　the　Corn　Engrosser　in　a　rage。　〃Now　I　will　have　thee　soundly　whipped　if　ever　I　catch　thee　in　any　town　where　the　law　can　lay　hold　of　thee！　　As　for　giving　thee　a　penny；　I　swear　to　thee　that　I　have　not　so　much　as　a　single　groat　in　my　purse。　Were　Robin　Hood　himself　to　take　me；　he　might　search　me　from　crown　to　heel　without　finding　the　smallest　piece　of　money　upon　me。　I　trust　I　am　too　sly　to　travel　so　nigh　to　Sherwood　with　money　in　my　pouch；　and　that　thief　at　large　in　the　woods。〃

Then　merry　Robin　looked　up　and　down；　as　if　to　see　that　there　was　no　one　nigh；　and　then；　coming　close　to　the　Corn　Engrosser；　he　stood　on　tiptoe　and　spake　in　his　ear；　〃Thinkest　thou　in　sooth　that　I　am　a　beggar；　as　I　seem　to　be？　　Look　upon　me。　　There　is　not　a　grain　of　dirt　upon　my　hands　or　my　face　or　my　body。　　Didst　thou　ever　see　a　beggar　so？　I　tell　thee　I　am　as　honest　a　man　as　thou　art。　　Look；　friend。〃　Here　he　took　the　purse　of　money　from　his　breast　and　showed　to　the　dazzled　eyes　of　the　Corn　Engrosser　the　bright　golden　pieces。　〃Friend；　these　rags　serve　but　to　hide　an　honest　rich　man　from　the　eyes　of　Robin　Hood。〃

〃Put　up　thy　money；　lad；〃　cried　the　other　quickly。　　〃Art　thou　a　fool；　to　trust　to　beggar's　rags　to　shield　thee　from　Robin　Hood？　　If　he　caught　thee；　he　would　strip　thee　to　the　skin；　for　he　hates　a　lusty　beggar　as　he　doth　a　fat　priest　or　those　of　my　kind。〃

〃Is　it　indeed　so？〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃Had　I　known　this；　mayhap　I　had　not　come　hereabouts　in　this　garb。　But　I　must　go　forward　now；　as　much　depends　upon　my　journeying。　Where　goest　thou；　friend？〃

〃I　go　to　Grantham；〃　said　the　Corn　Engrosser；　〃but　I　shall　lodge　tonight　at　Newark；　if　I　can　get　so　far　upon　my　way。〃

〃Why；　I　myself　am　on　the　way　to　Newark；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　〃so　that；　as　two　honest　men　are　better　than　one　in　roads　beset　by　such　a　fellow　as　this　Robin　Hood；　I　will　jog　along　with　thee；　if　thou　hast　no　dislike　to　my　company。〃

〃Why；　as　thou　art　an　honest　fellow　and　a　rich　fellow；〃　said　the　Corn　Engrosser；　〃I　mind　not　thy　company；　but；　in　sooth；　I　have　no　great　fondness　for　beggars。〃

〃Then　forward；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃for　the　day　wanes　and　it　will　be　dark　ere　we　reach　Newark。〃　　So　off　they　went；　the　lean　horse　hobbling　along　as　before；　and　Robin　running　beside；　albeit　he　was　so　quaking　with　laughter　within　him　that　he　could　hardly　stand；　yet　he　dared　not　laugh　aloud；　lest　the　Corn　Engrosser　should　suspect　something。　So　they　traveled　along　till　they　reached　a　hill　just　on　the　outskirts　of　Sherwood。　　Here　the　lean　man　checked　his　lean　horse　into　a　walk；　for　the　road　was　steep；　and　he　wished　to　save　his　nag's　strength；　having　far　to　go　ere　he　r