the merry adventures of robin hood-第61章

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And　now　came　the　first　gust　of　wind；　rushing　past　the　place；　clapping　and　banging　the　doors　and　shutters；　smelling　of　the　coming　rain；　and　all　wrapped　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　leaves。　As　though　the　wind　had　brought　a　guest　along　with　it；　the　door　opened　of　a　sudden　and　in　came　a　friar　of　Emmet　Priory；　and　one　in　high　degree；　as　was　shown　by　the　softness　and　sleekness　of　his　robes　and　the　richness　of　his　rosary。　　He　called　to　the　landlord；　and　bade　him　first　have　his　mule　well　fed　and　bedded　in　the　stable；　and　then　to　bring　him　the　very　best　there　was　in　the　house。　So　presently　a　savory　stew　of　tripe　and　onions；　with　sweet　little　fat　dumplings；　was　set　before　him；　likewise　a　good　stout　pottle　of　Malmsey；　and　straightway　the　holy　friar　fell　to　with　great　courage　and　heartiness；　so　that　in　a　short　time　nought　was　left　but　a　little　pool　of　gravy　in　the　center　of　the　platter；　not　large　enow　to　keep　the　life　in　a　starving　mouse。

In　the　meantime　the　storm　broke。　　Another　gust　of　wind　went　rushing　by；　and　with　it　fell　a　few　heavy　drops　of　rain；　which　presently　came　rattling　down　in　showers；　beating　against　the　casements　like　a　hundred　little　hands。　Bright　flashes　of　lightning　lit　up　every　raindrop；　and　with　them　came　cracks　of　thunder　that　went　away　rumbling　and　bumping　as　though　Saint　Swithin　were　busy　rolling　great　casks　of　water　across　rough　ground　overhead。　The　womenfolks　screamed；　and　the　merry　wags　in　the　taproom　put　their　arms　around　their　waists　to　soothe　them　into　quietness。

At　last　the　holy　friar　bade　the　landlord　show　him　to　his　room；　but　when　he　heard　that　he　was　to　bed　with　a　cobbler；　he　was　as　ill　contented　a　fellow　as　you　could　find　in　all　England；　nevertheless　there　was　nothing　for　it；　and　he　must　sleep　there　or　nowhere；　so；　taking　up　his　candle；　he　went　off；　grumbling　like　the　now　distant　thunder。　When　he　came　to　the　room　where　he　was　to　sleep　he　held　the　light　over　Robin　and　looked　at　him　from　top　to　toe；　then　he　felt　better　pleased；　for；　instead；　of　a　rough；　dirty…bearded　fellow；　he　beheld　as　fresh　and　clean　a　lad　as　one　could　find　in　a　week　of　Sundays；　so；　slipping　off　his　clothes；　he　also　huddled　into　the　bed；　where　Robin；　grunting　and　grumbling　in　his　sleep；　made　room　for　him。　Robin　was　more　sound　asleep；　I　wot；　than　he　had　been　for　many　a　day；　else　he　would　never　have　rested　so　quietly　with　one　of　the　friar's　sort　so　close　beside　him。　　As　for　the　friar；　had　he　known　who　Robin　Hood　was；　you　may　well　believe　he　would　almost　as　soon　have　slept　with　an　adder　as　with　the　man　he　had　for　a　bedfellow。

So　the　night　passed　comfortably　enough；　but　at　the　first　dawn　of　day　Robin　opened　his　eyes　and　turned　his　head　upon　the　pillow。　Then　how　he　gaped　and　how　he　stared；　for　there　beside　him　lay　one　all　shaven　and　shorn；　so　that　he　knew　that　it　must　be　a　fellow　in　holy　orders。　He　pinched　himself　sharply；　but；　finding　he　was　awake；　sat　up　in　bed；　while　the　other　slumbered　as　peacefully　as　though　he　were　safe　and　sound　at　home　in　Emmet　Priory。　　〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin　to　himself；　〃I　wonder　how　this　thing　hath　dropped　into　my　bed　during　the　night。〃　So　saying；　he　arose　softly；　so　as　not　to　waken　the　other；　and　looking　about　the　room　he　espied　the　friar's　clothes　lying　upon　a　bench　near　the　wall。　　First　he　looked　at　the　clothes；　with　his　head　on　one　side；　and　then　he　looked　at　the　friar　and　slowly　winked　one　eye。　Quoth　he；　〃Good　Brother　What…e'er…thy…name…may…be；　as　thou　hast　borrowed　my　bed　so　freely　I'll　e'en　borrow　thy　clothes　in　return。〃　So　saying；　he　straightway　donned　the　holy　man's　garb；　but　kindly　left　the　cobbler's　clothes　in　the　place　of　it。　　Then　he　went　forth　into　the　freshness　of　the　morning；　and　the　stableman　that　was　up　and　about　the　stables　opened　his　eyes　as　though　he　saw　a　green　mouse　before　him；　for　such　men　as　the　friars　of　Emmet　were　not　wont　to　be　early　risers；　but　the　man　bottled　his　thoughts；　and　only　asked　Robin　whether　he　wanted　his　mule　brought　from　the　stable。

〃Yea；　my　son；〃　quoth　Robinalbeit　he　knew　nought　of　the　mule〃and　bring　it　forth　quickly；　I　prythee；　for　I　am　late　and　must　be　jogging。〃　So　presently　the　stableman　brought　forth　the　mule；　and　Robin　mounted　it　and　went　on　his　way　rejoicing。

As　for　the　holy　friar；　when　he　arose　he　was　in　as　pretty　a　stew　as　any　man　in　all　the　world；　for　his　rich；　soft　robes　were　gone；　likewise　his　purse　with　ten　golden　pounds　in　it；　and　nought　was　left　but　patched　clothes　and　a　leathern　apron。　　He　raged　and　swore　like　any　layman；　but　as　his　swearing　mended　nothing　and　the　landlord　could　not　aid　him；　and　as；　moreover；　he　was　forced　to　be　at　Emmet　Priory　that　very　morning　upon　matters　of　business；　he　was　fain　either　to　don　the　cobbler's　clothes　or　travel　the　road　in　nakedness。　So　he　put　on　the　clothes；　and；　still　raging　and　swearing　vengeance　against　all　the　cobblers　in　Derbyshire；　he　set　forth　upon　his　way　afoot；　but　his　ills　had　not　yet　done　with　him；　for　he　had　not　gone　far　ere　he　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　King's　men；　who　marched　him　off；　willy…nilly；　to　Tutbury　Town　and　the　Bishop　of　Hereford。　　In　vain　he　swore　he　was　a　holy　man；　and　showed　his　shaven　crown；　off　he　must　go；　for　nothing　would　do　but　that　he　was　Robin　Hood。

Meanwhile　merry　Robin　rode　along　contentedly；　passing　safely　by　two　bands　of　the　King's　men；　until　his　heart　began　to　dance　within　him　because　of　the　nearness　of　Sherwood；　so　he　traveled　ever　on　to　the　eastward；　till；　of　a　sudden；　he　met　a　noble　knight　in　a　shady　lane。　Then　Robin　checked　his　mule　quickly　and　leaped　from　off　its　back。　〃Now；　well　met；　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；〃　cried　he；　〃for　rather　than　any　other　man　in　England　would　I　see　thy　good　face　this　day！〃　Then　he　told　Sir　Richard　all　the　happenings　that　had　befallen　him；　and　that　now　at　last　he　felt　himself　safe；　being　so　nigh　to　Sherwood　again。　But　when　Robin　had　done；　Sir　Richard　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Thou　art　in　greater　danger　now；　Robin；　than　thou　hast　yet　been；〃　said　he；　〃for　before　thee　lie　bands　of　the　Sheriff's　men　blocking　every　road　and　letting　none　pass　through　the　lines　without　examining　them　closely。　　I　myself　know　this；　having　passed　them　but　now。　Before　thee　lie　the　Sheriffs　men　and　behind　thee　the　King's　men；　and　thou　canst　not　hope　to　pass　either　way；　for　by　this　time　they　will　know　of　thy　disguise　and　will　be　in　waiting　to　seize　upon　thee。　My　castle　and　everything　within　it　are　thine；　but　nought　could　be　gained　there；　for　I　could　not　hope　to　hold　it　against　such　a　force　as　is　now　in　Nottingham　of　the　King's　and　the　Sheriffs　men。〃　Having　so　spoken；　Sir　Richard　bent　his　head　in　thought；　and　Robin　felt　his　heart　sink　within　him　like　that　of　the　fox　that　hears　the　hounds　at　his　heels　and　finds　his　den　blocked　with　earth　so　that　there　is　no　hiding　for　him。　　But　presently　Sir　Richard　spoke　again；　saying；　〃One　thing　thou　canst　do；　Robin；　and　one　only。　Go　back　to　London　and　throw　thyself　upon　the　mercy　of　our　good　Queen　Eleanor。　　Come　with　me　straightway　to　my　castle。　Doff　these　clothes　and　put　on　such　as　my　retainers　wear。　Then　I　will　hie　me　to　London　Town　with　a　troop　of　men　behind　me；　and　thou　shalt　mingle　with　them；　and　thus　will　I　bring　thee　to　where　thou　mayst　see　and　speak　with　the　Queen。　　Thy　only　hope　is　to　get　to　Sherwood；　for　there　none　can　reach　thee；　and　thou　wilt　never　get　to　Sherwood　but　in　this　way。〃

So　Robin　went　with　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　and　did　as　he　said；　for　he　saw　the　wisdom　of　that　which　the　knight　advised；　and　that　this　was　his　only　chance　of　safety。


Queen　Eleanor　walked　in　her　royal　garden；　amid　the　roses　that　bloomed　sweetly；　and　with　her　walked　six　of　her　ladies…in…waiting；　chattering　blithely　together。　　Of　a　sudden　a　man　leaped　up　to　the　top　of　the　wall　from　the　other　side；　and　then；　hanging　for　a　moment；　dropped　lightly　upon　the　grass　within。　All　the　ladies…in…waiting　shrieked　at　the　suddenness　of　his　coming；　but　the　man　ran　to　the　Queen　and　kneeled　at　her　feet；　and　she　saw　that　it　was　Robin　Hood。

〃Why；　how　now；　Robin！〃　cried　she；　〃dost　thou　dare　to　come　into　the　very　jaws　of　the　raging　lion？　　Alas；　poor　fellow！　Thou　art　lost　indeed　if　the　King　finds　thee　here。　Dost　thou　not　know　that　he　is　seeking　thee　through　all　the　land？〃

〃Yea；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　do　know　right　well　that　the　King　seeks　me；　and　therefore　I　have　come；　for；　surely；　no