the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


beneath　their　robes？　　Ha！　　By　my　faith；　I　take　thee　to　be
some　lusty　thief；　and　perhaps　one　of　Robin　Hood's　own　band！
Now；　by　Our　Lady's　grace；　if　thou　movest　hand　or　foot；
I　will　run　thee　through　the　body　with　my　sword！〃

Then　he　flashed　forth　his　bright　sword　and　leaped　upon　Will　Stutely；
thinking　he　would　take　him　unaware；　but　Stutely　had　his　own　sword
tightly　held　in　his　hand；　beneath　his　robe；　so　he　drew　it　forth　before
the　constable　came　upon　him。　　Then　the　stout　constable　struck　a　mighty　blow；
but　he　struck　no　more　in　all　that　fight；　for　Stutely；　parrying　the　blow
right　deftly；　smote　the　constable　back　again　with　all　his　might。
Then　he　would　have　escaped；　but　could　not；　for　the　other；　all　dizzy
with　the　wound　and　with　the　flowing　blood；　seized　him　by　the　knees　with
his　arms　even　as　he　reeled　and　fell。　　Then　the　others　rushed　upon　him；
and　Stutely　struck　again　at　another　of　the　Sheriff's　men；　but　the　steel
cap　glanced　the　blow；　and　though　the　blade　bit　deep；　it　did　not　kill。
Meanwhile；　the　constable；　fainting　as　he　was；　drew　Stutely　downward；
and　the　others；　seeing　the　yeoman　hampered　so；　rushed　upon　him　again；
and　one　smote　him　a　blow　upon　the　crown　so　that　the　blood　ran　down　his　face
and　blinded　him。　　Then；　staggering；　he　fell；　and　all　sprang　upon　him；
though　he　struggled　so　manfully　that　they　could　hardly　hold　him　fast。
Then　they　bound　him　with　stout　hempen　cords　so　that　he　could　not　move
either　hand　or　foot；　and　thus　they　overcame　him。

Robin　Hood　stood　under　the　greenwood　tree；　thinking　of　Will　Stutely
and　how　he　might　be　faring；　when　suddenly　he　saw　two　of　his　stout
yeomen　come　running　down　the　forest　path；　and　betwixt　them　ran　buxom
Maken　of　the　Blue　Boar。　　Then　Robin's　heart　fell；　for　he　knew　they
were　the　bearers　of　ill　tidings。

〃Will　Stutely　hath　been　taken；〃　cried　they；　when　they　had　come
to　where　he　stood。

〃And　is　it　thou　that　hast　brought　such　doleful　news？〃
said　Robin　to　the　lass。

〃Ay；　marry；　for　I　saw　it　all；〃　cried　she；　panting　as　the　hare
pants　when　it　has　escaped　the　hounds；　〃and　I　fear　he　is
wounded　sore；　for　one　smote　him　main　shrewdly　i'　the　crown。
They　have　bound　him　and　taken　him　to　Nottingham　Town；　and　ere　I
left　the　Blue　Boar　I　heard　that　he　should　be　hanged　tomorrow　day。〃

〃He　shall　not　be　hanged　tomorrow　day；〃　cried　Robin；　〃or；　if　he　be；
full　many　a　one　shall　gnaw　the　sod；　and　many　shall　have　cause
to　cry　Alack…a…day！〃

Then　he　clapped　his　horn　to　his　lips　and　blew　three　blasts　right　loudly；
and　presently　his　good　yeomen　came　running　through　the　greenwood　until
sevenscore　bold　blades　were　gathered　around　him。

〃Now　hark　you　all！〃　cried　Robin。　　〃Our　dear　companion　Will　Stutely
hath　been　taken　by　that　vile　Sheriff's　men；　therefore　doth　it
behoove　us　to　take　bow　and　brand　in　hand　to　bring　him　off　again；
for　I　wot　that　we　ought　to　risk　life　and　limb　for　him；　as　he　hath
risked　life　and　limb　for　us。　　Is　it　not　so；　my　merry　men　all？〃
Then　all　cried；　〃Ay！〃　with　a　great　voice。

So　the　next　day　they　all　wended　their　way　from　Sherwood　Forest；
but　by　different　paths；　for　it　behooved　them　to　be　very　crafty；
so　the　band　separated　into　parties　of　twos　and　threes；
which　were　all　to　meet　again　in　a　tangled　dell　that　lay　near
to　Nottingham　Town。　　Then；　when　they　had　all　gathered　together
at　the　place　of　meeting；　Robin　spoke　to　them　thus：

〃Now　we　will　lie　here　in　ambush　until　we　can　get　news；　for　it　doth　behoove
us　to　be　cunning　and　wary　if　we　would　bring　our　friend　Will　Stutely　off
from　the　Sheriff's　clutches。〃

So　they　lay　hidden　a　long　time；　until　the　sun　stood　high　in　the　sky。
The　day　was　warm　and　the　dusty　road　was　bare　of　travelers；　except　an　aged
palmer　who　walked　slowly　along　the　highroad　that　led　close　beside
the　gray　castle　wall　of　Nottingham　Town。　　When　Robin　saw　that　no
other　wayfarer　was　within　sight；　he　called　young　David　of　Doncaster；
who　was　a　shrewd　man　for　his　years；　and　said　to　him；　〃Now　get　thee　forth；
young　David；　and　speak　to　yonder　palmer　that　walks　beside　the　town　wall；
for　he　hath　come　but　now　from　Nottingham　Town；　and　may　tell　thee　news
of　good　Stutely；　perchance。〃

So　David　strode　forth；　and　when　he　came　up　to　the　pilgrim；
he　saluted　him　and　said；　〃Good　morrow；　holy　father；　and　canst　thou
tell　me　when　Will　Stutely　will　be　hanged　upon　the　gallows　tree？
I　fain　would　not　miss　the　sight；　for　I　have　come　from　afar　to　see
so　sturdy　a　rogue　hanged。〃

〃Now；　out　upon　thee；　young　man；〃　cried　the　Palmer；　〃that　thou
shouldst　speak　so　when　a　good　stout　man　is　to　be　hanged　for
nothing　but　guarding　his　own　life！〃　　And　he　struck　his　staff　upon
the　ground　in　anger。　　〃Alas；　say　I；　that　this　thing　should　be！
For　even　this　day；　toward　evening；　when　the　sun　falleth　low；　he　shall
be　hanged；　fourscore　rods　from　the　great　town　gate　of　Nottingham；
where　three　roads　meet；　for　there　the　Sheriff　sweareth　he　shall
die　as　a　warning　to　all　outlaws　in　Nottinghamshire。　　But　yet；
I　say　again；　Alas！　　For；　though　Robin　Hood　and　his　band　may　be　outlaws；
yet　he　taketh　only　from　the　rich　and　the　strong　and　the　dishonest　man；
while　there　is　not　a　poor　widow　nor　a　peasant　with　many　children；
nigh　to　Sherwood；　but　has　barley　flour　enough　all　the　year　long
through　him。　　It　grieves　my　heart　to　see　one　as　gallant　as　this
Stutely　die；　for　I　have　been　a　good　Saxon　yeoman　in　my　day；　ere　I
turned　palmer；　and　well　I　know　a　stout　hand　and　one　that　smiteth
shrewdly　at　a　cruel　Norman　or　a　proud　abbot　with　fat　moneybags。
Had　good　Stutely's　master　but　known　how　his　man　was　compassed
about　with　perils；　perchance　he　might　send　succor　to　bring　him
out　of　the　hand　of　his　enemies。

〃Ay；　marry；　that　is　true；〃　cried　the　young　man。　　〃If　Robin　and　his　men
be　nigh　this　place；　I　wot　right　well　they　will　strive　to　bring　him　forth
from　his　peril。　　But　fare　thee　well；　thou　good　old　man；　and　believe　me；
if　Will　Stutely　die；　he　shall　be　right　well　avenged。〃

Then　he　turned　and　strode　rapidly　away；　but　the　Palmer　looked
after　him；　muttering；　〃I　wot　that　youth　is　no　country　hind　that　hath
come　to　see　a　good　man　die。　　Well；　well；　perchance　Robin　Hood
is　not　so　far　away　but　that　there　will　be　stout　doings　this　day。〃
So　he　went　upon　his　way；　muttering　to　himself。

When　David　of　Doncaster　told　Robin　Hood　what　the　Palmer　had　said　to　him；
Robin　called　the　band　around　him　and　spoke　to　them　thus：

〃Now　let　us　get　straightway　into　Nottingham　Town　and　mix　ourselves
with　the　people　there；　but　keep　ye　one　another　in　sight；　pressing　as　near
the　prisoner　and　his　guards　as　ye　can；　when　they　come　outside　the　walls。
Strike　no　man　without　need；　for　I　would　fain　avoid　bloodshed；　but　if　ye
do　strike；　strike　hard；　and　see　that　there　be　no　need　to　strike　again。
Then　keep　all　together　until　we　come　again　to　Sherwood；　and　let　no　man
leave　his　fellows。〃

The　sun　was　low　in　the　western　sky　when　a　bugle　note　sounded　from
the　castle　wall。　　Then　all　was　bustle　in　Nottingham　Town　and　crowds
filled　the　streets；　for　all　knew　that　the　famous　Will　Stutely　was　to　be
hanged　that　day。　　Presently　the　castle　gates　opened　wide　and　a　great
array　of　men…at…arms　came　forth　with　noise　and　clatter；　the　Sheriff；
all　clad　in　shining　mail　of　linked　chain；　riding　at　their　head。
In　the　midst　of　all　the　guard；　in　a　cart；　with　a　halter　about　his　neck；
rode　Will　Stutely。　　His　face　was　pale　with　his　wound　and　with　loss
of　blood；　like　the　moon　in　broad　daylight；　and　his　fair　hair　was
clotted　in　points　upon　his　forehead；　where　the　blood　had　hardened。
When　he　came　forth　from　the　castle　he　looked　up　and　he　looked　down；
but　though　he　saw　some　faces　that　showed　pity　and　some　that　showed
friendliness；　he　saw　none　that　he　knew。　　Then　his　heart　sank　within
him　like　a　plummet　of　lead；　but　nevertheless　he　spoke　up　boldly。

〃Give　a　sword　into　my　hand；　Sir　Sheriff；〃　said　he；　〃and　wounded　man　though
I　be；　I　will　fight　thee　and　all　thy　men　till　life　and　strength　be　gone。〃

〃Nay；　thou　naughty　varlet；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff；　turning　his　head　and　looking
right　grimly　upon　Will　Stutely；　〃thou　shalt　have　no　sword　but　shall　die
a　mean　death；　as　beseemeth　a　vile　thief　like　thee。〃

〃Then　do　but　untie　my　hands　and　I　will　fight　thee　and　thy　men
with　no　weapon　but　only　my　naked　fists。　　I　crave　no　w