the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第23章

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bubbled　up　from　beneath　a　mossy　stone。　　Here；　kneeling　and　making　cups
of　the　palms　of　their　hands；　they　drank　their　fill；　and　then；　the　spot　being
cool　and　shady；　they　stretched　their　limbs　and　rested　them　for　a　space。

In　front　of　them；　over　beyond　the　hedge；　the　dusty　road　stretched
away　across　the　plain；　behind　them　the　meadow　lands　and　bright　green
fields　of　tender　young　corn　lay　broadly　in　the　sun；　and　overhead
spread　the　shade　of　the　cool；　rustling　leaves　of　the　beechen　tree。
Pleasantly　to　their　nostrils　came　the　tender　fragrance　of　the　purple
violets　and　wild　thyme　that　grew　within　the　dewy　moisture　of　the　edge
of　the　little　fountain；　and　pleasantly　came　the　soft　gurgle　of　the　water。
All　was　so　pleasant　and　so　full　of　the　gentle　joy　of　the　bright　Maytime；
that　for　a　long　time　no　one　of　the　three　cared　to　speak；　but　each　lay
on　his　back；　gazing　up　through　the　trembling　leaves　of　the　trees　to
the　bright　sky　overhead。　　At　last；　Robin；　whose　thoughts　were　not　quite
so　busy　wool…gathering　as　those　of　the　others；　and　who　had　been　gazing
around　him　now　and　then；　broke　the　silence。

〃Heyday！〃　quoth　he；　〃yon　is　a　gaily　feathered　bird；　I　take　my　vow。〃

The　others　looked　and　saw　a　young　man　walking　slowly　down　the　highway。
Gay　was　he；　indeed；　as　Robin　had　said；　and　a　fine　figure　he　cut；
for　his　doublet　was　of　scarlet　silk　and　his　stockings　also；
a　handsome　sword　hung　by　his　side；　the　embossed　leathern　scabbard　being
picked　out　with　fine　threads　of　gold；　his　cap　was　of　scarlet　velvet；
and　a　broad　feather　hung　down　behind　and　back　of　one　ear。
His　hair　was　long　and　yellow　and　curled　upon　his　shoulders；
and　in　his　hand　he　bore　an　early　rose；　which　he　smelled　at　daintily
now　and　then。

〃By　my　life！〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　laughing；　〃saw　ye　e'er　such
a　pretty；　mincing　fellow？〃

〃Truly；　his　clothes　have　overmuch　prettiness　for　my　taste；〃　quoth　Arthur
a　Bland；　〃but；　ne'ertheless；　his　shoulders　are　broad　and　his　loins　are　narrow；
and　seest　thou；　good　master；　how　that　his　arms　hang　from　his　body？
They　dangle　not　down　like　spindles；　but　hang　stiff　and　bend　at　the　elbow。
I　take　my　vow；　there　be　no　bread　and　milk　limbs　in　those　fine　clothes；
but　stiff　joints　and　tough　thews。〃

〃Methinks　thou　art　right；　friend　Arthur；〃　said　Little　John。　　〃I　do　verily
think　that　yon　is　no　such　roseleaf　and　whipped…cream　gallant　as　he　would
have　one　take　him　to　be。〃

〃Pah！〃　quoth　Robin　Hood；　〃the　sight　of　such　a　fellow　doth　put
a　nasty　taste　into　my　mouth！　　Look　how　he　doth　hold　that　fair
flower　betwixt　his　thumb　and　finger；　as　he　would　say；　‘Good　rose；
I　like　thee　not　so　ill　but　I　can　bear　thy　odor　for　a　little　while。'
I　take　it　ye　are　both　wrong；　and　verily　believe　that　were
a　furious　mouse　to　run　across　his　path；　he　would　cry；
‘La！'　or　‘Alack…a…day！'　and　fall　straightway　into　a　swoon。
I　wonder　who　he　may　be。〃

〃Some　great　baron's　son；　I　doubt　not；〃　answered　Little　John；
〃with　good　and　true　men's　money　lining　his　purse。〃

〃Ay；　marry；　that　is　true；　I　make　no　doubt；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃What　a　pity
that　such　men　as　he；　that　have　no　thought　but　to　go　abroad　in　gay　clothes；
should　have　good　fellows；　whose　shoes　they　are　not　fit　to　tie；
dancing　at　their　bidding。　　By　Saint　Dunstan；　Saint　Alfred；　Saint　Withold；
and　all　the　good　men　in　the　Saxon　calendar；　it　doth　make　me　mad　to　see
such　gay　lordlings　from　over　the　sea　go　stepping　on　the　necks　of　good　Saxons
who　owned　this　land　before　ever　their　great…grandsires　chewed　rind　of　brawn！
By　the　bright　bow　of　Heaven；　I　will　have　their　ill…gotten　gains　from　them；
even　though　I　hang　for　it　as　high　as　e'er　a　forest　tree　in　Sherwood！〃

〃Why；　how　now；　master；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃what　heat　is　this？
Thou　dost　set　thy　pot　a…boiling；　and　mayhap　no　bacon　to　cook！
Methinks　yon　fellow's　hair　is　overlight　for　Norman　locks。
He　may　be　a　good　man　and　true　for　aught　thou　knowest。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Robin；　〃my　head　against　a　leaden　farthing；　he　is　what　I　say。
So；　lie　ye　both　here；　I　say；　till　I　show　you　how　I　drub　this　fellow。〃
So　saying；　Robin　Hood　stepped　forth　from　the　shade　of　the　beech　tree；
crossed　the　stile；　and　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　with　his　hands
on　his　hips；　in　the　stranger's　path。

Meantime　the　stranger；　who　had　been　walking　so　slowly　that　all　this　talk
was　held　before　he　came　opposite　the　place　where　they　were；　neither　quickened
his　pace　nor　seemed　to　see　that　such　a　man　as　Robin　Hood　was　in　the　world。
So　Robin　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　waiting　while　the　other　walked
slowly　forward；　smelling　his　rose；　and　looking　this　way　and　that；
and　everywhere　except　at　Robin。

〃Hold！〃　cried　Robin；　when　at　last　the　other　had　come　close
to　him。　　〃Hold！　　Stand　where　thou　art！〃

〃Wherefore　should　I　hold；　good　fellow？〃　said　the　stranger　in　soft
and　gentle　voice。　　〃And　wherefore　should　I　stand　where　I　am？
Ne'ertheless；　as　thou　dost　desire　that　I　should　stay；
I　will　abide　for　a　short　time；　that　I　may　hear　what　thou　mayst
have　to　say　to　me。〃

〃Then；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃as　thou　dost　so　fairly　do　as　I　tell　thee；　and　dost
give　me　such　soft　speech；　I　will　also　treat　thee　with　all　due　courtesy。
I　would　have　thee　know；　fair　friend；　that　I　am；　as　it　were；　a　votary　at
the　shrine　of　Saint　Wilfred　who；　thou　mayst　know；　took；　willy…nilly；　all
their　gold　from　the　heathen；　and　melted　it　up　into　candlesticks。
Wherefore；　upon　such　as　come　hereabouts；　I　levy　a　certain　toll；　which　I
use　for　a　better　purpose；　I　hope；　than　to　make　candlesticks　withal。
Therefore；　sweet　chuck；　I　would　have　thee　deliver　to　me　thy　purse；
that　I　may　look　into　it；　and　judge；　to　the　best　of　my　poor　powers；
whether　thou　hast　more　wealth　about　thee　than　our　law　allows。
For；　as　our　good　Gaffer　Swanthold　sayeth；　‘He　who　is　fat　from　overliving
must　needs　lose　blood。'　　〃

All　this　time　the　youth　had　been　sniffing　at　the　rose　that　he　held
betwixt　his　thumb　and　finger。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he　with　a　gentle　smile；
when　Robin　Hood　had　done；　〃I　do　love　to　hear　thee　talk；　thou　pretty　fellow；
and　if；　haply；　thou　art　not　yet　done；　finish；　I　beseech　thee。
I　have　yet　some　little　time　to　stay。〃

〃I　have　said　all；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　now；　if　thou　wilt　give　me　thy　purse；
I　will　let　thee　go　thy　way　without　let　or　hindrance　so　soon　as　I　shall　see
what　it　may　hold。　　I　will　take　none　from　thee　if　thou　hast　but　little。〃

〃Alas！　　It　doth　grieve　me　much；〃　said　the　other；　〃that　I　cannot　do　as　thou
dost　wish。　　I　have　nothing　to　give　thee。　　Let　me　go　my　way；　I　prythee。
I　have　done　thee　no　harm。〃

〃Nay；　thou　goest　not；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃till　thou　hast　shown　me　thy　purse。〃

〃Good　friend；〃　said　the　other　gently；　〃I　have　business　elsewhere。
I　have　given　thee　much　time　and　have　heard　thee　patiently。
Prythee；　let　me　depart　in　peace。〃

〃I　have　spoken　to　thee；　friend；〃　said　Robin　sternly；　〃and　I　now　tell
thee　again；　that　thou　goest　not　one　step　forward　till　thou　hast　done
as　I　bid　thee。〃　　So　saying；　he　raised　his　quarterstaff　above　his　head
in　a　threatening　way。

〃Alas！〃　said　the　stranger　sadly；　〃it　doth　grieve　me　that　this　thing
must　be。　　I　fear　much　that　I　must　slay　thee；　thou　poor　fellow！〃
So　saying；　he　drew　his　sword。

〃Put　by　thy　weapon；〃　quoth　Robin。　　〃I　would　take　no　vantage　of　thee。
Thy　sword　cannot　stand　against　an　oaken　staff　such　as　mine。
I　could　snap　it　like　a　barley　straw。　　Yonder　is　a　good　oaken　thicket
by　the　roadside；　take　thee　a　cudgel　thence　and　defend　thyself　fairly；
if　thou　hast　a　taste　for　a　sound　drubbing。〃

First　the　stranger　measured　Robin　with　his　eye；　and　then
he　measured　the　oaken　staff。　　〃Thou　art　right；　good　fellow；〃
said　he　presently；　〃truly；　my　sword　is　no　match　for　that
cudgel　of　thine。　　Bide　thee　awhile　till　I　get　me　a　staff。〃
So　saying；　he　threw　aside　the　rose　that　he　had　been　holding　all
this　time；　thrust　his　sword　back　into　the　scabbard；　and；　with　a
more　hasty　step　than　he　had　yet　used；　stepped　to　the　roadside
where　grew　the　little　clump　of　ground　oaks　Robin　had　spoken　of。
Choosing　among　them；　he　presently　found　a　sapling　to　his　liking。
He　did　not　cut　it；　but；　rolling　up　his　sleeves　a　little　way；　he　laid　hold
of　it；　placed　his　heel　against　the　ground；　and；　with　one　mighty　pull；
plucked　the　young　tree　up　by　the　roots　from　out　the　very　earth。
Then　he　came　back；　trim