the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第25章
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〃With all my heart；〃 quoth Little John。 〃But； good master；
I thought that thou didst love a merry story； because thou hast
so often made a jest about a certain increase of fatness on my joints；
of flesh gathered by my abiding with the Sheriff of〃
〃Nay； good Little John；〃 said Robin hastily； 〃I do bethink me
I have said full enough on that score。〃
〃It is well；〃 quoth Little John； 〃for in truth I myself have tired
of it somewhat。 But now I bethink me； thou didst also seem minded
to make a jest of the rain that threatened last night； so〃
〃Nay； then；〃 said Robin Hood testily； 〃I was mistaken。
I remember me now it did seem to threaten rain。〃
〃Truly； I did think so myself；〃 quoth Little John； 〃therefore； no doubt；
thou dost think it was wise of me to abide all night at the Blue Boar Inn；
instead of venturing forth in such stormy weather； dost thou not？〃
〃A plague of thee and thy doings！〃 cried Robin Hood。 〃If thou wilt
have it so； thou wert right to abide wherever thou didst choose。〃
〃Once more； it is well；〃 quoth Little John。 〃As for myself；
I have been blind this day。 I did not see thee drubbed；
I did not see thee tumbled heels over head in the dust；
and if any man says that thou wert； I can with a clear conscience
rattle his lying tongue betwixt his teeth。〃
〃Come；〃 cried Robin； biting his nether lip； while the others
could not forbear laughing。 〃We will go no farther today；
but will return to Sherwood； and thou shalt go to Ancaster
another time； Little John。〃
So said Robin； for now that his bones were sore； he felt as though
a long journey would be an ill thing for him。 So； turning their backs；
they retraced their steps whence they came。
The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son
WHEN THE four yeomen had traveled for a long time toward
Sherwood again； high noontide being past； they began to wax hungry。
Quoth Robin Hood； 〃I would that I had somewhat to eat。
Methinks a good loaf of white bread； with a piece of
snow…white cheese； washed down with a draught of humming ale；
were a feast for a king。〃
〃Since thou speakest of it；〃 said Will Scarlet； 〃methinks it
would not be amiss myself。 There is that within me crieth out；
‘Victuals； good friend； victuals！' 〃
〃I know a house near by；〃 said Arthur a Bland； 〃and； had I but the money；
I would bring ye that ye speak of； to wit； a sweet loaf of bread；
a fair cheese； and a skin of brown ale。〃
〃For the matter of that； thou knowest I have money by me； good master；〃
quoth Little John。
〃Why； so thou hast； Little John；〃 said Robin。 〃How much money will it take；
good Arthur； to buy us meat and drink？〃
〃I think that six broad pennies will buy food enow for a dozen men；〃
said the Tanner。
〃Then give him six pennies； Little John；〃 quoth Robin；
〃for methinks food for three men will about fit my need。
Now get thee gone； Arthur； with the money； and bring the food here；
for there is a sweet shade in that thicket yonder； beside the road；
and there will we eat our meal。〃
So Little John gave Arthur the money； and the others stepped to the thicket；
there to await the return of the Tanner。
After a time he came back； bearing with him a great brown loaf of bread；
and a fair； round cheese； and a goatskin full of stout March beer；
slung over his shoulders。 Then Will Scarlet took his sword and
divided the loaf and the cheese into four fair portions； and each
man helped himself。 Then Robin Hood took a deep pull at the beer。
〃Aha！〃 said he； drawing in his breath； 〃never have I tasted sweeter
drink than this。〃
After this no man spake more； but each munched away at his bread
and cheese lustily； with ever and anon a pull at the beer。
At last Will Scarlet looked at a small piece of bread he still held
in his hand； and quoth he； 〃Methinks I will give this to the sparrows。〃
So； throwing it from him； he brushed the crumbs from his jerkin。
〃I； too；〃 quoth Robin； 〃have had enough； I think。〃
As for Little John and the Tanner； they had by this time eaten
every crumb of their bread and cheese。
〃Now；〃 quoth Robin； 〃I do feel myself another man； and would fain
enjoy something pleasant before going farther upon our journey。
I do bethink me； Will； that thou didst use to have a pretty voice；
and one that tuned sweetly upon a song。 Prythee； give us one ere
we journey farther。〃
〃Truly； I do not mind turning a tune；〃 answered Will Scarlet；
〃but I would not sing alone。〃
〃Nay； others will follow。 Strike up； lad；〃 quoth Robin。
〃In that case； 'tis well；〃 said Will Scarlet。 〃I do call to mind a song
that a certain minstrel used to sing in my father's hall； upon occasion。
I know no name for it and so can give you none； but thus it is。〃
Then； clearing his throat； he sang：
〃_In the merry blossom time；
When love longings food the breast；
When the flower is on the lime；
When the small fowl builds her nest；
Sweetly sings the nightingale
And the throstle cock so bold；
Cuckoo in the dewy dale
And the turtle in the word。
But the robin I love dear；
For he singeth through the year。
Robin！ Robin！
Merry Robin！
So I'd have my true love be：
Not to fly
At the nigh
Sign of cold adversity_。
〃_When the spring brings sweet delights；
When aloft the lark doth rise；
Lovers woo o' mellow nights；
And youths peep in maidens' eyes；
That time blooms the eglantine；
Daisies pied upon the hill；
Cowslips fair and columbine；
Dusky violets by the rill。
But the ivy green cloth grow
When the north wind bringeth snow。
Ivy！ Ivy！
Stanch and true！
Thus I'd have her love to be：
Not to die
At the nigh
Breath of cold adversity_。〃
〃'Tis well sung；〃 quoth Robin； 〃but； cousin； I tell thee plain；
I would rather hear a stout fellow like thee sing some lusty
ballad than a finicking song of flowers and birds； and what not。
Yet； thou didst sing it fair； and 'tis none so bad a snatch of a song；
for the matter of that。 Now； Tanner； it is thy turn。〃
〃I know not；〃 quoth Arthur； smiling； with his head on one side；
like a budding lass that is asked to dance； 〃I know not that I
can match our sweet friend's song； moreover； I do verily think
that I have caught a cold and have a certain tickling and huskiness
in the windpipe。〃
〃Nay； sing up； friend；〃 quoth Little John； who sat next to him；
patting him upon the shoulder。 〃Thou hast a fair； round； mellow voice；
let us have a touch of it。〃
〃Nay； an ye will ha' a poor thing；〃 said Arthur； 〃I will do my best。
Have ye ever heard of the wooing of Sir Keith； the stout young Cornish knight；
in good King Arthur's time？〃
〃Methinks I have heard somewhat of it；〃 said Robin； 〃but ne'ertheless
strike up thy ditty and let us hear it； for； as I do remember me；
it is a gallant song； so out with it； good fellow。〃
Thereupon； clearing his throat； the Tanner； without more ado；
began to sing：
THE WOOING OF SIR KEITH
〃_King Arthur sat in his royal hall；
And about on either hand
Was many a noble lordling tall；
The greatest in the land。
〃Sat Lancelot with raven locks；
Gawaine with golden hair；
Sir Tristram； Kay who kept the locks；
And many another there。
〃And through the stained windows bright；
From o'er the red…tiled eaves；
The sunlight blazed with colored light
On golden helms and greaves。
〃But suddenly a silence came
About the Table Round；
For up the hall there walked a dame
Bent nigh unto the ground。
〃Her nose was hooked； her eyes were bleared；
Her locks were lank and white；
Upon her chin there grew a beard；
She was a gruesome sight。
〃And so with crawling step she came
And kneeled at Arthur's feet；
Quoth Kay； ‘She is the foulest dame
That e'er my sight did greet。'
〃 ‘O mighty King！ of thee I crave
A boon on bended knee'；
'Twas thus she spoke。 ‘What wouldst thou have。'
Quoth Arthur； King； ‘of me_？'
〃_Quoth she； ‘I have a foul disease
Doth gnaw my very heart；
And but one thing can bring me ease
Or cure my bitter smart。
〃 ‘There is no rest； no ease for me
North； east； or west； or so
