the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第31章

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　But　such　a　wondrous　wedding　day；
　　　　　They　never　saw　before。
　But　none　could　check　and　none　could　stay；
　The　swans　that　bore　the　bride　away_。〃


Not　a　sound　broke　the　stillness　when　Allan　a　Dale　had　done；
but　all　sat　gazing　at　the　handsome　singer；　for　so　sweet　was
his　voice　and　the　music　that　each　man　sat　with　bated　breath；
lest　one　drop　more　should　come　and　he　should　lose　it。

〃By　my　faith　and　my　troth；〃　quoth　Robin　at　last；　drawing　a　deep　breath；
〃lad；　thou　artThou　must　not　leave　our　company；　Allan！　　Wilt　thou　not
stay　with　us　here　in　the　sweet　green　forest？　　Truly；　I　do　feel　my　heart
go　out　toward　thee　with　great　love。〃

Then　Allan　took　Robin's　hand　and　kissed　it。　　〃I　will　stay　with　thee　always；
dear　master；〃　said　he；　〃for　never　have　I　known　such　kindness　as　thou　hast
shown　me　this　day。〃

Then　Will　Scarlet　stretched　forth　his　hand　and　shook　Allan's
in　token　of　fellowship；　as　did　Little　John　likewise。
And　thus　the　famous　Allan　a　Dale　became　one　of　Robin　Hood's　band。



Robin　Hood　Seeks　the　Curtal　Friar

THE　STOUT　YEOMEN　of　Sherwood　Forest　were　ever　early　risers　of　a　morn；
more　especially　when　the　summertime　had　come；　for　then　in　the　freshness
of　the　dawn　the　dew　was　always　the　brightest；　and　the　song　of　the　small
birds　the　sweetest。

Quoth　Robin；　〃Now　will　I　go　to　seek　this　same　Friar　of　Fountain　Abbey
of　whom　we　spake　yesternight；　and　I　will　take　with　me　four　of　my
good　men；　and　these　four　shall　be　Little　John；　Will　Scarlet；　David
of　Doncaster；　and　Arthur　a　Bland。　　Bide　the　rest　of　you　here；
and　Will　Stutely　shall　be　your　chief　while　I　am　gone。〃
Then　straightway　Robin　Hood　donned　a　fine　steel　coat　of　chain　mail；
over　which　he　put　on　a　light　jacket　of　Lincoln　green。
Upon　his　head　he　clapped　a　steel　cap；　and　this　he　covered　by　one
of　soft　white　leather；　in　which　stood　a　nodding　cock's　plume。
By　his　side　he　hung　a　good　broadsword　of　tempered　steel；
the　bluish　blade　marked　all　over　with　strange　figures　of　dragons；
winged　women；　and　what　not。　　A　gallant　sight　was　Robin　so　arrayed；
I　wot；　the　glint　of　steel　showing　here　and　there　as　the　sunlight
caught　brightly　the　links　of　polished　mail　that　showed　beneath
his　green　coat。

So；　having　arrayed　himself；　he　and　the　four　yeomen　set　forth　upon
their　way；　Will　Scarlet　taking　the　lead；　for　he　knew　better　than
the　others　whither　to　go。　　Thus；　mile　after　mile；　they　strode　along；
now　across　a　brawling　stream；　now　along　a　sunlit　road；　now　adown　some
sweet　forest　path；　over　which　the　trees　met　in　green　and　rustling　canopy；
and　at　the　end　of　which　a　herd　of　startled　deer　dashed　away；
with　rattle　of　leaves　and　crackle　of　branches。　　Onward　they　walked
with　song　and　jest　and　laughter　till　noontide　was　passed；　when　at　last
they　came　to　the　banks　of　a　wide；　glassy；　and　lily…padded　stream。
Here　a　broad；　beaten　path　stretched　along　beside　the　banks；　on　which　path
labored　the　horses　that　tugged　at　the　slow…moving　barges；　laden　with
barley　meal　or　what　not；　from　the　countryside　to　the　many…towered　town。
But　now；　in　the　hot　silence　of　the　midday；　no　horse　was　seen　nor
any　man　besides　themselves。　　Behind　them　and　before　them　stretched
the　river；　its　placid　bosom　ruffled　here　and　there　by　the　purple　dusk
of　a　small　breeze。

〃Now；　good　uncle；〃　quoth　Will　Scarlet　at　last；　when　they
had　walked　for　a　long　time　beside　this　sweet；　bright　river；
〃just　beyond　yon　bend　ahead　of　us　is　a　shallow　ford　which　in　no
place　is　deeper　than　thy　mid…thigh；　and　upon　the　other　side
of　the　stream　is　a　certain　little　hermitage　hidden　amidst
the　bosky　tangle　of　the　thickets　wherein　dwelleth　the　Friar
of　Fountain　Dale。　　Thither　will　I　lead　thee；　for　I　know　the　way；
albeit　it　is　not　overhard　to　find。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　jolly　Robin；　stopping　suddenly；　〃had　I　thought
that　I　should　have　had　to　wade　water；　even　were　it　so　crystal
a　stream　as　this；　I　had　donned　other　clothes　than　I　have　upon　me。
But　no　matter　now；　for　after　all　a　wetting　will　not　wash　the　skin　away；
and　what　must　be；　must。　　But　bide　ye　here；　lads；　for　I　would
enjoy　this　merry　adventure　alone。　　Nevertheless；　listen　well；
and　if　ye　hear　me　sound　upon　my　bugle　horn；　come　quickly。〃
So　saying；　he　turned　and　left　them；　striding　onward　alone。

Robin　had　walked　no　farther　than　where　the　bend　of　the　road
hid　his　good　men　from　his　view；　when　he　stopped　suddenly；
for　he　thought　that　he　heard　voices。　　He　stood　still　and　listened；
and　presently　heard　words　passed　back　and　forth　betwixt　what　seemed
to　be　two　men；　and　yet　the　two　voices　were　wondrously　alike。
The　sound　came　from　over　behind　the　bank；　that　here　was　steep
and　high；　dropping　from　the　edge　of　the　road　a　half　a　score
of　feet　to　the　sedgy　verge　of　the　river。

〃'Tis　strange；〃　muttered　Robin　to　himself　after　a　space；　when　the　voices
had　ceased　their　talking；　〃surely　there　be　two　people　that　spoke
the　one　to　the　other；　and　yet　methinks　their　voices　are　mightily　alike。
I　make　my　vow　that　never　have　I　heard　the　like　in　all　my　life　before。
Truly；　if　this　twain　are　to　be　judged　by　their　voices；　no　two　peas
were　ever　more　alike。　　I　will　look　into　this　matter。〃　　So　saying；
he　came　softly　to　the　river　bank　and　laying　him　down　upon　the　grass；
peered　over　the　edge　and　down　below。

All　was　cool　and　shady　beneath　the　bank。　　A　stout　osier　grew；
not　straight　upward；　but　leaning　across　the　water；　shadowing　the　spot
with　its　soft　foliage。　　All　around　grew　a　mass　of　feathery　ferns
such　as　hide　and　nestle　in　cool　places；　and　up　to　Robin's　nostrils
came　the　tender　odor　of　the　wild　thyme；　that　loves　the　moist　verges
of　running　streams。　　Here；　with　his　broad　back　against　the　rugged
trunk　of　the　willow　tree；　and　half　hidden　by　the　soft　ferns
around　him；　sat　a　stout；　brawny　fellow；　but　no　other　man　was　there。
His　head　was　as　round　as　a　ball；　and　covered　with　a　mat　of
close…clipped；　curly　black　hair　that　grew　low　down　on　his　forehead。
But　his　crown　was　shorn　as　smooth　as　the　palm　of　one's　hand；
which；　together　with　his　loose　robe；　cowl；　and　string　of　beads；
showed　that　which　his　looks　never　would　have　done；　that　he　was　a　friar。
His　cheeks　were　as　red　and　shining　as　a　winter　crab；　albeit　they
were　nearly　covered　over　with　a　close　curly　black　beard；
as　were　his　chin　and　upper　lip　likewise。　　His　neck　was　thick
like　that　of　a　north　country　bull；　and　his　round　head　closely　set
upon　shoulders　e'en　a　match　for　those　of　Little　John　himself。
Beneath　his　bushy　black　brows　danced　a　pair　of　little　gray
eyes　that　could　not　stand　still　for　very　drollery　of　humor。
No　man　could　look　into　his　face　and　not　feel　his　heartstrings　tickled
by　the　merriment　of　their　look。　　By　his　side　lay　a　steel　cap；
which　he　had　laid　off　for　the　sake　of　the　coolness　to　his　crown。
His　legs　were　stretched　wide　apart；　and　betwixt　his　knees　he　held
a　great　pasty　compounded　of　juicy　meats　of　divers　kinds　made　savory
with　tender　young　onions；　both　meat　and　onions　being　mingled
with　a　good　rich　gravy。　　In　his　right　fist　he　held　a　great　piece
of　brown　crust　at　which　he　munched　sturdily；　and　every　now　and　then
he　thrust　his　left　hand　into　the　pie　and　drew　it　forth　full　of　meat；
anon　he　would　take　a　mighty　pull　at　a　great　bottle　of　Malmsey
that　lay　beside　him。

〃By　my　faith；〃　quoth　Robin　to　himself；　〃I　do　verily　believe　that　this
is　the　merriest　feast；　the　merriest　wight；　the　merriest　place；
and　the　merriest　sight　in　all　merry　England。　　Methought　there　was
another　here；　but　it　must　have　been　this　holy　man　talking　to　himself。〃

So　Robin　lay　watching　the　Friar；　and　the　Friar；　all　unknowing　that
he　was　so　overlooked；　ate　his　meal　placidly。　　At　last　he　was　done；
and；　having　first　wiped　his　greasy　hands　upon　the　ferns　and　wild　thyme
（and　sweeter　napkin　ne'er　had　king　in　all　the　world）；　he　took　up
his　flask　and　began　talking　to　himself　as　though　he　were　another　man；
and　answering　himself　as　though　he　were　somebody　else。

〃Dear　lad；　thou　art　the　sweetest　fellow　in　all　the　world；
I　do　love　thee　as　a　lover　loveth　his　lass。　　La；　thou　dost
make　me　shamed　to　speak　so　to　me　in　this　solitary　place；
no　one　being　by；　and　yet　if　thou　wilt　have　me　say　so；
I　do　love　thee　as　thou　lovest　me。　　Nay　then；　wilt　thou　not
take　a　drink　of　good　Malmsey？　　After　thee；　lad；　after　thee。
Na