the merry adventures of robin hood(罗宾汉奇遇记)-第46章

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and　on　the　other　to　Gainsborough。　　Here　the　yeomen　stopped。

Quoth　jolly　Robin；　〃Take　thou　the　road　to　Gainsborough；　and　I　will　take
that　to　Blyth。　　So；　fare　thee　well；　holy　father；　and　mayst　thou　not　ha'
cause　to　count　thy　beads　in　earnest　ere　we　meet　again。〃

〃Good　den；　good　beggar　that　is　to　be；〃　quoth　Little　John；　〃and　mayst　thou
have　no　cause　to　beg　for　mercy　ere　I　see　thee　next。〃

So　each　stepped　sturdily　upon　his　way　until　a　green　hill　rose　between　them；
and　the　one　was　hid　from　the　sight　of　the　other。

Little　John　walked　along；　whistling；　for　no　one　was　nigh　upon　all　the　road。
In　the　budding　hedges　the　little　birds　twittered　merrily；　and　on　either
hand　the　green　hills　swept　up　to　the　sky；　the　great　white　clouds
of　springtime　sailing　slowly　over　their　crowns　in　lazy　flight。
Up　hill　and　down　dale　walked　Little　John；　the　fresh　wind　blowing　in　his　face
and　his　robes　fluttering　behind　him；　and　so　at　last　he　came　to　a　crossroad
that　led　to　Tuxford。　　Here　he　met　three　pretty　lasses；　each　bearing
a　basket　of　eggs　to　market。　　Quoth　he；　〃Whither　away；　fair　maids？〃
And　he　stood　in　their　path；　holding　his　staff　in　front　of　them；
to　stop　them。

Then　they　huddled　together　and　nudged　one　another；　and　one　presently
spake　up　and　said；　〃We　are　going　to　the　Tuxford　market；　holy　friar；
to　sell　our　eggs。〃

〃Now　out　upon　it！〃　quoth　Little　John；　looking　upon　them
with　his　head　on　one　side。　　〃Surely；　it　is　a　pity　that　such
fair　lasses　should　be　forced　to　carry　eggs　to　market。
Let　me　tell　you；　an　I　had　the　shaping　of　things　in　this　world；
ye　should　all　three　have　been　clothed　in　the　finest　silks；
and　ride　upon　milk…white　horses；　with　pages　at　your　side；
and　feed　upon　nothing　but　whipped　cream　and　strawberries；
for　such　a　life　would　surely　befit　your　looks。〃

At　this　speech　all　three　of　the　pretty　maids　looked　down；
blushing　and　simpering。　　One　said；　〃La！〃　another；　〃Marry；　a'
maketh　sport　of　us！〃　and　the　third；　〃Listen；　now；　to　the　holy　man！〃
But　at　the　same　time　they　looked　at　Little　John　from　out　the　corners
of　their　eyes。

〃Now；　look　you；〃　said　Little　John；　〃I　cannot　see　such　dainty
damsels　as　ye　are　carrying　baskets　along　a　highroad。
Let　me　take　them　mine　own　self；　and　one　of　you；　if　ye　will；
may　carry　my　staff　for　me。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　one　of　the　lasses；　〃but　thou　canst　not　carry　three　baskets
all　at　one　time。〃

〃Yea；　but　I　can；〃　said　Little　John；　〃and　that　I　will　show　you　presently。
I　thank　the　good　Saint　Wilfred　that　he　hath　given　me　a　pretty　wit。
Look　ye；　now。　　Here　I　take　this　great　basket；　so；　here　I　tie
my　rosary　around　the　handle；　thus；　and　here　I　slip　the　rosary
over　my　head　and　sling　the　basket　upon　my　back；　in　this　wise。〃
And　Little　John　did　according　to　his　words；　the　basket　hanging
down　behind　him　like　a　peddler's　pack；　then；　giving　his　staff
to　one　of　the　maids；　and　taking　a　basket　upon　either　arm；　he　turned
his　face　toward　Tuxford　Town　and　stepped　forth　merrily；　a　laughing
maid　on　either　side；　and　one　walking　ahead；　carrying　the　staff。
In　this　wise　they　journeyed　along；　and　everyone　they　met　stopped　and　looked
after　them；　laughing；　for　never　had　anybody　seen　such　a　merry　sight
as　this　tall；　strapping　Gray　Friar；　with　robes　all　too　short　for　him；
laden　with　eggs；　and　tramping　the　road　with　three　pretty　lasses。
For　this　Little　John　cared　not　a　whit；　but　when　such　folks　gave
jesting　words　to　him　he　answered　back　as　merrily；　speech　for　speech。

So　they　stepped　along　toward　Tuxford；　chatting　and　laughing；
until　they　came　nigh　to　the　town。　　Here　Little　John　stopped
and　set　down　the　baskets；　for　he　did　not　care　to　go　into　the　town
lest　he　should；　perchance；　meet　some　of　the　Sheriff's　men。
〃Alas！　sweet　chucks；〃　quoth　he；　〃here　I　must　leave　you。
I　had　not　thought　to　come　this　way；　but　I　am　glad　that　I　did　so。
Now；　ere　we　part；　we　must　drink　sweet　friendship。〃　　So　saying；
he　unslung　the　leathern　pottle　from　the　end　of　his　staff；　and；
drawing　the　stopper　therefrom；　he　handed　it　to　the　lass　who　had　carried
his　staff；　first　wiping　the　mouth　of　the　pottle　upon　his　sleeve。
Then　each　lass　took　a　fair　drink　of　what　was　within；　and　when　it
had　passed　all　around；　Little　John　finished　what　was　left；　so　that
not　another　drop　could　be　squeezed　from　it。　　Then；　kissing　each
lass　sweetly；　he　wished　them　all　good　den；　and　left　them。
But　the　maids　stood　looking　after　him　as　he　walked　away　whistling。
〃What　a　pity；〃　quoth　one；　〃that　such　a　stout；　lusty　lad　should
be　in　holy　orders。〃

〃Marry；〃　quoth　Little　John　to　himself；　as　he　strode　along；
〃yon　was　no　such　ill　happening；　Saint　Dunstan　send　me　more
of　the　like。〃

After　he　had　trudged　along　for　a　time　he　began　to　wax　thirsty
again　in　the　warmth　of　the　day。　　He　shook　his　leathern　pottle
beside　his　ear；　but　not　a　sound　came　therefrom。　　Then　he　placed　it
to　his　lips　and　tilted　it　high　aloft；　but　not　a　drop　was　there。
〃Little　John！　　Little　John！〃　said　he　sadly　to　himself；
shaking　his　head　the　while；　〃woman　will　be　thy　ruin　yet；
if　thou　dost　not　take　better　care　of　thyself。〃

But　at　last　he　reached　the　crest　of　a　certain　hill；　and　saw　below
a　sweet　little　thatched　inn　lying　snugly　in　the　dale　beneath　him；
toward　which　the　road　dipped　sharply。　　At　the　sight　of　this；　a　voice
within　him　cried　aloud；　〃I　give　thee　joy；　good　friend；　for　yonder　is
thy　heart's　delight；　to　wit；　a　sweet　rest　and　a　cup　of　brown　beer。〃
So　he　quickened　his　pace　down　the　hill　and　so　came　to　the　little　inn；
from　which　hung　a　sign　with　a　stag's　head　painted　upon　it。
In　front　of　the　door　a　clucking　hen　was　scratching　in　the　dust
with　a　brood　of　chickens　about　her　heels；　the　sparrows　were
chattering　of　household　affairs　under　the　eaves；　and　all　was　so
sweet　and　peaceful　that　Little　John's　heart　laughed　within　him。
Beside　the　door　stood　two　stout　cobs　with　broad　soft…padded　saddles；
well　fitted　for　easy　traveling；　and　speaking　of　rich　guests　in　the　parlor。
In　front　of　the　door　three　merry　fellows；　a　tinker；　a　peddler；
and　a　beggar；　were　seated　on　a　bench　in　the　sun　quaffing　stout　ale。

〃I　give　you　good　den；　sweet　friends；〃　quoth　Little　John；
striding　up　to　where　they　sat。

〃Give　thee　good　den；　holy　father；〃　quoth　the　merry　Beggar　with　a　grin。
〃But　look　thee；　thy　gown　is　too　short。　　Thou　hadst　best　cut　a　piece
off　the　top　and　tack　it　to　the　bottom；　so　that　it　may　be　long　enough。
But　come；　sit　beside　us　here　and　take　a　taste　of　ale；　if　thy　vows
forbid　thee　not。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Little　John；　also　grinning；　〃the　blessed　Saint　Dunstan
hath　given　me　a　free　dispensation　for　all　indulgence　in　that　line。〃
And　he　thrust　his　hand　into　his　pouch　for　money　to　pay　his　score。

〃Truly；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃without　thy　looks　belie　thee；　holy　friar；
the　good　Saint　Dunstan　was　wise；　for　without　such　dispensation
his　votary　is　like　to　ha'　many　a　penance　to　make。　　Nay；　take　thy
hand　from　out　thy　pouch；　brother；　for　thou　shalt　not　pay　this　shot。
Ho；　landlord；　a　pot　of　ale！〃

So　the　ale　was　brought　and　given　to　Little　John。　　Then；　blowing　the
froth　a　little　way　to　make　room　for　his　lips；　he　tilted　the　bottom
of　the　pot　higher　and　higher；　till　it　pointed　to　the　sky；　and　he　had
to　shut　his　eyes　to　keep　the　dazzle　of　the　sunshine　out　of　them。
Then　he　took　the　pot　away；　for　there　was　nothing　in　it；　and　heaved
a　full　deep　sigh；　looking　at　the　others　with　moist　eyes　and　shaking
his　head　solemnly。

〃Ho；　landlord！〃　cried　the　Peddler；　〃bring　this　good　fellow　another　pot　of　ale；
for　truly　it　is　a　credit　to　us　all　to　have　one　among　us　who　can　empty
a　canakin　so　lustily。〃

So　they　talked　among　themselves　merrily；　until　after　a　while　quoth
Little　John；　〃Who　rideth　those　two　nags　yonder？〃

〃Two　holy　men　like　thee；　brother；〃　quoth　the　Beggar。　　〃They　are　now　having
a　goodly　feast　within；　for　I　smelled　the　steam　of　a　boiled　pullet　just　now。
The　landlady　sayeth　they　come　from　Fountain　Abbey；　in　Yorkshire；　and　go
to　Lincoln　on　matters　of　business。〃

〃They　are　a　merry　couple；〃　said　the　Tinker；　〃for　one　is　as　lean　as　an　old
wife's　spindle；　and　the　other　as　fat　as　a　suet　pudding。〃

〃Talking　of　fatness；〃　said　the　Peddler；　〃thou　thyself　lookest
none　too　ill…fed；　holy　friar。〃

〃Nay；　truly；〃　said　Little　John；　〃thou　seest　in　me　what　the　holy　Saint　Dunst