the merry adventures of robin hood-第42部分

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！


　quoth　he；　between　bursts　of　merriment；　〃thou　art　the　slyest　old　fox　that　e'er　I　saw　in　all　my　life！In　the　soles　of　his　shoon；　quotha！If　ever　I　trust　a　poor…seeming　man　again；　shave　my　head　and　paint　it　blue！　A　corn　factor；　a　horse　jockey；　an　estate　agent；　and　a　jackdaw　for　cunningness；　say　I！〃　　And　he　laughed　again　till　he　shook　in　his　shoes　with　mirth。

All　this　time　the　Corn　Engrosser　had　been　staring　at　Robin；　his　mouth　agape　with　wonder。　　〃Art　thou　mad；〃　quoth　he；　〃to　talk　in　this　way；　so　loud　and　in　such　a　place？　　Let　us　forward；　and　save　thy　mirth　till　we　are　safe　and　sound　at　Newark。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Robin；　the　tears　of　merriment　wet　on　his　cheeks；　〃on　second　thoughts　I　go　no　farther　than　here；　for　I　have　good　friends　hereabouts。　Thou　mayst　go　forward　if　thou　dost　list；　thou　sweet　pretty　fellow；　but　thou　must　go　forward　barefoot；　for　I　am　afraid　that　thy　shoon　must　be　left　behind。　Off　with　them；　friend；　for　I　tell　thee　I　have　taken　a　great　fancy　to　them。〃

At　these　words　the　corn　factor　grew　pale　as　a　linen　napkin。　〃Who　art　thou　that　talkest　so？〃　said　he。

Then　merry　Robin　laughed　again；　and　quoth　he；　〃Men　hereabouts　call　me　Robin　Hood；　so；　sweet　friend；　thou　hadst　best　do　my　bidding　and　give　me　thy　shoes；　wherefore　hasten；　I　prythee；　or　else　thou　wilt　not　get　to　fair　Newark　Town　till　after　dark。〃

At　the　sound　of　the　name　of　Robin　Hood；　the　corn　factor　quaked　with　fear；　so　that　he　had　to　seize　his　horse　by　the　mane　to　save　himself　from　falling　off　its　back。　　Then　straightway；　and　without　more　words；　he　stripped　off　his　clogs　and　let　them　fall　upon　the　road。　Robin；　still　holding　the　bridle　rein；　stooped　and　picked　them　up。　Then　he　said；　〃Sweet　friend；　I　am　used　to　ask　those　that　I　have　dealings　with　to　come　and　feast　at　Sherwood　with　me。　I　will　not　ask　thee；　because　of　our　pleasant　journey　together；　for　I　tell　thee　there　be　those　in　Sherwood　that　would　not　be　so　gentle　with　thee　as　I　have　been。　　The　name　of　Corn　Engrosser　leaves　a　nasty　taste　upon　the　tongue　of　all　honest　men。　Take　a　fool's　advice　of　me　and　come　no　more　so　nigh　to　Sherwood；　or　mayhap　some　day　thou　mayst　of　a　sudden　find　a　clothyard　shaft　betwixt　thy　ribs。　　So；　with　this；　I　give　thee　good　den。〃　　Hereupon　he　clapped　his　hand　to　the　horse's　flank　and　off　went　nag　and　rider。　But　the　man's　face　was　all　bedewed　with　the　sweat　of　fright；　and　never　again；　I　wot；　was　he　found　so　close　to　Sherwood　Forest　as　he　had　been　this　day。

Robin　stood　and　looked　after　him；　and；　when　he　was　fairly　gone；　turned；　laughing；　and　entered　the　forest　carrying　the　shoes　in　his　hand。

That　night　in　sweet　Sherwood　the　red　fires　glowed　brightly　in　wavering　light　on　tree　and　bush；　and　all　around　sat　or　lay　the　stout　fellows　of　the　band　to　hear　Robin　Hood　and　Little　John　tell　their　adventures。　All　listened　closely；　and　again　and　again　the　woods　rang　with　shouts　of　laughter。

When　all　was　told；　Friar　Tuck　spoke　up。　　〃Good　master；〃　said　he；　〃thou　hast　had　a　pretty　time；　but　still　I　hold　to　my　saying；　that　the　life　of　the　barefoot　friar　is　the　merrier　of　the　two。〃

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Will　Stutely；　〃I　hold　with　our　master；　that　he　hath　had　the　pleasanter　doings　of　the　two；　for　he　hath　had　two　stout　bouts　at　quarterstaff　this　day。〃

So　some　of　the　band　held　with　Robin　Hood　and　some　with　Little　John。　　As　for　me；　I　thinkBut　I　leave　it　with　you　to　say　for　yourselves　which　you　hold　with。



Robin　Hood　Shoots　Before　Queen　Eleanor

THE　HIGHROAD　stretched　white　and　dusty　in　the　hot　summer　afternoon　sun；　and　the　trees　stood　motionless　along　the　roadside。　All　across　the　meadow　lands　the　hot　air　danced　and　quivered；　and　in　the　limpid　waters　of　the　lowland　brook；　spanned　by　a　little　stone　bridge；　the　fish　hung　motionless　above　the　yellow　gravel；　and　the　dragonfly　sat　quite　still；　perched　upon　the　sharp　tip　of　a　spike　of　the　rushes；　with　its　wings　glistening　in　the　sun。

Along　the　road　a　youth　came　riding　upon　a　fair　milk…white　barb；　and　the　folk　that　he　passed　stopped　and　turned　and　looked　after　him；　for　never　had　so　lovely　a　lad　or　one　so　gaily　clad　been　seen　in　Nottingham　before。　　He　could　not　have　been　more　than　sixteen　years　of　age；　and　was　as　fair　as　any　maiden。　　His　long　yellow　hair　flowed　behind　him　as　he　rode　along；　all　clad　in　silk　and　velvet；　with　jewels　flashing　and　dagger　jingling　against　the　pommel　of　the　saddle。　Thus　came　the　Queen's　Page；　young　Richard　Partington；　from　famous　London　Town　down　into　Nottinghamshire；　upon　Her　Majesty's　bidding；　to　seek　Robin　Hood　in　Sherwood　Forest。

The　road　was　hot　and　dusty　and　his　journey　had　been　long；　for　that　day　he　had　come　all　the　way　from　Leicester　Town；　a　good　twenty　miles　and　more；　wherefore　young　Partington　was　right　glad　when　he　saw　before　him　a　sweet　little　inn；　all　shady　and　cool　beneath　the　trees；　in　front　of　the　door　of　which　a　sign　hung　pendant；　bearing　the　picture　of　a　blue　boar。　　Here　he　drew　rein　and　called　loudly　for　a　pottle　of　Rhenish　wine　to　be　brought　him；　for　stout　country　ale　was　too　coarse　a　drink　for　this　young　gentleman。　Five　lusty　fellows　sat　upon　the　bench　beneath　the　pleasant　shade　of　the　wide…spreading　oak　in　front　of　the　inn　door；　drinking　ale　and　beer；　and　all　stared　amain　at　this　fair　and　gallant　lad。　Two　of　the　stoutest　of　them　were　clothed　in　Lincoln　green；　and　a　great　heavy　oaken　staff　leaned　against　the　gnarled　oak　tree　trunk　beside　each　fellow。

The　landlord　came　and　brought　a　pottle　of　wine　and　a　long　narrow　glass　upon　a　salver；　which　he　held　up　to　the　Page　as　he　sat　upon　his　horse。　Young　Partington　poured　forth　the　bright　yellow　wine　and　holding　the　glass　aloft；　cried；　〃Here　is　to　the　health　and　long　happiness　of　my　royal　mistress；　the　noble　Queen　Eleanor；　and　may　my　journey　and　her　desirings　soon　have　end；　and　I　find　a　certain　stout　yeoman　men　call　Robin　Hood。〃

At　these　words　all　stared；　but　presently　the　two　stout　yeomen　in　Lincoln　green　began　whispering　together。　　Then　one　of　the　two；　whom　Partington　thought　to　be　the　tallest　and　stoutest　fellow　he　had　ever　beheld；　spoke　up　and　said；　〃What　seekest　thou　of　Robin　Hood；　Sir　Page？　　And　what　does　our　good　Queen　Eleanor　wish　of　him？　I　ask　this　of　thee；　not　foolishly；　but　with　reason；　for　I　know　somewhat　of　this　stout　yeoman。〃

〃An　thou　knowest　aught　of　him；　good　fellow；〃　said　young　Partington；　〃thou　wilt　do　great　service　to　him　and　great　pleasure　to　our　royal　Queen　by　aiding　me　to　find　him。〃

Then　up　spake　the　other　yeoman；　who　was　a　handsome　fellow　with　sunburned　face　and　nut…brown；　curling　hair；　〃Thou　hast　an　honest　look；　Sir　Page；　and　our　Queen　is　kind　and　true　to　all　stout　yeomen。　Methinks　I　and　my　friend　here　might　safely　guide　thee　to　Robin　Hood；　for　we　know　where　he　may　be　found。　　Yet　I　tell　thee　plainly；　we　would　not　for　all　merry　England　have　aught　of　harm　befall　him。〃

〃Set　thy　mind　at　ease；　I　bring　nought　of　ill　with　me；〃　quoth　Richard　Partington。　　〃I　bring　a　kind　message　to　him　from　our　Queen；　therefore　an　ye　know　where　he　is　to　be　found；　I　pray　you　to　guide　me　thither。〃

Then　the　two　yeomen　looked　at　one　another　again；　and　the　tall　man　said；　〃Surely　it　were　safe　to　do　this　thing；　Will〃；　whereat　the　other　nodded。　Thereupon　both　arose；　and　the　tall　yeoman　said；　〃We　think　thou　art　true；　Sir　Page；　and　meanest　no　harm；　therefore　we　will　guide　thee　to　Robin　Hood　as　thou　dost　wish。〃

Then　Partington　paid　his　score；　and　the　yeomen　coming　forward；　they　all　straightway　departed　upon　their　way。


Under　the　greenwood　tree；　in　the　cool　shade　that　spread　all　around　upon　the　sward；　with　flickering　lights　here　and　there；　Robin　Hood　and　many　of　his　band　lay　upon　the　soft　green　grass；　while　Allan　a　Dale　sang　and　played　upon　his　sweetly　sounding　harp。　All　listened　in　silence；　for　young　Allan's　singing　was　one　of　the　greatest　joys　in　all　the　world　to　them；　but　as　they　so　listened　there　came　of　a　sudden　the　sound　of　a　horse's　feet；　and　presently　Little　John　and　Will　Stutely　came　forth　from　the　forest　path　into　the　open　glade；　young　Richard　Partington　riding　between　them　upon　his　milk…white　horse。　The　three　came　toward　where　Robin　Hood　sat；　all　the　band　staring　with　might　and　main；　for　never　had　they　seen　so　gay　a　sight　as　this　young　Page；　nor　one　so　richly　clad　in　silks　and　velvets　and　gold　and　jewels。　Then　Robin　arose　and　stepped　forth　to　meet　him；　and　Partington　leaped　from　his　horse　and　doffing　his　cap　of　crimson　velvet；　met　Robin　as　he　came。　〃Now；　welcome！〃　cried　Robin。　　〃Now；　welcome；　fair　youth；　and　tell　me；　I　prythee；　what　bringeth　one　of　so　fair　a　presence　and　clad　in　such　noble　garb　to　our　poor　forest　of　Sherwood？〃

Then　young　Partington　said；　〃If　I　err　not；　thou　art　the　famous　Robin　Hood；　and　these　thy　stout　band　of　outlawed　yeomen。　To　thee　I　bring　greetings　from　our　noble　Queen　Eleanor。　　Oft　hath　she　heard　thee　spoken　of　and　thy　merry　doings　hereabouts；　and　fain　would　she　behold　thy　face；　therefore　she　bids　me　tell　thee　that　if　thou　wilt　presently　come　to　London　Town；　she　will　do　all　in　her　power　to　guard　thee　against　harm；　and　will　send　thee　back　safe　to　Sherwood　Forest　again。　Four　days　hence；　in　Finsbury　Fields；　our　good　King　Henry；　of　great　renown；　holdeth　a　grand　shooting　match；　and　all　the　most　famous　archers　of　merry　England　will　be　thereat。　Our　Queen　would　fain　see　thee　strive　with　these；　knowing　that　if　thou　wilt　come　thou　wilt；　with　little　doubt；　carry　off　the　prize。　Therefore　she　hath　sent　me　with　this　greeting；　and　furthermore　sends　thee；　as　a　sign　of　great　good　will；　this　golden　ring　from　off　her　own　fair　thumb；　which　I　give　herewith　into　thy　hands。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　bowed　his　head　and　taking　the　ring；　kissed　it　right　loyally；　and　then　slipped　it　upon　his　little　finger。　Quoth　he；　〃Sooner　would　I　lose　my　life　than　this　ring；　and　ere　it　departs　from　me；　my　hand　shall　be　cold　in　death　or　stricken　off　at　the　wrist。　　Fair　Sir　Page；　I　will　do　our　Queen's　bidding；　and　will　presently　hie　with　thee　to　London；　but；　ere　we　go；　I　will　feast　thee　here　in　the　woodlands　with　the　very　best　we　have。〃

〃It　may　not　be；〃　said　the　Page；　〃we　have　no　time　to　tarry；　therefore　get　thyself　ready　straightway；　and　if　there　be　any　of　thy　band　that　thou　wouldst　take　with　thee；　our　Queen　bids　me　say　that　she　will　make　them　right　welcome　likewise。〃

〃Truly；　thou　art　right；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　we　have　but　short　time　to　stay；　therefore　I　will　get　me　re