the merry adventures of robin hood-第6部分

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　greenwood；　for　cares　have　we　not；　and　misfortune　cometh　not　upon　us　within　the　sweet　shades　of　Sherwood；　where　we　shoot　the　dun　deer　and　feed　upon　venison　and　sweet　oaten　cakes；　and　curds　and　honey。　Wilt　thou　come　with　me？〃

〃Ay；　marry；　will　I　join　with　you　all；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃for　I　love　a　merry　life；　and　I　love　thee；　good　master；　though　thou　didst　thwack　my　ribs　and　cheat　me　into　the　bargain。　Fain　am　I　to　own　thou　art　both　a　stouter　and　a　slyer　man　than　I；　so　I　will　obey　thee　and　be　thine　own　true　servant。〃

So　all　turned　their　steps　to　the　forest　depths；　where　the　Tinker　was　to　live　henceforth。　　For　many　a　day　he　sang　ballads　to　the　band；　until　the　famous　Allan　a　Dale　joined　them；　before　whose　sweet　voice　all　others　seemed　as　harsh　as　a　raven's；　but　of　him　we　will　learn　hereafter。



The　Shooting　Match　at　Nottingham　Town

THEN　THE　SHERIFF　was　very　wroth　because　of　this　failure　to　take　jolly　Robin；　for　it　came　to　his　ears；　as　ill　news　always　does；　that　the　people　laughed　at　him　and　made　a　jest　of　his　thinking　to　serve　a　warrant　upon　such　a　one　as　the　bold　outlaw。　And　a　man　hates　nothing　so　much　as　being　made　a　jest　of；　so　he　said：　〃Our　gracious　lord　and　sovereign　King　himself　shall　know　of　this；　and　how　his　laws　are　perverted　and　despised　by　this　band　of　rebel　outlaws。　As　for　yon　traitor　Tinker；　him　will　I　hang；　if　I　catch　him；　upon　the　very　highest　gallows　tree　in　all　Nottinghamshire。〃

Then　he　bade　all　his　servants　and　retainers　to　make　ready　to　go　to　London　Town；　to　see　and　speak　with　the　King。

At　this　there　was　bustling　at　the　Sheriff's　castle；　and　men　ran　hither　and　thither　upon　this　business　and　upon　that；　while　the　forge　fires　of　Nottingham　glowed　red　far　into　the　night　like　twinkling　stars；　for　all　the　smiths　of　the　town　were　busy　making　or　mending　armor　for　the　Sheriff's　troop　of　escort。　For　two　days　this　labor　lasted；　then；　on　the　third；　all　was　ready　for　the　journey。　　So　forth　they　started　in　the　bright　sunlight；　from　Nottingham　Town　to　Fosse　Way　and　thence　to　Watling　Street；　and　so　they　journeyed　for　two　days；　until　they　saw　at　last　the　spires　and　towers　of　great　London　Town；　and　many　folks　stopped；　as　they　journeyed　along；　and　gazed　at　the　show　they　made　riding　along　the　highways　with　their　flashing　armor　and　gay　plumes　and　trappings。

In　London　King　Henry　and　his　fair　Queen　Eleanor　held　their　court；　gay　with　ladies　in　silks　and　satins　and　velvets　and　cloth　of　gold；　and　also　brave　knights　and　gallant　courtiers。

Thither　came　the　Sheriff　and　was　shown　into　the　King's　presence。

〃A　boon；　a　boon；〃　quoth　he；　as　he　knelt　upon　the　ground。

〃Now　what　wouldst　thou　have？〃　said　the　King。　　〃Let　us　hear　what　may　be　thy　desires。〃

〃O　good　my　Lord　and　Sovereign；〃　spake　the　Sheriff；　〃in　Sherwood　Forest　in　our　own　good　shire　of　Nottingham；　liveth　a　bold　outlaw　whose　name　is　Robin　Hood。〃

〃In　good　sooth；〃　said　the　King；　〃his　doings　have　reached　even　our　own　royal　ears。　　He　is　a　saucy；　rebellious　varlet；　yet；　I　am　fain　to　own；　a　right　merry　soul　withal。〃

〃But　hearken；　O　my　most　gracious　Sovereign；〃　said　the　Sheriff。　　〃I　sent　a　warrant　to　him　with　thine　own　royal　seal　attached；　by　a　right　lusty　knave；　but　he　beat　the　messenger　and　stole　the　warrant。　And　he　killeth　thy　deer　and　robbeth　thine　own　liege　subjects　even　upon　the　great　highways。〃

〃Why；　how　now；〃　quoth　the　King　wrathfully。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　have　me　do？　Comest　thou　not　to　me　with　a　great　array　of　men…at…arms　and　retainers；　and　yet　art　not　able　to　take　a　single　band　of　lusty　knaves　without　armor　on　breast；　in　thine　own　county！　　What　wouldst　thou　have　me　do？　　Art　thou　not　my　Sheriff？　　Are　not　my　laws　in　force　in　Nottinghamshire？　　Canst　thou　not　take　thine　own　course　against　those　that　break　the　laws　or　do　any　injury　to　thee　or　thine？　　Go；　get　thee　gone；　and　think　well；　devise　some　plan　of　thine　own；　but　trouble　me　no　further。　　But　look　well　to　it；　Master　Sheriff；　for　I　will　have　my　laws　obeyed　by　all　men　within　my　kingdom；　and　if　thou　art　not　able　to　enforce　them　thou　art　no　sheriff　for　me。　So　look　well　to　thyself；　I　say；　or　ill　may　befall　thee　as　well　as　all　the　thieving　knaves　in　Nottinghamshire。　　When　the　flood　cometh　it　sweepeth　away　grain　as　well　as　chaff。〃

Then　the　Sheriff　turned　away　with　a　sore　and　troubled　heart；　and　sadly　he　rued　his　fine　show　of　retainers；　for　he　saw　that　the　King　was　angry　because　he　had　so　many　men　about　him　and　yet　could　not　enforce　the　laws。　　So；　as　they　all　rode　slowly　back　to　Nottingham；　the　Sheriff　was　thoughtful　and　full　of　care。　Not　a　word　did　he　speak　to　anyone；　and　no　one　of　his　men　spoke　to　him；　but　all　the　time　he　was　busy　devising　some　plan　to　take　Robin　Hood。

〃Aha！〃　cried　he　suddenly；　smiting　his　hand　upon　his　thigh　〃I　have　it　now！　Ride　on；　my　merry　men　all；　and　let　us　get　back　to　Nottingham　Town　as　speedily　as　we　may。　　And　mark　well　my　words：　　before　a　fortnight　is　passed；　that　evil　knave　Robin　Hood　will　be　safely　clapped　into　Nottingham　gaol。〃

But　what　was　the　Sheriff's　plan？

As　a　usurer　takes　each　one　of　a　bag　of　silver　angels；　feeling　each　coin　to　find　whether　it　be　clipped　or　not；　so　the　Sheriff；　as　all　rode　slowly　and　sadly　back　toward　Nottingham；　took　up　thought　after　thought　in　turn；　feeling　around　the　edges　of　each　but　finding　in　every　one　some　flaw。　At　last　he　thought　of　the　daring　soul　of　jolly　Robin　and　how；　as　he　the　Sheriff　knew；　he　often　came　even　within　the　walls　of　Nottingham。

〃Now；〃　thought　the　Sheriff；　〃could　I　but　persuade　Robin　nigh　to　Nottingham　Town　so　that　I　could　find　him；　I　warrant　I　would　lay　hands　upon　him　so　stoutly　that　he　would　never　get　away　again。〃　Then　of　a　sudden　it　came　to　him　like　a　flash　that　were　he　to　proclaim　a　great　shooting　match　and　offer　some　grand　prize；　Robin　Hood　might　be　overpersuaded　by　his　spirit　to　come　to　the　butts；　and　it　was　this　thought　which　caused　him　to　cry　〃Aha！〃　and　smite　his　palm　upon　his　thigh。

So；　as　soon　as　he　had　returned　safely　to　Nottingham；　he　sent　messengers　north　and　south；　and　east　and　west；　to　proclaim　through　town；　hamlet；　and　countryside；　this　grand　shooting　match；　and　everyone　was　bidden　that　could　draw　a　longbow；　and　the　prize　was　to　be　an　arrow　of　pure　beaten　gold。

When　Robin　Hood　first　heard　the　news　of　this　he　was　in　Lincoln　Town；　and　hastening　back　to　Sherwood　Forest　he　soon　called　all　his　merry　men　about　him　and　spoke　to　them　thus：

〃Now　hearken；　my　merry　men　all；　to　the　news　that　I　have　brought　from　Lincoln　Town　today。　　Our　friend　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　hath　proclaimed　a　shooting　match；　and　hath　sent　messengers　to　tell　of　it　through　all　the　countryside；　and　the　prize　is　to　be　a　bright　golden　arrow。　Now　I　fain　would　have　one　of　us　win　it；　both　because　of　the　fairness　of　the　prize　and　because　our　sweet　friend　the　Sheriff　hath　offered　it。　So　we　will　take　our　bows　and　shafts　and　go　there　to　shoot；　for　I　know　right　well　that　merriment　will　be　a…going。　What　say　ye；　lads？〃

Then　young　David　of　Doncaster　spoke　up　and　said；　〃Now　listen；　I　pray　thee；　good　master；　unto　what　I　say。　　I　have　come　straight　from　our　friend　Eadom　o'　the　Blue　Boar；　and　there　I　heard　the　full　news　of　this　same　match。　But；　master；　I　know　from　him；　and　he　got　it　from　the　Sheriff's　man　Ralph　o'　the　Scar；　that　this　same　knavish　Sheriff　hath　but　laid　a　trap　for　thee　in　this　shooting　match　and　wishes　nothing　so　much　as　to　see　thee　there。　So　go　not；　good　master；　for　I　know　right　well　he　doth　seek　to　beguile　thee；　but　stay　within　the　greenwood　lest　we　all　meet　dole　and　woe。〃

〃Now；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃thou　art　a　wise　lad　and　keepest　thine　ears　open　and　thy　mouth　shut；　as　becometh　a　wise　and　crafty　woodsman。　But　shall　we　let　it　be　said　that　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　did　cow　bold　Robin　Hood　and　sevenscore　as　fair　archers　as　are　in　all　merry　England？　　Nay；　good　David；　what　thou　tellest　me　maketh　me　to　desire　the　prize　even　more　than　I　else　should　do。　But　what　sayeth　our　good　gossip　Swanthold？　　Is　it　not　‘A　hasty　man　burneth　his　mouth；　and　the　fool　that　keepeth　his　eyes　shut　falleth　into　the　pit'？　Thus　he　says；　truly；　therefore　we　must　meet　guile　with　guile。　　Now　some　of　you　clothe　yourselves　as　curtal　friars；　and　some　as　rustic　peasants；　and　some　as　tinkers；　or　as　beggars；　but　see　that　each　man　taketh　a　good　bow　or　broadsword；　in　case　need　should　arise。　　As　for　myself；　I　will　shoot　for　this　same　golden　arrow；　and　should　I　win　it；　we　will　hang　it　to　the　branches　of　our　good　greenwood　tree　for　the　joy　of　all　the　band。　How　like　you　the　plan；　my　merry　men　all？〃

Then　〃Good；　good！〃　cried　all　the　band　right　heartily。

A　fair　sight　was　Nottingham　Town　on　the　day　of　the　shooting　match。　All　along　upon　the　green　meadow　beneath　the　town　wall　stretched　a　row　of　benches；　one　above　the　other；　which　were　for　knight　and　lady；　squire　and　dame；　and　rich　burghers　and　their　wives；　for　none　but　those　of　rank　and　quality　were　to　sit　there。　At　the　end　of　the　range；　near　the　target；　was　a　raised　seat　bedecked　with　ribbons　and　scarfs　and　garlands　of　flowers；　for　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　and　his　dame。　　The　range　was　twoscore　paces　broad。　At　one　end　stood　the　target；　at　the　other　a　tent　of　striped　canvas；　from　the　pole　of　which　fluttered　many…colored　flags　and　streamers。　In　this　booth　were　casks　of　ale；　free　to　be　broached　by　any　of　the　archers　who　might　wish　to　quench　their　thirst。

Across　the　range　from　where　the　seats　for　the　better　folk　were　raised　was　a　railing　to　keep　the　poorer　people　from　crowding　in　front　of　the　target。　　Already；　while　it　was　early；　the　benches　were　beginning　to　fill　with　people　of　quality；　who　kept　constantly　arriving　in　little　carts　or　upon　palfreys　that　curveted　gaily　to　the　merry　tinkle　of　silver　bells　at　bridle　reins。　With　these　came　also　the　poorer　folk；　who　sat　or　lay　upon　the　green　grass　near　the　railing　that　kept　them　from　off　the　range。　In　the　great　tent　the　archers　were　gathering　by　twos　and　threes；　some　talking　loudly　of　the　fair　shots　each　man　had　made　in　his　day；　some　looking　well　to　their　bows；　drawing　a　string　betwixt　the　fingers　to　see　that　there　was　no　fray　upon　it；　or　inspecting　arrows；　shutting　one　eye　and　peering　down　a　shaft　to　see　that　it　was　not　warped；　but　straight　and　true；　for　neither　bow　nor　shaft　should　fail　at　such　a　time　and　for　such　a　prize。　And　never　was　such　a　company　of　yeomen　as　were　gathered　at　Nottingham　T