maid marian-第16部分

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iful；　were　agreeable　and　expressive；　and　were　now　lighted　up　with　such　manifest　joy　at　the　sight　of　Robin；　that　Marian　could　not　help　feeling　a　momentary　touch　of　jealousy；　and　a　half…formed　suspicion　that　Robin　had　broken　his　forest　law；　and　had　occasionally　gone　out　of　bounds；　as　other　great　men　have　done　upon　occasion；　in　order　to　reconcile　the　breach　of　the　spirit；　with　the　preservation　of　the　letter；　of　their　own　legislation。　However；　this　suspicion；　if　it　could　be　said　to　exist　in　a　mind　so　generous　as　Marian's；　was　very　soon　dissipated　by　the　entrance　of　the　woman's　husband；　who　testified　as　much　joy　as　his　wife　had　done　at　the　sight　of　Robin；　and　in　a　short　time　the　whole　of　the　party　were　amicably　seated　round　a　smoking　supper　of　river…fish　and　wild　wood　fowl；　on　which　the　baron　fell　with　as　much　alacrity　as　if　he　had　been　a　true　pilgrim　from　Palestine。

The　husband　produced　some　recondite　flasks　of　wine；　which　were　laid　by　in　a　binn　consecrated　to　Robin；　whose　occasional　visits　to　them　in　his　wanderings　were　the　festal　days　of　these　warm…hearted　cottagers；　whose　manners　showed　that　they　had　not　been　born　to　this　low　estate。　Their　story　had　no　mystery；　and　Marian　easily　collected　it　from　the　tenour　of　their　conversation。　　The　young　man　had　been；　like　Robin；　the　victim　of　an　usurious　abbot；　and　had　been　outlawed　for　debt；　and　his　nut…brown　maid　had　accompanied　him　to　the　depths　of　Sherwood；　where　they　lived　an　unholy　and　illegitimate　life；　killing　the　king's　deer；　and　never　hearing　mass。　　In　this　state；　Robin；　then　earl　of　Huntingdon；　discovered　them　in　one　of　his　huntings；　and　gave　them　aid　and　protection。　When　Robin　himself　became　an　outlaw；　the　necessary　qualification　or　gift　of　continency　was　too　hard　a　law　for　our　lovers　to　subscribe　to；　and　as　they　were　thus　disqualified　for　foresters；　Robin　had　found　them　a　retreat　in　this　romantic　and　secluded　spot。　　He　had　done　similar　service　to　other　lovers　similarly　circumstanced；　and　had　disposed　them　in　various　wild　scenes　which　he　and　his　men　had　discovered　in　their　flittings　from　place　to　place；　supplying　them　with　all　necessaries　and　comforts　from　the　reluctant　disgorgings　of　fat　abbots　and　usurers。　The　benefit　was　in　some　measure　mutual；　for　these　cottages　served　him　as　resting…places　in　his　removals；　and　enabled　him　to　travel　untraced　and　unmolested；　and　in　the　delight　with　which　he　was　always　received　he　found　himself　even　more　welcome　than　he　would　have　been　at　an　inn；　and　this　is　saying　very　much　for　gratitude　and　affection　together。　The　smiles　which　surrounded　him　were　of　his　own　creation；　and　he　participated　in　the　happiness　he　had　bestowed。

The　casements　began　to　rattle　in　the　wind；　and　the　rain　to　beat　upon　the　windows。　　The　wind　swelled　to　a　hurricane；　and　the　rain　dashed　like　a　flood　against　the　glass。　　The　boy　retired　to　his　little　bed；　the　wife　trimmed　the　lamp；　the　husband　heaped　logs　upon　the　fire：　Robin　broached　another　flask；　and　Marian　filled　the　baron's　cup；　and　sweetened　Robin's　by　touching　its　edge　with　her　lips。

〃Well；〃　said　the　baron；　〃give　me　a　roof　over　my　head；　be　it　never　so　humble。　Your　greenwood　canopy　is　pretty　and　pleasant　in　sunshine；　but　if　I　were　doomed　to　live　under　it；　I　should　wish　it　were　water…tight。〃

〃But；〃　said　Robin；　〃we　have　tents　and　caves　for　foul　weather；　good　store　of　wine　and　venison；　and　fuel　in　abundance。〃

〃Ay；　but；〃　said　the　baron；　〃I　like　to　pull　off　my　boots　of　a　night；　which　you　foresters　seldom　do；　and　to　ensconce　myself　thereafter　in　a　comfortable　bed。　Your　beech…root　is　over…hard　for　a　couch；　and　your　mossy　stump　is　somewhat　rough　for　a　bolster。〃

〃Had　you　not　dry　leaves；〃　said　Robin；　〃with　a　bishop's　surplice　over　them？　What　would　you　have　softer？　　And　had　you　not　an　abbot's　travelling　cloak　for　a　coverlet？　　What　would　you　have　warmer？〃

〃Very　true；〃　said　the　baron；　〃but　that　was　an　indulgence　to　a　guest；　and　I　dreamed　all　night　of　the　sheriff　of　Nottingham。　　I　like　to　feel　myself　safe；〃　he　added；　stretching　out　his　legs　to　the　fire；　and　throwing　himself　back　in　his　chair　with　the　air　of　a　man　determined　to　be　comfortable。　〃I　like　to　feel　myself　safe；〃　said　the　baron。

At　that　moment　the　woman　caught　her　husband's　arm；　and　all　the　party　following　the　direction　of　her　eyes；　looked　simultaneously　to　the　window；　where　they　had　just　time　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　an　apparition　of　an　armed　head；　with　its　plumage　tossing　in　the　storm；　on　which　the　light　shone　from　within；　and　which　disappeared　immediately。




CHAPTER　XV


O　knight；　thou　lack'st　a　cup　of　canary。　　When　did　I　see　thee　so　put　down？Twelfth　Night。


Several　knocks；　as　from　the　knuckles　of　an　iron　glove；　were　given　to　the　door　of　the　cottage；　and　a　voice　was　heard　entreating　shelter　from　the　storm　for　a　traveller　who　had　lost　his　way。　Robin　arose　and　went　to　the　door。

〃What　are　you？〃　said　Robin。

〃A　soldier；〃　replied　the　voice：　　〃an　unfortunate　adherent　of　Longchamp；　flying　the　vengeance　of　Prince　John。〃

〃Are　you　alone？〃　said　Robin。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　voice：　　〃it　is　a　dreadful　night。　　Hospitable　cottagers；　pray　give　me　admittance。　　I　would　not　have　asked　it　but　for　the　storm。　I　would　have　kept　my　watch　in　the　woods。〃

〃That　I　believe；〃　said　Robin。　　〃You　did　not　reckon　on　the　storm　when　you　turned　into　this　pass。　　Do　you　know　there　are　rogues　this　way？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　the　voice。

〃So　do　I；〃　said　Robin。

A　pause　ensued；　during　which　Robin　listening　attentively　caught　a　faint　sound　of　whispering。

〃You　are　not　alone；〃　said　Robin。　　〃Who　are　your　companions？〃

〃None　but　the　wind　and　the　water；〃　said　the　voice；　〃and　I　would　I　had　them　not。〃

〃The　wind　and　the　water　have　many　voices；〃　said　Robin；　〃but　I　never　before　heard　them　say；　What　shall　we　do？〃

Another　pause　ensued：　　after　which；

〃Look　ye；　master　cottager；〃　said　the　voice；　in　an　altered　tone；　〃if　you　do　not　let　us　in　willingly；　we　will　break　down　the　door。〃

〃Ho！　ho！〃　roared　the　baron；　〃you　are　become　plural　are　you；　rascals？　　How　many　are　there　of　you；　thieves？　　What；　I　warrant；　you　thought　to　rob　and　murder　a　poor　harmless　cottager　and　his　wife；　and　did　not　dream　of　a　garrison？　You　looked　for　no　weapon　of　opposition　but　spit；　poker；　and　basting　ladle；　wielded　by　unskilful　hands：　　but；　rascals；　here　is　short　sword　and　long　cudgel　in　hands　well　tried　in　war；　wherewith　you　shall　be　drilled　into　cullenders　and　beaten　into　mummy。〃

No　reply　was　made；　but　furious　strokes　from　without　resounded　upon　the　door。　　Robin；　Marian；　and　the　baron　threw　by　their　pilgrim's　attire；　and　stood　in　arms　on　the　defensive。　They　were　provided　with　swords；　and　the　cottager　gave　them　bucklers　and　helmets；　for　all　Robin's　haunts　were　furnished　with　secret　armouries。　　But　they　kept　their　swords　sheathed；　and　the　baron　wielded　a　ponderous　spear；　which　he　pointed　towards　the　door　ready　to　run　through　the　first　that　should　enter；　and　Robin　and　Marian　each　held　a　bow　with　the　arrow　drawn　to　its　head　and　pointed　in　the　same　direction。　　The　cottager　flourished　a　strong　cudgel　（a　weapon　in　the　use　of　which　he　prided　himself　on　being　particularly　expert）；　and　the　wife　seized　the　spit　from　the　fireplace；　and　held　it　as　she　saw　the　baron　hold　his　spear。　The　storm　of　wind　and　rain　continued　to　beat　on　the　roof　and　the　casement；　and　the　storm　of　blows　to　resound　upon　the　door；　which　at　length　gave　way　with　a　violent　crash；　and　a　cluster　of　armed　men　appeared　without；　seemingly　not　less　than　twelve。　Behind　them　rolled　the　stream　now　changed　from　a　gentle　and　shallow　river　to　a　mighty　and　impetuous　torrent；　roaring　in　waves　of　yellow　foam；　partially　reddened　by　the　light　that　streamed　through　the　open　door；　and　turning　up　its　convulsed　surface　in　flashes　of　shifting　radiance　from　restless　masses　of　half…visible　shadow。　The　stepping…stones；　by　which　the　intruders　must　have　crossed；　were　buried　under　the　waters。　　On　the　opposite　bank　the　light　fell　on　the　stems　and　boughs　of　the　rock…rooted　oak　and　ash　tossing　and　swaying　in　the　blast；　and　sweeping　the　flashing　spray　with　their　leaves。

The　instant　the　door　broke；　Robin　and　Marian　loosed　their　arrows。　Robin's　arrow　struck　one　of　the　assailants　in　the　juncture　of　the　shoulder；　and　disabled　his　right　arm：　　Marian's　struck　a　second　in　the　juncture　of　the　knee；　and　rendered　him　unserviceable；　for　the　night。　The　baron's　long　spear　struck　on　the　mailed　breastplate　of　a　third；　and　being　stretched　to　its　full　extent　by　the　long…armed　hero；　drove　him　to　the　edge　of　the　torrent；　and　plunged　him　into　its　eddies；　along　which　he　was　whirled　down　the　darkness　of　the　descending　stream；　calling　vainly　on　his　comrades　for　aid；　till　his　voice　was　lost　in　the　mingled　roar　of　the　waters　and　the　wind。　　A　fourth　springing　through　the　door　was　laid　prostrate　by　the　cottager's　cudgel：　but　the　wife　being　less　dexterous　than　her　company；　though　an　Amazon　in　strength；　missed　her　pass　at　a　fifth；　and　drove　the　point　of　the　spit　several　inches　into　the　right　hand　door…post　as　she　stood　close　to　the　left；　and　thus　made　a　new　barrier　which　the　invaders　could　not　pass　without　dipping　under　it　and　submitting　their　necks　to　the　sword：　but　one　of　the　assailants　seizing　it　with　gigantic　rage；　shook　it　at　once　from　the　grasp　of　its　holder　and　from　its　lodgment　in　the　post；　and　at　the　same　time　made　good　the　irruption　of　the　rest　of　his　party　into　the　cottage。

Now　raged　an　unequal　combat；　for　the　assailants　fell　two　to　one　on　Robin；　Marian；　the　baron；　and　the　cottager；　while　the　wife；　being　deprived　of　her　spit；　converted　every　thing　that　was　at　hand　to　a　missile；　and　rained　pots；　pans；　and　pipkins　on　the　armed　heads　of　the　enemy。　　The　baron　raged　like　a　tiger；　and　the　cottager　laid　about　him　like　a　thresher。　　One　of　the　soldiers　struck　Robin's　sword　from　his　hand　and　brought　him　on　his　knee；　when　the　boy；　who　had　been　roused　by　the　tumult　and　had　been　peeping　through　the　inner　door；　leaped　forward　in　his　shirt；　picked　up　the　sword　and　replaced　it　in　Robin's　hand；　who　instantly　springing　up；　disarmed　and　wounded　one　of　his　antagonists；　while　the　other　was　laid　prostrate　under　the　dint　of　a　brass　cauldron　launched　by　the　Amazonian　dame。　　Robin　now　turned　to　the　aid　of　Marian；　who　was　parrying　most　dexterously　the　cuts　and　slashes　of　her　two　assailants；　of　whom　Robin　delivered　her　from　one；　wh